AAP

Shares closed at their highest level on the Australian market in more than a week, as a weaker Aussie dollar helped the indices buck downcast sentiment overseas.

Putting some of Australia's welfare recipients on cashless debit cards to restrict their spending is costing taxpayers $70 million.

Australian businesses are enjoying improved financial circumstances and are relying less on government support measures.

Australia's vaccine rollout will ramp up quickly over the next month as hundreds of thousands of doses make their way across the country.

The arts and entertainment sector is being offered another $135 million to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Casino giant Crown has admitted it could have underpaid more than 200 workers around $2 million as part of an ongoing wage theft investigation.

Australia's share market bucked a downwards trend across most markets, possibly helped by the Aussie dollar falling to 75 US cents.

Treasury chief Steven Kennedy believes few countries have achieved what Australia has in responding to last year's recession – relatively good health outcomes, smaller economic impacts and now, rapid recovery.

Premier Investments, owner of retail chains including Peter Alexander and Just Jeans, has defended not repaying $15.6 million in JobKeeper assistance after reporting an 88 per cent profit increase.

Treasury boss Steven Kennedy expects a "bump" in the unemployment rate as the JobKeeper wage subsidy comes to an end next week.

Australia's share market has closed lower for the fourth time in the past five sessions, while the Aussie dollar fell to US76 cents as demand for commodities dropped.

Delaying a decision on moving full-cycle docking for the Collins class submarines to Western Australia increases the risk to the capability, a Senate hearing has been told.

Scott Morrison has indicated he is likely to strip Christian Porter of more responsibilities as the attorney-general sues the ABC for defamation.

Investors in Australia's share market have made gains early in a week in which most of the focus will likely be on US financial leaders appearing before the Senate.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will make changes to the JobMaker hiring credit scheme after corporate leaders shunned the $4 billion program.

A smooth rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine around the world will lift Australian economic growth and generate tens of thousands of jobs, a new analysis predicts.

Gaming giant Crown Resorts is being targeted for a takeover after US investment fund Blackstone made an unsolicited offer.

Australia's share market closed lower for a third consecutive day and the week, while US financial leaders will next week have another chance to persuade investors jittery about the prospect of inflation.

Anthony Albanese has lashed the Morrison government for its "petulant" handling of industrial relations reforms.

Australian officials have welcomed the European medical regulator giving the AstraZeneca vaccine the green light.

Snap lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic in Perth and Melbourne drove a fall in retail turnover in February.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has been urged to press on with its investigation into Holden's conduct in the lead-up to the closure of the car brand in Australia.

All sports projects which merited funding but missed out under the so-called "sports rorts" program should be funded, an inquiry has recommended.

Unemployed Australians will receive about $44 a day in welfare support from April.

Shares on the ASX have closed lower, but the Aussie dollar rose as investors tipped it to benefit following forecasts of strong economic growth in the US.

Scott Morrison admits the national vaccine rollout is a "tough" project to deliver, as hundreds of thousands of Australians seek to register with doctors and Commonwealth clinics for their shots.

Scott Morrison has defended his handling of rape allegations against Attorney-General Christian Porter, who is now suing the ABC for defamation.

Scott Morrison has talked up the recovery in employment, which has seen the unemployment rate shrink to 5.8 per cent, while WA's rate was 6 per cent.

The federal government has sensationally dumped the vast majority of its own industrial relations reforms including wage theft penalties.

The nation's biggest bank, Commonwealth, will offer its own buy now, pay later service to customers from mid-year in a move to challenge Afterpay.

Investors on the ASX removed some risk from their portfolios as the outcomes of the US Federal Reserve's policy meeting on Thursday loomed large over financial markets.

Australian authorities have thrown their support behind the AstraZeneca vaccine despite a handful of new allergic reactions and increasing global trepidation.