AAP

Australia's farm production has been forecast to soar to a record high on the back of a remarkable turnaround from a crippling drought.

The Morrison government has left the door open to a tax increase to find billions of dollars needed to fix Australia's besieged aged care system.

Senior Morrison government ministers have stressed a cabinet colleague accused of a horrific historical rape is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

Federal Labor has backed gas as a key part of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 in a new policy platform set for debate later this month.

Medical experts believe the federal government's coronavirus vaccination target will be hard to achieve unless jab rates are dramatically ramped up.

JobKeeper wage subsidies worth millions of dollars have been paid back to the tax office as Treasurer Josh Frydenberg rules out changing laws to force other companies to do the same.

A letter has been sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison alleging a 1988 rape by a current cabinet minister.

Early issues with Australia's coronavirus vaccine rollout are being ironed out as the federal government assures the public safety is paramount.

Australia's share market had its heaviest percentage fall since early September after investors opted for rising yields in the bond market.

Harvey Norman continues to enjoy soaring sales through the pandemic after posting a 116 per cent rise in first-half earnings.

News has returned to Australian Facebook feeds with the social media behemoth dropping its ban after reaching a deal with the federal government.

Afterpay is raising money to increase its stake in its US operations, on the same day it posted a first-half loss.

Scott Morrison has conceded his defence minister should have told him about an alleged rape in Parliament House without identifying the woman involved.

Australia's share market has closed higher, as commodity-based sectors thrived on investor belief that economic recovery is coming, helped by vaccines and US fiscal stimulus.

Premier Mark McGowan has questioned why anyone would vote for the Liberals when the opposition leader is already conceding defeat.

Australia Post has announced first half revenue of $4.3 billion, up 15.5 per cent year-on-year, and profit before tax of $166.6 million.

Australia's world-first news media bargaining code will soon be in force after legislation cleared federal parliament.

Fortescue Metals Group has apologised to an Aboriginal community after clearing a Western Australian site considered sacred, without representatives present.

Australia's share market has closed lower but investors may have had greater losses if not for the US Federal Reserve assuring current policy settings will continue.

Early voting is under way for the Western Australian election, with more than a million voters tipped to cast their ballots before the March 13 polling day.

Senior ministers have been forced to defend a modest increase to the dole after welfare groups and economists slammed the miserly boost.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will take indefinite leave after being admitted to hospital on the advice of her heart doctor.

Wages grew at a fractionally faster pace than expected in the final three months of 2020, lagging expectations for record property price increases this year.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says Facebook's ban on Australian news and information should be a wake-up call for the rest of the world.

Nine boss Hugh Marks said the media company has resumed talks with Facebook, and is continuing talks with Google, for the digital giants to pay for its news stories.

Rising commodities prices proved a talking point for a second consecutive day, and helped the Australian share market close higher and the dollar remain above 79 US cents.

Western Australia's opposition leader is confident voters won't abandon him at next month's election despite polls predicting he will lose his seat.

Facebook has struck a preliminary news sharing agreement with Seven West Media, just hours after the federal government agreed to further amend its mandatory media bargaining code.

Australian exports dropped 9 per cent in January, led by a fall in iron ore shipments after a strong result the previous month.

Unemployed workers will receive a permanent $50 a fortnight increase to the JobSeeker payment once the coronavirus supplement is scrapped.

More doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine have arrived in Australia as the early stages of the jab rollout continue.

The Victorian government has called a royal commission into Crown Resorts, which disclosed the resignation of director Harold Mitchell, heaping further pressure on John Poynton.