AAP

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.

Australia will send 8,000 coronavirus vaccines to Papua New Guinea to immunise frontline health workers and combat a spiralling outbreak.

Australians looking for cheap flights are already benefitting from Rex's entry into the domestic market, after Jetstar and Virgin cut prices in response.

Labor does not believe stripping Christian Porter of some responsibilities will be enough for the attorney-general to return to work.

The federal government is torn on which way to step after more than 100,000 people protested across Australia demanding equality and an end to violence against women.

A delegation of time-poor nurses and carers wants 2021 to be the year of the aged care federal budget.

Australia's share market posted its strongest performance in more than a week, as the heavyweight financial sector was helped by easing bond yields and a reinforced message on low rates.

Senior government figures and health advisers say the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective, following calls from a backbench colleague to suspend Australia's rollout.

Casino and resort giant Crown has announced it will no longer make political donations.

Attorney-General Christian Porter won't look after Federal Court matters when he returns from mental health leave, due to his defamation action against the ABC.

Facebook has struck content deals with Australia's two largest media companies, News Corp and Nine Entertainment, following the recent introduction of bargaining laws.

Shares have closed slightly higher on the Australian market, which an analyst declared an impressive result as bond yields crept towards recent highs.

Australian farmers' confidence is still sky high as primary producers continue the fightback from drought amid strong commodity prices.

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe says it is important that business investment grows if Australia is to enjoy a strong and durable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senior Morrison government ministers have played down falling behind Labor in Newspoll after weeks of controversy stemming from rape allegations.

Attorney-General Christian Porter has launched defamation action against the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan.