Government

Gold gained on Friday en route to its second quarterly rise as the US dollar eased on tepid US economic data, while palladium snapped three straight sessions of sharp losses, ending the quarter on a positive note.

Federal Labor will introduce its changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax by January 1 next year if the party wins the May election.

Palladium slumped more than seven per cent overnight, adding to the previous session's sharp slide, on concerns an economic slowdown could dent demand and as a weak technical picture pushed investors to book profits after a record run.

Oil futures were near flat overnight after recovering from the day's worst losses that came when US President Donald Trump called for OPEC to boost crude output in an effort to lower prices that were headed for their best quarterly gains in a decade.

Albany and Bunbury Ring Roads, Fremantle Traffic Bridge, and an extension of Tonkin Highway were among the list of local road projects to receive $1.6 billion of funding from Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Perth today.

The McGowan government has brought a sudden end to long-running plans for a $28 million wave park on the Swan River, ironically just one day after the Tourism Council WA complained that the wave park was one of 16 new tourist experiences being held up by government red tape.

Congested roads around Perth will benefit from $1.6 billion worth of road and rail projects across Western Australia, as Scott Morrison tries to woo voters in the west.

Oil prices slumped overnight after government data showed US crude inventories grew more than expected last week as a Texas chemical spill hampered exports.

Palladium prices plummeted about 7 per cent overnight - the biggest daily percentage drop in more than two years - as investors worried that prices had risen too far too fast and breaks below technical levels triggered automatic selling.

Outer suburbs such as Alkimos, Baldivis and Ellenbrook are continuing to account for most of the growth in Perth’s population while inner suburbs like Mosman Park and Subiaco are shrinking, despite long-standing policies to boost urban infill.

Oil rose nearly two per cent overnight as attention centred on geopolitical factors tightening supplies that are leading to falling exports from Venezuela and declining US inventories.

Gold retreated overnight from more than three-week highs in the previous session after the US dollar rebounded and risk appetite and bond yields recovered as fears eased about a possible US recession.

Western Australian motorists are being overtaxed to the tune of $2 billion by governments state and federal, according to a report released today by RAC WA.

Australia's poorest workers will be guaranteed a living wage under a federal Labor government but business groups warn it will put jobs at risk.

Oil prices are mixed as concerns about a slowdown in global economic growth lingered, offset by the prospect of tighter US crude supply.

Gold prices have risen to a more than three-week high, helped by a weaker dollar and as worries over global economic growth pushed investors into safe-haven assets.

Gold prices are up as weak economic data from the euro zone exacerbates fears of a global slowdown, weighing on risk sentiment and putting bullion on track for its best week in nearly two months.

Oil prices have fallen about two per cent as focus shifts to a lack of progress in US-China trade talks and as grim manufacturing data from Germany and the US reignited fears of a slowdown in the global economy and oil demand.

Telstra will build 23 of the 26 new mobile base stations and small cells to be delivered in Western Australia, as part of the fourth round of a government initiative to improve mobile coverage in regional and remote communities.

Worn down by three years of indecision in London, European Union leaders have grudgingly offered the UK more time to ease itself out of the bloc, delaying by several weeks - but not eliminating - the threat of a chaotic British exit.

Oil fell nearly one per cent overnight but held near 2019 highs, supported by a tightening of global stocks, OPEC production cuts and US sanctions on key producers Iran and Venezuela.

Gold prices dipped overnight in volatile trade after hitting three-week highs earlier in the session as a set of better than expected US data lifted the US dollar, while palladium notched a record peak on supply concerns.

An Apple-led tech rally has pushed Wall Street higher as jitters over the Federal Reserve's forecast of an economic slowdown were calmed by upbeat economic data.

Appointing a senior minister to manage reform of business licensing and sunset clauses would assist the state government control the proliferation of permits that tie-up enterprises, according to a review released today.

The unemployment rate in Western Australia fell by 1 per cent in February, as 11,000 people stopped looking for work.

Western Australia has recorded the largest percentage increase in net overseas migration in Australia, but its population growth was the third lowest in the country.

The S&P 500 and the Dow have ended lower as interest rate-sensitive financial stocks dragged down the indexes after the US Federal Reserve affirmed a dovish monetary policy stance.

Palladium hit an all-time high overnight on concerns over tight supplies of the autocatalyst metal, while gold reversed course to rise after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged.

US crude prices rose overnight to a four-month high above $US60 a barrel after US government data showed tightening domestic oil supplies, but gains were capped by concerns over global economic growth due to the ongoing US-China trade war.

A federal Labor government will make Perth the home base for an Australian Future Mines centre, and has also pledged to provide 50 mining engineering scholarships at WA universities.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has dismissed a critique of Labor’s wages policy, describing the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA as a trade union for employers and insisting wage increases were sensible.

The prime minister has defended the timing of his government's migration intake announcement, despite it occurring days after the Christchurch terrorist attacks.