Government

Federal Labor says the government has broken a pre-election promise to deliver the national broadband network to all Australians by the end of 2016.

Accelerated depreciation for small businesses, a tough new multinational tax avoidance law and a $5 billion concessional loan scheme for northern Australian infrastructure development were among the new policies announced in last night's federal budget.

Treasurer Joe Hockey has delayed the federal government's return to surplus by another year, forecasting that the country will be not be in the black until 2019-20 and meaning the Commonwealth will extend its run of seven deficits to 11.

A research centre linked to controversial Danish academic Bjorn Lomborg was to have been placed in the University of Western Australia through a "corrupt" process initiated by the prime minister's office, parliament has been told.

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett has flagged unexpected asset sales in this week's state budget.

Joe Hockey strode into Parliament House in a buoyant mood just hours before delivering a budget that could determine his political fortunes and those of the government.

Mining industry groups in Perth and Canberra have come out today in favour of free markets in the iron ore industry, after Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest criticised the actions of heavywights Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.

The state government has invited three consortia to develop proposals for the $1.6 billion Perth Freight Link project, including the potential construction of a tunnel.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion is confident the state is set for further long-term growth as an energy exporter and a hub for industry knowledge.

The Liberal Party WA will begin the search for a new state director following Ben Morton's announcement that he will not reapply for his position when it expires in August.

New car sales were down 11.6 per cent in Western Australia, with nearly 1,000 fewer cars sold in the month of April.

Merchandise exports from Western Australia in the 12 months to March were down almost 10 per cent on the previous corresponding period, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Atlas Iron has appointed its project adviser and former Western Australian politician Cheryl Edwardes to its board as a director.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has denied reports he was told coalition MPs want Treasurer Joe Hockey dumped if next week's federal budget flops with voters.

Australia's unemployment rate has ticked up, despite lower interest rates and a weaker Aussie dollar helping to support the labour market.

Directors have indicated their support for reform to the GST, including an increase in its rate, and raised concerns that public policy debate in Australia was of poor quality, in a survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Retail spending growth seems to be slowing a bit, but no more than might have been expected, and there is no good reason to expect the deceleration to continue.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott flew into Perth today to announce $500 million of extra Commonwealth funding for WA roads, while his finance minister Mathias Cormann kept up pressure on the state government to reciprocate by privatising more state-owned assets.

The state government will introduce legislation into parliament tomorrow designed to finalise the long-running Bell Group legal case, in which the Insurance Commission of WA and other creditors are fighting over a $1.7 billion payout.

Australia recorded a bigger than expected trade deficit in March, largely due to sagging prices for iron ore and coal exports.

Perth Airport chairman and Curtin University chancellor Colin Beckett has taken the role as head of the Western Power board, with Iluka Resources chair Greg Martin appointed as his deputy.

AN iron ore price bounce of almost 30 per cent from 10-year lows earlier this month will no doubt bring some relief to many in the industry and in the Department of Treasury.

Landlords of Perth CBD's older buildings are upgrading their facilities to keep pace with new builds.

Premier Colin Barnett has formally announced his new chief of staff will be Peter (Willie) Rowe, who has recently wound down his lobbying business Third House in anticipation of taking on the new role.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has promised this budget will be a "dull" affair but a respected economist believes it will be anything but.

WA's private colleges are finding it tough to bounce back from the once-high $A and perception of the state as an expensive destination.

Road haulage business McAleese Group has flagged a number of impairments and a significant hit to its earnings as it prepares to recommence haulage services at Atlas Iron's Abydos and Wodgina mines this month.

Asset income rather than revenue from students will underwrite the future of WA's public universities, but only if government policy catches up with the realities of higher education funding click through to see more on our universities feature.

The annual rate of inflation is staying well below the Reserve Bank of Australia's 2 to 3 per cent target, leaving the door wide open for a rate cut this week.

The City of Perth is embarking on significant organisational overhaul, which will result in an expansion of its directorships, a flatter structure, and more emphasis on economic development.

Western Australia's home-building sector may be set to break all-time records in the 2014-15 financial year but the booming conditions aren't likely to last, with a significant slowdown predicted over the next two years.

Perth will need to build an extra 800,000 homes over the next 35 years to accommodate population growth, a new report has concluded, and nearly half of these homes will need to be in existing suburbs.