Government

China's consumer inflation fell to a five-year low of 1.4 per cent in November, the government says, amid concerns over the risk of deflation in the world's second-largest economy.

The number of new home loans in October has bounced back after two months of falls.

Australian consumers are the gloomiest they have been in three years.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has announced the government will ditch plans for the $7 Medicare co-payment and instead pursue an optional co-payment, to be introduced at the same time the Medicare rebate to GPs is reduced by $5.

Jobs are back on the agenda for employers in 2015, with Hudson Recruitment's latest report on hiring intentions showing positive signs, while research from hiring website Indeed has found that unfilled jobs cost Australian $6.7 billion annually.

Treasurer Joe Hockey insists the mood inside federal cabinet is good despite a difficult year for the government.

National Australia Bank has become the second of the big four to reverse its interest rate forecasts, predicting the Reserve Bank will need to slash rates twice in 2015.

Further changes will be made to the way official employment statistics are compiled following an independent review of the process, but not this month.

Australian tax officials have been embedded in the offices of 10 multinationals as the federal government tries to capture as much as $3 billion in dodged revenue each year.

An academic who's doing a thesis on the politics of shark attacks has compared Western Australia's policy to the Hollywood blockbuster Jaws.

Further rate cuts from the Reserve Bank could create more concern for consumers, ANZ's chief economist says.

Business confidence and conditions have taken a tumble, as the lower Australian dollar fails to stoke an upturn.

Weak commodities prices are threatening the positive growth of indigenous business.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has finally announced a new head of Treasury.

Australian banks are not "unquestionably strong" and need to hold more capital as a safety net against future external shocks, David Murray says.

Tony Abbott won't spell out the details of his revamped paid parental leave scheme despite opposition pressure to reveal the changes.

ANZ chief economist Warren Hogan said that employment growth is gradually improving and the unemployment rate is stabilising.

New vehicle sales in Western Australia continue to perform far below last year, with year-to-date sales down 7.9 per cent for the same period in 2013, according to new figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

Drivers in Western Australia may pay more for vehicle registration or drivers' licences to help the state government pay for transport improvements, the premier has confirmed.

The number of international visitors to Western Australia each year has surpassed 800,000, with the state again recording the highest average trip expenditure per visitor for the country.

Australia's growth rate fell to 0.3 per cent in the September quarter, less than half the rate expected by market analysts, resulting in annual growth sliding to 2.7 per cent.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate unchanged for a sixteenth consecutive month at 2.5 per cent.

The Australian economy is picking up a bit of pace as cheaper petrol and low interest rates encourage more spending.

Premier Colin Barnett says he fully supports Transport Minister Dean Nalder, who is under review for a potential conflict of interest.

The federal government is happy to look at any future proposal for a nuclear power plant, but won't be offering taxpayer support.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott concedes there's pressure on the budget that wasn't there at the start of 2014.

Local government representatives from Perth's suburban north-west have visited Canberra in an effort to spark federal support for the growth of the region.

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has called on business leaders to speak up against government regulations she says are making it harder for Australia to compete.

Western Australian racing and gaming minister Terry Waldron has resigned from Cabinet.

Our annual Transport and Logistics feature discusses the role of a maritime logistics officer, how a business caters to a skills shortage in the transport industry, the tier 3 rail lines, training for truck drivers in the Pilbara, and the recent completion of the Fremantle harbour rail upgrade.

Myer chairman Paul McClintock has again taken a swipe at GST laws, saying they are unfair and harming trade.

Labor has hijacked Senate question time in a bid to try and kill off controversial financial advice laws.