Government

It's looking more likely that the Australian economy will grow at a sluggish pace in 2014.

Former Treasurer Troy Buswell is unlikely to return to parliament until at least April 10 but it remains to be seen whether he intends to remain an MP.

Labor senators look set to ignore a plea from business groups to ditch the mining tax after opposition leader Bill Shorten reaffirmed his commitment to vote down the government's repeal legislation.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA chief executive Deidre Willmott has urged the Abbott government to go harder on its proposed industrial relations reforms, arguing more needs to be done to tackle union militancy.

The Reserve Bank is more optimistic about the economy, meaning a likely end to its interest rate cuts.

Australian households are each more than $13,000 better off thanks to trade with China, the country's ambassador to Australia told a business lunch in Perth today.

The choice of candidates for Western Australia's senate election rerun will not be as large as first thought, with 77 candidates nominating.

Mike Nahan has been tasked with the difficult job of managing the state's finances ahead of May's budget, replacing Troy Buswell as treasurer in a cabinet reshuffle.

Labor insists there's no rift between its Western Australian Senate candidates Joe Bullock and Louise Pratt, despite previous differences of opinion between the unionist and the gay marriage advocate.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has been challenged to expel union heavyweight Joe McDonald from the Labor Party after he was fined for physically threatening a worker who refused to strike.

Controversy surrounding former Treasurer Troy Buswell continues to plague Premier Colin Barnett, while police are still yet to question the former minister about a car crash.

Up to 5,000 Qantas workers in the firing line have been given a month's reprieve after the airline agreed to delay its planned mass redundancies.

Western Australia's controversial shark kill policy will not be probed by the state's Environmental Protection Authority.

Consumer confidence within Western Australia has slumped to near record lows with the closure of high-profile businesses on the east coast and the prospect of higher interest rates rattling households.

The High Court has ruled that native title rights are not extinguished by the granting of mining leases, in what indigenous groups have described as a landmark decision which will provide a clear basis for the resolution of other native title disputes.

Former Treasury head Ken Henry has joined calls for the federal government to face up to the fiscal hurdles posed by the nation's growing welfare and health budgets.

The Western Australian public will differentiate between the state government's problems and the Liberal party's Senate candidates at the April 5 poll, Prime Minister Tony Abbott told a campaign launch in Perth today.

Recent improvements in business conditions seem to have hit a snag as a lack of employment growth weighs on consumer confidence.

The tide appears to be turning for the travel and tourism sector, with data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics highlighting a growth trend in the number of short-term visitors compared to resident departures.

The four major industrial precincts in Kwinana, Cockburn and Rockingham, known as the Western Trade Coast, contributed more than $14.7 billion to the state’s economy in 2013, making it the mos

The Australian Greens are crying foul over reports Labor may not preference them at the re-run of the Western Australian Senate election.

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show retail spending rose 1.2 per cent in January, three times the 0.4 per cent rise economists had expected.

The federal government insists it is working to stop global companies avoiding tax.

GDP rose by a better than expected 0.8 per cent in the December quarter, taking economic growth to 2.8 per cent for 2013.

Western Australia will go back to the polls on April 5, after governor Malcolm McCusker confirmed the date of the re-run of last year's Senate election.

Industrial relations is set to become a new political battleground after the Abbott government introduced wide-ranging changes to workplace law.

Business investment in Australia had an unexpectedly large fall in the last three months of 2013, led by a big drop in mining related investment.

The state government has named Lend Lease as its preferred contractor for road and bridge works at the new $1.2 billion Perth Stadium.

Industry groups have welcomed the federal government's announcement of an independent review into the 457 visa scheme.

SPECIAL REPORT: Former Verve Energy CEO Shirley In’t Veld says when it comes to government-owned businesses, politics often wins out over commercial imperatives.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt has stepped in to stop the auction of carbon units, saying it will give business certainty ahead of the government's plans to scrap the carbon tax.

The Western Australian Senate vote debacle has claimed two senior scalps at the Australian Electoral Commission.