Government

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Western Australia's credit rating, providing yet another blow to the state's budget woes.

Former public servant Kerry Sanderson has become the first woman to be appointed governor of Western Australia.

FEATURE: Industrial uncertainty and an urgent need for more infrastructure are putting the squeeze on iron ore exports through Port Hedland, while productivity increases and transshipment options are also being mulled over statewide.

Tony Abbott has called a special cabinet meeting ahead of the resumption of parliament in a bid to reboot the government's floundering budget sales pitch.

A recent report has found that while incomes have risen across Perth's suburbs, some areas have struggled to keep up with the average.

If key areas of reform were implemented in Western Australia then the state's economy could double in size in the next 20 years, according to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA's latest report.

Whilst the Reserve Bank's next move is still likely to be up, the chance of a cut has increased in the last few months, according to Bankwest's monthly economic and financial market snapshot.

Clive Palmer hung up the phone during a radio interview to avoid answering questions about controversial comments made by a senator from his party.

Australia needs to grasp opportunities to expand into the Chinese food and milk markets as quickly as possible, Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens said.

The government has warned MP Clive Palmer against using his position in parliament to insult China amid a high profile legal battle with a Chinese company.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to keep interest rates low for the foreseeable future amid growing uncertainty about the economy.

Palmer United Party senator Jacqui Lambie has accused the government of refusing to listen to crossbenchers during drawn-out budget negotiations.

Treasurer Joe Hockey says Clive Palmer's extraordinary televised tirade against China is hugely damaging for Australia.

Iron ore prices may have softened significantly from about $US130 a tonne during the past year, but that has not stopped local miners ramping up exports.

Tony Abbott has said his government will consider adjustments to its unpopular budget but won't "sell out" on the fundamentals.

The Australian dollar has hit another one week high as concerns about Russia ease and after another batch of weak US economic data.

Cattle production was an Australian record in the June quarter, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

UnionsWA has said that the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics has shown that women in Western Australia continue to be paid a far less amount on average than men.

Federal opposition leader Bill Shorten has accused the Western Australian government of being asleep at the wheel for not immediately passing on savings from repeal of the carbon tax.

Having riled even coalition colleagues with his comments about the fuel tax, Treasurer Joe Hockey is now warning everyone else they may have to swallow tougher budget measures.

Premier Colin Barnett is waging a "phoney war" by calling for a greater share of the GST, and should be battling with Canberra for more infrastructure funding, federal member for Perth Alannah MacT

Business confidence is at its highest level in almost four years, but it is uncertain whether the improvement will last.

Lending has risen to its highest level in more than six years, as businesses and individuals take advantage of low interest rates.

The National Tertiary Education Union has argued that the impact of the federal budget cuts would leave Western Australia's universities almost $500 million worse off.

Treasurer Joe Hockey has rejected advice from his Liberal predecessor Peter Costello that he cut his losses and scrap unpopular budget measures such as the $7 GP co-payment.

Russia must stop bullying Ukraine or face increased sanctions from Australia and its Western allies, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has warned, a day after Russia announced a 12-month trade ban on agricultural goods from Australia, the European Union, US and several other Western nations.

In a crushing blow to job seekers, the central bank has warned that it does not expect a sustained fall in the unemployment rate for another two years.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has assured a business conference that tax reform has not ended with the repeal of the carbon tax.

Interest rates aren't likely to be moving for the foreseeable future as the Reserve Bank waits to see how the Australian economy copes with its current challenges.

Small businesses will lose more than $2 billion over three years because of welfare changes that will force people to apply for 40 jobs a month, Labor says.

A surprising jump in Australia's unemployment rate has poured cold water on any expectations of a rate hike in the foreseeable future.

Local Government Minister Tony Simpson has used a speech to the Western Australian Local Government Association AGM to urged councils to reform and harmonise regulations across the state.