Government

Things can get messy when state and federal political agendas collide.

Retiring veteran Liberal MP Barry Haase says the time has come for him to step away from federal politics as the country looks set to vote his party into power.

Poor policy implementation and Kevin Rudd’s destabilising presence have cruelled Labor’s electoral chances.

Labour productivity growth slowed in the year to March, with the mining sector suffering a fall of almost six per cent.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is still facing resistance from some states after South Australia became the third jurisdiction to sign up to the federal government's schools funding plan.

An unexpected fall in the unemployment rate could see the Reserve Bank hold off cutting interest rates in July.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith says Labor is facing a tough election but predicts the party will retain all three of its seats at the upcoming federal election.

Former West Coast Eagle David Wirrpanda has finally committed to a tilt at federal politics, becoming a Senate nominee for the WA Nationals.

There was a sharp bounce in consumer confidence in June, but it may be short-lived.The Westpac/Melbourne Institute index of consumer sentiment in June rose 4.7 per cent to 102.2 points.

A new venue has been secured for a Labor Party fundraiser where comedian Ben Elton will quiz Prime Minister Julia Gillard, after a booking at a public school in Fremantle was withdrawn.

The Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission has moved to increase the state's minimum wage more than 2.8 per cent, slightly above the recent rise granted by the federal Fair Work Commiss

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has dismissed as a "waste of breath" rumour-mongering about her leadership, insisting she is still the best person to take Labor to the September 14 election.

The $2 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital will open in October 2014, half a year later than originally scheduled, a delay the state government has blamed on the scale and complexity of the project’s in

Alan Robson, Jim McGinty and Jim Freemantle are among the Western Australian luminaries to receive honours as part of this year’s Queen’s Birthday awards.

Teachers are threatening strike action unless the Barnett government commits funding to help the transition of Year 7 students to high schools in 2015.

China has reported a sharp slowdown in exports in May compared to the previous month while imports unexpectedly dropped, as the world's second largest economy grapples with slowing growth and slugg

The United States is unlikely to export much gas from its shale boom to Japan, poising Western Australia as a major supplier to the Asian country over the next decade, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Talk of recession in Western Australia is "ludicrous", according to Treasurer Troy Buswell.

Employers wanting to take on foreign workers on 457 visas will have to undertake labour market testing under legislative changes to the controversial scheme.

The Palmer United Party's Queensland division has been registered under the name United Australia Party, Mr Palmer said in a statement this morning.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet vows Labor will remain committed to its carbon pricing regime beyond the next federal election, despite any political damage.

Australia's economic growth was sluggish in the March quarter, and that pace is likely to continue as the peak in mining investment looms.

Australia's foreign investment rules are sending the wrong message to China, Premier Colin Barnett says.

A new report has cautioned against using Australia's vast pool of superannuation to fund infrastructure or for other non-retirement purposes.

The Australian economy benefited from a larger-than-expected rise in exports during the first three months of 2013.

A 26 per cent wage increase over four years demanded by the Maritime Union of Australia WA branch is "off the planet", Premier Colin Barnett says.

Excessive wage demands are threatening major energy projects in Australia, a federal Labor minister says.

Business leaders in Western Australia say there should be no rise in the state's minimum wage this year, with the WA Industrial Relations Commission set to hear the state wage case this week.

Live animal exports would be banned by 2017 under a private bill introduced by federal independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who says the industry has run out of "last chances".

WHAT do you call a person who makes the same mistake year after year? ‘Fool’ is one suggestion, and it seems the same description certainly applies to governments.

Two months after the West Australian election is too soon to start claiming the state government is breaking election promises, Premier Colin Barnett says.