Government

The war of words over the cost of the state opposition’s Metronet heavy rail plan has continued, with Transport Minister Troy Buswell claiming Labor has failed to account for “at least” $1 billion

Consumer sentiment has surged to its highest level in more than two years, fuelled by low interest rates and improving property and share markets.

A Labor MP insists there is no chance a revived mining industry campaign about the resources rent tax could claim another prime minister's scalp.

Labor leader Mark McGowan has backed gay marriage and euthanasia during an online question and answer session.

The federal government has no plans to change the design of its mining tax, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

Premier Colin Barnett has revived plans for a university in Midland at the historic Railway Workshops if the Liberals win the March 9 state election.

The central bank will have to cut the cash rate again at some stage given the chronic low levels of business and consumer confidence, a leading business group says.

 Independent MP Rob Oakeshott feels the Gillard government partly duped him about the design of its mining tax.

The Liberal party's highly anticipated light rail plan will cost $1.8 billion and move 25,000 commuters a day.

Tax concessions within Australia's superannuation system are not as generous as those in other countries.

Opposition to the carbon tax by Western Australia's Labor leader Mark McGowan has been ridiculed by the state's Liberals as electioneering by a "fence sitter".

 The federal opposition says the Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan are to blame for a substantial shortfall in mining tax revenue.

Australians are struggling to put money aside, while households are feeling less comfortable after having spent their carbon tax compensation allowances, a survey has found.

Premier Colin Barnett has raised the stakes in the popularity contest in the run up to the March 9th state election by announcing plans to loosen up liquor laws.

The WA Liberal Party says building economic and cultural ties with Asia and Africa will be priorities if it is re-elected in the March state election, while the opposition has pledged to focus on b

Energy Minister Peter Collier is deflecting calls for his sacking over cost blow outs in the Muja coal-fired power station refurbishment.

The federal opposition says Treasurer Wayne Swan has been stalling for time by not releasing the revenue amounts raised by the government's mining tax.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is pressuring the coalition over its superannuation plans, even though Labor has declined to guarantee it won't change the treatment of retirement savings.

Pessimistic forecasts for Western Australia's share of GST distributions have underestimated the dire outlook for the boom state.

Confidence among Australian businesses slumped in the final three months of last year, suggesting a slow start to 2013.

Western Australia's Labor party is "ashamed" of its own name because of the record of Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her federal colleagues, Premier Colin Barnett claims.

A Greens' bid to have the federal government disclose state government attempts to secure Commonwealth funding for a light rail system has failed.

Western Australia sealed a good deal with James Packer despite the billionaire being granted a $35 million discount on land on which he plans to build a six-star, 500-room hotel, Premier

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is backing away from a draft coalition discussion paper proposing incentives and beneficial tax rates to encourage people to move to northern Australia.

A steady national unemployment rate is a sign conditions in the Australian economy may be starting to improve.

 Job seekers had more advertisements to sift through in the first month of the new year, with an increase in ads on Australia's main job website.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has challenged the opposition to show how it would have achieved budget surpluses during the global financial crisis.

Unions are calling on Labor and the coalition to enshrine penalty rates in law and make annual and sick leave portable.

Retailers are demanding an interest rate cut after new figures confirmed poor shopping conditions during the Christmas period.

 Finance Minister Penny Wong has backed the Reserve Bank's assessment that global risks have abated for now.

Australia's Future Fund gained more than $9 billion in 2012 as improving global markets drove returns of more than 12 per cent.

 The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate at three per cent, saying that fears about global economic growth have abated.