Government

Former state Labor minister Alannah MacTiernan has stepped back from a statement that the prime minister should be replaced as Labor leader.

Treasurer Wayne Swan believes the challenge for this year's federal budget will be weaker revenues.

Australia is the third most popular investment destination for Chinese companies and funds are being directed not just to mining and resources.

Consumer confidence in Western Australia is on the rise after hitting record lows in the December quarter, a survey shows.

There will be recounts in two tight West Australian electorates, after the WA Electoral Commission declared Labor winners in both seats but by less than a hundred votes.

Western Australia will have a newly sworn-in government at the end of next week after finalisation of results in two knife-edge electoral seats.

Former police minister Rob Johnson has put up his hand for the job of speaker in the new parliament, saying he was previously endorsed for the role by Premier Colin Barnett.

 A Reserve Bank of Australia official says the large surge in employment growth in February will not, by itself, have an impact on the interest rate outlook.

Several seats left undecided after Saturday's state election remain on a knife edge as counting continues in Eyre, Collie-Preston and Midland.

Labor senator Doug Cameron says there is no evidence the federal government should hand some of its powers over the environment to the states.

 Northern Territory chief minister Terry Mills has been dumped as leader while on an overseas trip, and been replaced by Adam Giles.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says proposed media laws changes won't curtail the freedom of the press or allow governments to control the news.

The federal government is likely to produce a budget deficit of about $20 billion this financial year on the back of declining company tax revenues, according to new analysis.

The Liberal Party has claimed victory in another electorate, saying Glenys Godfrey has won the seat of Belmont.

Woodside Petroleum's $40 billion Browse gas project looks less likely to go ahead despite the re-election of its biggest supporter, Premier Colin Barnett.

The head of Western Australia's Department of Environment and Conservation has been forced to quit after 12 years in the job due to illness.

Fears that a ballot box was stolen with a car in the knife-edge electorate of Midland have proven baseless.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said the government intends to keep to its promise of getting debt below $250 billion by the end of the 2012/13 financial year.

Business hiring intentions are subdued due to conflicting economic messages and uncertainty over the outcome of the upcoming federal election, a survey says.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam admits he's in strife if weekend state election results carry over to the federal election in September.

The final make-up of the state parliament will not be known for days, as counting continues in five knife-edge seats and Premier Colin Barnett ponders the composition of his new cabinet.

Labor faces an absolute massacre in the September federal election if it doesn't respond to voter dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, a former state Labor MP says.

Australia's biggest resources companies will continue to enjoy the support of a conservative state government, industry commentators say.

The City of Fremantle has hit back at suggestions it was responsible for the demise of photographic competition FotoFreo.

Australian firms are unlikely to get any relief from the relentless strength of the local dollar any time soon, particularly if overseas central banks keep pursuing policies that deflate their own

Premier Colin Barnett may say tomorrow's state election will go down to the wire, but bookies don't agree, paying out early for an expected Liberal win.

Banks have rejected calls for a new tax on the industry, saying the move would hurt retirees and small businesses.