Government

Western Australia remains the top performing economy in the nation, while the ACT has jumped into second position as its jobs market improves.

There will be winners if Australia introduces an emissions trading scheme, but it won't be the taxpaying public.

Proposed changes to fringe benefits tax (FBT) will make the tax system fairer and more sustainable, Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten says.

Treasurer Chris Bowen says the end of the Chinese resources investment boom is a challenge but not a crisis for Australia.

Labor's candidate for the federal seat of Perth has disputed claims by transport minister Troy Buswell about the CityLink rail project.

While the salary packaging sector, tax advisers and automotive manufacturers are up in arms about Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's proposed changes to the fringe benefits tax deductions for vehicles, the two largest car retailers have said the changes will not significantly affect their businesses.

The Australian dollar edged higher ahead of US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's appearance before the US Congress.

A sharp drop in confidence among medium-sized businesses can be blamed on uncertainty ahead of the federal election, a survey says.

The federal government is hinting it may recall parliament to consider its plan to dump the carbon tax and replace it with an emissions trading scheme.

The Australian dollar surged close to 92 US cents as traders interpreted the minutes of the Reserve Bank's July meeting as a sign interest rates won't be cut in August.

Negotiations between Western Australia and Canberra over the proposed schools funding plan are at a standstill, the prime minister's office has revealed.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is under fire from unions, business and the Greens over his plan to start emissions trading in 2014, but insists it will help ease living costs while maintaining pollution

The Australian dollar got a modest bounce from China's latest economic growth figures, but remains lower.

Labor's scrapping of the carbon tax will ease living costs but households shouldn't get too excited.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has called for a new productivity pact between business, unions and the federal government to boost the economy.

A dip in unemployment in Western Australia in June was not enough to keep the nation's jobless rate from rising, official figures show.

Perth is now Australia's most expensive city and the eleventh priciest to live in worldwide, according a renowned online cost of living index.

Keeping Western Australia's budget in surplus is going to be a close call, Premier Colin Barnett warns.

Premier Colin Barnett wants a 12-month extension to the deadline for signing up to the federal government's school funding scheme.

The onus is on the Barnett government to find a way out of its tight budget predicament.

The worst business trading conditions in four years could see the Reserve Bank of Australia cut the cash rate as early as August.

Just more than a week after Kevin Rudd took back the top job and suddenly Labor's starting to look competitive again.

The state's peak business representative group says the coalition's plans to cut $1 billion in red and green tape by rolling back Labor policies, including the carbon tax and the minerals resource

Job advertisements have declined for a fourth consecutive month, with Western Australia the hardest hit as the mining boom slows down.

Who believes Kevin Rudd has anything different to offer this time around?

Pluton Resources and Gunson Resources have become the first companies to benefit from the state government's new mining rehabilitation scheme, which replaces project-specific environmental bonds wi

Former Labor minister Alannah MacTiernan has been selected as the party's candidate for the federal seat of Perth.

Creditors for collapsed Perth building firm Gavin Construction are owed around $20 million, according to the company's administrator.

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey says Australia's falling dollar and low official interest rate are signs of economic volatility.

A coalition government wouldn't fund urban rail projects in Western Australia and would instead back roads, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has confirmed.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott says the only debate he will enter into with Kevin Rudd is across the floor of parliament or in election mode.

Australia has posted it largest trade surplus in 18 months as mining exports remain strong.It was the the fourth consecutive monthly surplus.