Government

The federal government is playing down reports its new mining tax has failed to raise a single cent of revenue in its first three months.

Western Australia's retirement village residents will have an avenue to appeal unwarranted hikes to charges under laws that have passed state parliament.

Labor's controversial carbon tax might not push up consumer prices in its first year by as much as the federal government expected.

Electricity network operator Western Power says it still doesn't know the cause of the 2009 Toodyay bushfire that destroyed 38 homes and continues to deny any liability, despite paying compensation

China's manufacturing activity contracted in October but at a slower pace than in previous months, a sign the slowdown in the world's number two economy is bottoming out.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet has attacked Tony Abbott's plan to repeal Labor's carbon tax as a sovereign risk.

Perth's local government structure badly needs to be overhauled and reduced to no more than 20 metropolitan councils, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Economists say a larger-than-expected rise in inflation for the September quarter could encourage Australia's central bank to keep the cash rate steady at its next meeting.

Businesses have received some positive news as they head into the crucial Christmas sales period, in the form of a sharp rebound in consumer spending.

Global economic uncertainty is continuing to weigh on the Western Australian economy, but the state’s peak industry group is nonetheless forecasting economic growth of 6.5 per cent for the 2012-13

The local head of global fuel giant BP has warned that Australia is losing investment because it is increasingly expensive to do business and the federal government is failing to tackle the issue.

Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has ruled out Australia pursuing nuclear energy as an increasing number of states open the door to uranium mining.

Australia is ranked 10th in the world for the ease of doing business having jumped five places in the past year.

A modest tightening in the federal government's budget position adds to the case for lower interest rates, but a reduction in November still hinges on another benign inflation reading.

Australia's ability to compete internationally is under pressure as business leaders struggle to engage with Asia.

The federal government has cut by a third the revenue it expects to receive from its controversial mining tax.

The federal government is relying on optimistic economic growth forecasts to return the budget to surplus, a leading economist says.

Western Australia is still the nation's economic powerhouse but a slowdown in the mining sector could lead to weaker spending and a softer jobs market.

Of all the numbers subject to change in the next mid-year federal budget review, it seems pretty safe to say the predicted $1.5 billion surplus for this financial year will remain largely intact.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd says he "hopes" the revamped mining profits tax reaps enough to meet budget forecasts.

The Gillard government has used a draft report into electricity supplies to renew its argument that the carbon tax isn't responsible for the bulk of price hikes.

The federal Treasury anticipates sluggish global economic growth outlook for the next 12 to 18 months, a Senate hearing has been told.

 India's leader has personally praised Prime Minister Julia Gillard for her government's revised stance on uranium sales and has declared a "new chapter" in the bilateral relationship.

The Australian Greens have launched a campaign to protect the nation's natural icons they say are under threat from mining companies and the government.

The state government’s 20 largest capital projects are collectively expected to cost more than double their original estimates, but contrary to popular perception, the construction phase is not the

Australia's economy is growing at a slower-than-normal pace, but is expected to pick up over the next six to nine months.

Business conditions remained positive in September but softer than six months earlier, a survey of mid-sized firms has found.

Police Minister Liza Harvey says $26.5 million for the force's annual budget has been clawed back, despite earlier saying it was "pointless" fighting public sector cuts.

The Colin Barnett-led state government looks set to pick up seats in the March election, which could end the Liberal-National party coalition formed in 2008, a political commentator says.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has shifted its thinking and is no longer so confident of the mining sector's continued strength, economists say.

The head of the federal climate change department says it is "not implausible" the European carbon price could rise to $29 a tonne by mid-2015, when Australia's emissions trading scheme begins.

US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has rejected arguments that the Fed's bold moves to bolster American job growth could have unwanted consequences in emerging markets.