Government

Treasurer Wayne Swan says Australia can't avoid the slowdown in the global economy but the national economic outlook remains strong.

Julia Gillard will seek to improve Australia's troubled ties with India on her first prime ministerial visit to the nation next week.

 Economists doubt a confused set of labour force figures will stand in the way of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cutting the cash rate again at its Melbourne Cup day board meeting in Nove

Economists are expecting the domestic unemployment rate to have risen, confirming fears the job market has weakened in recent months.

A federal parliamentary committee has backed the passing of laws linking Australia's carbon market with Europe's emissions trading scheme from 2015.

Premier Colin Barnett says he has a hard time liking Treasurer Wayne Swan, labelling him "a very nasty politician".

Treasurer Wayne Swan has hailed Australia's new standing as the world's 12th largest economy as a remarkable achievement.

The International Monetary Fund has made across-the-board cuts to its world economic growth forecasts, saying "uncertainty weighs heavily on the outlook".

Australia's experience in dealing with its challenging farming environment means it's well placed to lead improvements in global food security, Foreign Minister Bob Carr says.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the time has come for Australia and Japan to "seal the deal" on a free-trade agreement that has been more than five years in the making.

Police Minister Liza Harvey insists that the state government is on track to boost force numbers, despite deep budget cuts and a public service staff freeze.

Almost 60 victims of the 2011 Margaret River bushfire have joined a class action against Western Australia's Department of Environment and Conservation.

The federal opposition supports the government's bid to boost diplomatic ties with China but has questioned whether it was wise for Foreign Minister Bob Carr to make it public.

In another sign Australia's employment market is weakening, job ads fell for the sixth straight month in September.

Federal coalition MPs could reach a compromise deal on wheat deregulation that would allow for a state-based regulatory regime, a Western Australian Liberal senator says.

Treasury boss Martin Parkinson has warned global economic volatility is likely to be a feature of the world economy for the next decade.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has accused Tony Abbott of being "grossly irresponsible" for likening the future fortunes of the Australian economy to that of crisis-struck Europe.

The federal opposition has seized on comments from a senior power industry figure as proof removing the carbon tax will bring down electricity prices.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has accused Opposition Leader Tony Abbott of sinking to new depths of negativity and economic recklessness by linking Europe's debt crisis to Australia's economy.

 Building approvals and retail trade posted rises in August, but in both cases the gains made up less than half the ground lost by falls in July.

Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders won't be welcome in Western Australia because he would offend Muslims and could trigger violent protests, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Chinese demand for Australian commodities - not interest rate cuts - will determine whether the budget is in surplus in 2012/13, a leading budget forecaster says.

The Business Council of Australia has joined a growing number of industry groups concerned that the federal government may tweak existing concessions to pay for a cut in the corporate tax rate.

The Australian Labor Party is on track to meet its target of recruiting 8000 new members by the end of 2012, senior party figures say.

Sharks that get too close to swimmers may be killed before they get a chance to attack, under the state government's response to an unprecedented spate of fatalities.

The number of job vacancies in Australia has risen by 4.2 per cent, official statistics show.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan is confident Asia's transition to a global economic powerhouse over the next decade will provide Australians with new and interesting kinds of jobs.

Higher taxes on mining and wealthy individuals are needed to ensure the economy serves the needs of "people and nature", Australian Greens leader Christine Milne says.

The state government has announced $328 million in spending cuts and foreshadowed further savings later this year to try and protect its budget surplus from the impact of falling mining royalties.

Australian households are using 25 per cent more electricity compared to a decade ago even though retail prices have skyrocketed 72 per cent in the last five years.

The number of jobs advertised on the internet last month has fallen sharply over the year. 

Nationals MP Tony Crook has decided to support the Labor government's planned deregulation of wheat exports, leaving the Liberal Party's federal MPs in the unusual and embarrassing position of oppo