Government

Australia remains one of the top destinations for migrating professionals, but has slipped in a global rankings survey amid the high-value dollar putting pressure on exchange rates.

WA business leaders say the federal budget has made life more difficult for local industry and fails to recognise the state's importance to the national economy.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says his official budget reply won't be a complete list of the coalition's "spends and saves" but will paint a big economic picture.

The federal budget has failed to improve Australia's "inefficient" tax system, business leaders have said.

Every project in Australia worth $500 million or more must show how it will provide opportunities to local businesses, under new laws introduced into parliament.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has defended her government's budget, stating tough choices had to be made.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has handed down his sixth consecutive budget deficit, saying sharper spending cuts would have put jobs and the economy at risk.

Treasurer Troy Buswell has trimmed $92 million in government expenditure as rising spending and a “significant erosion” of revenue threaten to bring the state's budget into deficit.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett is declining to rule out further public sector job cuts as the state deals with a "volatile" environment.

Whatever else is revealed in tonight's federal budget there is one thing I hope for – an end to the nonsense of ‘modelling', because it is painfully obvious that modelling is nothing more than mode

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey is demanding the federal government publish a range of Treasury figures explaining revenue shortfalls, policy funding and future debt forecasts.

The federal government will abolish the baby bonus and project a return to surplus in 2016-17 in tonight's budget, the ABC has reported.

The federal government has confirmed it will contribute $400 million to upgrading sections of the Perth-to-Darwin Highway and says there will be more for Western Australia in today's budget.

Australians will be spared a budget that "cuts to the bone" but should brace for a disciplined road forward, Treasurer Wayne Swan has warned on the day he delivers his sixth, and possibly, final bu

RARELY do two budgets – Tuesday's federal budget, which was the last before an election, and the August state budget, which will be the first after an election – send such conflicting messages.

The federal government is spending $300 million to make it easier for people to work or study while they are on income support payments.

The resources industry is urging the federal government to tread carefully as it attempts to plug holes in its budget, due to be handed down early next week.

There are even less inflation hurdles for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to cut the cash rate further, if need be.

Business groups have welcomed the industrial relations policy package announced this week by federal opposition leader Tony Abbott but most have lobbied for the coalition to go much further.

Western Australian households face an extra $218 a year in fees and charges as Treasurer Troy Buswell warned of a “significant erosion” of the state's revenue base.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says his industrial relations policy will protect the pay and conditions of workers and offer them access to flexibility arrangements.

Further interest rates cuts appear less likely following another surprise surge in employment.

Western Australia's top judge says he has "serious concerns" about the state's attorney-general decision to stop a project that would have allowed the Supreme Court to stream cases online in r

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says it's not the amount of government spending that is putting pressure on the budget, but the lack of tax money coming in.

Premier Colin Barnett continues to hope Commonwealth funding will be forthcoming for the state government's rail plans, despite its historical backing of roads.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says Labor's decision to dump a tax cut funded by its carbon pricing regime shows next week's federal budget can't be trusted.

The lead-up to an election is not the right time to debate the federal government's national disability care scheme, Premier Colin Barnett says.

The federal opposition has accused Labor of ripping off Australian taxpayers after it confirmed it would "defer" tax cuts linked to its carbon pricing regime.

The Gillard government's inflammatory rhetoric on skilled migration and supposed widespread abuses of the 457 visa scheme still rankle.

Australia could revive its struggling cattle industry and improve animal welfare standards by processing meat at home instead of continuing live exports, the Australian Greens say.

Premier Colin Barnett he feels he's been under siege by the federal Labor government.He says he hopes a government led by Tony Abbott could be a bit more flexible.

The last thing we need ahead of the federal election is the major parties promising to outspend one another, but that's probably what we'll get