Government

Novel move, elementary It’s not just miners in Western Australia who have developed an acute interest in the periodic tables.

Cocos Islands residents have never been consulted about basing American surveillance drones on the Australian territory and were recently assured no military base would be set up there, a local bus

Consumers in Western Australia remain cautious, focusing more on saving and paying off debt rather than purchasing, a survey released today says.

Petrol prices hit a three year high last week as re-sellers factored in potential threats to oil supplies in the Middle East, new figures show.

Labor leader Mark McGowan has proudly claimed underdog status in next year's state election but denied unpopular Prime Minister Julia Gillard is a millstone around the party's neck.

The consumer watchdog says it will be closely watching electricity retailers which include a carbon tax impact on power bills sent to customers.

Former Reserve Bank of Australia board member Solomon Lew has called for an immediate, hefty official interest rate cut while accusing the central bank of being out of touch.

Treasurer Wayne Swan believes a growing number of people agree with the sentiments in his recent essay that attacked "vested interest" and in particular three billionaire mining magnates.

Premier Colin Barnett has denied he is "obsessed" with industrialising the Kimberley, following a new move by his government to compulsorily acquire land for a $30 billion gas hub there.

Perth's Aboriginal tent embassy protest has become "violent and divisive" and will be dismantled by force, Premier Colin Barnett has warned.

The federal coalition says Labor is going to cut the diesel fuel rebate for miners in the May budget as part of a "cash grab" aimed at protecting the government's surplus.

Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten insists a lift in the superannuation guarantee is not a tax on employers.

A clash is looming at an Aboriginal "tent embassy" in Perth after the police commissioner urged the city council to order the protesters off a public reserve.

The mining industry has lashed out at suggestions the federal government is considering a cut to the diesel fuel tax rebate to prop up its budget, saying a further reduction was the equivalent of i

The Australian Greens and Labor are in a stand-off over corporate tax cuts linked to the minerals resource rent tax (MRRT) passed by parliament this week.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr has described as "recklessly irresponsible" Clive Palmer's claim that the CIA is sponsoring green groups in a bid to wreck the Australian economy.

The state government should not waste taxpayers' money by joining a court challenge against the federal government's mining tax if there's no reasonable chance of success, state Opposition Leader M

Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey has predicted the final federal budget deficit for 2011/12 will be around $50 billion.

UnionsWA secretary Simone McGurk and former television journalist Reece Whitby are among 33 WA Labor Party candidates announced last night who will stand for Lower House seats at the 2013 state ele

The Reserve Bank of Australia believes the nation's booming mining industry is balancing out weakness in other parts of the economy, suggesting there was no need to cut interest rates.

Shareholders will be hit with double taxation on dividends from miners if the federal government's mining tax legislation is passed, Australia's biggest and oldest listed investment company says.

The opposition has taken Treasurer Wayne Swan to task for insisting that Australia's 2.7 million small businesses will benefit from a planned cut in the company tax rate.

Boosting productivity growth is the only way for Australians to improve their living standards, the country's central bank chief says.

The number of scams reported to Australia's consumer watchdog almost doubled last year, with financial losses from the rorts totalling more than $85 million.

All Australians will be entitled to government-funded training if the states and territories sign up to a new federal government plan.

Federal MP Don Randall says he has wide support within the state Liberal Party for his attack on the state's police minister Rob Johnson and his call for him to be dumped.

Western Australia’s key industry group has predicted further strengthening in the Western Australian economy over 2012, after a sustained period of patchy conditions and global economic uncertainty

Federal opposition finance spokesman Andrew Robb warns China's economic boom won't last forever.

Treasurer Wayne Swan insists the federal government has solid community backing for its minerals resource rent tax.

Putting more information on business loans and financing into the public arena would help turn the spotlight on the struggles of small businesses, the coalition says.

Australia's taxation commissioner believes the task force set up to tackle tax evasion through overseas havens has had some significant successes.