Government

Australia needs to prepare for the next mining boom by giving tax breaks to start-up resources companies, the head of the nation's stock exchange says.

Australian companies are feeling the squeeze from higher operating costs, but relatively weak product prices, economists say.

Peter Tinley, who was once touted as a future state Labor leader, has quit as an opposition spokesman after a company that his wife is linked to went into receivership.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says the latest jobless figures from Europe are a stark reminder of the difficult conditions in the global economy.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has been accused of ditching Liberal party values and sanctioning muckraking against Prime Minister Julia Gillard as Labor continues to seek the political upper hand a

The federal government is facing a revolt of independent MPs that could jeopardise its ability to return the budget to surplus this financial year.

The agribusiness sector has welcomed the passing of legislation to fully deregulate the wheat industry through federal parliament's lower house, thanking those politicians that sided with Labor for

Premier Colin Barnett was not amused by the gift of a train shaped cake from union officials to welcome him to his refurbished $26 million offices in Perth.

The state government has defended its selection of a South Korean associated company to build an artificial reef at Geographe Bay in the state's south.

Treasurer Wayne Swan expects a change of leadership in China will bring both new challenges and opportunities over the next six months.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has avoided opposition calls to directly guarantee there will be a budget surplus this financial year.

Foreign investment in Australia is being inhibited by its strong dollar and perceptions about its attitude to offshore investment, according to the latest Global Ambition survey.

Chinese investment in Australia has declined since 2009 while Australian investment in China almost tripled, a new report shows.

Australia's existing renewable energy target for 2020-2030 should be retained, the Climate Change Authority has recommended.

The first indigenous woman elected to an Australian parliament has come out swinging against Browse gas hub opponents, saying the Broome community is not divided over the proposal and it's only a s

A review of local government in metropolitan Perth has called for a reduction in the number of councils from 30 to 12 and the introduction of compulsory voting in local council elections.

Western Australia should maintain its AAA credit rating if steps being taken by the Barnett government are as effective as hoped, Treasurer Troy Buswell says.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has ruled out pursuing a cut in the company tax rate if battlers have to pay for it

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.