Government

Job advertisements on the internet fell by three per cent in December compared to a month earlier, national data shows.

The federal opposition believes Treasurer Wayne Swan will need to be a magician to deliver his promised budget surplus in 2012/13 in the light of downgraded global growth forecasts.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan is being "sneaky" by promoting an opt-out provision for workers under proposed Sunday trading laws, the government says. 

More Australian businesses left bills unpaid for 90 days or longer during the December quarter than a year earlier, Dun & Bradstreet said. 

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the federal government will help find jobs for the 350 Toyota workers made redundant and shore up the car industry overall.

 Treasurer Wayne Swan has supported calls for Europe to take more action to solve its debt crisis, saying no country is immune from the fallout.

Western Australia’s resources sector has applauded the now bi-partisan support for Sunday trading, saying the added vibrancy from more open shops may help attract more migrants from the eastern sta

Oil prices rose modestly Monday after the EU slapped an embargo on Iran's crude exports as part of tough new sanctions aimed at stopping Tehran from funding its disputed nuclear program.

Another official interest rate cut is looking more likely as new evidence shows price pressures are easing.

 Toyota Australia has confirmed it will cut 350 jobs due to pressures caused by the high Australian dollar.

Newly-installed state Labor Leader Mark McGowan has confirmed the party will support the introduction of Sunday trading and will not revoke any approvals for uranium mines in Western Australia, in

Motorists will pay less for petrol in the weeks ahead after unleaded petrol prices hit an 11-week high last week, an economist says.

A lower than expected rise in producer prices is expected to set the tone for the release of key inflation figures later this week.

Western Australia continues to lead the nation's economic growth and is set to maintain its course for most of this year, a new report says.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith says he is not concerned that incoming Western Australian Labor leader Mark McGowan could battle the federal government on infrastructure funding from the mining tax.

Economists believe the rate of inflation in Australia is continuing to slow although it maybe the cooling world economy that will play a greater role in cutting interest rates.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the government is "determined" to return the federal budget to surplus, despite a soft jobs market and reduced expectations for global growth.

Western Australian Labor leader in waiting, Mark McGowan, says some decisions by the federal government have hurt his party's chances at a state level.

Australia's jobs market is still weakening, official figures show, adding to the case for a further cut in interest rates next month, economists say.

Australia is in for a tough economic year after the World Bank slashed its global growth forecasts and warned there could be a worldwide recession worse than three years ago.

 Eric Ripper's future in the Western Australian Labor Party remains on shaky ground as more members speak out against his leadership.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has thrown his support behind a Western Australian push for a bigger share of GST.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the opposition is being "deeply irresponsible" by talking down the Australian economy while markets are skittish over the European debt crisis.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has warned Europe faces an "unprecedented crisis" but urged calm in the face of Standard & Poor's multiple eurozone rating downgrades.

The first political opinion poll of the year shows the federal coalition continuing to hold an election-winning lead over Labor.

 Europe's debt crisis is worrying Australian employers and keeping them from hiring staff, economists say.

Australia is set for a higher rate of unemployment in 2012, new figures show.

The mass debt downgrade of eurozone nations has reignited a debate over boosting the bloc's bailout fund, but governments are divided over raising their contributions, a senior EU official says.

Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten says states should not expect payments from the Commonwealth if they walk away from deals on national reforms.

The federal government says Australia's strong ranking on a global economic index shows the nation is punching above its weight.

While WA continues to record impressive economic growth, the CCI’s latest quarterly outlook highlights an economy of mixed fortunes.