Government

A fall in job vacancies in the latter months of 2011 is a warning that the unemployment rate is likely to edge up in the months ahead.

The Queensland government has ordered an immediate suspension of some dredging in Gladstone Harbour, which is being deepened to support planned gas exports.

Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan has rejected claims of a looming jobs crisis.

The outlook for economic growth has fallen back below trend, although the pace of current activity is still strong, a survey shows.

A bid to mine coal in Western Australia's sensitive southwest tourism and wine-producing region has been rejected by the state government after the proponent appealed the original Environ

Tax professionals have questioned the logic behind the federal government’s plan to remove the living away from home allowance for temporary residents, a group of employees used heavily by the mini

The federal government has asked a former federal court judge, an academic and a Reserve Bank board member to review the Fair Work Act.

The federal government is going after directors of failed companies who, having avoided liability for workers' entitlements and other debts, restart the business under a similar name.

The possibility of further interest rate cuts hinges entirely on developments in Europe's government debt crisis, economists say.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) says it expects global economic growth to stall in the coming year, keeping the door open for more cash rate cuts in 2012.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has invited Australians to submit their priorities for next year's federal budget.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard's salary will rise to $481,000 and backbenchers will get a base rate of $185,000 from 2012, under a plan released today.

The Australian economy will inevitably suffer spillover effects from the European government debt crisis, Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Ric Battellino says.

Job advertisements on the internet rose by 5.4 per cent in November compared to a month earlier, national data shows.

Consumer confidence has dropped to its lowest level since August, despite two consecutive cash rate cuts, a survey finds.

Canada's decision to formally withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol doesn't mean the international community isn't serious about tackling global warming, the federal government says.

Billions of export dollars look set to keep rolling in at a healthy clip this financial year, despite an uncertain global backdrop.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced an extensive ministerial reshuffle that has increased the size of Cabinet to 22 ministers.

The state government will invest $78.2 million in regional water provision and natural resource management (NRM), the water minister and regional development and lands minister announced today.

WA Premier Colin Barnett says major resource projects will be delayed and deferred as a result of a slowdown in the global economy.

WA is faring best in the country for employment rates, according to figures released today.

The Australian dollar rose following the release of data showing the national economy grew strongly in the September quarter.

The Australian economy has posted its second consecutive quarter of robust growth as the booming mining sector fuels a solid rise in business investment, official figures show.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says the latest interest rate cut by the central bank should buoy families and small businesses for the festive season.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith has denied uranium exports to India will lead to instability in the region and alienate Pakistan.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has told the banks that any official interest rate cut should be passed on in full to their customers.

The federal government wants to know whether company annual general meetings can be improved to allow for more shareholder involvement.

The current account deficit narrowed in the September quarter thanks to continuing strong export prices.

Government spending fell in the September quarter, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed today.

Most companies would pay no corporate tax under a shake-up being planned by a working group set up by federal Treasurer Wayne Swan.

Standard and Poor's has placed Germany, France and 13 other eurozone members on a negative credit watch, warning they could be hit with downgrades.