Prime Minister Julia Gillard will chair the first meeting of a new manufacturing task force tomorrow, as new figures indicate the dire state of the sector.
Environment Minister Bill Marmion says he would be concerned if a manager who approved a prescribed burn that became a destructive bushfire was not stood aside.
Australia is regarded as one of the world's safest borrowers, after a global ratings agency upgraded the country to the highest possible rating for its overseas borrowings.
Trade Minister Craig Emerson believes it is important to return the federal budget back to surplus so there's room for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to cut interest rates again if needed.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says tough cuts would not be needed in the federal government's mid-year budget review if Labor had not wasted billions of taxpayers' dollars.
Rio Tinto has maintained its faith in Chinese growth by raising its Pilbara iron ore production target, even though it admits customers are becoming increasingly cautious about the world economy.
The Australian dollar has opened slightly higher, on talk of a possible bailout solution for eurozone countries, after a week of increasing fears for the European currency.
Germany is facing mounting pressure to let the European Central Bank (ECB) save the euro, as reports surfaced of IMF contingency bailout planning for a remodelled Italy.
Treasurer Wayne Swan may only need to do some modest tweaking to reach his promised budget surplus in 2012/13, the chief economist at the nation's biggest home lender says.
As bushfires continue to engulf parts of Western Australia's southwest and another fire threatens homes in Perth's east, a parliamentary report has revealed the state may be underprepared for the b
The Australian dollar has continued its downward trend following a report that France and Belgium were restarting talks on the bailout of Brussels-based bank Dexia.
The federal government could be forced to make further changes to its mining tax by the Greens, despite Prime Minister Julia Gillard's assurances that it will pass the Senate with the support of th
Premier Colin Barnett has hit back at federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson for saying the real problem for mining companies was paying state royalties.
The federal government has dismissed the opposition's claim that a report from a leading international investment bank proves Labor's carbon tax is "all pain for no environmental gain".
Treasurer Wayne Swan has credited Prime Minister Julia Gillard's "guts and determination" for the successful passage of the federal government's mining tax.
The federal government is set to defer by one year the phasing down of a foreign bank tax measure, so it can cover the cost of its deal to secure the passing of mining tax laws.
A Western Australian Aboriginal group's request for the environment minister to use emergency powers to intervene in a Pilbara land dispute with Fortescue Metals Group is being considered but there
Prime Minister Julia Gillard threatens the "very fabric of cooperation in our federation" with plans to penalise states for mining royalty increases, Premier Colin Barnett says.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says her travels to various parts of the globe in recent weeks have uncovered a common thread of concern amongst world leaders about Europe, and highlighted the merits