Government

Western Australia's peak union body has lashed out at Premier Colin Barnett over comments he made that Sunday retail workers should not be paid such high hourly rates.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says he will continue to press the federal government to include gold and other minerals in its proposed mining tax.

Wages rose faster than expected in the December quarter, but not fast enough to trouble Australia's reserve bank, economists say.

Job advertisements on the internet increased by 1.9 per cent in January compared to a month earlier, federal figures show.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has dismissed claims from Premier Colin Barnett that the Gonski review of school funding is a federal attempt to take over state-run schools.

A deal to give Greece more money to help rescue the Eurozone member from its massive debt could create the conditions for a further period of stable interest rates in Australia.

Premier Colin Barnett has slammed the federal government over the Gonski review of school funding, saying it's an attempt by the commonwealth to take over state-run schools.

Perth shoppers may finally have the freedom of those in other capital cities, with a Sunday trading bill introduced to state parliament today.

The national body representing Australia's minerals industry believes the federal government's planned mining tax is workable and should be made law.

Uncertainty about the European debt crisis and the introduction of a carbon tax in Australia is hampering the confidence of small businesses, while the number of small firms going bankrupt jumped b

Big business is urging the federal government to keep its promise to return the budget to surplus unless there is a serious deterioration in the global economy.

Protesters who set up an Aboriginal tent embassy in Perth have vowed to stay after ripping up a council move-on notice.

Employment forecasts underpinning the government's November fiscal update are slipping out of reach.

Former Labor government minister and assistant police commissioner Bob Kucera looks set to make a political comeback.

Treasury boss Martin Parkinson believes returning the federal budget to surplus is sensible, given the current state of the Australia economy.

The resources boom is unlikely to derail other industries in Australia, according to Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Philip Lowe.

Almost a third of Australia's accounting and finance firms intend hiring new staff.

Two consecutive rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia appear to have boosted employer confidence.

The high value of the Australian dollar has boosted the spending power of households the past decade, the Reserve Bank of Australia says.

Mistakes were made but heads shouldn't roll over a prescribed burn that went wrong and destroyed 40 properties in the Margaret River region, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Means testing the private health insurance rebate will prompt many people to drop their private health cover and put more pressure on the public health system,  Premier Colin Barnett says.

Consumer confidence has risen following two interest rate cuts in late 2011, but remains well below its level a year ago, according to a private survey.

Western Australia’s population is forecast to grow to 3,061,000 by 2026, according to the latest population projections released by the state government.

Labor has accused coalition MPs of double standards by talking up the impact of the carbon and mining profits tax on the economy while personally investing in mining companies.

Five of Australia's capital cities rank among the world's 20 most expensive places to live.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the economy remains strong despite recent job cuts by banks and manufacturers.

Natural disaster assistance funding will be provided to West Australian communities hit by Tropical Cyclone Heidi in January.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says events in Greece are a reminder that the road to sustainable finances can be a painful one.

 The central bank's decision to lower its forecasts for inflation and growth shows the nation's economy is rock solid despite headwinds from Europe, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.

The federal opposition is demanding Treasurer Wayne Swan explain a potential $4 billion black hole in its mining tax that is due to start in July.

Australia's top diplomat has expressed frustration with the slow progress of free trade talks with China, suggesting there is unlikely to be a deal for many years to come.