Government

Retail spending has risen for the third month in a row, giving hope to a sector struggling with a high Australian dollar and consumer caution.

Activity in the Australian services sector contracted in October as sales weakened and new orders fell, a private survey shows.

Car maker Holden says it has not made a final decision about the future of the Commodore, despite union claims that the next model could be the last created in Australia.

The federal government is predicting an additional 76,000 jobs will be created in the retail sector by 2015.

Rents are spiking for apartments in East Perth because of strong economic growth, low unemployment, corporate relocations and supply shortages, new research from Knight Frank says.

Woolworths' new chief executive Grant O'Brien is planning an aggressive push to open 39 new supermarkets while reviewing the company's troubled Big W and Dick Smith stores.

Virgin Australia chief executive John Borghetti has rejected claims the airline's pilots, engineers and ground crew are paid substantially less than those at Qantas Airways.

More than three-quarters of Australians won't have enough superannuation to last them throughout their retirement, a new report warns.

The competition watchdog says Qantas is not doing enough to compensate the 68,000 passengers left out of pocket by its grounding.

The state’s peak retail body says Western Australian retailers are expecting bumper Christmas sales results following the Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates yesterday.

Senior government ministers have rejected union calls for changes to the Fair Work Act following the forced termination of industrial action at Qantas.

Outspoken Labor backbencher Doug Cameron says the government will have to consider changing the Fair Work Act to make sure companies can't abuse the law like he says Qantas did on the weekend.

Westpac Banking Corporation has increased full year profit by 10 per cent, saying its business strategy was "delivering tangible benefits".

Master Builders Australia says a replacement agency with fewer powers than the Australian Building and Construction Commission would give the green light to building unions to engage in unlawful st

Qantas Airways' bookings should improve in the period ahead as the end of work stoppages brings greater certainty to the Flying Kangaroos' schedule, analysts say.

More than half of Western Australia's surf life saving clubs are threatened by rising sea levels and erosion, according to a new report.

Grocery giant Coles has been caught up in an online scam offering free $500 gift cards to the supermarket.

Tough new abalone laws have been introduced to Western Australia this season, giving recreational fishermen just one hour on the first Sunday of each month to collect the valuable shellfish.

Tension is mounting surrounding the federal government's minerals resource rent tax legislation, with key independent MPs demanding stricter rules for coal seam gas and the Greens insisting gold mi

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has told Labor MPs the decision by Qantas to ground its fleet at the weekend was irresponsible.

Campbell Brothers has bought US-based environmental and food analytical group, Columbia Analytical Services (CAS), for $US33 million ($31 million), as the company seeks to expand in the United Stat

Wesfarmers has raised $500 million through the issue of fixed-rate medium-term notes.

Ratings agencies have placed Qantas Airways on review for a possible downgrade following the grounding of the entire Qantas fleet over the weekend.

The Royal Australian Air Force has come to the rescue of federal MPs stuck in Western Australia due to the Qantas strike.

Automotive Holdings Group has announced the acquisition of Kewdale-based  commercial vehicle outlet Diesel Motors Trucks, for approximately $6 million.

Unions representing Qantas workers may challenge a ban on strike action but say they hope to settle their industrial dispute with the airline.

Price rises associated with travel and home ownership were offset by falling fruit and vegetable  and rent costs in October, according to a new survey.

Western Australia's population will double over the next 40 years on the back of a continuing resources boom, Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls says.

The federal government has announced extra funding for the Industry Capability Network, to help Australian businesses win supply contracts on major resources projects such as the Browse LNG develop

The state government has launched a major initiative aimed at tackling the lack of hotel investment and development in Western Australia, including the release of Crown land and lease incentives.

More than a quarter of nations represented at the Commonwealth leaders' meeting in Perth have failed to allow basic industrial rights for workers, the ACTU says

Treasurer Wayne Swan says Australian households are still doing it tough, despite encouraging news on inflation.