Government

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.

Julia Gillard likes to talk about the patchwork economy, but it's the patchwork electorate that is Labor's biggest worry.

The Reserve Bank of Australia appears to be losing its faith that the commodity price boom will push the economy into overdrive.

The Australian Greens have again urged federal Labor to increase its proposed mining tax, to better protect industries struggling under the weight of the high Australian dollar.

Australian Workers' Union boss Paul Howes says the Reserve Bank of Australia has signed a "death warrant" for manufacturing by putting its cash rate on hold.

Security officers have escorted Premier Colin Barnett past shouting Aboriginal protesters from a venue in Kings Park after he outlined a native title settlement deal to Noongar people.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says Labor will bring the federal budget back into surplus in 2012/13 but the opposition cannot make that commitment.

The value of Western Australian listed companies rose by 9.6 per cent in January, as Australian markets continue to mirror commodities, new research says.

The federal government is intensifying pressure on the coalition over its stance on funding for the ailing automotive manufacturing industry.

Sales expectations among businesses for the June quarter are at their highest level in eight years, a private sector survey shows.

Motorists can expect to see petrol prices fall by up to three cents a litre in the next fortnight, after fuel peaked last week, an economist says.

Labor can win an election in 2013 if it delivers its plans for reshaping the economy, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.But it will take a lot of hard work.

Job advertisements have posted their largest monthly rise since February 2010, a private survey shows.

The latest Fairfax/Nielsen poll shows Julia Gillard is in front of Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister for the first time in nine months.

A strong January jobs report on Friday sent US stocks soaring, pushing the Dow to pre-crisis levels, as investors celebrated a surge in job growth that pointed to new vitality in the fragile recove

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is wary of an economy where the only signs of strength are in the mining sector, after hundreds of jobs were slashed in the banking and manufacturing sectors.

The effectiveness of the Council of Australian Governments will be put to the test over this year as it tries to drive reforms to make the national economy more seamless.