Government

Federal finance minister Penny Wong says the federal opposition's economic credibility is in tatters after the accountants who costed its 2010 election policies were found to have breached professi

The state government and opposition are pressuring Canberra to honour a commitment to fund native title compensation.

Port Authorities have warned that further industrial action at Fremantle Port could lead to lasting ill-effects on the national economy.

A moratorium has been recommended for all future coal seam gas (CSG) projects until further research is carried out and the approval process tightened to cover such issues as how salt will be dispo

The nation's peak business group has called on the federal coalition to work with the minority Labor government to head off "retrograde" Greens policies on industrial relations.

Premier Colin Barnett has denied a senior public servant is taking the fall for Environment Minister Bill Marmion over the Margaret River bushfire.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he will congratulate Wayne Swan if the federal treasurer delivers his promised budget surplus.But only after he falls over with surprise.

Capital expenditure figures point to a strong economy boosted by the mining sector, economists say.

Treasurer Wayne Swan is defending the growth forecasts in the federal government's mid-year budget review despite his own warnings of dark clouds looming overseas.

Mining Minister Norman Moore has turned down the opportunity to become WA's next Agent-General in London, a likely disruption to Premier Colin Barnett's plans to bring new blood into the cabinet we

The Australian dollar was more than a full US cent higher today, bouncing from its intraday lows as Asian equities and US equity futures rose.

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.

Overcrowding and privatisation of Western Australian jails is costing taxpayers money and endangering prison staff, according to unions.

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.

The state government has reported a $325 million operating surplus for the first quarter of the 2011-12 financial year.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says the OECD has firmly endorsed Australia's budget strategy in its latest economic outlook.

The Australian dollar has opened higher on the possibility of developments on a eurozone debt crisis solution.

An Arabic-speaking career diplomat will be Australia's next ambassador to the Middle Eastern kingdom of Kuwait.

Australian wages grew around four per cent, on average, last financial year, a private sector survey shows.

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.

Australian economic growth is likely to accelerate in 2012 but it won't be enough to get the federal budget back into surplus, economists say.

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

Liberal MP Peter Slipper has been elected Speaker of the House of Representatives replacing Labor's Harry Jenkins.

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.

Premier Colin Barnett has hit back at federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson for saying the real problem for mining companies was paying state royalties.