Government

Australia's services sector continued to contract in November as frugal households saved more of their income.

European Union monitors and ratings agencies bear some of the blame for Greece's debt crisis that has plunged the continent into financial turmoil, former Greek prime minister George Papandreou say

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called on the Australian Labor Party to have a "fair dinkum" debate about its future as she laid out a plan to deliver more jobs, lower taxes and economic growth.

State Labor leader Eric Ripper has blasted Prime Minister Julia Gillard for using him as an excuse to deny Western Australia more than $200 million in native title compensation.

The Australian Labor Party's national conference has backed the federal government's commitment to a budget surplus and rejected a bid by the Left faction to expand the reach of the mining tax.

Opposition finance spokesman Andrew Robb is standing by the accountants who have been have been fined for breaching professional standards in costing the coalition's 2010 election policies, saying

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has promised Australians more jobs, lower taxes and economic growth in the face of a slowing global economy.

A consortium led by St John of God Health Care has been named as the State government's preferred provider to open a $360 million public hospital in Midland in mid-2015.

If Australia is to export uranium to India there must be strong enforceable safeguards against improper use, Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor says.

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says new Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos will head a coalition taskforce to find ways to reduce bureaucratic red tape for business.

Another global financial crisis may be on its way, according to Bunnings and Officeworks managing director John Gillam, but he claims tough times are nothing to fear.

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.