Western Australia's premier has defended not further relaxing coronavirus restrictions and promised a better deal soon for the state's pubs and restaurants.
Josh Frydenberg's first budget was a triumphant "back in black" performance but his second is predicted to show a $143 billion black hole in the nation's finances.
Australian shares have finished higher, with retailers buoyant after Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the National Cabinet disclosed a roadmap to reopen the country for business.
The National Cabinet has introduced a three-step framework on easing coronavirus restrictions, with states and territories to decide on their own pace. Premier Mark McGowan on Sunday will announce which coronavirus restrictions will be lifted in Western Australia
Perth Airport has raised the stakes in its ongoing dispute with Qantas, giving the airline until Sunday to either begin negotiating an agreement on its outstanding fees or face expulsion from the airport.
Macquarie Group has halved its dividend after reporting an 8 per cent drop in full year profit, and said challenging market conditions due to the coronavirus pandemic make it hard to predict its fi
Telstra will take a $300 million impairment charge on its 35 per cent stake in Foxtel after the majority owner of the pay TV network, News Corp, wrote down its value.
Oil prices slipped overnight as global supply and demand worries erased earlier gains seen from an increase in Saudi Arabia's official crude selling price and a surprise rise in Chinese exports last month.
Gold jumped 2 per cent overnight after a string of weak economic data, including surging unemployment in the United States, heightened fears over a coronovirus-induced global downturn, while investors turned their attention to nonfarm payrolls for further cues.
The state government is providing special assistance for universities and local councils. A new scheme has been announced to help the mining industry. Western Australia has reported no new coronavirus infections.
The proposed merger between Vodafone Australia and TPG Telecom has received the green light from the Foreign Investment Review Board, taking it another step closer to completion.
Activate Perth chair and mayoral hopeful Di Bain has penned an open letter to the state government lobbying it to spend up to $130 million raised through Perth CBD's parking levy as stimulus for the city's commercial tenants.
Western Australian researchers have bred a rare and emerging species of rock oyster, which the state government believes could help grow WA's nascent oyster industry.
Refiner and fuel retailer Caltex Australia is seeing a slump in fuel demand amid widespread social restrictions and business closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oil dropped 4 per cent overnight to below $US30 a barrel as US crude stockpiles ticked up and diesel inventories swelled, offsetting OPEC-led cuts in production and hopes for a recovery in demand as some countries ease coronavirus lockdowns.
Gold fell more than 1 per cent overnight, pressured by a stronger dollar and expectations that gold supplies will grow as bullion refineries resume operations, and on gradual improvement in investor risk appetite as countries have begun to ease coronavirus restrictions.
Perth Airport has hit back at Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce after he claimed the airport had refused to relieve the airline of rent and passenger fees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Retail spending in Western Australia increased by 9.9 per cent in March as consumers stockpiled food, home and office supplies, resulting in some retailers, including JB Hi-Fi, posting a strong quarter.
