Australian shares recovered from an early trading dip to close out the session higher for its third straight week of gains after posting a 0.2 per cent rise.
Operations at the state's busiest port have resumed after the Pilbara Ports Authority deemed the Port of Port Hedland safe to reopen after Cyclone Ilsa passed.
The Australian share market slipped further into the red following the release of ABS monthly employment data amid concerns about another interest rate hike.
Despite a downbeat economic forecast, Australia should weather the worst of a weak international outlook due to low unemployment and high commodity prices.
Workers in the hospitality, health care, postal and freight sectors are facing serious financial stress to keep up with rising rents, a new report has found.
The Australia Institute claims more than 90 per cent of economic benefits are going to the top 10 per cent of Australians, a number vastly different from other recent research.