News Articles for Simon Birmingham

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has flagged a "profound improvement" in the nation's budget bottom line.

Australia's tourism sector is urging the government to set a time frame for the nation's reopening as question marks remain over when international travel will resume.

The federal budget will include record funding on aged care and a "full response" to the damning findings of the royal commission into the sector.

Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have laid out their priorities for next week's budget, with a bottom line looking in better shape than had been predicted just a few months ago.

Business travellers and international students will be among the first overseas visitors to Australia when borders reopen, leaving tourists last in the queue.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is confident Australia has bounced back from the coronavirus recession, but concedes there could still be some "choppy" jobs figures ahead.

Australia's chief medical officer has urged people to continue to get vaccinated and not jump to conclusions as investigations continue into a NSW woman's death.

Australia Post has appointed Woolworths executive Paul Graham as its new chief executive, five months after Christine Holgate quit.

Business travellers and international students will be among the first overseas visitors to Australia when borders reopen, leaving tourists last in the queue.

Scott Morrison has reeled off a shopping list of his government's coronavirus vaccine achievements despite the rollout being well behind.

Treasury boss Steven Kennedy expects a "bump" in the unemployment rate as the JobKeeper wage subsidy comes to an end next week.

Delaying a decision on moving full-cycle docking for the Collins class submarines to Western Australia increases the risk to the capability, a Senate hearing has been told.

Senior Morrison government ministers have played down falling behind Labor in Newspoll after weeks of controversy stemming from rape allegations.

Attorney-General Christian Porter has launched defamation action against the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan.

Embattled Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has apologised for calling an alleged rape victim a "lying cow" after the threat of legal action.

Sex Discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins will lead a review of Parliament House's workplace culture after rape allegations rocked federal politics.

More stranded Australians will soon be able to return each fortnight with a quarantine facility in the Top End given the-all clear to increase its capacity.

Businesses struggling from coronavirus restrictions could be in line for targeted relief packages when wage subsidies are scrapped.

Canning MP Andrew Hastie has been appointed Assistant Minister for Defence in a ministerial reshuffle.

Australia will take China to the global trade umpire over massive tariffs on barley, further escalating the bitter row between the two nations.

Scott Morrison is demanding clarity on reports China has banned Australian coal.

The list of Australians stranded overseas has continued to grow, with 39,000 people now keen to return as coronavirus bites across swathes of the globe.

There are hopes a new regional pact will pave the way for Australia and China to resolve diplomatic tensions and trade disputes.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham is leaving the door open to taking China to the World Trade Organisation over barriers to Australian goods.

While many Australian exporters have tensely waited on news about trade sanctions from China, Fortescue Metals Group has inked deals with 12 partners.

Australian rock lobster exporters say business is returning to normal in China, following earlier reports of delays caused by a new inspection process.

Australia's longest-serving finance minister has officially resigned to contest the leadership of a powerful global economic advisory body.

Perth business owner Alexandra Burt, whose interests include Voyager Estate winery, has lifted her low public profile by joining the board of Tourism Australia.

Cabinet minister Simon Birmingham argues the federal government has been too busy dealing with the coronavirus pandemic to establish a federal integrity commission as promised.

Mathias Cormann has been nominated for the position of secretary general of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The Morrison government hopes a deal with Germany will help pave the way for Australia's hydrogen industry.

The federal government is ramping-up pressure on the states to open their borders, releasing new modelling showing $55 billion could be wiped from Australia's tourism industry.

States and territories have been urged to endorse a new definition of coronavirus hotspots as the federal government turns the screws on border closures.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged to "move heaven and earth" to defeat the coronavirus as Australia recorded its youngest victim of the pandemic.

The cash rate may have been left unchanged but the Reserve Bank's economic forecast has improved slightly despite a renewed lockdown in Victoria.

Perth has secured the rights to host the world's largest marine mammal conference, ahead of competing bids from China and Singapore.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann will reportedly quit federal politics after the October 6 budget.

Australian farm produce and seafood worth about $3 billion will continue to be exported on special flights until at least the end of the year.

The Morrison government has welcomed the World Health Assembly agreeing to establish an independent inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic.

Gutted Australian barley growers have warned of a bitter blow to the nation's economy after China confirmed today it would introduce an 80 per cent tariff on imports.