Brighter outlook in the booming west; Reserve Bank wary of putting interest rates up as strong Aussie dollar could choke recovery; Premier’s 8pm shop hours offer falls flat; Rudd aligns with US on stimulus; Ministers downplay NBN risks

Brighter outlook in the booming west; Reserve Bank wary of putting interest rates up as strong Aussie dollar could choke recovery; Premier’s 8pm shop hours offer falls flat; Rudd aligns with US on stimulus; Ministers downplay NBN risks