The Abbott government has rejected suggestions it could be forced to pay companies more than $2 billion if it presses ahead with scrapping the carbon price before 2015.
The federal government insists Australia's foreign investment rules do not discriminate against China, despite suggestions to the contrary from Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett.
US stocks have closed mixed as the White House moved to convene meetings with leading members of congress to seek an end to economic policy paralysis in Washington.
Oil prices have fallen sharply after a weekly government report on US oil inventories showed a surprising build in stocks and the US budget impasse dragged on.
THE Perth Cultural Centre has been transformed this week with tents, decorations and various spectacles as part of the Awesome International Arts Festival for Bright Young Things.
The strong growth in RCR Tomlinson's share price has delivered windfall gains for chief executive Paul Dalgleish, who exercised another batch of share options today.
Fremantle Ports is hoping to revive the stalled $350 million revamp of Victoria Quay, part of nearly $1 billion of proposed new developments in the City of Fremantle.
Small businesses in Australia spend up to five hours per week on compliance with government regulatory requirements, according to a new report by the Productivity Commission.
Professional services firm Deloitte Australia has announced a strategic advisory alliance with engineering group WorleyParsons as both organisations look to build future growth opportunities.
IT services provider ASG Group has won an $11.5 million contract with a government agency in Victoria, taking its total works won since the end of June to $97 million.
The Australian share market lifted slightly on Wednesday as investors looked beyond the political impasse over the United States budget and the possibility of a debt default by the US government.
Contractor Ertech has been awarded forward works on the $40 million upgrade of a section of the Great Northern Highway about 200 kilometres north of Perth.
Retail giant Woolworths has appealed to the Western Australian government to deregulate the state's shopping hours, while urging them to repeal laws which regulate what times cigarettes, pantyhose and needles can be sold in petrol stations.
Shares in West Perth-based explorer Segue Resources have soared on the back of Segue's announcement that it will acquire three unlisted companies which each hold tenements in the highly prospective Fraser Range province in the Goldfields.
The proportion of resources sector workers in Western Australia using fly-in, fly-out work practices has increased to 55 per cent, a new study has estimated.
Newcrest Mining has announced the retirement of its chairman Don Mercer and flagged the departure of chief executive Greg Robinson in the second half of next year.
Former trade minister Richard Marles believes a free trade agreement with China could be finalised within months but warns the Abbott government could face internal opposition from the Nationals.
US stocks have sunk and short-term bond yields jumped as the stalemate in Washington over passing a budget and raising the debt ceiling takes a deeper toll on financial markets.
