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Education Minister Christopher Pyne has flagged a review of the demand-driven system for university places, sparking debate in the higher education sector over the nation's capacity to produce the high-skilled workers it needs.

The federal Labor opposition must defend the mining tax and aim to engage with small business, leadership candidate Bill Shorten says.

Telstra is cutting 1,100 staff as part of a restructure of its operations business.

A future fund designed to quarantine some of Western Australia's mining royalties for future generations isn't making enough cash to offset the state's increased cost of borrowing, the premier says.

The Fremantle Dockers' on-field success has delivered a pay-day for its supporters and corporate sponsors.

Perth IT firm Birchman Asia Pacific is set to be acquired by listed Melbourne-based company SMS Management & Technology for $25 million.

Leighton Holdings subsidiary Visionstream has been selected by Optus to carry out up to $240 million worth of civil and services upgrades to the company's mobile network.

The involvement of two members of the board of Australia's share market operator in a trading scandal in the US was unfortunate, their chairman says.

The Barnett government kept spending growth to a 14-year low last financial year but revenue growth was even lower, the government's annual report on state finances reveals.

Former Fortescue Metals Group chairman Gordon Toll is a major player in two companies at the heart of an ambitious plan to develop mining and infrastructure in South Australia.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has warned banks and households to remain prudent with their lending and borrowing practices in the current record-low interest rate environment.

Agricultural chemicals and seeds supplier Nufarm says its annual profit has been affected by challenging seasonal conditions and a difficult market in Australia.

Chinese steelmaker Ansteel is set to provide a further $US230 million injection of working capital into the Karara iron ore project in the Mid West, in a deal that would dilute Gindalbie Metals' stake in the project to as little as 38 per cent.

The Australian share market has opened a third of a per cent higher.

BHP Billiton says increased supply is causing commodity prices to fall and it expects that trend to continue in the short term.

Retailer David Jones has seen its full year profit slide six per cent amid weaker sales and pressure to cut prices.

Employment services company Skilled Group has won a $A200 million contract to provide labour for a pipeline linking Darwin with offshore Western Australian gas deposits.

The state government was caught by surprise last week when ratings agency Standard & Poor's cut Western Australia's long-term rating from AAA to AA+.

The price of oil slipped below $103 a barrel for the first time since early August, as the U.S.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower amid more signs that the US economic recovery may not be all that strong.

US stocks have ended an up-and-down day mostly lower, as investors watched a Washington budget debate as the deadline for funding the government looms.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 66.79 (0

Two new surveys have painted a pessimistic picture of the local jobs market, with employer hiring intentions and employee mobility both slumping.

The holding company of South Perth accounting firm William Buck (WA) has been ordered into liquidation by a Perth judge, following a lengthy dispute with a former director.

Mining transport company AL Logistics has gone into voluntary administration as it seeks to secure a $2 million investment to pay its creditors and continue operating.

Late storms are one way of looking at WA's “winter of discontent”.

Australian shares have fallen for a third consecutive day, due to uncertainty caused by a debt ceiling stand-off in the US Congress.

Plans to slug 457 visa holders for sending their children to West Australian public schools are still being thrashed out, with criteria for financial hardship provisions yet to be decided.

The Nine Network has expanded to Western Australia, buying Bruce Gordon's WIN television in Perth.

Just as New Zealand banks are being forced to tighten their lending criteria, Australian institutions appear to be loosening their belts.

Professional associations in WA have recorded significant growth in membership over the past five years.

The man tasked with solving the West Coast Eagles' drug culture problem following the sacking of Brownlow medallist Ben Cousins has now been given the role of reforming Western Australia's prisons.

Perth-based explorer Siburan Resources will seek to raise $3 million to progress its ongoing exploration activities at the Kirwan tungsten project New Zealand.