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Boosting productivity growth is the only way for Australians to improve their living standards, the country's central bank chief says.

The United States Navy has exercised options to order an additional two Littoral Combat Ships from Western Australia-based shipbuilder Austal.

The number of scams reported to Australia's consumer watchdog almost doubled last year, with financial losses from the rorts totalling more than $85 million.

Several Woodside Petroleum oil fields off the Western Australian coast remain suspended from production following Tropical Cyclone Lua.

Forge Resources shares have jumped after it announced it had lined up $50 million in funding and signed a joint venture partner for its Balla Balla iron ore project near the Pilbara coast.

Minemakers has rejected reports that Indian state-owned miner NMDC is poised to buy all of its rock phosphate reserves, saying it is only in talks to sell half and for a lot more than flagged.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard's mining tax looks set to pass the Senate tonight, after the Australian Greens signalled they would vote for the legislation even though their preferred amendments have

All Australians will be entitled to government-funded training if the states and territories sign up to a new federal government plan.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher.

The Australian dollar is more than half a US cent higher, following last week's US equities rally.

A clear improvement in the Federal Reserve's economic outlook, and a solid outcome of the Fed's stress tests for major banks, gave the markets another strong two per cent-plus boost this week.

Hong Kong-listed Wah Nam International has declared its cash and scrip takeover offer for iron ore explorer Brockman Resources free from all remaining conditions.

Japan’s Inpex Corporation announced today it had struck an agreement with Shell to purchase a 17.5 per cent interest in the Prelude floating LNG project, located off WA’s northern coast.

The Australian dollar was firmer after lifting back above 105 US cents in response to a positive session on US equity markets in offshore trading.

The City of Perth has extended its rates relief program for owners of buildings listed in its register of cultural and heritage significance.

Fisheries Minister Norman Moore has committed $14.5 million over the next four years to seek sustainability certification for the state’s commercial fisheries.

The Australian share market closed flat, having recouped losses earlier in the day.

The Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre has signed Willie Creek Pearls as its cornerstone tenant for a boutique retail precinct within the centre.

The chief executive of the nation's largest cattle producer Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) says the company is ready to increase its live cattle exports to Indonesia.

Qube Logistics' purchase of Bunbury company Giacci Holdings has started to pay dividends, after it won the haulage and port services contract for Sandfire Resources' De Grussa copper-gold project,

Rio Tinto's salt operations at Port Hedland are being secured as Tropical Cyclone Lua comes closer to land.

The stream of economic reports since the central bank board met last week has hardly been inspiring.

Finders Resources has inked a deal with Standard Bank for the sale of up to 60 per cent of all copper cathode produced at its Wetar project in Indonesia.

Federal MP Don Randall says he has wide support within the state Liberal Party for his attack on the state's police minister Rob Johnson and his call for him to be dumped.

Public examinations of three private companies associated with Luke Saraceni are set to proceed after the Supreme Court of Western Australia threw out objections over the appointment of administrat

Western Australia’s key industry group has predicted further strengthening in the Western Australian economy over 2012, after a sustained period of patchy conditions and global economic uncertainty

Federal opposition finance spokesman Andrew Robb warns China's economic boom won't last forever.

Australian stocks have opened flat, despite a positive finish on Wall Street.

Treasurer Wayne Swan insists the federal government has solid community backing for its minerals resource rent tax.

The federal government will re-assess an application by Rio Tinto for a mine expansion near the Great Barrier Reef on environmental grounds.

US stocks have increased as investors digest a batch of economic data that suggests the recovery is picking up steam.

The Australian dollar has fallen on the back of a strong US dollar and equity market.