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Asciano and the maritime union have ended a long-running dispute over wages and conditions at its waterfront terminals after both parties approved a new enterprise agreement.

Woodside Petroleum's first quarter revenue is up 20 per cent to $US1.2 billion, despite a 10 per cent fall in production due to the impact of cyclones.

The Australian share market opened slightly higher following gains for the mining giants and despite falls on Wall Street.

Two property surveys released this week have shown marked differences in sentiment between the retail and residential property markets in Western Australia.

Australia has emerged as the second most desired location, behind only the United States, for people to live and work, a report says.

Investors unimpressed by a skein of positive earnings surprises have sold down US stocks, with some nervousness over the eurozone clouding sentiment.

Finance Minister Penny Wong has taken Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to task over his claim that the local economy is underperforming, saying he's "simply wrong".

The Australian share market closed higher in response to positive production numbers from BHP Billiton and after global markets rallied in response to a successful Spanish bond auction.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has challenged state Treasurer Christian Porter to step down if he can't balance his state's books with $800 million less GST revenue.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has accused mining magnate Andrew Forrest of peddling "rehashed old nonsense" about finalising an agreement with Kevin Rudd on a revised mining tax deal in 2010.

The Bank of Queensland has outlined it much-anticipated turnaround plan after posting a $90.6 million first half loss.

Funding cuts to the state Department of Corrective Services will put the community further at risk because prisons are already overcrowded, the Prison Officers' Union says.

Iron ore junior Ferrowest has appointed prominent business identity Bryan Hughes as chairman.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the government remains determined to deliver a surplus and has rejected comments from former Commonwealth Bank head Ralph Norris that such a goal is "mindless".

The builder of the national broadband network says its satellite launch plans are on course after a United Nations agency confirmed its procedures are correct.

Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull says the high cost of building the national broadband network is likely to lead to increased prices for internet services.

Western Australia should get its full share of the infrastructure funding due to come out of the federal government's mining tax revenue, state Opposition Leader Mark McGowan says.

Nickel miner Mincor Resources has reported a lift in third quarter output and says it is on track to meet its full year production targets.

Shares in Grange Resources rose after the iron ore pellet producer reported an improvement in first quarter production from its Savage River mine in Tasmania.

Next month's state budget has taken on a fresh significance after a new poll reveals a resurgent Labor party.

The controversy engulfing the big health union exposes issues of governance and accountability.

A leading business group has urged the Australian Greens to take a more centrist line when it comes to industrial relations and set aside their "anti-market platform".

A tighter lending market, dominated by the big banks, may open the door for a return of smaller, more friendly lenders.

Sweeping generalisations devalue the worth of most commentary on fly-in, fly-out work practices.

By aiming for more knowledge and clarity, we can make our charitable giving easier.

The PM cannot keep relying on the fact she is a single woman, an atheist and childless to help her discount her political woes.

When Geoff Rasmussen steps down as chairman of Youth Focus in June, he will have had nine years on the board and a newfound appreciation for cycling.

I got an (unsolicited) email offering a webinar to teach me about how to measure, and the importance of measuring, the ROI (return on investment) of social media.

When a business is doing well, owners and managers can sometimes lapse into feeling too comfortable.

Japan's Chubu Electric Power Company has inked a non-binding deal with Chevron to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US energy giant's Wheatstone project.

Growing demand for quality apartments and resort-style living in Karratha is providing an increasingly lucrative niche for property developers and investors.

The Australian economy continues to perform weakly, an industry study has found.