Health

The federal government and pharmaceutical industry have finalised a new agreement to guarantee the supply of vital medicines from 2022.

Telstra wants to make coronavirus vaccination mandatory for many of its workers, but will be challenged over the possibility of medically exempt workers losing their jobs.

Truckies arriving in Western Australia from high risk jurisdictions will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result before entry, after a scare late last week.

HBF maintained profitability in the year to June, defying rising costs and recording strong investment returns to finish $17.7 million in the black.

A lot more detailed planning is needed to ensure Western Australia's hospital system can cope with a COVID-19 case surge, an inquiry has heard.

Australia has smashed its coronavirus case record and will soon receive an injection of four million vaccine doses from the UK.

Australia's vaccine rollout co-ordinator will unveil a plan to rapidly vaccinate up to 30 Indigenous communities to address low coronavirus immunisation rates.

The state government has tightened restrictions for travellers from high risk jurisdictions, while signing new directions which will require those in the healthcare sector to be vaccinated by 2022.

The state government announced it will employ another 170 graduate nurses in COVID-response roles, the same day new figures laid bare the strain on Perth's biggest hospitals.

Scott Morrison has conceded opening Australia's internal borders will be up to state governments despite making Christmas a key goal.

Australia has secured half a million doses of Pfizer coronavirus vaccines in a swap deal with Singapore to bolster the behind-schedule rollout.

Scott Morrison wants home quarantine to become the norm, even as his government stumps up cash for three dedicated isolation hubs.

Mining giant BHP is considering mandating COVID-19 vaccination for anyone entering its worksites and offices.

Western Australia's capacity to handle a COVID-19 outbreak is being questioned as the state again postpones hundreds of elective surgeries.

Virgin has joined Qantas in pushing for mandatory vaccination of its frontline workforce by mid-November, with office-based staff given until March 2022.

The treasurer has fired another warning shot at state premiers refusing to rule out harsh coronavirus restrictions when vaccination coverage targets are hit.

Two truck drivers who entered WA from New South Wales have tested positive for COVID-19 overnight.

Shares in MGC Pharmaceuticals have risen more than 40 per cent after the WA company revealed first orders for its plant-derived medicinal products in the US.

Families could start being vaccinated together at GPs from next month after children aged 12 to 15 were added to Australia's rollout.

Australia's coronavirus vaccination rollout will be expanded to all children aged 12 to 15 as daily case records continue to be smashed.

The state government is in talks with the Transport Workers Union about mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for interstate truck drivers.

Approvals for purpose-built quarantine hubs in Western Australia and Queensland are being fast-tracked as strain increases on state-run facilities.

Twenty of the 22 crew members on board a cargo ship docked at Fremantle Port have tested positive for COVID-19 overnight.

Scott Morrison has warned continued lockdowns will cause more harm than good when COVID-19 vaccination coverages reaches 70 per cent.

Children aged 12 to 15 living with a disability will be added to Australia's coronavirus vaccine rollout from Wednesday.

Western Australians in New South Wales have until Wednesday to return home after the state government announced it planned to upgrade it to an extreme risk jurisdiction.

Hundreds of Western Australians have heeded a call to return from coronavirus-plagued NSW ahead of restrictions being further tightened.

Australia's vaccination program is opening up to everyone aged over 16 from August 30, after cabinet agreed to expand the national rollout.

Premier Mark McGowan has urged Western Australians still in New South Wales to return home, warning that the window could soon close.

The state government has expanded its COVID-19 vaccination eligibility criteria on the first day of its two-week vaccine blitz, as Premier Mark McGowan defends his stance on the hard border.

Peter Meurs and Perth-based Merchant Group have invested $9.5 million in biopharmaceutical company Dimerix, as part of a broader capital raising to fast-track clinical studies.

The state government has announced plans to upgrade New South Wales to a high risk jurisdiction, forcing approved travellers to return a negative test and provide proof of vaccination.