Labor leader Bill Shorten says Department of Treasury costings showing his tax plan will cost an extra $38.7 billion a year for the next decade are wrong.
Gold prices fell more than one per cent overnight, slipping below the key $US1,300 level as robust economic data from the United States boosted the US dollar, taking the sheen off the safe-haven metal.
WA's business lobby has blasted state government plans to shake up the industrial relations system, and called for residual workplace powers to instead be handed to the Commonwealth.
Scott Morrison has put the economy at the centre of his pitch to voters, saying they need to keep him as prime minister because "now is not the time to turn back" to Labor, after he announced a May 18 date for the federal election.
Battling Western Australians may shift their votes from the Liberal Party of Australia to the Australia Labor Party at the looming election, wooed by Labor's policies on wage growth and penalty rates.
Oil futures climbed more than one per cent overnight after US data showing a deep decline in petrol stocks overrode a rise in crude inventories to 17-month highs, and as an OPEC report showed further tightening of Venezuela's crude supply.
Gold prices rose overnight, lifted to their highest in almost two weeks as investors fretted about the global economy and trade tensions and as the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve showed signs that monetary policy will remain accommodative.
Inequality is rising but conventional wisdom on addressing it may need a shake-up, according to University of Western Australia economics lecturer Jakob Madsen.
The global economy is slowing more than expected and a sharp downturn could require world leaders to coordinate stimulus measures, the International Monetary Fund says.
Oil prices edged lower overnight, slipping off five-month highs after the International Monetary Fund cut its global economic growth forecasts and as the Russian government signalled it may retreat from its production-cutting deal with OPEC.
Gold rose to its highest in more than a week overnight as the US dollar and equities weakened after the International Monetary Fund cut its global economic growth forecasts for the year, with increased buying by central banks lending further support.
Wynn Resorts has abruptly ended talks over its $10 billion takeover proposal for Crown Resorts, blaming the Australian casino operator for revealing the potential deal too early.
The federal government has pledged $17.2 million in funding for Rottnest Island, while the state government also announced today it would inject $16.2 million into the holiday destination.
Gold rose 1 per cent overnight to briefly breach $US1,300 an ounce and remained at its highest in more than a week as the US dollar slipped and a recent equities rally paused.
Oil prices rose up to 2 per cent overnight, hitting five-month highs, on expectations that global supplies would tighten due to fighting in Libya, OPEC-led cuts and US sanctions against Iran and Venezuela.
The state government has attracted just two bidders, both headed by Spanish-owned companies, for its signature Metronet rail projects, despite altering its contracting strategy to boost market interest.
Oil prices gained 1.5 per cent on Friday as strong US employment data tempered fears about weakening global crude oil demand, and on expectations that an escalating conflict in Libya could tighten oil supplies.
Gold eased on Friday as Wall Street gained on data pointing to a rebound in jobs growth in the United States but bullion's losses were limited by a simultaneous slowdown in wage growth.
Bill Shorten is promising voters billions of extra dollars for health and bigger personal income tax cuts for low income workers if Labor wins the next election.
Brent oil prices rose overnight, briefly touching $US70 a barrel for the first time since November as expectations of tight global supply outweighed pressure from rising US production and less robust global demand indicators.
Gold inched higher overnight after touching a near 10-week low earlier in the session as the US dollar firmed on US jobs data, while investors awaited clarity on US-China trade talks.
Oil prices edged down overnight after US government data showed a surprise build in crude inventories, but futures held near their highest in almost five months as OPEC-led output cuts and sanctions on Iran tightened the supply outlook.
Gold prices slipped overnight as stock markets rallied globally on hopes the United States and China could clinch a trade deal, while a weaker US dollar limited bullion's losses.
An investigation of Synergy's bidding behaviour by the state's Economic Regulation Authority found the power generator may have breached pricing rules in nearly 13,000 half-hour trading intervals between March 2016 and July 2017.
Oil prices hit their highest level so far in 2019 overnight, with Brent crude approaching $US70 a barrel, on the prospect that more sanctions against Iran and further Venezuelan disruptions could deepen an OPEC-led supply cut.
Gold firmed overnight, recovering from a near four-week low, as US stock markets retreated, but a strong US dollar and robust economic data from the US and China eased fears of a global slowdown, capping bullion's advance.
Millions of Australian workers will get an extra $1000 back and commuters will see a decade of road and rail upgrades in the nation's first surplus budget in 12 years.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the official cash rate at a record low of 1.5 per cent as widely expected, but most economists believe a rate cut is around the corner.
