Government

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Putting more information on business loans and financing into the public arena would help turn the spotlight on the struggles of small businesses, the coalition says.

Australia's taxation commissioner believes the task force set up to tackle tax evasion through overseas havens has had some significant successes.

Former prime minister John Howard has joined senior Liberals in attacking the federal government's rejection of his colleague Peter Costello for the job as chair of the nation's sovereign wealth fu

Diploma Group has hit back at union claims it is not paying sub-contractors at Western Australia's new Cabinet offices currently under construction at Hale House, saying the allegations were design

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has held open the prospect of further reducing company tax with business groups criticising the size of the latest cut.

The federal government is confident its carbon tax will survive a High Court challenge from mining magnate Clive Palmer.

Labor and the Australian Greens have seized on the CSIRO's latest State of the Climate report to again argue Australia is right to be putting a price on carbon emissions from the middle of this yea

Labor has struggled to win voter support in Western Australia because it hasn't been responsive enough to the WA view of the world, a federal minister says.

Consumer sentiment has fallen following the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) decisions in February and March to keep the official interest rate on hold, a survey shows.

A recent surge in carbon emissions across the globe was a one-off event as economies rebounded after the global financial crisis, Australian scientists say.

Business confidence slumped in February even as conditions improved, a survey shows.

Finance Minister Penny Wong is standing by the federal government's proposed carbon price, despite a report showing it would strip $30 billion from the economy.

The federal government is refusing to commit itself to a promised tax cut for small business by July 1.

Greens leader Bob Brown says the federal government is taking both his party and the parliament for granted over his support for the mining tax.

It's not only the mining boom that's creating jobs - there's also plenty of work to be had in the pizza sector.So says Australia's biggest pizza company, Domino's Pizza Enterprises.

A series of protests have been held across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth against multi-national British services company Serco, which runs Australia's immigration detention and other public

The federal government has blamed the first monthly trade deficit in almost a year on the impact of Cyclone Heidi, which prevented the loading of ships off Western Australia.

The establishment of a commission of audit to review the commonwealth public service under a Tony Abbott-led coalition government would be a critical initiative, the Business Council of Australia s

The nations working towards a new Pacific trade pact are hopeful a deal can be stuck before the end of the year, Australia's lead negotiator says.

The first trade balance in deficit in almost a year could cause a weakening in first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data, economists say.

The pattern of weak jobs growth could prompt the central bank to cut official interest rates in May, economists say.

Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey says the latest national accounts and jobs figures show that the economy has been operating well below its potential for some time.

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has mocked the treasurer's promise of a budget surplus in 2012/13, saying it would take 100 years of surpluses to make up for "Swannie's deficits".