Western Australia appears set to follow Victoria and opt out of Julia Gillard's proposed Gonski school reforms, if Premier Colin Barnett is re-elected in March.
In the face of a high dollar, Australian tourism chiefs are turning to multi-billion-dollar business events to lure more foreigners - and their cash - to our shores.
Ten Network Holdings shares are up in early trade as market players express hope that new management may improve the struggling free-to-air broadcaster's performance.
Nurses have accepted an in-principle offer of a 14 per cent pay increase over three years from Premier Colin Barnett, putting an end to bed closures and further strike action.
The Australian dollar is three quarters of a US cent higher following Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens' appearance before a federal parliamentary committee.
The mining industry has backed the Liberal Party's pledge to invest $20 million to ensure the continued growth of the resources sector in Western Australia if it wins next month's state election.
Australian Greens leader Christine Milne says the federal government's Gonski education reforms should be fast-tracked and the necessary funding drawn from a redesigned mining tax.
The boss of the national broadband network builder is open to a debate about alternative technologies for the future of Australia's telecommunications systems.
The leader of the West Australian nurses' union says he was sworn at in a confrontation with the head of the state's health department as nurses made further threats to strike at public hospitals o
Miners will be asked to relinquish leases on the Mitchell Plateau under the state opposition's plans to establish national parks in the Kimberley region.
Shopping mall group Federation Centres is back in the black, six months after settling a major class action, and expects a supermarket price war to underpin growth.
Treasurer Wayne Swan denies a proposal to ensure the costs of political promises are revealed soon after the election means Labor is heading for election defeat.
James Packer's casino operator Crown has posted a 34 per cent drop in first half profit, as weak consumer sentiment and refurbishment work affected its business.
Troubled surfwear retailer Billabong has posted a $537 million first half loss and downgraded its expectations for underlying earnings in the full year.
US stocks closed lower Thursday, hit by weak data on US manufacturing and a glum turn downward in the much-watched Markit purchasing managers index that suggested more recession in the eurozone.
