AAP

Super Retail Group allegedly underpaid workers by more than $1 million and is being taken to court by the Ombudsman for contraventions of the Fair Work Act.

The local share market has advanced after weaker-than-expected December labour market figures raised expectations of a rate hike pause by the Reserve Bank.

Premier Mark McGowan will visit Japan and South Korea next week for trade and investment talks.

Australia's unemployment rate remains stuck at 3.5 per cent, with 14,600 jobs disappearing from the economy in the latest official statistics.

The local share market has had its second quiet day in a row, finishing 0.1 per cent higher as the Bank of Japan left interest rates unchanged.

Australia is getting 40 US-built Black Hawks helicopters, replacing French-made Taipan choppers in another tense moment between the countries.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected talk the government could legislate an Indigenous voice to parliament "'anyway" if this year's referendum fails.

The Australian share market has closed slightly in the red as traders took money off the table ahead of a big meeting by the Bank of Japan.

An Australian Women in Energy Roundtable will be established to power equal pay and leadership in the transition to renewable energy.

The consumer watchdog will investigate gas producers who don't supply their product domestically as Labor's new price cap gets off to a rocky start.

The Labor government expects wages will keep growing strongly as inflation moderates, ultimately leading to real wage growth by 2024.

The local share market is up more than 0.8 per cent at close to an eight-month high, with BHP briefly trading at $50 for the first time.

Super Retail Group's CEO says the Supercheap Auto, Rebel, BCF and Macpac owner had an "outstanding first half" with 11 per cent same-store sales growth.

Retailers have been struggling to access affordable, long-term gas for their industrial and commercial customers, raising questions about energy policy.

Jobs growth in the first six months of the Albanese government has been strong and managed to outpace performance in several advanced nations.

The Australian share market has posted its best weekly performance since early November, rising on Friday after further signs inflation has peaked in the US.

Natural disasters caused billions in damage to the Australian economy in 2022 and the bill is expected to rise from further floods.

The local share market was up 0.8 per cent at lunchtime, putting it on pace for a 3.3 per cent gain for the week, following more signs of cooling US inflation.

Australia's rich critical mineral and clean energy resources could be harnessed to drive economic prosperity as seen in the mid-2010s mining boom.

The local share market has finished up 1.2 per cent ahead the overnight release of another important monthly inflation readout from United States.

WA exports have doubled over five years to be $256 billion in the 12 months to November, while the national trade surplus was $13.2 billion in that month alone.

The Greens are pushing Labor to consider a more ambitious revamp of its safeguard mechanism scheme, to stop new coal and gas projects.

Australia and Papua New Guinea are one step closer to strengthening their relationship as the countries take the next step in committing to a new security deal.

Hotter-than-expected domestic inflation has failed to dampen the local bourse, which climbed 0.9 per cent to its highest level since mid-December.

The government is considering a tariff on polluting imports so that Australian firms covered by environmental regulations can remain competitive.

The local share market has closed lower for just the second time this year amid more "higher for longer" interest rate talk from Fed officials.

The treasurer has met with his counterparts from the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand to discuss the challenges facing their economies.

More needs to be done to entice migrants to settle in the regions, says the Regional Australia Institute, including better advertising for regional jobs.

The local share market has finished 0.6 per cent higher, with nine out of its 11 official sectors gaining ground.

An independent review of Australia's carbon credit scheme has found the scheme is sound but says after 11 years of operation there is room for improvement.

The local share market has snapped its four-week losing streak, climbing 0.65 per cent to finish the first week of the new year up one per cent.

An accountancy firm has found seven out of 10 aged care centres ran at a loss over three months in 2022, as the federal government admits the sector is a mess.