AAP

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

Investors returned to weekly gains on the ASX but trading slowed as investors wait for clues on whether US central bankers wind back economic support.

Rio Tinto says there's no evidence it deliberately covered up the dumping of cultural artefacts salvaged from a Western Australian heritage site.

Retail turnover has taken its largest dive for the year, falling 2.7 per cent in July.

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

Perth-based Nexxis has developed a unique, spider-like robot designed to inspect hazardous areas and confined spaces in a boost for worker safety.

Thousands of truckies are set to go on strike across Australia after talks over pay and conditions with logistics firm Toll broke down.

Wesfarmers is planning a massive capital return to shareholder after a strong year, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Some favourite stocks of `mum and dad' investors took a beating while the ASX closed lower ahead of a key meeting of US Federal Reserve officials.

Tasmania’s Huon Aquaculture has sunk to a full year loss of $128 million despite scooping up 39 per cent more tonnage of salmon.

Woolworths boss Brad Banducci has baulked at mandatory coronavirus vaccination for staff despite the Delta strain posing the biggest challenge to maintaining profits.

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

Travel agency group Flight Centre has slumped to a loss due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic but sees blue skies ahead.

Qantas is hoping to resume international flights to COVID-safe destinations by December, with other routes to restart in April 2022.

Technology providers prevailed and media companies' earnings fell foul of investors as the ASX notched three days of gains.

Nine Entertainment has posted a turnaround in earnings, swinging to a $184 million annual profit after lifting advertising revenues across its major businesses.

Australia's big four banks have been quick to jump on board an expanded federal loan scheme to help steer small businesses through the spate of coronavirus lockdowns.

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

Australians in lockdown are sending and receiving parcels in volumes not seen since Christmas, prompting Australia Post to hire thousands more workers and do weekend deliveries.

Australia has now evacuated about 2,650 people from Afghanistan, but danger in Kabul is growing with a deadline for the rescue operation looming.

Investors punished some share prices after the latest round of earnings reports but it has been what executives have left out that has likely concerned most.

Westfield shopping centres operator Scentre has swung to a half-year profit of $400.4 million as customer traffic rebounded when lockdowns eased in the first half of the year.

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

Scott Morrison has warned the most dangerous part of Australia's rescue mission in Afghanistan lies ahead after another 650 people were evacuated.

The first Western Australian-built spacecraft is set to be deployed to the International Space Station with a goal of eventually being sent to the moon.

Fuel distributor Ampol has pitched a takeover offer for a New Zealand company on the same day as declaring a return to first-half profit.

Investors have stopped a five-day slide on the Australian market but one analyst says they may simply be "buying the dip" as economic growth concerns linger.

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

Premier Mark McGowan has cast doubt on the likelihood of allowing full interstate travel by Christmas, saying NSW could face months of restrictions.

Scott Morrison has challenged premiers to stick to vaccine coverage targets tied to ending lockdowns regardless of coronavirus cases.

Migrant farm workers from Asian nations will be offered a path to permanent residency under a long-awaited agriculture visa.

Shares on the ASX had their worst week since January as uncertainty about the rate of global economic growth led to spiralling commodity prices.