AAP

Australia's share market has closed a little higher as investors favoured consumer and technology stocks, expected to do well in next month's earnings reports.

Australia has put a stop to the New Zealand travel bubble for 72 hours after a South African variant of COVID-19 was detected in a woman after 14 days of isolation.

The Western Australian government has blamed spiralling debt under the previous administration for its failure to house more vulnerable people.

The federal government is boosting Australia's maritime security with a $1 billion development of advanced guided weapons.

The Pfizer coronavirus vaccine has been provisionally approved for use in Australia with the first jabs set for late next month.

Australia's share market has closed lower but provided gains for the week, with an analyst tipping that a good February earnings season could see the ASX return to the lofty 7000-points range.

Western Australia will reopen its borders to NSW and Queensland from Monday but travellers will still be required to self-isolate for 14 days and get a COVID-19 test.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has rejected a proposal to extend JobKeeper payments for the hard-hit hospitality industry.

Cricket Australia will stand firm on the decision to drop the term "Australia Day", adamant they must embrace hard conversations despite criticism from Scott Morrison.

Australia's share market has closed higher and at 11-month highs, as an improved unemployment rate supported investor optimism on day one of Joe Biden's US presidency.

Job numbers in WA were steady in December, but unemployment fell 0.2 percentage points to be 6.2 per cent.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has struck an agreement with major east coast gas exporters to guarantee domestic supply at competitive prices.

Scott Morrison has hit back at Labor's accusation he damaged Australia's alliance with the United States through being too close to Donald Trump.

Investors have enjoyed gains of 0.41 per cent after the ASX closed higher, helped by market giant BHP raising iron ore production targets and US stimulus expectations.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has lamented the difficulty in attracting local workers to address critical labour shortages on farms.

An injury-ravaged India have ended Australia's 32-year undefeated run at the Gabba with a record-breaking final day chase to win the Test by three wickets and the series 2-1.

Western Australia's government has promised better transparency after it was not disclosed that several recovered COVID-19 cases were linked to the highly contagious British strain.

Investors have enjoyed a broad-based rally on the Australian share market, as they hope for more US stimulus after Joe Biden is sworn in as US president on Thursday.

Australia's peak social services group is again urging the federal government to raise the long-term rate of JobSeeker, with the payment set to drop back to $40 a day in April.

Australians on unemployment support are expected to again receive $40 a day from April when the coronavirus supplement ends.

Investors have had their biggest loss in a week on the Australian share market and will be hoping US president-elect Joe Biden's stimulus plan is passed after he takes office this week.

The head of Australia's health department believes it is unlikely international borders will substantially reopen this year, even if most people are vaccinated against coronavirus.

Two retail groups which own the Supercheap Auto and JB Hi-Fi stores have reported bumper first-half earnings during the pandemic.

Josh Frydenberg says economic indicators are all pointing in one direction and to an Australian economy that is bouncing back strongly.

Western Australia is close to easing border restrictions for Victoria after the state extended its streak of no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases.

Investors spent the week waiting for US President-elect Joe Biden's economic stimulus plan details but failed to get a boost after it was revealed.

US President-elect Joe Biden has unveiled a $US1.9 trillion spending package to combat the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the economy.

Josh Frydenberg is confident the economy will continue to strengthen and that the unemployment rate will fall further.

Investors have had their best gains of the week on the Australian share market, ahead of US President-elect Joe Biden giving details of his economic stimulus plan.

Rio Tinto has prolonged the operation of New Zealand's only aluminium smelter after signing a power contract the miner says will help its viability.

The US House has voted to impeach President Donald Trump for a second time following the violent siege at the US Capitol last week by a mob of his supporters.

A mid-session turnaround has helped the ASX close slightly higher, while Premier Investments' substantial earnings guidance upgrade gave cause for optimism.