Josh Frydenberg

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg believes there is a case to review the operations of the independent Reserve Bank of Australia.

International travel restarting in Australia's two most populous states has been dangled as an incentive for vaccination laggards to pick up the pace.

The final round of reforms to the financial sector following the banking royal commission have been introduced to federal parliament.

Export revenue has become increasingly concentrated on iron ore but WA has still benefitted, while moves to net zero now dominate thinking. Click for the list of WA's biggest exporters.

WA’s jobless rate has fallen to a nine-year low but declining employment indicates workers are withdrawing from the labour force while outstanding vacancies remain unfilled.

Retail spending rose 4.9 per cent in October as COVID-19 restrictions eased across the country however WA only reported a 0.2 per cent increase in sales.

The federal government will appoint Gina Cass-Gottlieb as the ACCC's first female head, replacing outgoing chairman Rod Sims.

Jobs in WA grew 1.6 per cent in November, with unemployment falling to 3.8 per cent, while east coast states posted strong improvements.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says taxation will be a clear battleline between the coalition and Labor at the upcoming federal election.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been quick to point out that interest rate decisions are up to the Reserve Bank as speculation mounts for a rise this year.

New figures show the federal budget bottom line is improving as more people get back to work and fewer people need welfare payments.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison won't freeze fuel excise, even as global oil prices near $US100 per barrel with Russia and Ukraine on the brink of all-out war.

Australia will immediately commit more than $4 million to a NATO fund for Ukraine to support non-lethal military equipment and medical supplies.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has tested positive for COVID-19 after developing a fever this afternoon.

WA appears set for a political makeover at the next federal election, with tax reform, integrity measures and action on climate change confronting whichever party forms government.

Political leaders are making up for lost time in WA as the state's hard-border measures are eased after almost two years.

Australian superannuation funds are being urged by the treasurer to divest Russian assets and join the government in putting a squeeze on Vladimir Putin.

Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Guy Debelle is joining Fortescue Future Industries as chief financial officer in a major coup for Andrew Forrest's green energy business.

Plans to bring forward tax cuts for middle and high income earners to this year's 2022/23 federal budget could reportedly be shelved.

In a major speech two weeks out from the federal budget, Josh Frydenberg says the government will tackle the deficit while helping families with cost pressures.

Repeated government promises to help households facing financial pressures have failed to lift confidence or tame inflation fears.

A $420 cost of living bonus for workers, $250 for pensioners, and a temporary 50 per cent cut in fuel excise are among the key moves in the federal budget tonight.

National security features as a major cornerstone of tonight’s budget announcement, with the federal treasurer linking economic strength to greater investment in defence capabilities.

The handing down of the federal budget means most of the Morrison government’s cards are now on the table ahead of the May election.Opposition leader Anthony Albanese continues to keep Labor’s close to his chest. Perhaps, too close.

Apprentices are among tonight’s big-budget winners, with $2.8 billion earmarked to assist their rates of participation, completion and eventual recruitment.

The federal government has set aside more than $1 billion in this year's budget in a bid to end violence against women and children.

First home buyers have emerged as a favoured demographic in Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s budget.

WA's renewable energy and hydrogen industries are in line to receive billions of dollars in federal funding over the next decade as part of a broader investment program for regional infrastructure.

Budget: Mark McGowan wants the federal government to extend a COVID-19 health funding deal; cost of living relief praised; Deloitte says budget “short termism to the extreme”.

The March ANZ job advertisement series is likely to point to a further decline in the jobless rate and quicker than being predicted by the RBA and Treasury.

Josh Frydenberg has used a post-budget speech in Perth to reinforce his government's commitment to WA's share of GST revenue and warn about national security complacency.

Households are in a strong enough position to handle a rise in interest rates, Josh Frydenberg says, as the RBA appears to be losing patience with inflation.

Consumer confidence rose for a second week in a row as petrol prices continued to retreat from the $2 a litre mark.

The federal budget includes $1.6 billion in tax relief to small businesses, encouraging investment in technology and training, but some opportunities were missed.

Confidence eased slightly in the past week and could fall further as the latest inflation data highlights the extent of cost of living pressures.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese effectively put a figure on Labor's position, supporting a wage increase of 5.1 per cent, in line with the highest inflation spike in two decades.

The nation clearly voted for action on climate change at the May 21 poll; the challenge for Labor is to corral the Independents and Greens to support action.

Australia's former treasurer has landed his first major role outside of politics after having briefly been linked to the AFL and a possible political comeback.

Defeated in his quest to return to Canberra, one of Scott Morrison's closest political allies has now nabbed a major board role with one of the state government's biggest businesses.

ANALYSIS: With tonight's budget including cursory steps towards measuring national wellbeing, Jim Chalmers has signaled a desire to change how Australians talk about government spending.