Tony Abbott

The Turnbull government insists it's still considering a clean energy target but one that takes into account the reliability and affordability of power.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has declared support for an inquiry into the iron ore industry, providing a huge boost for the campaign being waged by Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest against his two biggest competitors.

The findings of the royal commission into unions, particularly as they apply to Labor leader Bill Shorten, may yet extract a political price.

Political parties’ focus on the polls, and winning power for its own sake, have led to an absence of mature policy debate in Australia.

Politics is a ruthless business, where poor performers are quickly found out and (more often than not) moved on.

The Canning by-election will test the leadership of both the PM and opposition leader.

Not only did state funding for housing in the Pilbara come too late, when it did flow it was poorly targeted.

Shipbuilder Austal grew net profit after tax almost 70 per cent in the past financial year, to $53.1 million, on the back of improved margins.

Colin Barnett has set the scene for an industrial stoush with his proposed changes to Sunday penalty rates.

Two years on from Tony Abbott's decisive win over Labor, voters are puzzled.

Despite the Liberals’ big margin in Canning, the government is taking nothing for granted as the by-election nears.

Economic growth in the southern suburbs, including a $300 million expansion of Cockburn Gateway Shopping City, hinges on a $290 million road project being put forward by the cities of Armadale and Cockburn.

Newly elected Liberal Party leader and Prime Minister designate Malcolm Turnbull has said he will lead a "thoroughly liberal government", committed to individual freedom and the market, and vowed to carefully explain and consult heavily on policy.

Malcolm Turnbull’s business experience and familiarity with WA could be a plus for this state.

"You could drop a nuclear bomb on this parliament and Julie Bishop would crawl out as deputy leader." Labor senator Sam Dastyari's light-hearted joke with journalists was pretty close to the mark.

The government of Malcolm Turnbull moved quickly to differentiate itself from that of Tony Abbott with some key cabinet announcements –including the reintroduction of the position of a minster for cities and the built environment.

Labor and Greens voters are so glad Tony Abbott’s gone they are indicating their support for Malcolm Turnbull. But will this support transfer to the ballot box?

Federal and state electoral boundary redistributions can cause havoc in party ranks.

The Australian Submarine Corporation should be privatised, while Australian workers have the capability to produce defence projects locally, Austal chief executive Andrew Bellamy said today.

Energy Made Clean has won the contract to build a solar farm on Rottnest Island as part of a $7.3 million renewable energy project.

The Barnett years will be remembered for many things, but economic responsibility is not among them.

Young Australians are deeply concerned about personal debt and less-than enthused about the nation’s economic prospects, according to a survey by local organisation Student Edge.

Tax breaks for risk-taking businesses and a boost in science spending lie at the heart of a four-year $1.1 billion innovation package designed to drive an "ideas boom" in Australia.

Labor has urged the prime minister to redistribute federal government infrastructure funding, beginning with the Perth Freight Link.

The federal government seems to be preparing the public for reform with its semi-regular announcements from ministers that ‘everything is on the table’, particularly since Malcolm Turnbull took the prime ministership from Tony Abbott.

Led by the competent and effective Warren Truss, the Nationals emerged from the political machinations of 2015 with reputations intact.

WA ministers hold growing influence in the federal government under Malcolm Turnbull.

South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon has renewed his call for an inquiry into the cause of the dramatic recent fall in the iron ore price while in Perth today, as shares in the state’s biggest miners continued to fall.

There are many growth-driving tax reform options still on the table despite the federal government’s move away from a GST increase, according to KPMG tax partner Grant Wardell-Johnson.

The state’s shipbuilding industry has had a big win, with the federal government selecting Austal to build 21 Pacific Patrol Boats at its yard in Henderson in a contract worth at least $500 million.

Ratings agency Moody's has downgraded the outlook for Australia's banking system, warning that a challenging environment could hit banks' bottom lines and leave them more at risk to external shocks.

Malcolm Turnbull is staring down coalition backbenchers concerned that a proposed clean energy target could push up power prices and undermine coal-fired power.