Erik Pineda

Embattled MP Craig Thomson has survived attempts by the Coalition on Tuesday to force him into a two-week leave even as Prime Minister Julia Gillard dismissed suggestions that she initiate the former Labor MP's dismissal from the Parliament.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has insisted that the budget he presented Tuesday was forward-looking, which means the provisions embodied in the budget plan were to ensure Australia's economic competitiveness in the years and decades ahead.

It was likely that monstrous dinosaurs once roamed the Australian continent eons of years ago and while the land mass was still attached to a super sub-continent that scientists called Gondwana.

Australia has its first female chief executive in Prime Minister Julia Gillard and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton remains hopeful that America will soon elect its first woman head of state.

Australia will realise a modest budget surplus next year and enjoy at the same time a lifestyle that remains at par with major economies across the globe, Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said on Tuesday.

Former Labor MP Craig Thomson had illegally used up about $500,000 of Health Services Union (HSU) funds, according to the Fair Work Australia (FWA) report, which should be enough reason for him to cease from any active participation in the Parliament.

The worst appears to be behind GM Holden, for now, as the carmaker reported on Monday $89.7 million in profits for 2011, largely boosted by the total number of Cruze that hit Australian roads since last year.

Science has confirmed that the trusty mobile gadget - which now comes as a smartphone or feature phone - emits radiation, ramping up fears that humans may indeed develop brain cancer from excessive use of the ubiquitous device.

The latest building activity data confirmed the warning issued last week by the Australian central bank - that the local housing sector will not be geared to recovery mode, at least in the near term.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has ramped up efforts by her government to convince the Australian public that the 'Labor way' of managing the national economy would in the long-run prove beneficial to the greater majority.

Ahead of the budget surplus that Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she will adhere to in the May 8 budget presentation, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) painted a subdued pace of the domestic economy for much of 2012 on its quarterly policy advisory.

Love and money can actually deliver bliss into a romantic relationship but the whole set-up needs to be governed by mutual trust and respect, a new report suggested.

No new planes will be added to Qantas Airways' existing fleet as the company embarked on saving measures that will push back the scheduled deliveries of eight Airbus A380s to 2019 at the latest.

The Australian government has assured on Friday that the announced defence spending cuts in the upcoming 2012-2013 budget will not weaken the ability of the military to safeguard the country's interest in the Asia-Pacific region.

Samsung muscled its way again on top of the global smartphone market by capturing 29.1 per cent of the pie in the first quarter of the current year and effectively overtaking its chief rival, Apple.

International credit rating agencies are expected to maintain Australia's AAA status following the anticipated budget surplus that the federal government is set to present on May 8, likely pulling down banks and consumers borrowing costs for much of the current year.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard vowed on Thursday to beef up Australia's defence capabilities amidst pressures to reduce government spending in the May 8 budget presentation.

Manual work proved as the best pay slip booster these days, according to a new national wage report that detailed the compensation benefits currently enjoyed by Australian workers.

More tourists will hopefully flock to Australian destinations as industry officials announced on Wednesday a long-range tourism blueprint designed to lure more visitors into the country.

Australians are generally enjoying the good life, according to a new study, enabling them to finance the demanding lifestyles of the country's key cities.

Australian borrowers need to profit too from the significant interest rate reduction implemented on Tuesday by the country's central bank, according to Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan, as he called on the Big Four to pass on the cut to their customers.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd could be resurrected as the new headliner for the beleaguered Labor Party, according to emerging reports, following the release of an exit poll that all but confirmed voters' disdain for Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Australia would commit serious mistakes in anchoring its future to boxed policies, according to former Prime Minister John Howard, stressing that the country's economic programs and international relations must be attuned to reality.

Prices of homes in Australia's key cities plummeted in April, reversing the gains that the housing sector saw at the start of the current year, according to the latest figures released on Tuesday by property analysts.

Australia's manufacturing sector again suffered a retreat in April, posting activity declines of 5.6 points to 43.9 in the month and underlining two months of successive contractions in an industry already reeling from the so-called downside of the country's resource boom.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has taken the 'necessary' steps that eased out the nagging distractions from her government but latest polls still suggested she would never secure a new mandate next year.

Clive Palmer's quest for change and tussles with Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan appear headed to the political arena as the mining billionaire indicated on Monday that he intends to contest the senior Labor MP's Parliament seat in Lilley, Queensland.

Mark Zuckerberg remains the only Facebook originals involve in the day-to-day operations of the social networking giant - all the others have gone setting up their own tech babies following the attachment of numerous zeroes on their names.

All the ingredients for the Australian central bank to cook up a rate reduction on May 1 are present, economists said, further making a strong case for a cash rate push back on Tuesday, which has been expected and demanded by many local industries.