Sharon Olalia

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers had lodged claims with the Federal Magistrates Court in Brisbane on behalf of two former Virgin Blue public relations executives who were forced to take redundancies after confirming that they were pregnant or returning from maternity leave.

The city of Sydney will dedicate $50,000 to help the victims of the devastating earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Australia's construction industry remained in the red in February, although the rate of contraction eased, with the Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI) in conjunction with the Housing Industry Association, edging up 4.4 points to 44.6. Readings below 50 indicate a contraction in activity.

Eight major airlines serving Australian consumers have improved the way they advertise airfares in response to concerns raised by the competition watchdog.

The Australian government is moving to lure more investment by encouraging foreign-based firms to establish regional headquarters in Australia.

Increased competition in the home loan market, a wider range of variable loan special offers and extended cash rate stability look to be suppressing borrowers’ appetite for fixed rate loans.

Over three million Australians will receive an increase in their pensions to help meet increases in the cost of living, the government has announced.

The ANZ Job Advertisements Series, which shows the total number of jobs advertised in major metropolitan newspapers and on the internet, rose by 1.2 per cent in February to an average of 193,555 advertisements per week.

A new working group to manage the outcome of a landmark equal pay test case is an important step towards closing the gender gap, but in the end it still depends on a positive decision from Fair Work Australia.

Sandfire Resources NL (ASX: SFR) says its board has approved the development of its wholly-owned DeGrussa Copper-Gold Project in Western Australia, subject to completion of a definitive feasibility study and project funding package – both of which are on track to be finalised in Q2 of 2011 (all references in calendar quarters unless otherwise noted).

Abacus Property Group (Abacus) today updated the market on the impact of the recent natural disasters in Queensland and Christchurch, New Zealand.

TOKYO, JAPAN - More effective and efficient institutions are needed to complement Asia's market-driven regional integration and to manage the challenges of Asia's expanding role in the global economy, says a new joint study of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI).

The Australian Bankers' Association (ABA) said it is vital to the health of the Australian economy that banks apply risk-based pricing in relation to lending to small businesses.

Unleaded fuel prices are expected to approach 150 cpl in Brisbane this Sunday, as average ULP prices reach record highs in 2011, a motoring organisation has warned.

The Gillard Government has welcomed the release of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission's (ASIC) intended market integrity rule framework and timetable for the Australian exchange market.

Julia Gillard has welcomed independent senator Nick Xenophon’s support for the government’s floods rebuilding package, including the flood levy. Senator Xenophon, who held the final vote needed by the Prime Minister, signed up yesterday.

Australia-based coal and minerals giant Rio Tinto says a process is underway to replenish its board, including recognising the desirability of appointing another Australian director after the retirement of two directors.

The bank plan presented to the Federal Government by consumer group Choice is largely a list of actions already undertaken or currently under review, Australian bankers said today.

Building approvals in January saw their biggest monthly slump in over eight years as the extreme weather that inundated Queensland and Victoria aggravated the slowdown.

IKEA stores in Australia have joined a worldwide recall of a glass coffee and tea maker over safety concerns.

Integrated forestry company Gunns Ltd (ASX: GNS) says the Federal Government had extended, by one week, the process for final environmental approvals under the EPBC Act for the proposed Bell Bay pulp mill. The deadline for approval has been extended to 10 March 2011.

ASX Group Ltd is set to lose its two-decade monopoly later this year. The corporate regulator on Thursday announced its timetable for the introduction of market competition in Australia.

Community groups concerned about significant contamination at the Barangaroo site at Darling Harbour have gathered outside state parliament, calling on the incoming state government to take swift action to reverse alleged abuses of planning laws.

A rebound in retail sales growth helped ease the pace of decline in the services sector in February.

UK-based software application provider App-DNA has established a new regional office in Sydney, NSW, and a research and development centre in Perth, WA, to take advantage of the opportunities available in the Australian market.

Australian taxpayers will be able to claim a $500 standard income tax deduction, without receipts, instead of going to the hassle of using receipts to claim work-related expenses and the cost of managing their tax affairs.

The Australian economy gathered pace in the final three months of 2010 against the backdrop of devastating floods that inundated the coal-rich state of Queensland.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre – Australia (RCC) has concluded a search for a missing aircraft with a 37-year-old male pilot on board.

Train commuters from the AirportLink stations of Green Square and Mascot will pay lower fares starting Monday with the NSW Government scrapping the station access fee. Commuters will now get the same MyZone fares as the rest of the CityRail network.