The Australian sharemarket has started the month on a positive note after Wall Street's strong close.

An Australian man has been detained in Vanuatu over his alleged involvement in a multi-billion dollar investment swindle.

A key monthly measure of manufacturing activity has contracted for the first time in nearly two years.

Property funds manager MacarthurCook has bought a 33 per cent stake in New Zealand counterpart Kinlock Funds Management for an undisclosed sum.

Figures released by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) show the amount of money received by political parties jumped by about 70 per cent in the year leading up to the federal election.

The Federal Government has already started blaming the Opposition for a likely rise in interest rates next week.

The dream of building a pipeline through Queensland to carry Papua New Guinean natural gas may be back on the drawing board.

The recommended price of draught and packaged beer has gone up in South Australia from today.

A mining company in Gladstone, in central Queensland, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a major Chinese company.

The planned redevelopment of Arndale Shopping Centre in Adelaide's west has been put on hold.

17/05 AIMS 2007-1 329.7 2.57 RMBS +17 AAA/-/AAA

A complaint has been lodged with the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) and the Queensland police ethical standards department regarding the arrest of a Toowoomba truck driver last year.

The Maritime Union of Australia says the sacked workers on the Triton customs boat in Darwin have been issued with unlawful occupation notices.

SYDNEY, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Australian travel retailer Flight Centre Ltd FLT.AX said its first-half profit could be as much as 9.4 percent above its previous target, sending its shares up 7.5 percent.

CANBERRA, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Australia's new centre-left government has been told to embark on a fresh wave of economic reform, with treasury officials warning of the dangers posed by rising inflation and climate change in a confidential briefing.

The president of Queensland's Pharmacy Guild says he is concerned about chemists taking pseudoephedrine products off the shelves because of break-ins.

SYDNEY, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Australian coal seam gas producer Queensland Gas Company Ltd QGC.AX(QGC) said its board would meet later on Friday to consider transactions, without giving further details.

The Tasmanian Government will meet directors of the Waverley Woollen Mills today to discuss the loss of a major contract with Qantas.

Aviation in the Asia Pacific continues to grow at a rapid rate thanks to the expansion of China and India, new figures show.

Gold miner Dominion Mining has appointed Jonathan Shellabear as managing director of the Company, effective from Friday.