Last Top Stories: Emergency crews battle bushfire near Townsville

Emergency crews battle bushfire near Townsville

A fast-moving bushfire has residents near Townsville on alert, after reports of damaged property and two people with injuries. Residents in Bluewater, about 30 kilometres north-west of Townsville, were issued with a "Watch and Act" message on Friday ... >> view original

Farmers fail in court bid to stop new Galilee Basin mine

“If this mine goes ahead it will take away all our ground water, which in effect will destroy our business”, he said. The environmental defenders office ran a challenge to the former state government's approval of the Alpha mine, arguing it should be ... >> view original

Gold Coast accountant charged as money laundering inquiry deepens

Charges laid on Friday were part of Operation Lima violin II into links between boiler room scams, betting and a detective turned private investigator. Photograph: Tertius Pickard/Getty Images for XCAT. Joshua Robertson. Friday 4 September 2015 19.14 ... >> view original

End of resources boom may hit sport sponsorships

The on-field prospects for Western Australia's two AFL teams are at a high, with the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles sitting first and second on the league ladder ahead of the upcoming finals series. Yet their off-field prospects are less certain. >> view original

10min Wrap: ACCC fines Visa $18m

CREDIT: Visa has been fined $18 million for restricting use of a rival currency conversion service for international cardholders in Australia. The Federal Court found that Visa Worldwide, a subsidiary of Visa Inc, had engaged in anti-competitive ... >> view original

dollar plunges to six-year low

The Australian dollar has slumped to a fresh six-year low after the US greenback rose overnight on the back of US labour data which bolstered bets the Fed will cut interest rates at its September meeting. At 0700 AEST on Saturday, the dollar is trading ... >> view original

If there's so little profit, why do people buy 7-Eleven franchises?

Do prospective franchisees do due diligence before they sign their 10-year licences to operate a 7-Eleven store? Photo / iStock. Convenience store chain 7-Eleven has been in Australia since 1977. It has twice been Australia's "Franchisor of the Year ... >> view original

S&P lowers Rio Tinto outlook to negative from stable

Rio Tinto's (RIO -4.6%) outlook is cut to negative from stable at Standard & Poor's, as the ratings agency lowers its price assumptions for aluminum, copper and iron ore, reflecting lackluster market conditions and the uncertainty over China's economic ... >> view original

Stocks to watch on Friday

STOCKS to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Friday, Sept 4: EGP - ECHO ENTERTAINMENT - up 10 cents, or 2.2 per cent, at $4.74. The NSW gaming regulator has granted permission to Genting Hong Kong to lift its stake in casino operator Echo ... >> view original

Melbourne skyline cut down to size

MELBOURNE'S growing skyline will be reined in by the state government under strict new planning laws for the CBD. NEW density restrictions are likely to significantly reduce the height of the city's future skyscrapers as the government, in partnership ... >> view original