Business

With official estimates putting the number of vacant and derelict homes above 100,000 across Australia, local governments and property lawyers argue they could be part of the solution to Australia's apparent housing shortage.

Australian cosmetics giant MCoBeauty has attracted global attention for its strikingly similar beauty dupes, but the company has kept the details of its product development process out of the spotlight — until now.

Australia's corporate watchdog, ASIC, isn't prosecuting enough white-collar crime and can't perform its full range of duties, so a Senate committee has recommended it split into two new, more streamlined regulators.

Small beauty entrepreneurs say they are struggling to stop copies of their cosmetics being released because they don't have the legal budgets to fight big companies that are self-confessed dupers.

Spending is down, but there are two sectors Australians are still willing to fork out money for.

Those attempting to navigate the property market may be familiar with the plethora of property price guides published each month. But are they more of a hindrance than a help?

Only two years after beginning operations at its Pilbara gold project, Calidus Resources has collapsed under debt, even after gold prices recently hit a record high.

The Australian online bookstore has announced it has appointed administrators to possibly restructure or sell the business after a year of losses.