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It's no secret that ecommerce has been on the rise over the past couple of years, with the majority of consumers having made at least one online purchase at some point. However, the extent of online shopping's popularity in Australia is quite impressive, trumping sales in both the US and the UK. A recent survey from eMarketer.com has found that overall online sales passed the trillion US dollar mark in 2012, with Australia contributing to US$36.2 billion of this overall figure. Nearly half of Aussies, or over 10 million consumers, made an online purchase in 2012. This puts overall online spending in Australia at the highest per-consumer rate in the world.

The major car manufacturers of Australia are GM/Holden, Ford, Mitsubishi and Toyota. One interesting piece of car news at motoring.com.au was that Australia was one of the first countries outside of Japan where Toyota produced cars. In 2012/13, the Australian automotive industry is expected to account for $10.7bn of revenue, $2.4bn of exports and $213.3 million of profit. Consumers now favour smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles due to environmental concerns and rising petrol prices.

Australian economy had enjoyed high growth in the first quarter of 2012 but in very less time the growth rate narrowed in the second quarter as reported by the government data on Wednesday 5th September. The reason behind declining growth rate is a slowdown in China argued for cut in interest rates and falling of export prices. The government data report stated that there was an increase of only 0.6% in the gross domestic product (GDP) which was around 1.4% in the last quarter.

Qantas Airways, the flag carrier of Australia and popularly known as ‘The Flying Kangaroo’ has cancelled its order for new jets. The boss of Qantas, Alan Joyce has regarded uncertain global context for the cancellation of jet orders. The company was going to invest around US$8.5 billion in 35 new airliners.

Mr. Joyce also blamed the record of high fuel bills and costs of transformation that influenced the statutory loss after the tax payment of $244 million. This situation occurred for the first time since Qantas was privatized in 1995 that suffered a loss in its 17 years business. It was the order for new fleet of 35 Boeing 787 aircraft. The aircrafts cost around A$8.5 billion at list prices, according to Mr. Joyce.

PM Julia Gillard said that, her "door is still open" to the major states ready to check the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme). Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT recently agreed to part-finance launch sites for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with the central government contributing $1 billion as well as administering the particular scheme. However the premiers of NSW and Victoria, who put in bids, are walked away from the COAG (Council of Australian Governments) meeting without a transaction.

Ms Gillard recently in Canberra told reporters that her government had made additional money available regardless of a tight budget, as well as so should the major states. Ms Gillard had a note to the premiers of Victoria and NSW that, you cannot walk to face a television camera and lay your hand on heart and state 'you support the NDIS' and moreover then when it talking about actually truly turning words into actions you say rejection. Her door is still open.

Australia remains a well-liked place to vacation; with ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) data released these days revealing 1.6 million overseas tourists during first quarter of year2012. In spite of the high Australian dollar as well as continued weak financial backdrop in major regions, there has been a 4.1 % increase in arrivals as compared to first quarter of year 2011.

In the initial quarter of recent year, nearly 200,000 people traveled from China, an increase of 10.7 %.  Martin Ferguson AM MP, The Minister for Tourism said that, the consequences were encouraging, particularly in the current climate. In spite of the devastation of previous year’s Japanese tsunami, they have seen Japanese tourist arrivals rise 5.8 % to 98,000 in the first quarter of year 2012.

The input to the national economy from the gas and oil industry is set to rise in the years ahead as main projects turn out to be operational, says a report. The Deloitte Access Economics report which is commissioned by Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) which says the gas and oil industry contributed near about $28.3 billion to the Australian financial system in year 2010/11.

The report said that, this represented about 2% of the national economy. A few $24 billion was because of core oil and gas reserve operators,

Miners, which include Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, are spending billions of dollars to increase their iron ore production, influenced top market China's modernization bid will maintain demand more than the long term.The offered Anketell port, situated near the Cape Lambert port utilized entirely by the miner Rio Tinto to the ship ore, that will be developed in phases as a multi-user terminal, along with an eventual annual export ability of over 350 million tons, as per the statement issued by Colin Barnett, the WA state premier recently.

The ports in state's Pilbara iron belt is the largest single source of the iron ore in the world – that are at near full capability or off restrictions to legion of innovative mining firms

Turia Pitt and Kate Sanderson endured burns covering over 60 % of their bodies as running in the 100 kliometer race in the Kimberley region in Western Australia in last September. Organized by Hong Kong firm Racing The Planet, ultra marathon was stepped on a course between Kununurra, El Questro Wilderness Park and Gibb River Road.

A parliamentary investigation is investigating whether additional could have been carried out to stop the joggers being burnt as well as the extent of the sponsorship of the state government of the race through Tourism Western Australia. Kim Hames, Tourism Minister has earlier stated in the parliament that it was “private event on private land" however on Wednesday admitted to the investigation that 15 % of the course was on public land.