After a stellar 2015, the acquisitions and mergers market here remains confident even though the deal flow has been slow so far this year.

For New Zealanders, two things would have stood out in the Australian Government's Budget, handed down earlier in the month by first time Treasurer Scott Morrison.

COMMENT: Shutting down stores and ditching in-house brands might not sound like a recipe for success for a retailer, but it's paying off for Myer.

A group of Australian dairy farmers plans a series of rallies after Fonterra and other processors slashed farmgate milk prices.

COMMENT: It would be remiss of me as a chronicler of Australian business happenings not to appraise you of last week's Federal Budget.

Philip Lowe will become the next Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), replacing the outgoing Glenn Stevens, who has been in the top job for 10 years.

COMMENT: We need dreamers. But Gary Helou dreamed a little too hard for a little too long.

COMMENT: Sydney real estate agent John McGrath has made many millions out of the city's booming property market over the past three decades.

COMMENT: Regardless of the intent, the regulatory changes send a clear message from the Chinese: you need us.

COMMENT: Australia's banks have taken a hammering on the stock market over the past month or so.

Turnbull has given Australia's banks a bollocking for unethical behaviour, suggesting they have not repaid the support they received during the crisis.

John Szaszvari chews through almost a terabyte during free data day, downloading 14 seasons of MythBusters, 24 seasons of The Simpsons and the entire Wikipedia database.

COMMENT: There's a certain irony that the two biggest shake-ups in the Oz domestic aviation market over the past two decades have been caused by Air NZ.

"Perverse" tax incentives are encouraging investors to leave thousands of homes empty in Australia's most desirable suburbs.

VMob, the listed mobile advertising firm, has made its first large-scale foray into Australia with a fuel app made for convenience store chain 7-Eleven.

COMMENT: Australia's people have been given unprecedented access into the tax affairs of the nation's largest private companies.

Are you travelling to Australia over Easter? Expect delays.

Nine Entertainment has taken a 9.99 per cent stake in regional broadcaster Southern Cross Media, in the first of expected moves in the sector.

Under Key and Turnbull's leadership, the relationship between the nations is now stronger and closer than between any other country on earth, writes Alex Malley.

Rio Tinto boss Sam Walsh earned A$9.13 million ($10 million) last year as the mining giant posted an annual loss amid a global commodities slump.

ANZ bank and Australia's corporate watchdog are about to embark on a battle that will end badly for one side or the other and possibly both.

Australian social enterprise Thankyou Group is expanding to New Zealand.

COMMENT: Coca-Cola Amatil has used a clever trick to increase its fizzy drink sales - it's putting its products in smaller cans, writes Christopher Niesche.

It's the lost decade - the 10 years in which the Australian share market has moved sideways, writes Christopher Niesche.

Equity-rich Sydney and Melbourne homeowners may help boost Australia's coastal lifestyle markets.

Australian vacuum cleaner firm Godfreys Group has bought New Zealand commercial cleaning firm for $2.7 million.

Robotic surf board shaping technology company Kinaroad has sent its first machine to Australia and is eyeing up further expansion this year.

An Australian eyewear retailer plans to open up to four more stores in New Zealand.

The already poor reputation of private equity has taken another battering, writes Christopher Niesche.

The demise of Woolworths' Australian hardware experiment, Masters, won't devastate too many customers, writes Bella Katz.