Shares push higher through the afternoon, led by banks and defensive stocks

Asher Keddie, Germaine Greer and Alan Jones are among those who have thrown their support behind two Australians facing the death penalty in Indonesia, in a powerful star-filled video calling for mercy.

Analysis: The Prime Minister has not given you a Christmas bonus by scrapping his widely disliked GP co-payment plan – he's given himself one.

Wesfarmers and Mineral Resources have put their weight behind technology listing, Hazer Group, which debuted on the local bourse at a slight premium on Wednesday.

Comment: Economy has drawn envy for years. But the world is changing, and so are our fortunes.