Business

When Melanie Perkins pitched her idea to build a graphic design platform for everyday users to investors she was rejected more than 100 times and told it could not be done in Australia.

New data out on Chinese investment in Australia has revealed that while the mining industry is the dominant destination of funds, investment in real estate and transport infrastructure also accounts for a large proportion of Chinese activity.

The EU has leapt ahead of the UK in the pursuit of free trade deals with Australia and New Zealand after member states gave the green light for talks to start within weeks. With Theresa May insistent that leaving the EU will involve exiting the customs union and the bloc’s external commercial policy.