Gary Kleyn

MORE than 12,000 people embarked on new careers as apprentices in the July-September quarter of 1999, according to figures compiled by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.

THE WA Government’s budget mid-year review has indicated WA’s financial fortunes have been boosted by a jump in oil royalties.

DEREGULATION in the energy sector will pay off for remote WA and contribute to a second minerals boom as the cost-benefits of the changes are realised by mining groups.

THE economic impact of the 1999 Blues at Bridgetown festival has been estimated at $1.7 million.

A LINK exists between high performing schools and the property values of properties surrounding those schools, says Hegney Property Valuations managing director Gavin Hegney.

THE pre-GST spending spree is far from over, says Hartley Poynton CEO Tim Moore.

THE South West needs to wake up to the benefits tourism brings to the region.

WHILE the caravan park industry has won concessions in the form of a 5 per cent reduction in the GST the battle is not over for caravan park owners.

THE public can rest assured that only a few finance brokers have been responsible for losses by various investors in mortgages says Mortgage Industry Association of Australia WA president Barry Barr.

TUCKED away on a road leading from the Old Coast Road, the small township of Binningup has been attracting the attention of developers keen to benefit from the South West awakening.

CHALLENGE Bank CEO Tony Howarth is the new chairman of AlintaGas, taking over from Ian Baker who was the inaugural chairman of the utility.

UNFAIR dismissal laws are forcing businesses to change their employment strategy. Other options are often considered that do not have the perceived legal implications attached.

AROUND $3 million will be spent on upgrading the historic Yanchep Inn, situated in the heart of Yanchep National Park.

A STRONG increase in major government-funded infrastructure projects helped stem a decline in private infrastructure spending, according to a recent Australian Bureau of Statistics report.

MANAGEMENT needs to ensure its workforce has a balanced approach to life.

LISTED property trusts are a force to be reckoned with in the WA property market and will continue to inject funds into the State in the year ahead according to real estate agent Colliers Jardine.

LJ HOOKER Commercial has come up trumps in a survey of the real estate industry by National Business Bulletin.

THE South West accounted for 14 per cent of all building approvals during November, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

NATIONAL Australia Bank and the Challenge Bank have increased some deposit and fixed home loan interest rates.

EDUCATION is no preparation for work according to a recent survey.

ANOTHER fifteen Perth suburbs have been given the nod to move to underground power.

TOURISM is set to be high in the minds of Bunbury businesses following a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and the Bunbury Tourism Board.

THE headline inflation rate is forecast to rise 0.8 per cent in the December quarter, taking the annual rate to 2 per cent.

WA’S unemployment rate hit a 10 year low of 6.1 per cent in December, according to recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.

WA BUILDING approvals were up 33 per cent or by $100 million in November compared to November 1998 despite an increase in house prices, according to new Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.

WA RAILWAY operator Westrail is seeking proposals to find acceptable alternatives to timber sleepers.

MANY businesses are experiencing a backlash to the downsizing activities of the past decade with high levels of staff turnover and huge skill deficits.

PERTH’S southern suburbs are undervalued by as much as 20 per cent compared to equivalent suburbs in the north metropolitan area, says Hegney Property Valuations managing director Gavin Hegney.

A PROPOSAL to allow trading in beekeeping sites on conservation lands has been put out for public comment.

FULL-TIME jobs are outstripping the creation of temporary and part-time jobs.

BUILDERS will be restricted to a height of three storeys in Mandurah’s city centre thanks to a new policy.

AN INSTITUTIONAL $208 million buyout of Motherwell Information Systems is being backed by European venture capital company 3i.