Mark Beyer

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett says he's fighting fit and intends to stand for re-election in 2017.

Gold miner Doray Minerals is hoping for a market re-rating after announcing a scrip takeover of Mutiny Gold today, but its goal of becoming a two-mine mid-tier producer failed to impress the market.

Perth engineering firm Clough is targeting small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects as a new growth area, after signing a ‘teaming’ agreement with global company GE Oil & Gas.

Kerry Stokes is one of Australia’s wealthiest and most private business leaders, but that has changed with the release of two biographies in two years. However conspicuous gaps in what we know about his deals and erstwhile partners remain.

The combined wealth of WA’s richest public company directors fell by around $3 billion in the past year, but some individuals bucked the trend.

Murdoch University announced late on Friday that its vice-chancellor, Richard Higgott has resigned, five weeks after he was stood down on full pay, in the midst of a Corruption and Crime Commission investigation.

Business leader Kerry Stokes says the Western Australian economy is heading for its toughest period in two decades, but expects the state will resume healthy growth within a couple of years.

PYBAR Mining Services is positioning itself to take on the two dominant contractors in underground mining, after making two acquisitions in Western Australia and being named as preferred contractor for a new mine.

Santos has called on the state government to provide more certainty on its domestic gas reservation and offsets policies, to encourage new investment in ‘domgas’ supplies.

Law firm Clifford Chance has lost the two partners who established the forerunner to its Perth office, after Michael Lishman accepted an offer to join corporate advisory firm Gresham Partners. His move follows the retirement of Ian Cochrane at the end of last year.

The state government has agreed to increase the price it pays Premier Coal for its coal supplies, as uncertainty continues over the fate of fellow Collie producer Griffin Coal.

New and established players in the management consulting sector are beefing up their practices, undeterred by the slowdown in project work in the mining industry.

The successful ASX listing this week of Regis Healthcare has focused attention on the value of other players in the sector, with Western Australia’s largest being Aegis Aged Care Group.

Wide-open spaces, spectacular coastal cliffs and even a spot of golf on the Nullarbor are some of the highlights from the drive across Australia back to Perth.

Premier Colin Barnett has strongly criticised Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, accusing the major iron ore producers of flooding the market and hurting the state.

The state government has announced plans for the private sector to design, build, finance and maintain eight new public schools, using a contracting model that has previously been employed in four other states.

The drives across Australia’s south-east, take in spectacular coastal and mountain scenery, making it very hard to select the best.

Sydney is an amazing city with lots of iconic attractions, so it’s hard to summarise a week there in short-form, but I’ll try – I love visiting and experiencing what it has to offer, but have no great desire to live there.

Northern NSW is a beautiful part of the country, with a stunning coastline and gorgeous hinterland.

From the industrial development of Gladstone to the untouched wonder of Fraser Island, Queensland continues to amaze.

There’s no doubting the attractions of the Whitsundays, but a bout of bad weather can make for tough going in paradise.

The drive into Cairns was a shock to the system, with lush vegetation and hilly terrain making for a pleasant surprise after a month of desert country.

One of the fun aspects of travel is the unexpected – encountering people, places and activities that were not part of the original plan.

We’ve spent the past few days making our way from Kununurra to the Northern Territory.

About eight years ago I was fortunate enough to catch a ride on a small aircraft from Kununurra, flying over Lake Argyle, the Argyle diamond mine and the Bungle Bungle range.

Driving into El Questro Wilderness Resort provided a welcome change of scenery after a week on the dusty Gibb River Road.

In the final installment of our four-part series on EY Entrepreneur of the Year nominees, we talk to chief executives of six contracting and consulting businesses.

There aren’t many places in Western Australia that live up to the superlatives in tourism brochures, but touring the Gibb River Road is one experience that comes close.

In the third part of our series featuring EY Entrepreneur of the Year nominees, Business News talks to three chief executives in the technology sector.

Spending a few days in Port Hedland meant we spent a few days longer than most travellers, and it also afforded an opportunity to get some insights into the town’s development.

In the second of a four-part series featuring EY Entrepreneur of the Year nominees, we spoke to Bernie Pummell and Sarah Thomas about two different food businesses.

Driving up the Great Northern Hwy from Midland to Port Hedland, you can’t help but marvel at the number of trucks on the road – and be concerned about what lies ahead for wheatbelt communities after the closure of the ‘tier 3’ rail lines.