Mark Beyer

It's not often that a political announcement genuinely catches everyone by surprise, but Geoff Gallop’s decision this week to step down as premier and retire from politics certainly falls into that category.

The state government’s waste management board has released a discussion paper proposing a sharp increase in Western Australia’s landfill levy, which is among the lowest in the country.

The late Lang Hancock was usually described as a mining magnate but the great frustration in his life was that he never developed his own mine.

With Western Australia entering what promises to be another year of strong economic expansion, the major challenge facing the state continues to be managing its rapid growth.

Former Mallesons Stephen Jaques partners Ian Cochrane and Michael Lishman are looking forward to working for their clients of choice when they open the doors of their new law firm next week.

Private equity investors participated in some of the largest and most notable transactions in Western Australia in 2005, including the rescue of biotech company Chemeq and the acquisition of EG Green Group.

Three high-profile transactions launched during 2005 ran into unexpected difficulties, providing telling reminders that even the best-laid plans can run off course.

Big mining projects, hotly contested takeovers, new floats and trade sales feature in WA Business News’ review of the top deals of 2005.

The chairman of a new state government infrastructure taskforce believes there needs to be more focus and more spending on the state’s infrastructure.

The boom conditions in Western Australia’s iron ore industry have underpinned a rapid increase in capital raisings by current and aspiring iron ore miners.

Western Australian companies raised a record $3 billion in new equity issues in 2005, underpinning a second boom year for local broking firms Patersons Securities and Euroz Securities.

West Perth-based Transerv Australia has been placed in administration, just two weeks after new directors took control of the company.

One of the most significant challenges facing the state government is its capacity to provide economic and social infrastructure that is able to keep pace with Western Australia’s rapid growth.

The past 12 months have been a boom period for Perth’s big stockbroking firms, but the year ended on a sour note for the state’s largest broker, Patersons Securities, which has run into compliance problems at its Canberra branch.

One quarter of Australians will be aged 65 years or more by the year 2045, roughly double the present proportion, according to the latest population projections.

International investment funds Harmony Capital Partners and Stark Investments are poised to make their second joint move into Western Australia after being selected as the preferred bidder for beef processor EG Green Group.

The proposed merger of Home Building Society and StateWest Credit Society suffered a setback in the Federal Court in Perth late today.

Australia's resources boom should ensure the best of times for mining services companies, but recent announcements from three listed Western Australian stocks indicate a mixed outlook.

The cost of complying with the state tax system has increased during the past five years, a business survey has found.

At first glance, the retiring founders of mortgage manager Homeloans Limited do not appear to have a lot to smile about.

Curtin University is facing big changes in 2006 after chancellor Eric Tan announced he would retire when his current term expires in March.

The Royal Automobile Club of WA has sold its interstate mortgage broking business, bringing to an end its costly attempt to break into a new industry sector.

People in Perth may be surprised to learn that current laws allow cafes and restaurants to serve alcoholic drinks to customers who do not purchase a meal.

This time next year, buying liquor in Western Australia could be a whole lot easier.

The University of Western Australia’s graduate school of management has just completed its annual venture capital program, which brings together teams of MBA students looking for real-world experience and inventors looking for smart commercial brains.

If Doug Aberle does his new job very well he will continue to maintain his low public profile. But based on recent experience, that will be a big challenge.

The Liquor Stores Association of WA has crafted a compromise reform proposal that would allow independent stores to trade on Sundays but would maintain restrictions on chain stores owned by Coles Myer and Woolworths.

The Dullsville tag irks many people in Perth but it refuses to go away. WA Business News responded to this problem by convening a forum of liquor, hospitality and tourism industry leaders to discuss what should be done about it.

Fast-growing cash flow lender Benchmark Debtor Finance has been acquired by two Sydney-based financial institutions, Allco Principal Finance and Balmain NB.

Stockbroking firm Hartleys has reported a net profit of $3.9 million in the year to June 2005, highlighting the boom time conditions in the broking industry.

Woodside Petroleum is selling a series of non-core assets for about $170 million, just as a political deal over maritime boundaries in the Timor Sea could clear the way for its Sunrise gas project to be revived.

Welshpool company CAPS Australia is looking forward to accelerated national growth after securing an exclusive distribution deal with global equipment manufacturer Ingersoll-Rand.