Mark Beyer

PERTH’S three existing law schools will face added competition in 2005, with Edith Cowan University and Curtin University planning to expand their legal studies programs.

THE looming concern about property prices, particularly investment-based apartments, is starting to focus attention on the perceived culprits – real estate investment spruikers.

THE Federal Government has warned there is just four months until the end of the transition to the Financial Services Reform Act.

SUBDUED trading in Multiplex Group shares this week left brokers pondering the prospects for the numerous other floats coming to market.

LEGISLATION to establish a new economic regulation authority passed State Parliament with only minor amendments last week despite generating heated debate earlier in the year.

WOODSIDE’S Train Four expansion project and Rio Tinto’s HIsmelt project are the inaugural recipients of commendation certificates for their efforts to maximise local industry participation.

THE St John of God Foundation’s Lighthouse project will open its second house in Western Australia this week.

MYAREE company Tasman Oil Tools changed its bank last year – a move that makes it an exception among small and medium sized companies.

THE first definitive study of freight movements in the metropolitan area has found that nearly one third of all container movements are empty.

FAR-REACHING changes to the structure of Perth’s three major teaching hospitals are likely to be among the major reforms arising from the work of the State Government’s health ref

PLANNED revisions to Australian Stock Exchange listing rules are likely to change capital raising activity and may also affect takeover tactics, a recent seminar in Perth has been told.

WESTERN Australian law firms will have the option of converting from a partnership to a company structure following passage of State Government legislation.

AUSTRALIAN of the Year Fiona Stanley has called for a greater focus on community health programs to prevent illness, particularly among young people.

AMA State president Brent Donovan has declared himself a supporter of reform but it seems he’s no fan of the ideas floated by the State Government’s health reform committee.

WA Business News’ health forum elicited a wide range of views on whether healthcare should be considered a business.

RAMS Home Loans Group and Wizard Home Loans have added to the rapid growth in mortgage brokers, opening shopfront branches across suburban Perth.

IT’S an age-old saying that prevention is better than cure – yet it seems that one obvious place where this adage has not been applied is our struggling health system.

Health reform is one of the major financial and political issues facing the State Government. WA Business News brought together a group of key players last week to discuss the reform challenge. Mark Beyer reports.

THE Treasury department’s role in the health reform process has been questioned by the medical lobby.

THE State Government has copped a lot of flack for recent decisions on country hospitals and, judging by the comments of the WA Business News health panel, we can expect even less

IF there were an award for the company that provides the best disclosure on executive remuneration, Tap Oil would be a clear winner.

THE business lobby has roundly criticised the Liberal Party’s decision this week to oppose the full break up of Western Power.

AN estimated 75 Western Australian businesses are being forced to change their superannuation manager after US finance giant Mellon decided to focus on its big clients.

FINANCIAL planning group Associated Planners has taken an industry lead by refusing to accept ‘soft-dollar’ benefits from fund managers.

EIGHT Western Australian companies paid their chief executives $1 million or more last financial year, WA Business News’ annual salary survey has found.

Million-dollar salaries are becoming more common in WA. Mark Beyer takes a close look at WA’s top 50 chief executives to find out who earned their keep.

BUSINESS software company MYOB has partnered with credit management firm D&B to launch a range of account management tools for small and medium sized businesses.

UK company GTL Resources is seeking to raise $US105 million ($A150 million) from Australian investors to support its planned methanol project on the Burrup Peninsula.

ACCOUNTING bodies have called on the Australian Tax Office to be more lenient with small and mid sized businesses that breach their GST obligations.

THREE Western Australian companies have been given a five-star rating in a national survey of corporate governance practices.

FLEETWOOD is expanding its manufacturing operations in Perth and Melbourne to cope with record demand for its caravans and park homes.

BUSINESS borrowers should review their cash flow projections to assess the impact of higher interest rates, accountants and finance brokers have recommended.