Mark Beyer

The state government has unveiled reform packages designed to improve procurement processes and environmental approvals, with the latter seen as an important step towards a keenly awaited bilateral approvals plan with the federal government.

Australian Finance Group has announced a capital raising to strengthen its financial position ahead of an expected softening of the housing loan market and to support the growth of its subsidiary AFG Securities.

Chalice Gold Mines has taken advantage of a strong rally in its share price to kick off a $30 million capital raising through brokers Bell Potter Securities and Euroz Securities.

The National COVID-19 Coordination Commission chaired by Nev Power has produced its first tangible result with the launch of an online planning tool to help business develop a recovery plan from the shutdown.

UPDATED: The state government has called an “urgent” summit of farm leaders to discuss workplace safety, at a time when a broad coalition of industry groups have been pushing to halt controversial changes planned to its Work Health and Safety legislation.

PODCAST: Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss markets settle, COVID-19 economic impact and where to next, Perth Airport vs Qantas, Chris Salisbury, El Caballo, Ellenbrook rail line, our great for the state feature on the future of our city, and our special report on mining projects.

Rio Tinto has established an internal team to lock in some of the unexpected efficiency gains it has achieved during COVID-19 restrictions, the group’s iron ore chief executive Chris Salisbury has told Business News in a video interview.

Accounting firm BDO is closing down its local cyber and risk advisory offerings, with Western Australian chairman of partners Pippa Hobson among the staff losing their position.

The state government’s $2 billion Morley-Ellenbrook rail project has been given the go-ahead from Infrastructure Australia, though the national body questioned some of the benefits and found they would just outweigh the costs.

Leanne Preston built a global consumer product business out of Margaret River; now she wants to revive specialist manufacturing in WA.

Engineering contractor Monadelphous has disclosed multiple problems across its operations, with supply chain issues causing delays on large projects, and contract disputes and low profits forcing a restructure of its water infrastructure business.

PODCAST: Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss market recovery, virus rules relaxed, infrastructure contracts, Caratti court case, Malcolm Turnbull, Andrew Forrest, Austal and our special report on philanthropy and charities.

Two court rulings this month have paved the way for the continued investigation of property developers Allen Caratti and Tina Bazzo, who are being pursued by the Australian Tax Office, the Federal Police, and liquidators.

Two consortia, led by major contractors Laing O'Rourke and CPB Contractors, have been shortlisted to build the Morley-Ellenbrook Line, but the decision has sparked competing claims about the opport

PODCAST: Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss markets impact, local virus update, economic challenges, state relief for landlords and apprentices, Raleigh Finlayson, Patricia Kailis, major property deals, our special reports on agribusiness and medical technology.

The state government has awarded Malaga company Wild Child Laboratories a $1.7 million contract to produce hand sanitiser for the state’s hospitals.

Saracen Mineral Holdings was one of the first mining companies to respond to COVID-19, and managing director Raleigh Finlayson says the changes have profoundly changed his working life and the company’s operations.

Pioneer Credit has started to engage with potential buyers of the business and is also seeking to refinance its $220 million debt, after last week’s collapse of the Carlyle Group takeover.

The owner of Hollywood and Joondalup hospitals plans to raise $1.4 billion to help it deal with the adverse financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with St John of God Health Care also having to manage a sharp slowdown in its normal business.

The resources sector has enthusiastically embraced a new government-backed app designed to facilitate travel across Western Australia but the freight sector has been lukewarm in its response, despite being touted as a major beneficiary.

Medical doctor, researcher, philanthropist and business leader Patricia Kailis, who jointly established MG Kailis Group with her late husband, has passed away.

Perth’s top corporate lawyers have been busy helping their clients navigate the fallout from COVID-19.

Virgin Australia is resuming a minimal national schedule while Qantas is expanding its domestic passenger services, with the new schedules including eight regional centres in Western Australia.

PODCAST: Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss markets settle, rent relief, JobKeeper legislation, interstate FIFO, Seven Group, Lumiere apartments approved, distillery distinction, and our Great for the State feature on WA's health system.

Stockbroking and funds management group Euroz expects to report a loss of $16 million for the nine months to the end of March but said its trading activity is still profitable and it intends to pay a final dividend.

Spanish engineering group ACCIONA has been named as preferred proponent for the construction works for the $253 million Bayswater train station upgrade, beating out a rival bid from a consortium comprising Georgiou Group and Lendlease.

The University of Western Australia has partnered with Microsoft to rapidly implement a remote learning solution that covers nearly all its courses, building on a package originally conceived to support international students unable to come to Australia early this year.

Education technology company Education Horizons Group, which counts Perth-based SEQTA Software among its portfolio, has made its largest acquisition, in the UK.

Rio Tinto has disclosed that 700 fly-in, fly-out workers have moved to Perth from interstate or overseas because of new travel restrictions, more than twice the number at mining rival BHP.

Michelle Prater (nee Wheatley) brings a unique perspective to the natural tension between landlords and tenants in the current market - she is a director of the country's largest car dealer and one of their largest landlords.

PODCAST: Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss market volatility, rescue packages for federal and state, WA's hard border, Minderoo, tenant-landlord dilemma, project news, and house prices.

The City of Armadale has been hit with one of the largest fines imposed for a workplace safety breach in Western Australia, after state government agency WorkSafe appealed the penalty initially imposed over a 2014 incident.