Mark Beyer

Thomson Geer has become the latest in a string of east coast law firms to enter the Western Australian market, acquiring LSV Borrello 10 years after the local firm was established.

Liza Harvey has been elected unopposed as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party in WA with Bill Marmion chosen as her deputy.

Mike Nahan announced at 7pm last night his intention to step down as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, with a view to installing a new leader by the end of this week.

The state government has taken a first step to protect subcontractors by introducing a bill to establish a specialist investigations unit within the Small Business Development Commission.

PODCAST: Mark Beyer and Matt Mckenzie discuss house prices, economic growth data, interest rates, WA's credit rating, gold miners, arts festivals, cryptocurrencies and craft breweries.

A healthy WA population and economy are twin goals at UWA's new Life Sciences Innovation Hub.

The 500 retail businesses that earned $63 million selling Lotterywest products last year can look forward to higher incomes after the state government agreed to increase their gross commission.

Kalgoorlie business Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils, which supplies global fashion brands including Estee Lauder, has become the first Australian organisation to win the United Nations' Equator Prize.

Tim Roberts, whose estimated net worth varied wildly in three recent rich lists, has stepped away from the public limelight by resigning from the board of ASX-listed Mineral Resources.

A small number of ASX-listed Perth companies are following the example of Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Stokes, with second-generation family members taking over.

Western Australia's largest wine producer has increased its dominance of the sector in a year when many producers were affected by extreme weather events.

More than 1,300 people attended a National Reconciliation Week breakfast this morning in Perth and heard newly installed minister Ken Wyatt deliver a positive message about progress to date and urge optimism and trust for the future.

PODCAST: Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss indigenous business and reconciliation week, David Singleton, Simonds Group and residential construction, generational change at listed Perth companies, Black Swan, and our special report on the wine industry plus our Great for the State feature on health and well being.

Perfekt and Data#3 are among a host of ICT companies to have secured six state government contracts collectively worth more than $10 million.

Woodside Petroleum, Curtin University, Lendlease and Qantas are among a raft of prominent organisations to join the country's big miners, major law firms and finance businesses in pledging support for the politically contentious Uluru statement.

The Environmental Protection Authority will commence formal consultation next month on its greenhouse gas guidelines, refuting media reports it has already decided to revive the guidelines that caused industry outrage earlier this year.

The publisher of The West Australian has increased its dominance of WA's media sector by purchasing News Corp's 50.1 per cent stake in Community Newspaper Group.

The founder of Australia's largest franchise group is full of surprises and contradictions.

PODCAST: Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss the post-election market bounce; subcontractors battle; new iron ore, lithium and rare earths developments; Jim Penman; Perron Group; the state's lobster deal; and our newly released report on the commercial property market.

Family-owned logistics company Lionel Samson Sadleirs has recruited former Automotive Holdings Group general manager David Cole as its new chief executive, while chairman Michael Smith has given no

A handful of big, integrated, high-rise projects with a combined value of $2.2 billion will reshape the waterfront site.

Perth-based home builder ABN Group is planning to expand its operations in Victoria as it adjusts to the slowdown in its home state.

PODCAST: Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss the election overview, Bob Hawke's passing, retail challenges, hotels and tourism, housing construction, Andrew Forrest's big pay day, Danny Psaros, and our special feature on mining projects.

Prendiville Group is pressing ahead with major upgrades of several hotel properties across Western Australia based on its longer-term optimism for the state.

Perth software business Practice Insight, led by patent attorney Thomas Haines, has sold its document management system product suite to a German company.

The state government has selected a newly formed company owned by drink manufacturers Coca-Cola Amatil and Lion to run the state's container deposit scheme.

Higher promotional funding and a lift in the state's share of new international students are encouraging signs.

Navitas has disclosed that it will incur costs of about $20 million on its acquisition by a BGH consortium, including fees to professional advisers and extra payments to its directors and executives.

Independent corporate advisory firm Azure Capital has announced two major changes, with French banking group Natixis buying a majority stake while sister company Azure Consulting will be bought out by its four partners.

PODCAST: Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss the state budget, lithium expansion, medical research, Chevron's new headquarters, Sterling First and Rosendorff collapses, a rare IPO, Azure Capital, and our special report on universities.

WA BUDGET: Medical research has received a substantial boost in the state budget, with the government allocating a further $52 million to its Future Health Research and Innovation Fund over three years.

WA BUDGET: WA Treasury has revised its forecasting methodology for iron ore prices to assume that prices fall away quickly from the current inflated levels, which have provided a large boost to government coffers.