Mark Beyer

The private group behind ambitious plans for a $1 billion-plus World Trade Centre development in Perth has prepared updated designs focused on the Megamart site it already owns in Northbridge.

Construction group Pindan said today it planned to make full payments to all sub-contractors by the end of this week, after co-founders George Allingame and David Pringle complete the sale of sever

SPECIAL REPORT: Three major reviews have called for a big shake-up of the state government's information and communication technology (ICT) strategy.

SPECIAL REPORT: A startup company backed by Perth dealmakers John Poynton and Harry Karelis illustrates the commercial potential of cyber security.

The business sector has cautiously welcomed the federal government's announcement of a new visa scheme aimed at attracting high-paid and highly skilled workers to Australia, with the changes effectively reversing some of the stricter rules announced last year when the 457 visa sub-class was abolished.

PODCAST: In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss Coles spinoff plan, tourism challenge, waste to energy, remembering Warwick Kent and Mal Bryce, and our ICT feature focuses on where to for GovNext and cybersecurity.

Investors have welcomed today's news that Wesfarmers plans to spin-off supermarket giant Coles and create a separately listed business that would rank among the 30 biggest on the Australian stock market.

Former banker and company director Warwick Kent, who led the revival of Bankwest after big losses in the early 1990s and through its subsequent privatisation, passed away this week at his home in NSW.

Western Australia's market share for international students has plunged to 6.6 per cent after the state registered no growth in 2017 despite an extra 71,000 students heading to Australia from overseas.

Advertising agency Marketforce is going through a clean sweep of its leadership, with Paul Coghlan recruited to replace senior creatives Pat Lennox and Ben Green, who are leaving in June to start their own consultancy.

Seventeen months after Perth investor Anthony Grist left the board of Vocus Communications after failing to secure backing for a leadership shake-up, the three former M2 Group directors who retained control at that time have all resigned from the underperforming telco business.

Former WA deputy premier Mal Bryce, who won accolades for championing the information and communication technology (ICT) sector and small business through political and commercial careers spanning more than 40 years, has passed away at the age of 75.

PODCAST: In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Katie McDonald discuss City of Perth, Cosco, Marketforce, Rio Tinto, Mangles Bay Marina and planning reform, and residential agents.

Australia's corporate watchdog has commenced legal proceedings against Rio Tinto and two former executives over its disastrous $US4 billion foray into Mozambique coal, 17 months after regulators in the UK and US took action on the same matter.

The managing director of Rio Tinto's Pilbara iron ore mining operations has left the company after 11 years.

Global IT services company DXC Technology has bolstered its presence in Western Australia, buying local firm M-Power Solutions and consolidating its 300-plus staff in new premises in the CBD.

A new report will allow executives and directors to compare remuneration with peer companies of similar size or in the same industry.

The receivers of Quintis have sought to retain full control of the sandalwood producer, appointing Primary Securities as an independent consultant and arguing that plans by growers to take control of some forestry schemes would be counterproductive.

Paul Everingham has left the state's second largest advertising agency after less than six months at the helm as chief executive.

International retail giant Costco is planning to build its first Western Australian store at Perth Airport, located alongside the giant DFO Perth store currently under construction.

SPECIAL REPORT: Family owned smallgoods producer D'Orsogna is aiming to nearly double its annual sales after beginning development of a $66 million factory in Victoria.

SPECIAL REPORT: Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting and its subsidiary, Roy Hill Holdings, have moved to the top of the Business News annual ranking of private companies in Western Australia, as their surging revenue put them ahead of building company BGC Australia.

SPECIAL REPORT: Kylie Radford has built Morrison into a highly regarded fashion brand over more than 15 years, so it's a little surprising to hear the way she talks about the current business environment. Click through to read about the growth strategies of Kylie and other local business owners

International retail giant Costco is planning to build its first store in Western Australia, at Perth Airport, located alongside the giant DFO Perth store currently under construction.

PODCAST: In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss Langoulant review, government CIO, apartment developers, private business including Morrison, Hancock and D'Orsogna.

A review of Barnett government programs and projects has identified a raft of shortcomings in governance, project management and financial management, and listed Royalties for Regions as the single biggest problem.

BHP Billiton has increased the expected cost of its South Flank iron ore project to $US3.6 billion ($A4.6 billion), substantially above the estimated range it provided in June 2017 when initial funding was approved.

EY has named Fiona Drummond as its next managing partner in Western Australia, making it the second of the big four accounting firms to have a female heading its Perth office, and only the sixth out of 86 accounting firms listed on the BNiQ Search Engine.

The state government's chief information officer Giles Nunis is moving to the private sector after a recent review recommended sweeping changes to his office, which was established under the Barnett government.

Onslow-based NTC Contracting has been awarded a civil and earthworks contract for up to five years at the Chevron-operated Wheatstone LNG plant.

PODCAST: In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss McGowan's first year, Perth Modern School, Scarborough LNG, cryptocurrency and blockchain, Pilbara Minerals and junior mining.

Former Western Australian governor Ken Michael has been elected chairman of the board at Perth Modern School, but only after two more board members resigned yesterday ahead of a crucial meeting last night.