Mark Beyer

SPECIAL REPORT: A joint venture between a major contractor in the Mid West and a traditional owner group has been many years in the making.

BHP has approved initial funding for its $3 billion-plus South Flank iron ore project in the Pilbara, and the company's top Australian executive said he wanted to hear from local suppliers who could add value to the development.

In this Business News podcast Dan Wilkie and Mark Beyer discuss the state budget, fees and charges, skilled migration, the outlook for Perth property, new mining projects, the roadhouse blues, and indigenous business.

A Supreme Court dispute between West Perth firm Quantum Credit and a City Beach developer has shone a light on business practices at the risky end of the property finance market. 

Brierty announced today that its $300 million mining contract at Rio Tinto’s Western Turner Syncline project, which was undertaken in partnership with three indigenous contractors, has been suspended.

Perth entrepreneur Craig Mitchell and property funds manager Angelo Del Borrello are facing off over the future of four large roadhouses in northern WA, with the outcome having a big bearing on investors who pumped $22.5 million into four related property trusts.

Australian Finance Group announced today its net profit for the current financial year would come in nearly 45 per cent higher than consensus forecasts, after a change in the way its treated certain commission income.

Norwood Systems, Fastbrick Robotics and Balconi Telecommunications were among the winners at this year’s WAITTA INCITE awards for the ICT sector.

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss resources contracts, unemployment, solar power, BHP, CEO sleepout and apartment developments.

Family business owners who enjoy their work and achieve good results are more likely to implement a succession plan, a long-term study of the sector has found.

Rooftop solar panels cut peak electricity demand last summer by 7 per cent and their growing popularity is reshaping consumption patterns, potentially at higher cost to electricity generators, a new report has found.

The WA Industrial Relations Commission has ruled that the state's minimum wage should increase by 2.3 per cent, one week after the Fair Work Commission lifted award rates applying nationally by 3.3 perc ent.

Norway-based investment bank Pareto Securities has completed its first major Australian deal, as sole manager of a $US100 million ($A133 million) bond issue announced today by Pilbara Minerals.

SPECIAL REPORT: Labor's victory in the March state election heralded a major shift in infrastructure priorities for Western Australia, and even further changes are likely as the McGowan government seeks to balance its promises with fiscal reality.

SPECIAL REPORT: The Italian contractor managing Perth’s largest infrastructure project has outlined some of the hurdles it faces doing business in WA.

Local contractor Primero Group is set to win its third major contract on a mining project this year while RCR Tomlinson has geared up to supply Rio Tinto’s new iron ore mine.

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss the Access Economics report, mining development activity, WA’s civil infrastructure projects …. and BN’s new CEO. 

Australian mining and exploration companies have been urged to target North American investors, with PCF Capital Group saying this strategy could bring $4 billion into the local industry.

Resources Minister Matt Canavan said today the exploration development incentive (EDI) scheme was unlikely to continue, despite telling the industry he had an open mind on its future, and labelled alternatives put forward by the Association of Mining & Exploration Companies as radical.

Sandalwood producer Quintis has revealed more operational and financial pain, with the embattled Perth company suspending plantation sales, lowering forecast product sales and admitting a $27 million investment would not proceed.

The directors of medicinal cannabis companies Creso Pharma and AusCann Group Holdings have reaped windfall gains worth $13 million after the vesting of performance rights and performance shares.

Cannings Purple, which is ranked as Western Australia’s second largest public and investor relations firm, has bolstered its team by recruiting experienced business journalist Peter Klinger.

Newly established Perth company OncoRes Medical has secured up to $6 million of funding to commercialise a surgical tool developed by researchers at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and the University of Western Australia.

Wangara-based building company McGrath Modular is being shut down after it was ensnared in problems associated with its Queensland owner and hit by weak market conditions in regional Western Australia.

The salary package for Wesfarmers’ new managing director acknowledges the reality that many large companies pay big annual bonuses every year.

Finance director Terry Bowen will become the third top Wesfarmers executive to retire from the Perth-based conglomerate in the space of 12 months, with the group announcing three senior appointments along with details of incoming managing director Rob Scott’s remuneration package.

Iron ore miners Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group have announced initiatives designed to assist local suppliers, with Rio establishing a dedicated procurement team and FMG shortening payment terms.

The share market ended the day steady after early gains by the big four banks evaporated in afternoon trade, and miners fall on weaker iron ore futures.

Perth tech startup QuizJam is seeking to raise $1 million through a convertible note issue to support continued growth of its online business.

The major shareholders in Wellard, including China's Fulida Group Holdings and local agribusiness Heytesbury, are expected to lift their stake in the livestock exporter after a big shortfall from its rights issue.

The state government has awarded three new roads projects to the contractors that had been working on the Roe 8 development, while also confirming the net cost of abandoning the latter project will be about $45 million.

G Medical Innovations Holdings has joined nearly a dozen Israeli tech companies to list on the ASX in recent years through Perth advisers.