Mark Beyer

QBE Insurance Group has recorded one win and one loss this month as it battles in the Supreme Court for the financial scraps left after the collapse of Perth companies Capital Works Constructions and Diploma Group.

SPECIAL REPORT: Three Perth tech companies servicing the education sector have completed major capital raisings, and all for exactly the same amount, but each chose a very different path.

SPECIAL REPORT: Western Australian businesses participated in nearly 200 corporate finance transactions in the September quarter collectively worth $4.8 billion, research by Business News has found.

Carnegie Clean Energy has secured $16 million of state government funding for a wave energy project at Albany while also gaining conditional approval from the federal government to transfer nearly $12 million earmarked for its Garden Island project to Albany.

Acquisition deals involving Perth companies Programmed Maintenance Services, ASG Group and DVG Automotive Group show a growing Japanese presence in the market.

In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss property and construction, wave power, gold tax, WA's big dealmakers, and the latest Perth deal trends - edtech and Japanese investment.

Ten gold sector leaders spoke in unison today about the damage they believe will flow from the state government's hike in royalties, and also made clear they are targeting the Liberal Party to block the change.

Chinese company Tianqi Lithium and its head contractor MSP Engineering are on track to achieve 80 per cent Western Australian content on two big construction projects worth more than $700 million.

In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer, Matt Mckenzie and Katie McDonald discuss the GST debate, Kerry Stokes and gas sector deals, WA's resource sector outlook, local content on big projects, population growth and residential builders.

Perth software company Moodle, which has quietly grown to have more than 100 million registered users around the world, has accepted its first outside investment after rejecting multiple approaches from venture capital funds.

Growth in Western Australia's population has continued near historically low levels, with almost 1,000 people per month leaving WA to live in other states, primarily Victoria.

The Australian Securities Exchange has asked the Chamber of Minerals & Energy of Western Australia to retract a statement claiming the ASX could force listed gold miners to suspend trading in their shares because of the planned increased in WA's gold royalty.

Dale Alcock's ABN Group has been listed as the largest residential builder in WA in the latest Housing Industry Association top 100 ranking, but more intriguing is the disappearance of long-time industry leader BGC Australia and the inaugural listing of Ventura Home Group.

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss Perth house prices, CBD developments, charity funding and Lotterywest, Perth Stadium and the gold sector.

Geraldton-based contractor Frigtech Services, which has grown to have six branches across Western Australia, has expanded to the east coast by purchasing a NSW business after a two-year evaluation.

Perth's top 20 ASX companies hit a big milestone this month, albeit only for one day – for the first time ever, they all had at least one female director. Click through to read about some of the talented women who made this happen.

BHP Billiton manager Kirsten Rose is heading to one of the world's top universities this month for a leadership course after being selected for a Chief Executive Women scholarship.

The City of Karratha has strongly opposed Woodside Petroleum's plans for a 700-bed fly-in, fly-out camp, but the final decision rests with Planning and Lands Minister Rita Saffioti, who is playing her cards close to her chest.

Perth companies Mineral Resources and Galaxy Resources have waded into an extraordinary dispute over their respective corporate governance standards, triggered by the role played by Chinese businesswoman Xi Xi.

The Insurance Commission of Western Australia increased spending on the Bell Group litigation to $9.6 million last financial year, while also revealing in its annual report it has applied to the Supreme Court for a single trial to cover all related matters.

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss Nev Power leaving FMG, safe harbour legislation, women on WA boards, stamp duty setback and labour markets.

Listed company 1-Page is looking for new ways to spend its $26 million cash balance after selling its US technology business, which lost about $45 million over three years.

Safe-harbour reforms that deliver greater protection for directors of financially stressed companies have passed through both houses of federal parliament.

A Supreme Court ruling handed down this week casts doubt on how the state government has calculated stamp duty on mining company takeovers, potentially overcharging miners tens of millions of dollars over more than a decade.

Perth companies Mineral Resources and Zenith Energy have added to the diversity of their boards, appointing Chinese businesswoman Xi Xi and local executive Stephanie Unwin to their respective boards.

Advertising agencies are rapidly evolving as traditional creative agencies, digital specialists, media buyers and other players bump up against each other in unexpected ways.

SPECIAL REPORT: A health software startup with key backers in Perth is targeting a $US1.2 billion market led by global player Virgin Pulse.

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss the state budget, contractor collapses, Lisa Scaffidi, advertising industry, ageing population and corporate wellness.

The state government has budgeted for a $169 million stamp duty windfall from a single ‘property' transaction, the latest in a string of large deals that have boosted its coffers.

Western Australia's net debt is set for further big increases over the next three years before coming down slightly once the government's budget returns to surplus in 2020-21.

It was 20 years' ago this month that Perth's two largest law firms surprised the business community by merging their operations. Herbert Smith Freehills hosted many of the 50-plus partners who were there at the time to mark the occasion.

Fogarty Wine Group's Margaret River Vintners business has expanded its operations, taking on the Evans & Tate brand and assets, the Smithbrook and Pemberton Estate vineyards, and buying the Amadeus vineyard at Wilyabrup