Mark Beyer

Sensorium Theatre and Spare Parts Puppet Theatre are among the major Western Australian recipients in the latest round of project grants from the Australia Council for the Arts, which were worth $11.2 million in total.

The cost of hiring tradies in Western Australia has fallen over the past year but continues to be substantially more expensive than other states, an industry survey has found.

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss Interest rates, the dollar, federal and state budgets, listings and capital raisings, and mining projects.

WA business leaders have bemoaned the state government’s failure to plan for life beyond the mining construction boom, but still see opportunities in other sectors.

Mine camp operators Compass Group and Sodexo, and an Adelaide-based print business that supplies Fortescue Metals Group were among the winners in the 2016 Supply Nation supplier diversity awards.

West Perth-based developer Cedar Woods Properties has maintained its profit guidance for the current financial year, with strong performances on the east coast continuing to offset soft conditions in Western Australia.

Small companies hoping to list on the stock market are facing tougher conditions, with more than a dozen announced deals in Western Australia hitting problems this year and the ASX foreshadowing tighter regulation of new deals.

SPECIAL REPORT: The people who lead Western Australia’s universities agree the sector faces enormous change, with emerging technology and potential new entrants among the biggest challenges.

SPECIAL REPORT: The opening last month of a WA-backed college in China, and the visit this week by a high-powered WA delegation to Indonesia, highlight the state’s renewed focus on the multi-billion dollar international education market.

Bannister Downs Dairy has appointed Perkins Builders as head contractor for its $20 million-plus creamery project at Northcliffe, and is planning to commence construction in coming months.

In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Dan Wilkie discuss Geoff Rasmussen, NRW, defence contracts, Scoop Magazine, Quickflix, apartment developments and universities.

A long-running dispute involving the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation and Fortescue Metals Group is set to continue after YAC members re-elected a bloc of directors who had recently been replaced by a court-appointed receiver.

CTI Logistics has put more of its surplus properties on the market after disclosing that its underlying profit continued to deteriorate during the March quarter, with the business hit by what it said was a severe downturn in activity in Western Australia.

Small information and communication technology firms will have more opportunities to win state government work once the GovNext strategy is rolled out, according to chief information officer Giles Nunis.

Training and employment schemes targeting indigenous workers are slowly gaining traction.

Western Australia's economic slowdown has hit the charity sector, with the value of donations per person falling last year, in contrast to every other state where the value of donations increased, a new report has found.

South Australia has become a major growth driver for Perth-based IT company Velrada, which is enjoying a period of rapid expansion.

In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Dan Wilkie discuss iron ore, lithium, shipbuilding, retail, commercial property and construction.

Technology investor and company director Gavin Rezos has been appointed chairman of Sydney company Resources & Energy Group, which has just bought a small gold project near Southern Cross.

Private Perth company Bombora Wave Power is seeking to raise $8 million for the first commercial deployment of its innovative technology.

SPECIAL REPORT: The state government is pursuing major reforms to the training sector, at a time when national data on traineeships and apprenticeships tells a surprising story for WA.

Perth property investor Stephen Lauder and Jandakot City developer Ascot Capital have completed their second joint venture purchase, with the $65 million acquisition of a serviced apartments building in Canberra.

Property developer Peet has entered into an agreement for a $1.7 billion development in the Australian Capital Territory to construct up to 3,300 units and townhouses on the campus of the University of Canberra.

Rio Tinto has reaffirmed its guidance for iron ore shipments in 2016 but slashed production guidance for next year after saying it was facing delays with its AutoHaul driverless trains project in the Pilbara. 

Young medical entrepreneur Michael Winlo has returned from New York with plans to expand a unique clinical testing business in Nedlands.

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss Unemployment and the markets, Rio Tinto, Freightlink, LNG 18, our special report Apprentices and Training. 

Two of WA’s most successful charity events raised a total of $4.6 million this month, but not all fundraisers are achieving similar results

Fundraising campaigns run by footwear manufacturer Steel Blue and the Fremantle Dockers on behalf of local charities have both hit the $1 million milestone this month.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has backed down from its decision to double the payment period on its supply contracts after widespread criticism from politicians and an outcry from suppliers.

Henderson-headquartered ship building company Strategic Marine has secured a $US50.1 million ($A66 million) contract to build two liquefied natural gas-powered aluminium catamarans for a European client.

Western Power advised its staff yesterday that an estimated 215 roles are no longer needed as the utility continues a three-year program that has already cut more than 300 jobs.

Charities in WA will need more fundraising champions like Vince Gareffa as traditional events prove harder to sell.