Marsha Jacobs

The debate over how Perth is viewed by those outside the state rages as heatedly now as it ever has.

In the increasingly competitive market for good employees, Generation Xers have the pick of places to work, not just within Perth, but also the national and international markets.

Perth-based Kebbel Investment Bank has kept a remarkably low profile in the four years since its inception, raising more than $700 million and having been involved in property projects totalling between $2 billion and $3 billion.

The inherent danger associated with applying a label to something as diverse as a generation is that such classifications can ultimately disappoint, failing to live up, or down, to expectations.

Differences between generations in attitudes, priorities and experience can lead to divergent opinions on many occasions, however the same divergence of opinions can also be found within a single generation.

The Generation Xers who participated in the roundtable discussion presented very strong, often polarised views about their city and the benefits, or otherwise, of calling Perth home.

Perth’s century old Bayswater Hotel has recently undergone a $3.5 million refurbishment.

The outcome of Native Title negotiations in coming months will be critical for the property sector in Broome amid mounting development and cost pressures.

With more than $100 million of tourist developments and upgrades scheduled, a substantial increase in direct flights from several airlines and tourism operators anticipating a record year, things are looking good for Broome’s tourism sector.

Western Australia’s relatively immature real estate market, and its more efficient contracting system, were two convincing reasons to keep the current sales system, according to Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) president Greg Rossen.

For nearly 15 years the Building and Construction Industry Training Fund has collected levies from all construction projects in Western Australia and invested the money into the training of skilled labour.

A new City of Stirling report has criticised the findings of last September’s State Government survey which recommended a height cap in Scarborough.

Born and raised in Kellerberrin Dale Alcock has become somewhat of a poster boy for the building industry, working his way up from apprentice bricklayer to 50 per cent owner in the nation’s second largest residential building company.

The 700 people who attended this year’s WA Business News 40under40 Awards made history when they walked down the red carpet as the first guests at a private function held at Parliament House in the building’s history.

Construction industry advocates say a shortage of apprentices is the major issue they will be taking up with the newly elected Gallop Government.

When Nathan Buzza was named the 40under40 First Amongst Equals in 2003 his business, Commtech Wireless, had 30 staff and a turnover of $5 million.

Mark Barnaba was a joint First Amongst Equals winner in 2002, and since then he has gone on to reach further successes.

This year’s 40under40 First Amongst Equals winner, Lyle Palmer, has dedicated his exceptional career to the study of genetics to improve human health.

The 40under40 Awards are rapidly becoming the premier event in Perth for the city’s business community. And if the 2005 guest list is any indication, a ticket to the awards is the hottest item in town come February.

The Town of Cambridge has named Multiplex as the preferred tenderer on the multi-million dollar Perry Lakes redevelopment.

Last year’s 40under40 First Amongst Equals winner Darren Haunold recently celebrated the opening of cellar door sales at his winery, Wills Domain.

It has been suggested that success in business doesn’t often happen until there has been a business failure. According to that view, then, Manny Papadoulis is well on his way to success.

The planning policies of the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River are to be tested in the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).

The City of Perth’s engagement with the business community is not just about registering voters, it also involves getting quality business candidates onto council.

Calls for a capital city charter to give special status to the City of Perth as a valuable asset to Western Australia, and also as containing a unique constituency, have been made for some time.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive John Langoulant has forecast a steadying of Western Australia’s economy and the property market as industry catches up on a backlog of work.

While the business sector’s apparent lack of involvement in the affairs of the City of Perth council is considered a sign of apathy or a lack of interest, an argument could be mounted that a hands-off approach is a sign that all’s well.

New South Wales Premier Bob Carr has acknowledged the broadening of land tax and the introduction of a vendor tax last year are hurting the Labor Party in NSW.

The City of Perth is targeting businesses in the lead-up to May’s council elections as voter apathy again threatens to deny business an effective role in the city’s affairs.

As the representative organisation for the property sector and owners of CBD property, the Property Council is highly critical of the City of Perth’s voting system for business.

In terms of revenue, at $84 million, the City of Perth is ranked only behind the City of Stirling and the City of Wannreoo.

The balance of power between state and local government often results in a relationship that’s almost parental in its functioning, complete with the tension that type of relationship often invokes.