Noel Dyson

FOLLLOWING US and UK trends, virtual assistants are setting up shop in Australia and enjoying the freedom of being their own boss, says The Virtual Assistant Group managing director Kate Gorce-Macham.

TAXI users will pay more after fares increased this week for the first time since 1997.

THE City of Swan Council approved a new development at the Stafford Court Shopping Centre at Lot 200 Stafford Street, Midland, at the last council meeting.

ATTORNEY General Peter Foss says other Australian states are interested in two very successful innovations in WA – work camps and the use of video technology.

MIDLAND wants a slice of the call centre action.

AUSTRALIA, and WA in particular, is coming under strong scrutiny from Nordic companies as a potential Asia Pacific base.

MALAGA, the industrial jewel in the Swan City Council’s crown, is fast becoming one of Perth’s major industrial areas.

COUNCIL House is hosting the City of Perth Art Award, showcasing the contemporary work of some of WA’s best artists, from November 10 to 17.

A BUSINESS migrant reckons his company will be turning over $50 million within five years.

THE release of design guidelines for the Northbridge Urban Renewal has been called for by Vincent Mayor John Hyde.

A MAJOR new village at Ellenbrook has been given development approval by the City of Swan.

MOST Wesfarmers shareholders left the rural conglomerate’s 19th annual general meeting pleased with the company’s strong results and promising future.

THE Kimberley will get a tidal energy power station and the Energy Equity-Woodside consortium will not lose its contract to supply power to the region, under a new proposal.

BUSINESSES and residents of the Midland area are quietly optimistic that the area may be improving, although after years of waiting, many want to first see things actually happening before they believe it.

AUSTRALIA needs to embrace innovation or risk becoming a branch economy, says Innovation Summit Implementation Group chairman David Miles.

IT HAS been estimated that there are more than 6,000 home-based businesses operating within the City of Swan and an extra 1,400 are expected to form within the next 30 years.

AFTER signing a more than $5 million deal with the US, Eagle Aircraft is chasing its dream of making aeroplanes an Australian way of life again.

AUSTRALIA’S second largest business incubator has turned 10 and wants to increase its reach.

PERTH City Council’s breakaway towns want an ownership stake in Tamala Park that could earn them about $21.5 million each.

Nov 11, 18, 25: Archery at Lilac Hill, Lilac Hill Cricket grounds, West Swan Road

SOME small businesses claiming refunds on their Business Activity Statements are likely to get a visit from the Australian Tax Office.

Lamb market openA BIGGER market could be open to WA lamb farmers following the World Trade Organisation’s dispute panel finding the US was unfairly blocking Australian exports

THE Stirling Business Association had grown to the point where the Government was starting to take notice, according to incoming president Steve Delfos.

A COMMUNITY bank, traditionally a rural institution, is close to opening its doors just three kilometres from the Perth CBD.

SMALL business owners ignore the Internet at their peril, says Small Business Clinic managing director Fiona Anson.

BRETT Wilkins is back in town and looking for a new challenge.The former Hawaiian Investments managing director and Property Council of Australia WA Branch president left the WA business scene suddenly, earlier this year.

ALWAYS be ready to learn, says Anita Lawrence, of 46-year-old WA family-owned conglomerate All Boating Equipment and Master Engineering.Master Engineering builds the Roadmaster brand of boat trailers.

AN EDUCATION opportunity rather than a good resumé addition is how most WA Rhodes Scholars view their time at Oxford.

Business professionals are faced with a weighty problem of deciding which seminars and conferences would benefit staff and business.

“I AM not on holiday,” says Rottnest Island Authority CEO John Mitchell.The Irishman turned Western Australian could be the envy of most public servants and business people because he spends about three days a week on the resort island.

THE rubbish dump for several Perth councils is nearly full so they may start dumping their refuse along the Perth to Joondalup railway line.

CHANGING lifestyles threaten family-owned businesses in WA.More than 55 per cent of small businesses in WA are considered family businesses and 35 per cent have been operating for more than 10 years.