Staff Reporters

BUSINESSES that are involved in e-commerce need to improve customer service levels to make an impact on the marketplace, says Sybiz managing director John Krokosz.

THE WA taxi industry is in need of sweeping reforms, according to an independent review undertaken by BSD Consultants.

Internet transactions of some US$12.2 billion have been prdicted for the fourth quarter of 1999 by market researcher Dataquest.

Despite a drop in technology stocks, those in the industry still have what it takes to reach the billionaires' list.

The recent downturn in the resource sector has been reflected in the balance book for mining services and rock-breaking contractor, Brandrill Limited.

THE worldwide release of free training videos featuring the Netscape 4.6 program recently began in Perth.

TIES between the meat industry in WA and Egypt were strengthened by a recent visit from Egyptian delegates.

OBSERVATIONS can be made from the UK experience of VAT to help Australia avoid mistakes when introducing the GST, according to a UK tax expert visiting Curtin Business School.

The $3.8 billion Australian stationery products market is set for tough times or even extinction according to a new study by BIS Shrapnel.

THE first WA-built fast ferries ever imported into Norway have been delivered to ferry operator Hardanger Sunnhordlandske Dampskipsselskap.

Consolidated Minerals Limited, the ASX-listed Pilbara-based manganese ore producer, has signalled its return to the international marketplace by shipping 38,500 tonnes of lump manganese ore.

The ill-fated date 9/9/99, which had techies sweating from banking to Qantas, has passed without a glitch.

AN INTENSIVE English (ELICOS) class at the Australian Institute for University Studies recently toured Joondalup Resort golf course to help practice their conversational English.

FEWER than a quarter of Australian businesses have staff with the critical skills and capabilities to guarantee an organisation's competitiveness, Drake Management Con-sulting research has found.

THE advent of ‘new generation' airliners could provide opportunities for Perth to grow as an airline destination, says aviation industry commentator Tom Ballantyne.

A leading Indonesian mining company, PT Aneka Tambang Antam, has developed strong ties with Australian companies to develop mineral resource in Indonesia.

A recent study titled Consumers@shopping, conducted by Consumers International, has indicated a real need for cyber rules when it comes to online shopping.

SHOPPING hours will be extended in the Perth metropolitan area during Christmas and New Year.

A LOCAL networking and Internet security company is throwing its hat into the Application Service Provider market at the inaugural Business to Business Trade Show.

RESEARCHERS at Curtin University have commenced a project to develop a new generation of drugs for treatment of HIV-AIDS, asthma and melanoma.

Anaconda Nickel Limited has cast its net farther into the prospective base metals pool by farming into the Tottenham nickel-cobalt laterite project owned by Perth-based Alkane Exploration NL.

ComplEmenting the Property Council's pro-active reform projects will be the 2000/2001 financial year pre-budget submission.

AN UNPROTECTED window can render even the best security system useless, says Glass Security Services sales director Lloyd Gaunt.

Estimates have revealed improved access for people with disabilities would add $6 billion to Australia's gross domestic product

The Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) scheme is the Federal Government's principal export finance assistance program.

A NEWLY approved proposal to amend the Mining Act and increase prospector's access to land across WA has drawn fire from a key mining industry group.

THE Bokay Group was the star of the recent WA Screenprinting Awards, winning the President's Award and two gold PICA awards for outstanding screenprinting and digital printing projects.

BROAD brushstrokes have been laid for the Northbridge Urban Renewal Project with an extensive consultation process planned soon.

SHIRE, town and city councillors and staff have a new handbook to guide them in disclosing interests.

Kalgoorlie-based miner Croesus Mining NL has opened its purse strings to consolidate its position in the gold and base metals sectors.

FRAUD auditing should be more widely embraced in Australia to combat rising levels of corporate fraud says corporate fraud expert and Orna Management managing director John Westall.

THE international diamond market is reported to be decidedly nervous over the enhancement treatment by General Electric which can produce high-grade precious gems from low-quality stones.