Staff Reporters

There has been a surge in demand for rental properties in Perth, resulting in higher rental rates for houses and apartments and a fall in the vacancy rate.

PM’s ‘name and shame’ jobs ploy - The Fin; Use taxes to rescue manufacturing, PM told - The Aus; Revolutionary who gave technology the personal touch - The Aus; Fraud claim against Indian tycoon doubles - The Aus; JORC takes issue with ASX disclosure revamp - The West

The state government has struck a deal with Brookfield Rail to reopen four rail lines in the wheatbelt to cope with the expected large harvest in the coming season.

Energy and Minerals Australia has announced a $10 million capital raising, in the form of convertible notes, to support continued work on its Mulga Rocks uranium project.

A peak mining industry group hopes a new website will help the sector find workers to fill the thousands of jobs created by the mining boom.

Apple's former CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs has died aged 56, two months after resigning from the company for health reasons.

Qantas Airways says its decade-long association with Rio Tinto has been extended for a further three years after the airline signed a new agreement with the mining giant.

ASX puts heat on resource stocks - The Fin; Wesfarmers to lower performance hurdle – The Aus; Swan urged to act on tax talk - The Aus; Barnett walks into firestorm - The Fin; Vics told to follow SA on mining - The Advertiser

A state government review has identified 61 parcels of Crown land in the Pilbara that are underutilised or surplus and could be put on the market for private development.

The number of corporate insolvencies in Australia and the cost of those insolvencies are setting new records, and continuing to run at over four times pre-GFC levels, a new report has found.

The Australian dollar fell to its lowest levels in more than a year overnight but subsequently recovered to be slightly stronger than yesterday’s close.

State tipped to get its fair share of GST pot - The West; Atlas Iron held up as a giant for charity - The West; Oswal takes the high ground - The Aus; RBA edges towards rate cut - The Fin; Swan floats business tax rethink - The Fin; States face pressure on payroll levy - The Fin

Logistics and transport firm Centurion has made a foray into the oil and gas sector, acquiring BIS Industries’ Oilfield and General Transport business for an undisclosed sum.

Perth-based land developer Peet has been appointed by Defence Housing Australia to manage and market a 465-lot residential development in Brisbane’s Warner Springs.

Emerson Stewart Group subsidiary Ocean to Outback Contracting has won a $3.7 million deal with Hamersley Iron at Rio Tinto’s Western Turner Brockman project.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has taken its total commitment to indigenous-owned businesses to $115 million.

Industrial services firm Programmed has signed a $785 million contract with the Water Corporation to oversee operations, maintenance, and asset management for the Perth region.

The Western Australian Farmers Federation has claimed Coles’ decision to cut the price of its meat products will result in price rises across other products.

The tourism industry has welcomed additional state government funding for regional events.

THE state government has told the federal government that implementation of the new national occupational safety and health laws is not attainable by the target of January 2012.

The Australian Greens won't block the federal government's mining tax in the Senate if it does not cover gold, but will push for it to be included, the party's leader Bob Brown says.

The state government has released its final sales and royalties figures for the resources industry for financial year 2010-11, revealing record sales of $101.2 billion.

Africa-focused explorer Avonlea Minerals has announced the successful completion of a $1.5 million share placement which will fund expanded exploration programs at its tenements in Namibia.

Small retailers will be able to have up to 18 people working at the same time – 5 more than previously allowed – under changes to retail trading laws announced by the state government.

Education services company Navitas has welcomed proposed changes to the student visa system, which will make it easier for international students to gain access to the Australian market.

ACCOUNTING firms Hall Chadwick and UHY Haines Norton have announced increased links with industry counterparts in China.

The City of Perth has approved the demolition of the Law Chambers building and the refurbishment of the Public Trustees building, paving the way for the redevelopment of the Cathedral Square precin

Mineral Commodities announced it will acquire mineral sands explorer Simto Resources in a deal worth $37.5 million.

Transportable housing manufacturer Fleetwood Corporation has announced a five-year supply deal for BHP Billiton Iron Ore's various expansion projects throughout the Pilbara.

The state government’s seawater desalination plant near Binningup has won the top prize at the 2011 Western Australian Engineering Excellence Awards at the weekend.

Indian infrastructure giant GVK Group will pay Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting $1.26 billion for most of the company’s coal and infrastructure projects in Queensland’s Galilee Basin.

The Federal Court has dismissed an appeal by Perth-based drilling fluids firm Imdex, regarding alleged patent infringements by Coretell Pty Ltd and Mincrest Holdings, trading as Camteq.