Tayler Neale

Shares in local tech firm Nuheara soared today after the company announced it had become an approved supplier to the federal government’s hearing services program, which was allocated a $539 million budget this year.

Three local junior explorers have raised more than $21 million, with Draig Resources and Triton Minerals boosting their coffers while the Charlie Bass-led Eagle Mountain Mining has commenced trading on the ASX after raising $8 million via an initial public offering.

The corporate watchdog has today released a report outlining changes made by the big four banks to small business loans to remove unfair terms, while the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has flagged concerns with the major banks’ mortgage pricing strategies.

Security services provider Threat Protect Australia has continued with its acquisition growth strategy, purchasing a South Australian security monitoring business for about $8 million.

The private consortium planning a $400 million waste-to-energy plant in Rockingham has signed a 20-year supply agreement with the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council and been selected as the preferred tenderer by the City of Cockburn for a similar supply deal.

Tawana Resources has opened the state’s fifth lithium operation, with the ASX-listed company announcing today that production has started at its jointly owned Bald Hill project in the eastern Goldfields.

Western Australia was the only state in the country to register a decline in international tourist numbers and spending in 2017 despite the national market recording steady growth, according to the latest data from Tourism Research Australia.

Surveying company Veris has announced it will purchase east coast-based advisory services firm Elton Consulting in cash and scrip for an initial outlay of $12 million.

The Takeovers Panel has dismissed an application from Indonesian group Eastern Field Developments regarding its takeover target Finders Resources, with the panel determining that appropriate action has been taken by the company in relation to its Wetar project.

Image Resources has launched a $25 million capital raising that will contribute to the construction of its Boonanarring mineral sands project near Gingin, which is targeting production by the end of the year.

Perth-based company Superfunded has been placed into liquidation after the Federal Court made orders to wind-up the business following an application by the corporate watchdog.

SpacetoCo is a space-sharing platform for the short-term hire of space.

Indonesian group Eastern Field Developments has increased its stake in Finders Resources as the major shareholder pursues a hostile takeover of the copper miner valued at around $177 million.

40under40: First Amongst Equals winner Raleigh Finlayson has drawn on his childhood experiences in WA’s outback to run one of the state’s biggest gold mining companies.

The commissioners appointed to take charge of the City of Perth following the council’s suspension last week have commenced work, but the government is yet to establish an inquiry panel to investigate the issues that led to the suspension.

Mitsui & Co has announced its $602 million takeover offer for AWE will be unconditional if the Japanese company acquires more than a 50 per cent stake before March 14.

Western Australia’s market share for international students has plunged to 6.6 per cent after the state registered no growth in 2017 despite an extra 71,000 students heading to Australia from overseas.

Rio Tinto has announced it will expand its autonomous haul truck fleet to a fifth site in the Pilbara, with the iron ore miner set to add 15 driverless trucks at the West Angelas mine in May.

The state government has completed its analysis of potential sale options of the TAB wagering business, with a two-phase consultation process with the racing industry now set to take place to determine a final outcome.

Andrew Forrest has today launched a seven-match international rugby series featuring the Western Force that will act as a precursor to the planned Indo Pacific Rugby Championship in 2019.

Copper explorer MOD Resources has tapped investors for $18.3 million, with the proceeds set to be used on exploration work at its T3 and T20 Dome projects in Botswana.

The state government has appointed three commissioners to take charge of the City of Perth, led by the retiring chair of the Western Australian Planning Commission Eric Lumsden, while also establishing a panel with powers of a Royal Commission to conduct an inquiry.

The federal government has signed a $1.2 billion contract extension with a group of defence contractors for maintenance work on eight Anzac-class frigates for the next five years, with BAE Systems and CIMIC's UGL among the major beneficiaries.

Lithium Australia has secured an $18.2 million funding package from US institutional investor Arena Investors LP via a multi-tranche convertible note facility, with the proceeds to be spent on developing a lithium processing pilot plant.

Finders Resources’ largest shareholder, Eastern Field Developments, which is currently making a hostile takeover bid for the copper miner, has submitted an application to the Takeovers Panel requesting the company disclose details regarding its Wetar project and revise the independent expert report.

Talison Lithium has engaged MSP Engineering to conduct a feasibility study into another expansion at its Greenbushes project while a $320 million upgrade, set to double production, is already under way.

Melbourne-based explosives manufacturer Orica has secured supply contracts in the Pilbara with BHP Billiton and Roy Hill, but expects operational issues and write-downs to cut its first-half earnings by nearly $400 million.

The City of Perth has revealed that chief executive Martin Mileham sought advice from WorkSafe in July last year regarding the council's work environment, and that its executive team sent a letter to the Department of Local Government expressing concerns about elected councillors last month.

Company director and former WA attorney general Cheryl Edwardes has been appointed as the new chairperson for agribusiness CropLogic while St John of God Health Care has appointed Azure Capital managing partner Adrian Arundell to its board.

West Perth-based Vimy Resources has acquired a uranium project in the Northern Territory from Canadian miner Cameco for $6.5 million.

Perth house prices fell slightly in February, in line with the national downward trend for the month, according to the latest data from CoreLogic.

Local Government Minister David Templeman will suspend The City of Perth council on Friday and is now in the process of determining the method of suspension, with two options on the table.