Tom Zaunmayr joined Business News in 2023 as a senior journalist, covering state politics, resources (iron ore), Aboriginal affairs, regional development and agriculture.
He spent the past decade covering news in regional WA where he developed a passion for local and state politics, regional development, small business, Aboriginal affairs, human interest and anything Pilbara related.
Mr Zaunmayr spent five years in Karratha during one of the biggest periods of transition for the Pilbara town before moving to Kalgoorlie during COVID to take on a role as deputy editor of WA's only daily regional newspaper.
From there, he moved back above the 26th parallel as Seven West Media's Northern Papers editor based in Broome, and did a stint as editor of the National Indigenous Times.
Nonogenerian Arnold Carter is among the last people who remember Port Hedland before iron ore. His business journey has taken him from filling Lang Hancock’s plane to championing the town’s history.
Six years after the Pilbara Kimberley University Centres was established, the hub-and-spoke education provider has grown to the far reaches of the north-west.
As traditional owners ramp up efforts to limit groundwater abstraction in the Pilbara, two projects backed by native title groups seek to provide solutions.
A strategic stockpile of critical minerals could strengthen Australia’s position in the global supply chain and sandbag domestic production from economic headwinds, according to AMEC.
WA Opposition leader Basil Zempilas’ portfolio responsibilities will mirror Premier Roger Cook’s, while Nationals leader Shane Love will be shadow minister for the state’s mining industry.
Pilbara miner Rio Tinto spent more than $10 billion with Western Australian suppliers last year as it ramped up work on its iron ore sustaining projects.
The first of 100 railcars built for Rio Tinto in Western Australia has rolled off the production line ready for its 1,500-kilometre journey north to the Pilbara.
The federal government won’t commit to stationing more defence personnel permanently in the north-west as it pours millions of dollars into military base upgrades.
Prospectors are applying for licences like they are going out of fashion in the hopes of striking it lucky in the outback as the gold price reaches historic highs.
Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh has warned 2,000 public sector jobs in WA would be put at risk should the Coalition implement one of its hallmark policies if it wins government in May.
The state government has established an Aukus-focused defence industries department and shifted energy into a diversification agency under its post-election changes to the public sector.