Tom Zaunmayr

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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.

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tom.zaunmayr@businessnews.com.au

Shaquille Brierly, Sabine Winton, Tina Scott, Tim Day, Micheal Ciccotosto, Roger Cook, Jeanette Hasleby and Charlotte Anagnostopoulos. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Mining 14 hours ago

BHP pours $160m into Hedland projects

Major upgrades to Port Hedland's high school, a new aquatic centre, and housing for key workers have been underpinned by a record community investment from BHP.

Berge Bulk's Berge Lyngor. Photo: BHP

Mining 1 day ago

BHP tests marine biofuels

A bulk carrier fueled with cooking oil and animal fat will set sail for Port Hedland under a trial backed by BHP and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation.

About 16 million trees will be planted for the project. Photo: Carbon Neutral

Agribusiness 1 day ago

WA to host nation’s largest carbon farm

Some 16 million trees will be planted across 28,000ha of Great Southern farmland for a project worth an estimated $40 million.

Michael Woodley outside Federal Court. Photo: Michael O'Brien

Opinion 1 day ago

One step forward, one step back

OPINION: Verdict progresses the rights of native title holders but questions remain about adjudicating for economic loss.

Ben Latimore speaking in Derby. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Indigenous 1 day ago

Mine rehab lifts job prospects

Buru Rehab director shared insight into the lengths the company is going to to break down barriers to work for Indigenous people in the Kimberley.

Buru's David Maxwell in Derby. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Energy 2 days ago

Buru makes gas security pitch

A remote gas well near Derby could replace one third of fixed plant diesel use and provide half of LPG demand in the Kimberley.

Fortescue's Solomon Hub in the Pilbara. Photo: Yindjibarndi Nation

Indigenous 2 days ago

Court finds miner didn’t cause Yindjibarndi rift

The full 354-page verdict gave insight into Justice Stephen Burley's decision to have Fortescue pay $150m in compensation to the Yindjibarndi people.

A lightning storm over Roebuck Bay in Broome. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Opinion 2 days ago

Embrace the spectacular off season

OPINION: If you want to see WA at its wildest and most exciting, stop following the crowds.

matt Sharpe is now the sole owner of Roebuck Plains Roadhouse. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Deals 29 May 2026

Broome roadhouse sells for $10m

The Roebuck Plains Roadhouse has changed hands for $10.5 million in a deal between the family that has owned it for more than one decade.

Vicki O'Donnell worked her way from receptionist to CEO. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Health 29 May 2026

KAMS boss spruiks business clout

The state's largest Aboriginal health service is big business, and it operates in a space many traditional providers have put in the too-hard basket.

Former WA treasurer Ben Wyatt at the Kimberley Economic Forum. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Indigenous 28 May 2026

Wyatt makes native title approvals pitch

Native title bodies could speed up project approvals if some council decisions were delegated to them, according to former treasurer Ben Wyatt.

Wayne Bergmann says KAPCo struggled to attract traditional financing. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Agribusiness 27 May 2026

How Indigenous cattle co got its break

The Kimberley Agriculture and Pastoral Company runs 750,000ha of stations and last year diversified into its own beef brand.

Yawuru man Peter Yu speaking in Broome on Tuesday. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Indigenous 27 May 2026

Yu calls for export equity

Yawuru professor Peter Yu has urged native title groups to buy stakes in infrastructure, while warning of the risk far-right politics posed to Indigenous advancement.

Natasha Short and Darren Godwell at the Indigenous Business Forum. Photos: Tom Zaunmayr

Indigenous 26 May 2026

Mob backed to buy boomer businesses

Aboriginal small business owners are being encouraged to snap up companies held by baby boomers as they look to offload assets before heading into retirement.

AEMEE's Jyi Lawton in Broome. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Indigenous 26 May 2026

Mining business shortfall an opportunity

A serious lack of Indigenous businesses operating in the mining industry presents a compelling case for entrepreneurship to plug the gap in the Kimberley.

Construction of the Jinbi solar farm has begun. Photo: Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation

Energy 26 May 2026

BHP looks to Yindjibarndi for power

The Big Australian has begun talks with Yindjibarndi Energy on a deal to supply green power to the miner's extensive Pilbara iron ore operations.

ACOB

Podcasts 25 May 2026

At Close of Business podcast May 25 2026

Tom Zaunmayr speaks to Justin Fris about variables within Fortescue's pursuit of a real-zero agenda.

Andrew Forrest has pledged to rid Fortescue of terrestrial emissions by 2030. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Mining 25 May 2026

Fortescue flirts with limits of Mining Act

Fortescue's pursuit of an increasingly ambitious real-zero agenda is testing government policy and stakeholder relations.

Fortescue's Cloudbreak solar farm. Photo: Fortescue

Energy 25 May 2026

Fortescue starts another solar build

Ground has broken at the site of what will become Fortescue's largest solar farm, and a key pillar of the company's work to wean itself off fossil fuel by 2030.

Mark My Words podcast.

Podcasts 22 May 2026

Mark My Words May 22 2026

Mark Pownall is joined by Tom Zaunmayr, Ella Loneragan and Sam Jones to discuss fracking in the Kimberley; the City of Perth; MinRes' lithium; property news; startups and more.

Peter Hicks. Photo: Matt Jelonek

Indigenous 22 May 2026

Hicks expands to Queensland

Aboriginal contractor Hicks Civil & Mining has branched out to Queensland in its first major move beyond its home base.

Arafura boss Darryl Cuzzubbo says a new price index is needed to ween rare earths plays of government support. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Mining 22 May 2026

Rinehart bolsters Arafura stake

Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting has committed another $85 million to Arafura Rare Earths one day after the company greenlit development of its Nolans project.

Resources Minister Madeleine King. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Energy 21 May 2026

King slaps down One Nation gas policy

A One Nation plan to follow Norway's lead on capturing oil and gas profits has been labelled ‘backwards' by Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King.

The Nyamal board at the opening of its new office. Photo: Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation

Indigenous 21 May 2026

Njamal trust moves home to Hedland

One of Western Australia's largest Indigenous trusts has shifted its head office from Perth to the Pilbara to be closer to the beneficiaries it acts for.

The Nolans rare earths project in the NT. Photo: Arafura Rare Earths

Mining 21 May 2026

Green light for Rinehart rare earth play

A $1.6 billion rare earths mine backed by Gina Rinehart will be developed after receiving backing from the federal government's critical minerals strategic reserve.

PPAs have been signed with three wind farms recently. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Government 20 May 2026

Questions over minister’s energy order

Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says it was business as usual. Her opposite number Steve Thomas claims it is evidence of a disconnect.

Rio Tinto Cape Lambert operations manager Shannon Bellingham, Cape Lambert ports general manager Briony Briskey, Cape Lambert operations superintendent Shane Humphries , and superintendent Josh Giles

Mining 20 May 2026

What Rio’s 8b tonnes of ore could build

Rio Tinto has shipped enough Pilbara iron ore in 60 years to build a railway to Mars or erect a Burj Khalifa at every city in the world.

Holiday homes are a touchy subject in the South West's tourist towns. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Government 19 May 2026

Rental absence sparks short stay call

A host of towns in regional WA with plentiful short-stay options have no properties available for renters, a fresh report reveals.

Troy Eaton, centre, says Fortescue has no consent for its Pilbara Green Energy Project. Photo: Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation

Energy 18 May 2026

Fortescue energy hub draws Nyamal’s ire

A Pilbara native title group has taken a swipe at Fortescue's latest green energy hub, accusing the miner of going behind its back to develop the project.

Podcasts 15 May 2026

Mark My Words May 15 2026

Mark Pownall is joined by Gary Adshead, Ella Loneragan, Tom Zaunmayr and Jack McGinn to discuss the Federal budget, a huge native title win, Exmouth tourism project, a big CBD sale, and more.

The Solomon Mining Hub in the Pilbara. Photo: Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

Indigenous 15 May 2026

Yindjibarndi verdict furthers case law

The long-running court battle between the Yindjibarndi people, Fortescue and WA government has been a case watched keenly by Australia's resources, native title and legal professions.

ACOB

Podcasts 14 May 2026

At Close of Business podcast May 14 2026

Tom Zaunmayr and Nadia Budihardjo discuss the recent court judgment on Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation's action against Fortescue and the state government.

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