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.

Connect

tom.zaunmayr@businessnews.com.au

Podcasts 31 Jul 2026

Mark My Words July 31 2026

Mark Pownall is joined by Business News reporters to discuss oil refining, desalination, Northern Star, strike actions, data centres, Golden Sedayu, and the latest in Greg Poland's defamation action.

Fortescue's port operations are close to capacity. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Mining 31 Jul 2026

Fortescue hits 200Mt milestone

Fortescue is looking to AI to squeeze more tonnes through its Pilbara port as it taps data centre customers to plug into its green grid.

Andrew Forrest and Michael Woodley

Indigenous 30 Jul 2026

Yindjibarndi appeals Fortescue compensation

Yindjibarndi traditional owners will appeal the federal court's awarding of $150 million in compensation from Fortescue for cultural loss from construction of a Pilbara iron ore mine.

Artists' impression of the mycelium factory. Picture: Perth Food Bowl Corporation

Agribusiness 30 Jul 2026

Winery owner plans $350m ag precinct

A South West vintner has revealed plans for a $350 million agribusiness precinct near Perth to produce fertiliser, food and building products for local and export markets.

Designs for Sol Marina. Picture: Wabi Systems

Exclusive 30 Jul 2026

Marina heart lodged for Exmouth

Plans for a mixed-use precinct in the heart of the Exmouth Marina have been lodged with the local government by a Perth-based modular building firm.

Get a Grip director Aaron Hunter.

Small Business 29 Jul 2026

Tyre firm buys rival for $3.7m

A WA tyre retailer has scooped up a suite of stressed WA assets for $3.7 million from an ASX-listed rival.

Five sculptures will be erected around Esperance and Salmon Gums. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Cultural Industries 29 Jul 2026

Esperance sculpture trail backed

A FORM-led sculpture trail intended to become regional WA's next tourism drawcard has been endorsed by the Shire of Esperance.

Continual Renewables' proposed New Rise ANZ refinery

Exclusive 29 Jul 2026

Kwinana biorefinery strikes offtake deal

A $465-million, 175-million-litre biorefinery earmarked for Perth's south has struck an offtake deal for nearly three quarters of production.

Battery metals made up more than half of Rio Tinto's earnings

Mining 29 Jul 2026

Rio buoyant on copper riches

Rio Tinto will pay investors their largest dividend since 2022 off the back of booming copper prices and strong iron ore production.

Port Hedland accounted for most of the Pilbara's exports. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Mining 28 Jul 2026

Pilbara trade delivers $150bn value

More than 800 million tonnes of trade passed through Pilbara's ports last financial year, delivering $150 billion in export value to the state.

The North West shelf mostly produces LNG, not crude oil. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Energy 28 Jul 2026

OPINION: Karratha refinery an odd choice

OPINION: WA is already one of the world's largest growers of fuel feedstock, but we do not use it. That is where state and federal funding should be directed.

Zhang Jun speaks at the Boao Forum in Perth. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Government 28 Jul 2026

China’s green drive ‘irreversible’

The political will of China's mission to decarbonise its economy is “irreversible” in the face of mounting global headwinds against the green transition.

Oil & Gas 28 Jul 2026

PM backs WA oil refinery study

Millions of dollars will be spent investigating whether it's feasible to build a new, large-scale oil refinery to strengthen fuel security in Australia.

Progress at the desalination plant site in March. Photo: Rio Tinto

Deals 27 Jul 2026

Yindjibarndi to buy $1.1b desal plant

A landmark deal to place control of a $1.1 billion Pilbara desalination plant in the hands of traditional owners has been set in motion.

Andrew Forrest speaks at the Boao Forum for Asia in Perth. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Mining 27 Jul 2026

Forrest touts Indian Ocean iron alliance

A partnership between Australia, Africa and China rooted in iron ore will be crucial to the world's next great industrial transformation, Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest says.

At Close of Business.

Podcasts 24 Jul 2026

At Close of Business podcast July 24 2026

Tom Zaunmayr and Sam Jones discuss a Pilbara council's use of a futurist and AI to develop its future plan.

Jackie Jarvis at the Bringing Dowerin Downtown lunch. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Agribusiness 24 Jul 2026

Trust the science, Jarvis urges

Faith in science needs to be restored, Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis says, amid a growing tide of skepticism and ‘dodgy' AI images.

The draft Karratha 2050 plan will go before councillors on Monday. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Exclusive 24 Jul 2026

Could Karratha get public rail?

A Pilbara council has enlisted the help of a futurist and AI to draw up a destiny resplendent with passenger rail, advanced manufacturing and “iconic” architecture.

At Close of Business

Podcasts 23 Jul 2026

At Close of Business podcast July 23 2026

Tom Zaunmayr speaks with Mark Beyer about DevelopmentWA's residential land developments in the Pilbara.

Protestors in Perth on Wednesday. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Government 23 Jul 2026

Lancelin takes erosion plight to Perth

Residents of Lancelin are steadfast in opposition to moving to higher ground as the Indian Ocean threatens to swallow their town.

Major land developments are underway in the Pilbara. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

North-West 23 Jul 2026

Pilbara readies for residential boom

DevelopmentWA is gearing up for a major expansion of land for housing.

Madura Plains Station. Photo: Elders WA

Agribusiness 22 Jul 2026

Madura Plains sale settles

Scaling up of the world's largest sheep aggregation on WA's south coast by a British billionaire has been finalised.

Render of the Brabham Senior High School. Picture: WA government

Education 21 Jul 2026

Brabham school build begins

Construction of a $144 million high school in the north-eastern suburb of Brabham has begun.

Amanda Healy has taken an interest in a new WA airline. Photo: Matt Jelonek

Exclusive 21 Jul 2026

Healy backs charter airline

A charter airline owned by local aviation executives and Warrikal founder Amanda Healy has hit the skies of Western Australia.

Fenix exports out of the Port of Geraldton. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Mining 21 Jul 2026

Fenix eyes iron ore milestone

Mid West iron ore miner Fenix Resources is hoping to break through the 5-million-tonne sales mark this financial year.

ACOB

Podcasts 20 Jul 2026

At Close of Business podcast July 20 2026

Mark Beyer speaks with Tom Zaunmayr about why ASX-listed contractors have undertaken a flurry of acquisitions over the past year.

Fenix uses its own contractor, Newhaul, to transport its iron ore. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Mining 20 Jul 2026

Fenix gains new mine approval

Regulatory approvals of Fenix Resources' next iron ore mine have been secured, paving the way for development of a Mid West mining hub.

Frontier Energy is about to start building a solar farm in Waroona.

Energy 17 Jul 2026

Solar farm attracts Japanese, French funds

Frontier Energy has gained commitments for up to $280 million toward the first stage of its renewable energy project south of Perth.

Fortescue's Dino Otranto described the Mining Act as archaic. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Energy 17 Jul 2026

Mining Act’s energy shift ‘a formality’

Fortescue is confident a legislative fix to allow it to sell green power to non-mining industries is on the cards as the miner shops its potential to global data centre players.

WA's iron ore miners are looking at green iron options. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Manufacturing 17 Jul 2026

Neosmelt seeks Federal cash

Backers of a clean iron project mooted in Perth's south are seeking significant federal government funding to make their project viable.

Dwellingup, south of Perth. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

Environmental - Social - Governance 16 Jul 2026

WA parks worth $2.4b

Some $2.4 billion was pumped into the economy by WA's conservation state and 20,000 people employed, according to a new report released by the state government.

The Coppins' Yarrie Station surrounds Marble Bar. Photo: Tom Zaunmayr

News 16 Jul 2026

Vale Lang Coppin

Pilbara cattleman Lang Coppin was a well-known pastoral identity and likely holds the title as WA's longest serving councillor.

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