Government

Unemployment in Western Australia is at its lowest level in more than two years, with Treasurer Ben Wyatt saying it was pleasing to see the rise in employment driven by full-time work.

Western Australia recorded its lowest level of wages growth in the year to June since at least 1999, at 1.4 per cent, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Perth is the world’s seventh most liveable city for the second year running, according to The Economist’s Intelligence Unit, while Melbourne continues a winning streak as the world's number one, a position it has held since 2011.

Melinda Cilento has been chosen to succeed Stephen Martin as chief executive of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia.

THE 2016-17 financial year marked the start of a recovery for Western Australian merchandise exports, which were up 20 per cent to be worth nearly $121 billion in the year to June.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce may become the fifth federal politician to be removed from parliament for holding dual citizenship, after New Zealand's prime minister said Mr Joyce was a citizen of the country.

Corporate administrations in Western Australia fell for the 2016-17 financial year, down by 5.2 per cent on the previous period, although a poor result for the three months to June suggests it is too early to call a recovery.

OPINION: The federal Liberal government’s failure to deal with the issue of same-sex marriage is indicative of a party more concerned with its own internal machinations than effective governance.

The state government plans to prepare reforms to allow third-party access in the North West Interconnected System, the Pilbara’s electricity network, ready for a cabinet decision in March 2018, in a move that would end years of impasse.

The man who famously led the sea rescue of yachtsmen Tony Bullimore and Thierry Dubois 20 years ago has been employed by the state government to fight to get more defence contract work for the state.

The High Court will sit in judgement over a government senator and two former Greens members regarding their eligibility to sit in parliament due to citizenship issues.

Hundreds of police officers have rallied outside state parliament, where their demands for a higher pay rise were shot down by Premier Mark McGowan.

The state government has made a formal submission to the Commonwealth Grants Commission seeking a fairer share of the GST distribution, following lack of progress in talks on the issue last week in Perth.

Perth property developer Nigel Satterley is confident of an early breakthrough in the campaign he has spearheaded with other business leaders for a better deal for Western Australia over the distribution of GST revenue.

The state government will be seeking to pile pressure on the Commonwealth to secure more defence industry spending in the west, according to Minister for Defence Issues Paul Papalia, as he hit out at his federal counterpart over a perceived lack of naval shipbuilding cash flowing to local players.

Treasurer Ben Wyatt has emerged disappointed from a meeting with federal counterpart Scott Morrison after failing to secure measures to prevent a shortfall of almost $2 billion in the state budget.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he has taken on "the cause" of getting Western Australia a fairer deal on GST amid new claims the state will lose another $1.9 billion of the national carve-up.

Malcolm Turnbull is promising to more than double the amount of funding for indigenous students in Western Australia over the next decade as he drums up support in the west.

The Australian dollar is steady against the greenback which has slipped on uninspiring US growth and continued political uncertainty.

Gold prices have risen to a six-week high after weaker-than-expected US inflation dampened expectations that the US Federal Reserve will aggressively raise interest rates and North Korea fired a ballistic missile, triggering safe-haven buying.

Oil has ended its strongest week this year with a surge built on receding fears of oversupply, as US crude came within striking distance of $US50 a barrel for the first time since the end of May.

OPINION: With federal governments seemingly in campaign mode 24-7, calls for fixed four-year terms for the House of Representatives make sense.

Business needs to be unshackled from red tape to compete with technology, while lower tax would boost wages growth, Richard Goyder told today’s Success & Leadership breakfast.

Chinese demand for Australian natural resources could be on a longer-term path of slow growth, although a major international development project could bring some benefits.

Treasurer Ben Wyatt has all but ruled out the introduction of a bank tax in the September budget but has kept the option open for a future decision, while the industry has called on the state government to protect Western Australia’s economic growth by not bringing in the levy.

Australia's inflation rate has cooled in the June quarter, dragging the annual headline rate below the central bank's target in the 2 to 3 per cent range.

About a quarter of ASX floats in the six months to June were undertaken by Western Australian companies, but the total amount raised is falling according to a new report.

A rising Australian dollar should protect motorists against any nasty surprises at the pump, according to the latest research by CommSec.

SPECIAL REPORT: Ongoing uncertainty over state government policy and a lengthy approvals process are muddying the waters for local energy hopefuls.

Western Australia has achieved the unwanted title of Australia's worst performed economy for a fourth consecutive quarter.

Building products company CSR has closed its Jandakot glass factory resulting in the loss of 58 jobs, though growth by competitors including Walshs Glass and Tough Glass will mitigate the impact.

The 22-year-old disability advocate set to fill the Greens seat left vacant by Scott Ludlam has vowed to smash stereotypes and represent the interests of the young and disabled in federal parliament.