Government

The jobless rate in Western Australia notched up 0.4 percentage points last month, while national unemployment figures remained steady.

OPINION: Many angry words have been spoken and written about Western Australia’s shrinking GST allocation, but very little has been said or written about the cause of the shrinkage – iron royalties.

Western Australian workers would have the most to lose of any state from a major downturn in China and the least to gain from a major growth in services exports, according to new modelling from Deloitte, but an increased openness to investment opportunities might bring an upside in both scenarios.

A taxi levy to buy back plates could be a major administrative headache for the sector and punish more efficient players, according to Ingogo chief executive Hamish Petrie.

OPINION: The McGowan government will need to get straight down to business, given the backlog of issues it needs to address.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi is unrepentant after she and and two of her factional allies were censured over a public rebuke of the council's deputy.

Treasurer Scott Morrison insists Western Australia's low share of the GST carve up is not his doing, saying he understands the state's frustration but won't intervene.

A wage freeze could be on the agenda for public sector staff in the upcoming state budget, according to new Treasurer Ben Wyatt, as Treasury officials warn the state will need to pay increasing rates of interest on government bonds.

New car sales in Western Australia slipped another 3.8 per cent last month, dragging its performance for the year even further away from parity.

The state government's decision to abandon a planned $600 million prison and instead reduce inmate numbers has been criticised by the Liberal opposition, while prison officers have backed the proposal.

A lower company tax rate, the abolition of stamp duty and a review of the federation should be top priorities to drive national prosperity in coming decades, the Australian Institute of Company Directors has said, as it seeks to reignite public debate on major economic reform.

Western Australian merchandise exports were up 36 per cent in February compared to the same month in 2016, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, while the national trade surplus reached the second highest level on record.

Australia's big four banks pushed the Australian share market into positive territory after a choppy session as investors await a flurry of local and international economic data.

James McMahon has resigned after three years at the helm of the Department of Corrective Services.

The declining spending power of consumers is hurting retailers and pointing to a revenue squeeze for the federal government, economists say.

The number of people living in regional Western Australia fell last year for the first time in at least a decade, with mining towns such as Leinster, Meekatharra, Kambalda and Coolgardie driving the decline, new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows.

Premier Mark McGowan has officially marked the beginning of the reversal process for the $440 million Roe 8 highway extension project, with a renegotiation process between Main Roads and the project’s proponents set to begin.

Investment plans for BHP Billiton’s South Flank project can proceed with greater certainty following the defeat of the Nationals WA's proposed iron ore levy hike at the ballot box earlier this month, according to the company’s asset president of WA iron ore, Edgar Basto.

New Liberal Party WA leader Mike Nahan has written to Bill Shorten asking for his commitment to a GST floor, saying the federal Labor leader cannot be a spectator on the issue.

SPECIAL REPORT: A small group of ministers and backroom advisers close to Mark McGowan will set the agenda for the new state government.

Labor's chances of securing a working majority in Western Australia's Legislative Council have foundered after Liberal MP Simon O'Brien ruled out taking on the role of president .

OPINION: The former WA under treasurer urges Mark McGowan to tackle state spending and secure federal funding for key infrastructure projects.

WA has the largest gender pay gap in the country, and Perth’s top business leaders are determined to do something to change that.

New state Treasurer Ben Wyatt has labelled the latest recommended GST distribution "abysmal" and a threat to the state's finances after the Commonwealth Grants Commission recommended Western Australia receive 34.4 per cent of its per capita share. 

Air travel from Perth to Broome and Perth to Karratha fell dramatically in January compared to the same month in 2016, according to the latest data by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics.

A former chief of staff to Premier Mark McGowan has been seconded to a senior role in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, triggering speculation he may become the next director general, putting him at the centre of government power.

Premier Mark McGowan has urged the controversy-plagued City of Perth to not waste money on a $500,000 audit of its entire operation as his government contemplates sacking the council.

Western Australia is driving a nationwide rise in Australians who are falling behind on home loan repayments, according to a report by ratings agency Standard & Poor's.

Premier Mark McGowan has urged the prime minister to show some backbone and change the GST carve-up, saying agreement with all other state and territories is not necessary.

Almost 500,000 workers would need to be laid off in China’s steel industry by 2020 under a plan to reduce excess capacity, according to a report released by the international Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development this week.

Chevron managing director of Australasia Nigel Hearne has confirmed a fourth LNG train at the Gorgon project won’t be happening in the near term, while calling on governments not to buckle to calls for higher taxes and increased regulation that will reduce competitiveness of the industry.

Premier Mark McGowan has been forced to reshuffle his cabinet just four days after his ministers were sworn in, with Labor state president Peter Tinley losing the mines and petroleum portfolio.