Government

The auditor general has reiterated his disappointment with state government agencies consistently not taking appropriate steps to protect and manage their IT systems despite the recent global malware attacks.

Treasurer Scott Morrison has rejected warnings the Liberals would face an electoral wipeout in Western Australia if the federal government doesn’t give the state more GST money.

The McGowan government’s shake-up of public sector agencies has triggered unexpected departures from key agencies, with road safety commissioner Kim Papalia resigning and three Tourism WA board members following chairman Peter Prendiville out the door.

Western Australia is home to the nation’s fastest-growing region for the second consecutive census, but this time it’s not in the north.

Western Australia’s population grew by just 0.7 per cent for the 12 months to December, after only 400 people migrated from overseas, while nearly 11,000 moved interstate.

ANALYSIS: The business sector’s view of the future and that of consumers are heading in different directions.

About 18,000 local businesses and key leaders have backed the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA’s GST reform submissions, which were put forward to the Productivity Commission today.

State Treasurer Ben Wyatt says the South Australian government's controversial bank levy is an attractive option and he'll watch with interest ahead of delivering his own budget in September.

The state government has lifted an array of fees and charges as it seeks to address its budget woes, with iron ore exporters in the Pilbara and electricity consumers facing the largest increases.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has not demonstrated any insight into her wrongdoing or indicated she won't fail to disclose gifts again, the State Administrative Tribunal has heard.

The state government has slashed the number of occupations on the skilled migration list from 178 to just 18 in a bid to promote more local jobs and prevent an oversupply of overseas workers.

OPINION: The formation of the Put Western Australia First Party has raised the stakes over tax reform, with the Liberals and Labor on notice that Senate seats may come under threat unless something tangible is done to resolve the GST impasse.

An unexpected surge in full-time employment has driven Australia's jobless rate to a four-year low, meaning a Reserve Bank interest rate cut is now off the table, economists say.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has admitted there are inaccuracies in her statement submitted to the State Administrative Tribunal, which is holding a hearing to determine her penalty for breaching local government laws.

ANALYSIS: Despite the best of intentions, WA’s economic performance has stuttered and stagnated as the end of the financial year approaches.

The WA Industrial Relations Commission has ruled that the state's minimum wage should increase by 2.3 per cent, one week after the Fair Work Commission lifted award rates applying nationally by 3.3 perc ent.

The state government has bowed to public pressure and dumped plans to move Perth's only academically selective school to a high-rise city building in favour of constructing another secondary school on a park in Subiaco.

SPECIAL REPORT: Labor's victory in the March state election heralded a major shift in infrastructure priorities for Western Australia, and even further changes are likely as the McGowan government seeks to balance its promises with fiscal reality.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will face a showdown over the merits of a proposed clean energy target when government MPs meet tomorrow.

The Perth Children's Hospital is unlikely to open by the new September deadline but progress is being made treating lead contamination at the facility, the state's health minister says.

State premiers have rejected reform measures to the GST carve-up put forward by Mark McGowan, who is lobbying for Western Australia to get a fairer share of the tax's revenue.

Australia's trade balance has fallen sharply to a surplus of $555 million after a steep decline in coal exports due to Cyclone Debbie.

Australia's economy grew by 0.3 per cent in the March quarter as consumer spending slowed and a fall in exports weighed on activity.

Deloitte Access Economics has foreshadowed a bleaker outlook for the state’s economy in the coming year than that predicted by the WA Department of Treasury in December.

Plans to widen a section of Guildford Road have been scrapped by the state government, following a recommendation by the Western Australian Planning Commission.

Five Exmouth councillors have quit, leaving commissioner Ian Fletcher to continue to oversee the troubled Western Australia local government until the election in October.

The University of Western Australia has received federal funding and contributions by partner organisations for two projects focused in the environment and resources sectors.

East coast-based companies AGL Energy and Origin Energy have received approval to enter Western Australia’s domestic gas market, where they will join Wesfarmers subsidiary Kleenheat and Alinta Energy.

The premier has committed $35 million towards the next two stages of the Albany Ring Road heavy haulage route, but will call on the federal government for the balance of the project’s $172 million cost.

Premier Mark McGowan has refused to reiterate his election promise made three months ago of no new taxes or tax increases, instead deflecting the issue by saying the state is in a "catastrophic" financial mess.

The red tape facing some businesses is having consequences beyond merely increasing compliance costs, according to chair of the federal government’s Black Economy Taskforce Michael Andrews, and is a contributing factor in tax evasion far more significant than any similar activity undertaken by multinationals.

The state government will appoint a defence advocate to lobby Canberra to win work slated for South Australia.