Government

Western Australia’s net debt is set for further big increases over the next three years before coming down slightly once the government’s budget returns to surplus in 2020-21.

Gold miners have warned of devastating consequences from a higher royalty rate, including potential mine closures, while business groups have also taken aim at proposed payroll tax hikes for larger employers, after both were targeted in a $1 billion revenue grab by the state government in today’s budget.

UPDATED: Lisa Scaffidi has stood down from her duties as Perth's lord mayor, pending an appeal against her 18-month disqualification from holding office for repeatedly failing to disclose gifts and travel, but plans to retain the title and her annual allowance.

More than a third of business women believe they’re underpaid, according to a report published today by Business Women Australia and CoreData Group, yet nearly one in five of those surveyed has never asked for a pay rise.

Schoolchildren across Western Australia may be exposed to lead-contaminated water because the same plumbing materials plaguing Perth Children's Hospital could also be in schools, an expert has warned.

Mines Minister Bill Johnston has been criticised for holding a scientific inquiry to decide the future of fracking in the state, with the industry saying it's unnecessary and creates damaging uncertainty.

Western Australia’s economy shrunk by 0.3 per cent in the June quarter, excluding international trade, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, while GDP grew 0.8 per cent nationally.

The state government is considering amendments to the Mining Act in the wake of the High Court’s recent ruling that kept sand mining off Andrew Forrest's family pastoral station in the Pilbara but cast into question the legitimacy of other granted mining leases since 2006.

Western Australia reported a surprise increase in new car sales last month, boosted by strong performances by Toyota and Hyundai.

Australian services sector activity has continued to expand for the sixth straight month, but the rate of expansion has slowed.

Western Australia was the largest contributor to an increase in exploration spending in the three months to June according to new data which was released just days after the federal government announced a $100 million exploration incentive.

A motion to financially secede Western Australia from the federation drew gasps of disbelief around the nation when it was narrowly passed, but even those proposing it admit it's unlikely to happen.

Perth lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi has been disqualified from holding any office for 18 months after failing to disclose gifts and travel, but her lawyer will seek to halt the penalty pending an appeal.

Former Horizon Power chair Brendan Hammond and MercyCare director Rebecca Tomkinson have been appointed to chair the Pilbara and Wheatbelt development commissions, respectively.

An inspection on 13 local building projects that sourced materials from the Chinese supplier of roof panels for the Perth Children’s Hospital, which were later found to contain asbestos, has produced no trace of the deadly material.

Nationals WA leader Mia Davies has accused the state government of draining funds from the Royalties for Regions program into the $3 billion Metronet plan, saying an internal directive banning future use of the rural fund’s logo was the beginning of its winding-up.

The state government has named the 43 successful applicants that will share in about $5 million for exploration drilling programs, with over half of those being gold projects.

A decision on whether to sell betting agency TAB will not be made until after the Western Australian budget is handed down next week.

A Western Australian Liberals-led High Court challenge over the state's GST share will be partly financed by crowdfunding.

The McGowan government has announced the Wandoo minimum security prison will be returned to the public sector, despite an independent review this year finding private contractor Serco had met or exceeded expectations.

Education and tourism will be the focus for Mark McGowan’s first overseas mission, with an October trip to China, followed by a November trip to Japan, announced today.

The state government has ordered a review of the effectiveness of the Southern Ports Authority since its formation in late 2014, after receiving conflicting reports about its success.

Former Liberal MP Rob Johnson has thrown his hat into the ring to run for mayor of the City of Joondalup, pitting himself against former state environment minister Albert Jacob.

The dual citizenship debacle engulfing Australian politics will return to the High Court in Canberra for a hearing on October 10, 11 and 12 as the legitimacy of several parliamentarians remains uncertain.

A further 4 per cent rise in metropolitan water usage charges will be needed for the 2019 financial year to ensure pricing is cost reflective, according to a draft report by the Economic Regulation Authority.

The Western Australian government is considering suing the Australian Rugby Union for more than $100 million over the decision to axe the Western Force, threatening to bankrupt the body.

Tony Abbott will be spending the week far from the dramas of parliament, as a teacher's aide in the Kimberley.

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.