Government

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.

Mike Nahan has been voted in unopposed as leader of the WA Liberals after two-term premier Colin Barnett stepped down, while former sports and recreation minister Mia Davies has been voted in as leader of the WA Nationals.

OPINION: There is no denying that Brendon Grylls has left his mark on Western Australian politics.

Former WA treasurer Mike Nahan says he will rebuild the Liberal Party after their crushing election defeat and plans to speak with former premier Colin Barnett about leaving parliament.

The prime minister has challenged newly elected Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan to convince his fellow Labor leaders in other states to change the GST carve-up.

Western Australian Labor leader Mark McGowan has been sworn in as the state's 30th premier at Government House.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi claims there is a witch hunt going on, but insists the council is operating better than ever and a $500,000 audit should reassure ratepayers.

ANALYSIS: If the actions of his predecessors are any guide, the Liberal Party will be looking for a candidate to replace former premier Colin Barnett in his seat of Cottesloe within months.

Premier-elect Mark McGowan has given added responsibilities to incoming treasurer Ben Wyatt, while Rita Saffioti, Paul Papalia, Peter Tinley and Alannah MacTiernan have been given key economic portfolios.

The unemployment rate dropped 0.4 percentage points in Western Australia in February, to 6 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms, as the state jumped from last place on that metric to be better than Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.

Labor has won a landslide 41 seats in the Western Australian election, while the Liberals and the Nationals fight it out for the last undecided seat.

ANALYSIS: Freshly recycled Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan has been fast tracked into Premier-elect Mark McGowan’s new cabinet, even though she will not formally start her term in the Legislative Council until mid-May.

ANALYSIS: The failure of Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls and straight talking Liberal frontbencher Joe Francis to retain their seats is a devastating blow to their parties. But it can only get worse.

ANALYSIS: The union movement hasn’t wasted any time reminding Premier-elect Mark McGowan that it wants a share of the spoils, even before he has moved into his new West Perth office.

ANALYSIS: Outgoing Liberal minister Joe Francis, who appears to have lost his seat of Jandakot, says Colin Barnett should have been replaced as premier last year to improve the government’s re-election prospects.