Government

An improved performance by some of the state’s miners boosted the Business News index of listed Western Australian companies, the BN30, to finish almost 19 per cent higher over the year (2016).

OPINION: One month of data and a forecast for strong annual growth in exports is not a trend, but a careful analysis of Australia’s latest trade figures appears to confirm that an economic recovery is under way – and that could mean that the currency might be next to move up.

The prime minister has ordered the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to investigate the travel claims surrounding Health Minister Sussan Ley, who has stepped aside from her duties.

December throughput was higher at the state’s major north-west ports, with the Pilbara Ports Authority reporting nearly 60.5 million tonnes of cargo passing over its docks in the month, up 12 per cent on the same time in 2015.

The federal government will be sticking to its guns on the Roe 8 project, Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher affirmed today, saying the $1.2 billion committed by the Commonwealth to the project would not be reallocated.

A lift in Western Australia's merchandise exports to China of nearly $700 million from October to November helped Australia record its first trade surplus in three years, but more could be on the way this year.

Drivers may want to fill up at the servo in coming days with Australian petrol prices set to surge.

Australia's service sector activity is set to surge into the new year after finishing 2016 near a decade high.

A fall of 5.6 per cent in new vehicle sales for the past year in Western Australia, to 100,234, takes to nearly 22 per cent the reduction in annual sales since 2012.

Western Australian Senator Rod Culleton has again denied owing large sums of money after this week's latest bizarre public incident - a scuffle outside a Perth court.

The state government has suspended the Shire of Exmouth for six months following an investigation and public hearing by the Corruption and Crime Commission.

Acting Premier Liza Harvey has spruiked the government’s recent move to relax the eligibility criteria for Keystart and increase the first homebuyers grant, saying it had received more than 1,100 enquiries.

The Roe 8 road project will be cancelled if the Labor Party wins the upcoming state election, opposition leader Mark McGowan said today, even though the government has already signed a contract for construction, with $236 million of funding to be re-allocated to three alternative roads.

Former One Nation Senator Rod Culleton says he's recovering at home following an "unexpected attack" outside a Perth court yesterday.

OPINION: With the hot days of summer now upon us, many Western Australians might be confused about how safe it is to head to the beach, given the state government’s mixed messages on the threat posed by sharks.

Australian factory activity picked up last month on the back of improving demand and recovering commodity prices.

The proposed part sale of Western Power is not the only move towards increased private investment in the utilities sector.

The Australian dollar is lower with the greenback's continuing strength trumping any local economic developments.

Oil prices were little changed in quiet pre-Christmas trade as the market waited to see whether US production from shale fields would grow enough to offset planned output cuts by OPEC, Russia and other producers next year.

Gold prices have edged higher as geopolitical tensions offset expectations of tighter US monetary policy and a stronger US dollar.

Wall Street has extended a recent rally but finished the session short of earlier highs after several people were killed by a truck driven into a Christmas market in Germany.

The government has kicked a remarkable own goal in its mismanagement of climate debate.

Opinion: A Labor state government will seek to incentivise the public sector to more energetically pursue policies.

As we lurch towards the final days of 2016 it is worth considering what awaits us on the other side of New Year’s Eve.

Australia has managed to hold on to its prized triple-A rating despite the federal government forecasting a deterioration in the budget bottom line in the medium term.

SPECIAL REPORT: Many politicians, including senior government ministers, go through their careers as ‘grey’ men or women, barely getting noticed and having little impact; the same could never be said of Brendon Grylls.

Gold rose on Friday, climbing above the prior session's 10-1/2 month low, as the dollar and US stocks dipped at the end of a volatile week highlighted by the Federal Reserve's signal that there could be more rate hikes than previously expected in 2017.

Oil rose on Friday, edging closer to new 17-month highs, after Goldman Sachs boosted its price forecast for 2017 and producers showed signs of adhering to a global deal to reduce output.

Copper prices fell on Friday after two days of gains as rising stocks in London Metal Exchange warehouses and signs of softer demand from China dragged the metal further away last month's 17-month peak.

The Australian dollar has slipped again against its US counterpart, which has further strengthened after the US Federal Reserve said it is looking to tighten policy again next year.

Environmental advocates have lost the latest High Court application to stop the extension of Roe Highway through Beeliar Wetlands.

Engineering and construction contractor Civmec said today it planned to spend up to $80 million establishing a new shipbuilding facility at Henderson, and use it as a springboard into the federal government’s $89 billion naval build in the coming decade.