Government

Turnbull government ministers Greg Hunt and Arthur Sinodinos have been given senior portfolios in a reshuffle announced today, while Perth MP Ken Wyatt has made hstory by being named the first indigenous Australian appointed to a federal ministry.

Colin Barnett has criticised protesters for disrupting the government's Roe 8 project, saying they were refusing to accept the courts' decisions and did not deserve sympathy.

Federal Liberal politician Sussan Ley will resign as minister for health, aged care and sport after coming under fire in recent weeks for expense issues, although she insists she followed the ministerial code of conduct.

The state’s businesses leaders are optimistic about improved conditions in the year ahead, according to feedback from the annual Business News chief executive survey, with tax reform identified as a priority issue whichever party is in government after the March poll.

SPECIAL REPORT: Several high-profile schools have announced plans for restrained fee changes, including some freezes and reductions, in order to stay competitive after several years of weak economic performance in Western Australia. 

Fresh from a year that delivered major political shocks and proved tougher than expected, Australian business leaders are taking a cautious approach to 2017.

Rental, hiring and real estate services were among the industries that fared worst as external administrations jumped 14 per cent in Western Australia for the September quarter, as insolvency experts warn that an economic rebound has not yet clearly emerged.

WA Senator Rod Culleton says he will appeal against a Federal Court ruling that he is bankrupt as he fights to save his political career.

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.