Government

National retail spending has fallen for the first time in over a year, dragged down by a drop in spending on household goods, but WA's retail sector remained strong.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott appears to be laying the groundwork for increasing the GST.

Australia's mining downturn has bottomed out despite ongoing volatility in global markets, Premier Colin Barnett says.

The competition watchdog plans to grant a regulatory exemption to WA Chip & Pulp Co, which will allow the Japanese-owned woodchip exporter to continue its partnership with international grain trader Bunge at the Port of Bunbury.

Falling exports have battered the June quarter GDP growth figures for Western Australia and nationally, but underlying demand increased more in WA than other states.

Dwelling prices rose by an average of just 0.3 per cent in Australia's capital cities in August, with Perth being one of the poorer performers, with prices down by 1.3 per cent.

The proposed TransPacific Partnership trade agreement would have a major role to play in the development of Western Australia's post-mining boom economy, according to foreign relations expert Gordo

Port Hedland investors and developers are proving to be resilient and opportunistic, but it remains to be seen how the Pilbara town will successfully diversify from its resources-reliant economy.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA says it will join the campaign to promote the proposed Chinese Free Trade Agreement, because it will provide significant benefits for locally based companies.

Traffic outside the state parliament was brought to a standstill as unions held a rally against the free trade deal with China, saying it will be bad for local jobs and exploit foreign workers.

Treasurer Joe Hockey insists that an improving budget position provides scope to deliver his commitment to personal income tax cuts.

Australia has been ranked as the world's sixth safest nation in which to do business, from a risk perspective, according to research by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Western Australia's top 10 largest private sector employers employ more than 103,200 people between them, about 2,000 fewer than last year, according to BNiQ research.

SPECIAL REPORT: It has been a tough year for job seekers in WA, but some new sectors have emerged to keep the state's employment levels at record highs.

Treasurer Joe Hockey believes he can return the budget to surplus while providing personal income tax cuts.

State and territory treasurers have agreed to apply the GST to offshore sales into the Australian market.

A stronger local asset management industry could be an important part of the state's economic diversification, according to panellists at a recent Committee for Economic Development of Australia lunch.

Western Australia will gain a new seat in the federal House of Representatives, located in Perth's south-east, according to a draft redistribution paper released today, but in a strange coincidence will share the same name as a newly proposed state electorate in a different part of Perth.

The Perth Market Authority's Market City is set to be the first major transaction in the state government's asset recycling program, as expressions of interest in the fruit and vegetable wholesaler closed with a number of potential bidders.

The Reserve Bank of Australia seems more at ease with the state of the economy, signalling that interest rates are unlikely to move for now.

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The by-election in the Western Australian federal seat of Canning will be held on September 19.

The federal government's $89 billion spend for new naval vessels represents an opportunity for businesses at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, as energy and resources projects dry up.

The Town of Port Hedland has received three bids, each worth more than $150 million, for a long-term lease over its airport, with the council due to make a final decision on the privatisation deal later this month.

Unemployment has peaked early, thanks largely to the glacial pace of wage growth, says Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor for economics Christopher Kent.

A report by the auditor general has found the state government's Pilbara Underground Power Project will cost nearly double the original estimate and be completed six years behind schedule because of poor planning and management.

Wage growth has remained at a record low for a second quarter, led by continuing fallout from the mining slowdown, but with pain across all industries and states.

Indonesia has doubled its import permits for Australian cattle in the September quarter, after last month cutting such permits by 80 per cent.

The state government has replaced Labor's Priority Start apprenticeship scheme with a new program it says will make it easier for building and construction companies to meet training targets.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has talked down Labor's chances of picking up the Western Australian seat of Canning at a by-election.

The Minerals Council of Australia has added to the national industrial relations debate today with a report it said showed that levels of union membership were unlinked to the labour force's share of national income.

The state government has continued its investigation into moving one of its departments to Fremantle, but has not committed to the shift.