Government

Rail and port operator Asciano's chief executive John Mullen is predicting stronger profit growth this year and says the underlying Australian economy is still strong.

China has become WA’s biggest wine export destination, but finding the best way to market is still a learning experience for local producers.

Treasurer Mike Nahan said today Western Australia might get an extra $660 million from Canberra to make up for the shortfall in GST grants but conceded the amount, timing and use of the funds, were all yet to be decided.

Premier Colin Barnett was left angry and disappointed after today's meeting of the nation's leaders failed to resolve the dispute over Western Australia's share of GST funds.

A fall in the jobless rate by 0.1 percentage points has beaten economists’ expectations, with the March rate coming in at 6.1 per cent according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Western Australia's collapsing GST allocation is the most severe economic shock the state has faced since the share crash of the late 1980s, Premier Colin Barnett says.

China's economy expanded 7 per cent year on year in the first quarter, slumping to a new post-global financial crisis low even as authorities take steps to bolster growth in the world's second-largest economy.

A commitment by Prime Minister Tony Abbott has done little to allay uncertainty about the extent of a promised tax cut to small business.

Queensland should not suffer financially because Western Australia cannot manage its books, the deputy premier says.

Western Australia is at risk of another ratings downgrade by a global credit agency, as it battles budget deficits amid slumping mining royalties.

Joe Hockey's day started with the "immense honour" of ringing the bell to end another trading session at the New York Stock Exchange, but that was as good as it got for the federal treasurer.

Older Western Australians across all income levels are being subjected to growing levels of abuse, homelessness and cash grabs by relatives, according to legal professionals.

The dramatic price falls in the resources sector, particularly for iron ore, is having an impact on balance of trade figures in WA.

The University of Western Australia has launched a new attempt to capitalise of the fruits of the fast-fading resources boom by highlighting the value of human capital that has created in fields such as engineering.

Freezing Western Australia's GST share for one year is better than nothing but still grossly inadequate, state Treasurer Mike Nahan says.

The state government is hoping its significant infrastructure spend will arrest the slowdown in business investment as the resources boom wanes.

Atlas Iron has announced it will halt all production at its three Pilbara iron ore mines over the next month, a move that is likely to result in the loss of more than 500 jobs.

State Treasurer Mike Nahan has blasted the eastern states for their inability to come to what he considers a fair agreement on the distribution of the GST, and defended the state government’s record on economic reform, touting independent public schools and the usage of public private partnerships as two key examples.

Federal Treasuer Joe Hockey has said Western Australia's budget has been hit by a perfect storm, but state treasurers from across the federation are opposing action to stop the slide in Western Australia's GST revenue.

Private driving service Uber has announced it will reduce fares for its budget UberX service in Perth by 20 per cent, making trips with the company up to 50 per cent cheaper than a taxi.

Western Australia might end co-operation with Canberra if it fails to win changes to the way GST revenue is distributed to the states and territories.

Australians would pay more for power at peak times, like hot days, and fork out extra at petrol stations under a government blueprint to grow the energy sector.

Labor has thrown its weight behind an industry compromise on the renewable energy target, but the federal government isn't budging on its lower aim.

March was slow month for new vehicle sales in Western Australia, adding to a slow quarter for the majority of the top industry players, with Nissan being one of the few exceptions.

The University of Western Australia has established a new policy research centre with the Copenhagen Consensus Centre, which is headed by international climate change contrarian Bjorn Lomborg.

BC Iron has terminated a mining services contract with Watpac Civil & Mining three months early as it seeks to cut costs at its Nullagine joint venture operation in response to the plunging iron ore price.

Supreme Court Justice John McKechnie has been named as the new commissioner of the Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commission.

The federal government has shifted significant ground on its planned age pension changes, signalling the possible revival of a bonus scheme and tightening access to the part pension.

A young Perth job seeker will start a new job today after successfully spruiking his availability on St Georges Terrace.

BC Iron is the first Western Australian iron ore miner to receive royalty assistance from the state government’s relief package.

Although not alone in doing so, Malcolm Fraser’s failure to acknowledge the crimes against the Chinese people by the tyrannical Mao Tse-tung diminish his legacy.