Government

Calls for reform to penalty rates are likely to grow louder following last month's rise in unemployment in Western Australia.

The number of 457 visa applications that require employers to seek Australian workers first could slump to just 25 per cent because of free trade agreements, unions say.

Several local councils are hoping the state's assets privatisation program will give them control over one of their most significant expenses – the cost of operating street lights.

The benefits of the nation's mining boom years appear to have benefited those on lower incomes more than initially thought, and the nation is one of the most reliant on income taxes, according to a report recently released by the OECD.

The jobless rate in Western Australia rose to 5.8 per cent in June, while a small increase in the national rate has economists warning it hasn't yet peaked.

The Greek crisis may have spooked Australia's financial markets, but it is China that will potentially give Treasurer Joe Hockey nightmares.

The Shanghai composite index was down 5.9 per cent in trading today as more than 1,300 Chinese companies entered trading halts.

The Reserve Bank of Australia stayed on the fence, as expected, today but there are plenty of reasons it might climb down off it in the coming months.

The iron ore industry is tipped to contribute more than $600 billion to the Australian economy over the next decade, despite falling prices for the steel-making commodity.

Perth businesses have joined a global initiative investing in Greece's future through philanthropy and economic development.

Unemployment is believed to have bumped higher in June thanks to a slowdown in the creation of new jobs.

Inflation in Australia remains well below the Reserve Bank of Australia's target but interest rates are not expected to be cut this week.

June was another slow month for new car sales in Western Australia, while national sales continued to grow.

Figures contained in a recent Productivity Commission review show subsidies to the mining industry are much lower than claimed by some critics of the sector.

The Pilbara Ports Authority lifted throughput to a record 619.8 million tonnes in 2014-15, primarily on the back of a 21 per cent jump in iron ore shipments through Port Hedland offsetting a small decline at Dampier.

A proposed extension of Roe Highway in Perth's southern suburbs has received conditional approval by Environment Minister Albert Jacob.

Perth has been ranked Australia's second most expensive city to live in, but it's not Sydney where cost of living is higher among the nation's capitals.

Dull consumer spending growth and dramatically lower business investment are ahead for the state's economy in 2015-16, according to the latest Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA Outlook,

More than $4.5 billion was pumped into the local economy by domestic tourists in the year to March, Tourism Council WA says.

Bill Shorten seems intent on winning support of the Labor rank and file before taking on the government.

The value of Australian iron ore exports is expected to fall next year as strong growth in production volumes is offset by a slump in prices to a forecast $US52.10 per tonne in 2016.

The state government has announced plans to construct 15 new passing lanes along the Great Eastern Highway, with the project to cost $48 million.

After a decade of strong population and economic growth, debate continues as to the best ways to fund the state's future infrastructure needs. Business News has compiled a list of the biggest state government assets that could be sold in future to fund infrastructure.

Despite the economic slowdown, Perth's public infrastructure program is providing an opportunity for newcomers in the market to gain a beachhead.

Training standards in WA have been criticised by the auditor-general and big employers.

The state government has deferred the introduction of any cost-recovery fees for processing mining, exploration and prospecting applications.

The state opposition has reshuffled its shadow cabinet, prompted by Ken Travers moving from transport spokesman to the backbench.

Western Australia's Supreme Court is stretched to its limit, with case work surging, but there aren't enough judges.

Western Australia has experienced its first year of negative interstate migration since 2002, according to the latest population data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Auditor-general Colin Murphy has found that state government ministers Kim Hames, John Day and Dean Nalder acted unreasonably and inappropriately when they withheld information from parliament.

The state government has announced an expansion of its Mobile Black Spot program, with plans for 130 new or upgraded mobile phone towers across regional and remote areas of Western Australia.

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart wants employees at her Roy Hill iron ore project in Western Australia to accept pay cuts so job losses can be avoided.