Government

The state government's hopes of ending a $1 billion dispute with building magnate Len Buckeridge over the James Point port project appear to have been dashed, with the developer's lawyer revealing

US stocks have surged to new records after the US Federal Reserve modestly scaled back its bond-buying program in a much-anticipated decision.

After a tough, confidence-sapping year, business is taking a more positive outlook to 2014, according to a Business News subscriber survey.

The state government has postponed some of its big transport infrastructure projects in order to reduce the projected increase in state debt, as it strives to regain its AAA credit rating.

The City of Perth has lashed out at the Development Assessment Panel system, saying it creates, rather than reduces, red tape in the planning approvals process.

The door is still open for another cash rate cut, thanks to benign inflation and the persistently high Australian dollar.

The 2013/14 federal budget has blown out by $17 billion since the election and is forecast to be the third largest deficit on record at $47 billion.

The federal government has confirmed it will fund road projects in Western Australia's resources-rich north but it remains to be seen whether a $615 million pledge for the Swan Valley Bypass will be honoured.

A group of large industrial gas users has urged Premier Colin Barnett to stand firm in insisting the Woodside-led Browse gas project is developed onshore.

Treasurer Joe Hockey is set to announce a budget deficit of just under $50 billion as he lays out a roadmap back to the black.

CBH Group chief executive Andrew Crane has been appointed a member of Australia's B20 Leadership Group, a private sector consortium that produces policy recommendations for international finance leaders for the annual G20 Leaders Summit in Brisbane next year.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has reached a deal with the states and territories to cut red and green tape for major projects in a bid to boost the national economy.

The two guardians of the Australian economy are about to go under the spotlight.

The national unemployment rate has edged up to 5.8 per cent in November, despite the number of people in employment rising by 21,000 in the month, while Western Australia continues to maintain a much lower jobless rate.

Premier Colin Barnett has announced new measures to address public safety and help mitigate the risk sharks pose to water users.

Jobs advertised on the internet and in newspapers fell for the second consecutive month, and there are no clear signs of the labour market bouncing back in the coming months.

Electoral commissioner Ed Killesteyn is under pressure to quit after an inquiry found serious flaws in the Western Australian Senate election count, which could lead to $13 million being spent on a fresh poll.

The state government has formalised plans for Chinese group Shanghai Zhongfu to develop thousands of hectares of irrigated land in the Kimberley, more than a year after naming the company as its preferred proponent for the land.

The WA Nationals will retain the key regional development portfolio under a minor cabinet reshuffle triggered by the resignation of Brendon Grylls.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has rejected spending more public money to keep Holden operating in Australia, amid reports the car maker's American parent company General Motors wants to close Australian operations by 2016.

Inflation pressures remain weak in developed economies, contrary to expectations after a prolonged period of quantitative easing.

The state government's $609 million City Link project is progressing faster than expected, with the project's $360 million rail component completed six months ahead of schedule.

The market capitalisation of Western Australia's top 100 listed companies has fallen on the back of lower commodity prices, marking an end to four months of consecutive gains.

Mining magnate Clive Palmer has been appointed to two key parliamentary committees dealing with economic matters.

Treasurer Joe Hockey says the latest economic growth figures point to another deterioration in the federal budget.

The federal Labor party says it will back a cash bidding system for offshore oil and gas exploration permits.

The slowing of Western Australia's population growth as forecast in this year's state budget appears to be well under way, particularly in response to the tapering off of resources construction activity.

Retail spending rose for the fourth month in a row as consumer confidence and recent interest rate cuts encourage Australians to spend.

A leading business group is hopeful that tax benefits aimed at small firms and tied to Labor's mining tax will be retained in the May budget.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate at 2.5 per cent, saying the global and local economic outlook is improving.

The federal government has backed down on schools funding after a row with a majority of the states and territories.

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey has offered the states and territories incentive payments to sell off public assets and put the money into new job-creating infrastructure.