Government

A global business executive provided a good perspective this week on two perennial issues – dealing with change and coping with high costs.

The Abbott government has named leading businessman Tony Shepherd and former WA bureaucrat Robert Fisher as members of a federal commission of audit with very broad terms of reference.

Western Australia has recorded one of the lowest local election turnouts in the state's history, with just over a quarter of enrolled voters taking part.

Western Australia remains the top economic performer but the fortunes of all the states and territories are expected to improve, following the election of a new federal government.

Clive Palmer will have to wait at least another week to find out if he's made it into the federal parliament.

Labor leader Bill Shorten has named his opposition ministry, with WA MPs Gary Gray and Melissa Parke awarded the resources and assistant health portfolios respectively.

The head of the Reserve Bank of Australia says efforts must be made to ensure post-global financial crisis reforms are implemented.

With the RBA hinting at sub-trend growth, there's little chance of a change in interest rates in the near term.

WA MP Don Randall insists he was entitled to claim expenses including more than $5,000 for a trip to Cairns on "electorate business" and a refund for a children's cookbook.

The state government has introduced legislation to merge Synergy and Verve Energy, but is yet to release regulations that will specify how existing contracts between the government entities and the private sector will be protected.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is planning to fundamentally change the way federal and state governments interact, including a shake-up of the Council of Australian Government meetings, according to WA Premier Colin Barnett.

The possible privatisation of Higher Education Contribution Scheme debt could see Australia become like the United States, where degrees are unaffordable for many, the National Union of Students says.

Australia's economy has suffered a significant loss of momentum since the start of the year as its transition away from being a mining investment gets bumpy.

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey intends to release the mid-year budget review before Christmas and not in January as previously flagged.

Providing greater access to training and boosting links with industry will be the focus of a new review of the state's vocational education and training sector.

Premier Colin Barnett has changed his media relations strategy, shying away from regular talk radio slots and turning to live chats on news websites.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has promised electricity and gas bills will fall immediately if the carbon tax is abolished.

Another interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia is still a possibility, but it is not ready to make that move immediately.

Divisions within the government over foreign ownership of farmland appear to be deepening, with Labor accusing the coalition of speaking with "two heads" about Chinese investment.

The Barnett government is struggling to take the public with it in terms of proposed cuts to spending.

At least 200 jobs will be cut at Perth's Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital but the Western Australian government says patient care will not be affected.

Live cattle could be exported from Western Australia to China in six months, says Premier Colin Barnett, who has hosed down fears Australian animals could be mistreated in Asia.

Clive Palmer believes the Australian Electoral Commission will "rig" the Fairfax recount and deliver victory to his LNP opponent.

Senior coalition government minister Julie Bishop argues there's a "very grey area" between work and play for travel expense claims as she defended charging taxpayers to attend a wedding in India.

The state's peak industry body has revised downwards its economic growth forecasts for Western Australia for the second consecutive quarter, warning that weak consumer and business confidence poses

There will be a recount in the desperately tight Senate race in Western Australia after Electoral Commissioner Ed Killesteyn overruled his local officers and granted a request from Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.

Mining magnate Clive Palmer says his alliance with the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party will bring stability to federal parliament.

Western Australia's unemployment rate fell to just 4.6 per cent in September, official figures show.

The Abbott government has rejected suggestions it could be forced to pay companies more than $2 billion if it presses ahead with scrapping the carbon price before 2015.

The federal government insists Australia's foreign investment rules do not discriminate against China, despite suggestions to the contrary from Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett.

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett is "very optimistic" a new trade agreement will see hundreds of thousands of live cattle exported to China.

Former trade minister Richard Marles believes a free trade agreement with China could be finalised within months but warns the Abbott government could face internal opposition from the Nationals.