Government

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.

Australia's unemployment rate is due to rise in 2014 as the International Monetary Fund downgrades growth prospects for the nation.

The City of Perth says Premier Colin Barnett is yet to meet with the council to discuss light rail route options, with key stakeholders in the CBD split on the best option for the proposed project.

Job advertisements have risen for the first time in six months, a sign that the labour market is stabilising.

Five "super growth" industries could boost the national economy by $250 billion over the next 20 years.

CHINA'S economy is perking up. The latest data suggest growth has bottomed after hitting a trough of 7.5 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of the year.

Greens WA senator Scott Ludlam is expected to find out mid-week whether his bid for a recount of senate votes is successful.

The state government will team up with Woodside Petroleum and Curtin University to develop two new specialist training facilities in the Pilbara as it encourages more people to live and work in the region.

Jobs growth in September is not expected to have been strong enough to bring the unemployment rate down from its four-year high.

Bill Shorten wants to develop a national rehabilitation strategy to ensure injured workers and people on disability pensions can get back to work.

Interim Labor leader Chris Bowen says the series of revelations about Prime Minister Tony Abbott and four other MPs claiming around $20,000 in travel expenses shows a pattern of poor judgement.

US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has warned that Congress is "playing with fire" as Republicans raise the threat of a US default if President Barack Obama refuses to negotiate on spending.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says there will be issues negotiating with Clive Palmer and his senators, and has fired a warning shot across the bow of the Titanic II developer.

The declaration of the official senate result in Western Australia has been postponed while the electoral commissioner decides whether to grant an appeal by Greens senator Scott Ludlam and allow a

Business confidence is on the up in Western Australia in the wake of the federal election, according to new research.