Government

THE port of Fremantle is undergoing a massive facelift as a $250 million harbour-deepening project brings the facility up to date to cater for much larger vessels.

The proposed ETS could be the defining policy decision – for Labor and the Liberals.

LIQUEFIED natural gas - LNG - is without doubt the gold of the 21st century, at least with respect to Western Australia.

Synergy should be privatised, Verve’s market share should be less than 30 per cent and government should play a minimal role. That is what the energy market should look like in 10 years.

Major players in some sectors of the WA economy are asking the question – what downturn?

Kimberley Land Council executive director Wayne Bergmann has been elected chairman of a new advisory group that will provide advice to the state government on indigenous matters.

The total number of owner occupier loans in Western Australia dropped 3.3 per cent during July, the first fall in nine months, and economists forecast the downward trend to continue over the next few months.

The much anticipated review of state electricity generator Verve Energy, prepared by former Western Power executive Peter Oates, will be tabled in parliament by Energy Minister Peter Collier this afternoon.

Premier Colin Barnett put the price of domestic gas firmly on the agenda last night, telling the Petroleum Club of Western Australia's annual meeting that a competitive domestic gas cost was part of doing business in the state.

Retailers can expect a tough 18 months ahead as the federal government's policy stimulus fades and growth in household income weakens, a leading forecaster says.

The state government has defended its approach to reforming the approvals system in the resources sector following a survey identifying Western Australia as a high risk for resources industry investment.

The state's job market is tipped to suffer a setback in the December quarter as hiring intentions by employers dip below the national outlook average, a new employment survey shows.

The Australian Steel Institute has raised its concerns that local steelmakers could be locked out of supply contracts for the $50 billion Gorgon gas project after design standards were changed to Japanese levels.

The mining union has warned that WA's resources sector is not ready for the overhaul of the state's mine safety system and has called on the Barnett government to establish a steering committee.

South West-based Challenge Australian Dairy, which owns the Capel brand, has won two awards at this year's Westpac Food and Beverage industry awards.

Local consumers are becoming increasingly confident about an economic rebound in Western Australia in the year ahead, according to a new confidence survey.

Western Australia has again retained the title of being one of the least desirable mining jurisdictions in Australia with inefficient exploration and mining approvals processes at the centre of the state's poor performance, a worldwide survey has found.

LandCorp is seeking Expressions of Interest for a head contractor to construct and manage the delivery of the dynamic Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project's infrastructure.

The state government has announced two new appointments to the board of the South West Development Commission and named Augusta-Margaret River shire president Stephen Harrison as chairman.

Fremantle Ports has embarked on its biggest infrastructure project for decades with the $250 million deepening of the inner habour to cater for bigger ships.

The two companies that manage Great Southern's olive groves in Western Australia have joined forces to develop proposals for the collapsed company's olive managed investment schemes.

Woolworths has serious plans for its hardware business.

Experience has demonstrated that funnelling students into courses designed to fill a skills gap just doesn’t seem to work.

The state government has won plaudits for many of its reform plans but the hard decisions lie ahead.

A major urea project could help secure the long-term future of the coal industry.

SMALL businesses are turning to Australia's largest barter exchange as a way of preserving cash flow, selling excess stock and increasing revenue through times of economic uncertainty.

NZX ProFarmer Australia started as a joint venture between ProFarmer US and communications firm Cox Inall in the drought of 1994.

Barb de Corti has built a $100 million cleaning empire, and now plans to make Australia's cleaning industry greener.

Award for Constable

The Western Australian Trade Opportunities Service is operated by the International Trade Centre of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia.

LOCAL industry is demanding a say on the state government's next move on energy policy, after it finally scrapped unwelcome plans to merge electricity generator Verve with retailer Synergy.

THE opening of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research at the University of Western Australia this week is the next step towards WA potentially securing the $2.5 billion Square Kilome