Government

Economic theorists can’t be blamed for the global financial crisis and, for the situation to improve, we may have to start thinking about things in a radically different way.

INTERNATIONALLY embarrassing.Not the words any government would like to see used to describe the regulatory regime applying to their most important industry.

Fremantle’s east end is in the spotlight, but there are questions over the most appropriate type of development for the area.

An elderly investor is testing Farooq Khan’s hold over Bentley Capital.

LISTED Perth property developer Cedar Woods Properties has smashed its forecast profit for the year, booking net earnings of $9.3 million for the 2008-09 financial year.

THIS year's City of Perth council election is looking like an increasingly open race, with current councillor Chris Hardy bowing out of contention after one term.

Nasser to replace Argus at BHP

ONGOING growth in services exports has prompted business and industry groups to call for greater state and federal government focus on the trade opportunities available in the sector.

A recent discussion paper throws up some good questions about what we expect from government.

INVESTMENT in new infrastructure, and ensuring equitable and fair access to existing infrastructure are key issues that must be addressed if government is to encourage new mining investment, according to those at the WA Business News junior miners forum.

THE release of a report recommending tougher regulations concerning insider trading and director share trades has prompted an outcry from a group protecting directors' interests.

Despite the massive plunge in share values in recent months, many junior miners are once again optimistic about the future – provided government comes to the party.

CONSTRUCTION companies including industry heavyweight BGC have attacked the state government tendering process used to award hundreds of millions of dollars worth of work upgrading the state's primary schools.

Sydney-based RIMCapital has written off its investment in unlisted company Yilgarn Infrastructure Ltd, which was the unsuccessful bidder for the development of the Oakajee deepwater port and associated rail project.

The state government has committed to spend $123 million this financial year to upgrade local government roads in Western Australia.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA says it would be a "mistake" to abandon reform in the state's electricty market by re-amalgamating Verve Energy with Synergy.

South Korea's Samsung Corporation has agreed to invest $40 million to take a small direct interest in Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers' $3.5 billion Collie urea project.

Perth office vacancies worst in 17 years; RBS deal furthers ANZ's Asia push; Bankers punt on renewed appetite for IPOs; Avoca chief warns rival for Dioro is unproven; Rates on hold, but not for long

ASG Group has defied a challenging IT services market to book a record $11.3 million net profit for the 2009 financial year.

Moly Mines has warned its future depends on the success of debt restructure talks with its lender as project acquisition plans are put on the backburner.

The state government has conditionally agreed to build part of a major power line in the Mid West after it omitted the upgrade in this year's budget due to a substantial cost blow-out.

The state's resource companies have led a strong rebound in the Deloitte WA Index in the second half of the 2009 financial year, with the market capitalisation of stocks jumping 30 per cent in the June quarter.

Western Australians are a negative lot compared to the rest of the nation with nearly half responding to a home finance survey believing their property values will decline in the next quarter.

The City of Perth, property developer Match and the Rottnest Island Hotel were among the winners unveiled last night at the 2009 Heritage Awards.

Chevron has taken the next step in its ambitious plans to become a major gas operator in WA, awarding the onshore front-end engineering and design contract for its $25 billion Wheatstone project to US company Bechtel Oil, Gas & Chemicals Inc.

Federal Industry Minister Kim Carr has outlined a new government strategy to encourage the use of Australian steel in domestic projects.

The Australian Institute of Company Directors says existing insider trading laws and rules governing director share trading are adequate and do not need tightening as recommended by the federal government's market advisory committee.

Perth's property market has today received mixed signals from latest surveys on house prices as building approvals surge 21.1 per cent, official data shows.

Osborne Park-based A1 Minerals has received environmental and mining approvals for its Brightstar gold project, with production slated to start in the December quarter this year.

Building approvals in Western Australia have jumped more than 21 per cent in June as the nation posts its biggest surge in four years thanks to a flurry of new apartment projects, official data shows.

Treasurer Troy Buswell has flagged a possible overhaul of an act governing the public sector as the state government starts a reorganisation of its administration.

IN a packed room at Fremantle Sailing Club last week, 200 people with a stake in the future of Western Australia's rock lobster industry all agreed further catch restrictions would cause considerable pain.