WENDY Duncan is a name few Western Australians would be able to place, yet ask political observers who's who in the state's parliamentary jungle and her name comes up time and time again.
THE economic downturn has drastically affected the bottom line of many Western Australian businesses, yet while the level of project activity remains subdued, some firms are turning to pro-bono work to keep busy.
WHEN Celebrate WA announced Western Australia's Citizen of Year awards for 2009 two weekends ago the presence of the University of Western Australia would not have escaped the attention of many.
A KEY component of the government's 'Works Reform Business Solution Plan' earmarks the relocation of thousands of public sector workers from the city's government buildings to new locations.
Retail sales in Western Australia are forecast to surge more than 4 per cent in fiscal 2012 after a slight contraction the year before as the economy feels the effects of higher unemployment as the current pipeline of projects dries up, new figures show.
Miner Kagara has finally lifted the veil on its capital raising plans, announcing it will raise up to $262 million with a Chinese company to subscribe for a 15 per cent stake.
The state government has given conditional approval for the Plunkett family's proposed residential development at Moore River, north of Perth, but has substantially scaled down the size of the project.
Welshpool-based sustainable water and power company Solco expects to deliver a full-year net profit of up to $1.6 million, a dramatic lift from the previous year's $119,000.
A housing industry group is sticking to its forecasts for the state's property sector, tipping housing starts to decline 5 per cent next financial year and no shortage of residential building lots for the next two years.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA has backed the Barnett government's proposal to keep mining royalties under the control of the state and rejected plans for a federal resources tax.
The state opposition is stepping up its campaign against the Barnett government's decision to defer an upgrade of the electricity transmission line to Geraldton, seen as a critical component to the Mid West region's development plans.
Increase GST, lift taxes on 4WDs, says Barnett; China fails in ore price deal; Bid to derail Rio-BHP exclusivity; OZ rejects $1.5bn, sticks with Minmetals; Sage poised to close deal on platinum play
Premier Colin Barnett is not convinced the merger between BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto's WA iron ore assets is in the best interests of the state, saying the miners could be seeking to avoid paying land taxes.
The state government's new exploration incentive scheme has attracted nearly 170 applications with the bulk looking for financial support in their exploration efforts for gold.
BHP Billiton has quelled concerns that a proposed tie-up with Rio Tinto's Western Australian iron ore business will lead to further job losses while one union calls for key Rio executives to resign.
Rio Tinto has confirmed today its deal with Chinalco has been "terminated" with the miner instead opting to raise $US15.2 billion ($A19 billion) through a rights issue that will reduce its net debt to $US23.2 billion ($A29 billion).
Rio deal with Chinalco is dead; Troubled Mirvac launches $1.1bn capital raising; BHP tempts China with index-linked ore prices; Investors pull back as mining falls off; Brandrill warns of loss for second half
The state government's recently established Freight and Logistics Council has been given the task of assessing the contentious issue of upgrading grain transportation in Western Australia.
Sinosteel Midwest Corporation has warned its Mid West iron ore project may not go ahead after the environmental watchdog failed to approve an integral part of the mining proposal.
A Chinese government agency is set to take a 13 per cent interest through a near $10 million placement in East Perth-based Bauxite Resources following Foreign Investment Review Board approval.
Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers, the company behind the $3.5 billion urea plant near Collie, has awarded an engineering and construction contract to a Korean and Indonesian consortium.
A joint venture led by engineering and construction company Clough has been awarded a contract for early works on a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) project being developed by Exxon Mobil in Papua New Guinea.
Stocks soar on rise in GDP; Kagara poised to raise close to $200m; Ore price fall puts China on spot, boosts miners; WA may privatise assets to aid books; Union fury as Gillard talks tough
THE post-boom environment has given rise to a surge in demand for outsourced chief financial officers, as small to medium-sized enterprises look to implement similar systems to larger businesses.
THE national property market is continuing to recover off the back of an increase in new home sales, but Western Australia is lagging behind the rest of the nation, according to new industry data.
