Government

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.

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

Regional learning looks for a white knight in an increasingly competitive educational marketplace.

Confidence on its own will not sustain economic growth; we need to deal with reality.

The relationship between industry and educators is closer than ever, but is it a perfect match?

Pauline Vamos spends a lot of time in the air.

AS Baosteel seeks to get the latest big decision across the line at the Foreign Investment Review Board, many share market investors may not realise what legally occurs with a transaction of this nature.

SMALL business operators have been urged to remain vigilant for scammers during the global economic crisis, with a spate of postal scams hitting Western Australia in the past few months.

LANDCORP has reduced land prices at its major industrial estates in and around Perth by up to 25 per cent, and introduced more generous financing terms to try and encourage investment in the sector.

WHILE the status of the federal government's emissions trading scheme may be up in the air, laws linked to climate change continue to affect business.

HAVE you ever wondered about the value of the formal performance appraisal system? Is it something you enjoy doing as either the appraiser or the appraised?

WESTERN Australian tropical fruit growers and exporters have welcomed lower trade barriers to key markets such as China, but acknowledge there are challenges associated with that.

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.