Government

THE founder of the Small Business Development Corporation has expressed dismay that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA has named the SBDC as one of 50 agencies it wants either abolished or privatised in a step towards public sector reform.

The Western Australian Trade Enquiry Service is operated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA with the support of the WA government's Department of Industry and Resources.

IT has been heralded as some sort of magic number - the 47 per cent debt-to-revenue ratio that is somehow tied to the state's financial future.

WESTERN Australian exporters have received encouraging news about the economies of some of the state's key trading partners, in particular India and China, with strong signs of growth for the future.

A decision on Fremantle’s outer harbour may be near after nearly a decade of delays.

Peter Costello needs to polish up on his people skills if he’s to lead his party, and the country.

LEADERS in safety innovation in business and industry have been recognised at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia's Safety and Health Innovation Awards 2009.

NEW research by the Urban Development Institute of Australia WA suggests the federal government's first home owner grant (FHOG) needs to remain in place for 18 months in order to effectively stimulate the market for the long term.

Research into plant disease and breeding led John Gladstones to viticulture and fostered the beginnings of the wine industry in the South West.

CONSTRUCTION, hospitality and technical industries in the Mid West will get a boost when building of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Project telescope begins in June.

A portion of development sites in Victoria Park will be allowed to be built up to 18 storeys high after the state government approved a lift in building height limits.

The state government will create a new director position to oversee the expansion of the Ord River irrigation scheme and associated community and social infrastructure in the east Kimberley.

US oil giant Chevron says it expects to "sanction" the Gorgon liquefied natural gas project during the second half of this year.

Aspiring gold miner Catalpa Resources has reserved Perth-based GR Engineering Services for the refurbishment and construction of a processing facility at its $92 million Edna May gold project near Westonia.

A business advisory firm has urged small businesses to quickly take advantage of a federal government tax break before the window of opportunity closes.

The state's Grain Licensing Authority is set to be dismantled as the government announces that the export market for barley, lupins and canola will be deregulated before the start of the 2009-10 harvest.

Inpex says it remains committed to developing its $12 billion gas processing plant, located in Darwin, after a Liberal Senator said the company could move to offshore locations due to the Rudd government's emissions trading scheme.

The unwinding of the commodity and mining investment boom will take the lustre out of the Western Australian, Northern Territory and Queensland economies over the next few years, according to Access Economics, as the nation's economic backdrop continues t

Westpac's plan to top SME lending; China slides into deflation; Labor braces for emissions fight; UBS tips $US2,500 an ounce for bullion; Turnbull, Costello face off on IR

Golden West Resources says it is not seriously considering iron ore offtake offers it has received from China, Korea and Japan as it waits to get "visibility" on port and rail infrastructure before pursuing an arrangement.

Western Australia has recorded one of the larger falls in the number of job advertisements in newspapers and on the internet in February, a survey has found.

Kalahari claims another Extract chairman scalp; Chinese buy more Fortescue; Gillard beefs up work umpire; Wong admits ETS deadline in doubt; Rio’s US mine exit to chip at debt

Western Australian businesses borrowed $1.5 billion against their receivables in the December quarter, up over 15 per cent from the prior corresponding period.

Navitas has formed a new partnership with software companies Oracle and Delexian to implement applications for its financial services platform across the entire group.

Shares in uranium miner Paladin Energy have nudged higher after the Liberal National Party indicated it will allow uranium mining in Queensland.

The viability of the state's beef processing industry is in doubt after a breakdown in talks between troubled red meat exporter, Harvey Beef, and its employees.

The federal government's bid for the world-class Square Kilometre Array telescope to be located in the Mid West has changed in approach from competitive to collaborative.

Australia's economic climate may have levelled off, with the first encouraging signs emerging from the small business sector, according to the Sensis Business Index released yesterday.

China billions set to benefit WA economy; Rio shareholders still unhappy with deal; Axe to fall at NAB; Short-selling ban 'in the national interest'; Agencies in spotlight as banks push for ratings reform

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien has revealed that the state government is seeking federal funding for transport projects in Perth and Port Hedland costing a total of $1.3 billion.

The state government expects to save over $1 million after it placed a cap on the value of homes for the first home owners grant which will leave 2 per cent of buyers ineligible for an assistance package.

The current backlog of ships has prompted grains handler CBH Group to implement a temporary system that will see grain marketers bid for shipping slots to export grain.