Government

Western Australians are the most downbeat in the nation about property prices with house price expectations at an all-time low.

ASIC probes 'missing millions'; Banks pocketing rate cuts - business; Funds fear they may be sold short; Leighton slashes earnings forecast; Cloud on car sales

Perceptions of a softer housing market and better mortgage management have boosted the number of Western Australians intending to take out a home loan within the next year, a survey has found.

Vehicle sales in Western Australia have largely remained stable during 2008 despite a 14 per cent drop in purchases in December.

Business braces for the worst; Lenders repossessing homes at soaring rate; Bosses eye early job cuts; ATO pursues new business dispute plan; NAB denies planning withdrawal from Britain

More than half of Australian businesses anticipate declining sales and profits in the March quarter amid fears of a steep rise in unemployment leading executives to prepare for a tumultuous year ahead.

West Perth-based explorer Northern Iron has signed an initial five-year offtake deal with a subsidiary of the Tata Steel Group over its Sydvaranger iron project in Norway.

Business braces for wages battle; China manufacturers shrink again as global slowdown bites; Cape Lambert ready to pounce on assets; Resources exports will face tough year; Jobs plan to tackle next wave of crisis

Western Force has confrimed it has appointed Robert Anderson QC to mediate in an issue between coach John Mitchell and other staff at the rugby club.

Magellan Metals, the miner at the centre of the Esperance lead contamination drama, has agreed to a $10 million commitment towards the clean up of the town and the establishment of a community fund.

The development and successful completion of Western Australian projects will be at risk under the federal government's proposed industrial relations changes, a state business lobby group says.

Perth-based biotechnology company Stirling Products is teetering on the brink of administration as it cans a $960,000 capital raising and enters talks for the possible disposal of its assets.

When then premier Alan Carpenter chose to make 2008 an election year in Western Australia, Labor stalwart Kim Beazley joined a handful of optimistic Liberals in foreshadowing a change of government.

The downturn in commodity markets has prompted Nomad Buildings Solutions to cut its earnings forecast for the 2009 financial year as its modular division comes under pressure.

South Perth-based Advanced Ocular Systems will transform into a scaffolding business after it agreed to merge with International Formwork & Scaffolding, valued at $22.5 million.

New motor vehicles sales in Western Australia have plummeted 21 per cent in November compared to the previous corresponding period, according to latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Great Southern has welcomed a Federal Court decision allowing the appeal in respect of the industry's test case on whether participants in non forestry managed investment schemes should be entitled to claim deductions in respect of carrying on a business

Perth-based office equipment financing firm ThinkSmart will put its United States ambitions on hold as it forecasts a 32 per cent increase in earnings.

CITIC Pacific Mining has been given the green light to submit proposals for a 70 million tonne operation for its Sino iron ore project in the Pilbara following the passing of amendments to its state agreement act.

The federal government's infrastructure advisory council has recommended all five Western Australian projects for the $12.5 billion Building Australia Fund in its preliminary priority list released today.

Some financial relief for mining companies with projects in Western Australia with the state government freezing rate rises for environmental bonds.

Perth’s design professionals have appealed directly to the state government not to pull the funding rug from under it, as some projects are halted amid rumours of billions of dollars being slashed from the capital works program.

More than half of Australia's small business owners believe the country will dip into recession in the next two years, a survey has revealed.

The state government has budgeted $2.4 billion for the Royalties for Regions scheme as it forecasts a net debt of nearly $17 billion in 2010/11, according to the mid-year economic review.

AN already strained rock lobster industry took another hit late this year as new Fisheries Minister Norman Moore introduced strict limitations to an already tightly controlled field.

I WAS pleasantly surprised to see a job vacancy advertised in the window of a restaurant last week.

WITH mining activity in the Pilbara forecast to double over the next ten years, demand for water in West Pilbara could outstrip long-term supply within the next two to six years.

WE'VE gone beyond the old boom-bust cycle." How many times did we hear that comment over the past year or two? "We're in a new paradigm."

WESTERN Australia is one of the worst-performing states in the take-up of renewable energy, with just more than 8,000 customers signed up to an accredited GreenPower product in 2007.

AUDITOR General Colin Murphy has called on the WA Department of Health to improve the way it buys services from non-government and not-for-profit organisations, following an audit of the department's purchasing practices.

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.

THE number of housing finance commitments in Western Australia rose 5 per cent for the month of October, seasonally adjusted, compared to the previous month, but remains almost 20 per cent down on the