Government

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA has expressed concern that the fundamental strength of the local economy is being undermined by uncertainty and pessimism.

A major redevelopment of Belmont Park racecourse is back on the table after Planning Minister John Day today approved the advertising of a metropolitan region planning scheme amendment.

Construction of the $55 million Muchea Livestock Centre has been given the green light by the state government.

The federal government's proposed petrol price monitoring scheme, which has its foundations in Western Australia, has been defeated in the Senate.

Western Australia had the nation's fastest annual wages growth of more than 5 per cent in the year to September, but it has started to fall away.

Analyst attack savages Asciano; Gillard widens childcare probe; More hurdles for Kimberley LNG plant; Jobs more important than credit rating - union; General Motors, AIG troubles spook sharemarkets

Galaxy Resources has appointed Iggy Tan as the company's managing director.

Expressions of interest are open to childcare providers wanting to operate the non-viable ABC Learning centres.

The North West Iron Ore Alliance has appointed former chief executive of the Association of Mining & Exploration Companies (AMEC), Dr Justin Walawski, as its chief executive.

Alcoa has shelved the proposed expansion of the Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, estimated to cost approximately $3 billion, amid weakening demand and volatility in financial markets.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has defended Treasury's growth forecast, saying it does not conflict with more pessimistic predictions by the World Bank and the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Property prices in most capital cities including Perth have plummeted in the September quarter, with house and unit prices flattened or posting negative rates of return in the past 12 months.

Investors rush to pour $3bn into NAB; 'Green car' drive in Rudd's industry rescue; Community bars bureaucrats to protest Beagle Bay gas plan; Liberty chairman quits uranium hopeful over self-interest issues; World buoyed by surprise stimulus package

Commerce Minister Troy Buswell will recommend Western Australia opts out of joining a national industrial relations system that would refer its industrial relations powers to the Commonwealth.

The federal Workplace Ombudsman has put 200 of Western Australia's premier wineries and vineyard contractors on notice that they will be subject to a series of random audits.

The federal government's $6.2 billion investment in the car industry has been applauded by car makers around the country and the unions representing more than 60,000 employees tied to the car industry.

Western Australian agribusiness improved in the September quarter with further improvement expected in the December quarter.

Mine employment caves in; WA gas demand to double; Uranium's still hot despite Rio's slowdown plans; Pressure on US to bail out car giants; Obama demands new rescue plan

The federal government has announced details of a new financial literacy program designed to help young people make decisions about insurance and superannuation in their future.

Burke charged with corruption; State projects get the axe as cash dries up; Receivers refuse to guarantee ABC child-care centres will stay open; ASIC won't intervene in Incremental bid; Rudd goes local with $1bn spend

iiNet managing director Michael Malone has warned a Senate Committee that the federal government's national broadband network is doomed to be a huge monumental failure and a waste of $5 billion of taxpayers money.

Western Australia's jobless rate for October has been described as "sensational" as the figures tumbled towards record lows while the national rate held steady.

Nedlands-based Tox Free Solutions has successfully completed a $13 million capital raising and revealed it will acquire a Victorian waste management company for $1.5 million.

Global crisis blows $40bn hole in budget; Warning of 9pc jobless rate; Banks' patience running out; Guarantee in need of tweaking; Chinalco regains hold on Rio blocking stake

BUSINESSES in Western Australia spend proportionately more on research and development than their counterparts in any other state, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has found.

Despite the global downturn, the retail market is confident the significant amount of retail space under construction will be absorbed.

AN Osborne Park-based mining services company has won the top prize at Western Australia's Industry and Export Awards.

One year after Wesfarmers secured Australia's largest takeover, the investment market is unsure of the company's prospects.

THE state government plans to release a draft revision of a controversial policy which caps shopping centre growth, which has been described as out of touch with residential expansion in new growth areas, early next year.

CHURCHLANDS gourmet food store The Herdsman has shelved a $3.7 million expansion plan in Claremont because of the current economic crisis.

SOME of the largest publicly-listed retailers in Western Australia have been feeling the pinch during the recent economic turbulence, but preparations made early to deal with the downturn and positive signs about the future of retail in the state are keep

IF we're to be subjected to that "D" word, then let's at least focus on the correct one, which means ignoring the depression sparked by Wall Street's 1929 crash.