Government

Late surge nudges St George to record run; Gas blast warnings ignored; Partners set $1b budget for decision on Gorgon; WorleyParsons reaps bonanza on resources; BHP, Rio to square off as they pull out profit guns

An investigation into the Varanus Island gas pipeline rupture has found the operation complied with general safety standards as the government calls on the state opposition to not jeopardise the inquiry.

QRSciences Holdings Ltd has exercised an option to take full control of US-based Spectrum San Diego Inc for $11 million.

The three partners in the Gorgon gas project have approved spending of $1 billion and the employment of 1200 staff and constractors ahead of a final investment decision over the coming 12 to 18 months.

B&B profit warning furore; Battered Futuris takes a $26m hit, 100 jobs to go; Last shout as Empire goes flat on Colonial, Royal Bar; IGA rejects claims of a missed chance on Bi-Lo; Call for urgent government action over ICT skills shortage

Former Gallop government minister Bob Kucera has today retired from politics to spend more time with his family.

Nedlands-based waste management company Tox Free Ltd has reported a 56 per cent jump in earnings for fiscal 2008 as it opens its first waste facility in New South Wales.

Mortgage aggregator Australian Finance Group has teamed up with Perth-based wealth management adviser Plan B Group Ltd to offer a full range of mortgage products to customers.

Steel price squeeze hits economy; Sub-prime spotlight to fall on CBA result; RBA to prune growth outlook; Time has come for WA to process its resources: Barnett; Rio eyes coal IPO as it ramps up asset sell-off

The Albany Hospital has become the first battlefield in the state election with both the Labor and Liberal Parties trying to outdo each other with budgets and quicker schedules for a rebuild.

Bibra Lake-based Mineral Resources Ltd had a double dose of good news today - it expects to more than double its profit in 2007-08 and has signed of a seven-year agreement with Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd to develop and operate a Pilbara manganese mine.

A Queensland-based consortium is pushing ahead with bold plans for a A$14 billion, 3300 kilometre rail line from the Pilbara to Queensland with industrial smelter hubs at each end after gaining support from 19 steel producers.

State liberal member Rob Johnson has regained his police portfolio in opposition leader Colin Barnett's shadow frontbench reshuffle, as Troy Buswell takes on treasury and commerce.

The ANZ Banking Corporation Ltd and Westpac Banking Corporation said today they cannot guarantee passing on any interest rate cut made by the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Japanese company Inpex Ltd and joint venture partner Total E&P Australia have announced a new gas discovery in the Browse Basin.

Perth-based CityView Corporation Ltd has entered into deal with an Angolan firm to form a logistics company to support the country's mining industry.

Litigation funder IMF (Australia) Ltd will pocket a further $1.35 million after a New South Wales court ruled in favour of Concept Equity Pty Ltd against Challenger Group Holdings Ltd.

Opposition leader Colin Barnett is expected to announce his shadow ministry at noon today as the count down to the state election begins.

Western Australia will head to the polls on September 6 after Premier Alan Carpenter called a snap election, drawing surprise from the state opposition and predictions it will be a close-fought race.

The transfer of the livestock centre from Midland to Muchea is estimated to deliver a $467 million economic benefit to the state over 20 years as Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance calls for tenders.

Cutbacks and asset sell-offs at the Houghton and Goundrey wine operations have been announced by US-based owner Constellation Brands as part of major changes at its Australian operations.

Premier Alan Carpenter is expected to call an election for September 6, a day after Colin Barnett was elected to lead the state Liberal Party.

The jobless rate in Western Australia has decreased to a seasonally adjusted 3.1 per cent in July while the national rate remained unchanged at 4.3 per cent.

West Perth-based Nkwe Platinum has signed exclusive option agreements valued at nearly $A14 million with global mining company Xstrata and Leederville-based International Goldfields Ltd over several African projects.

The Western Australian Trade Enquiry Service is operated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia (CCI) with the support of the WA Government's Department of Industry and Resour

It's hardly news that business is under-represented in the City of Perth; we've run a number of stories to that effect in recent years.

The timing of the state government's announcement of Oakajee Port and Rail Pty Ltd as the preferred developer of the $2 billion Oakajee port project was impeccable, according to Geraldton mayor Ian Carpenter.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry business luncheon will take place on August 12 (RSVP by August 7).

The state's second largest skydiving facility has experienced a 30 per cent drop in skydives since an inquiry into the sport was launched by Coroner Alastair Hope in 2006 - a process that many in the industry feel has done little to improve things.

It's heartening to find that members of the Liberal Party can still find something to laugh about.

I've spent an interesting few days examining the views of a number of business people to understand just where our economy is heading.

In halls of power around the world, some very worried politicians and public servants are beginning to realise that peak oil production is real and it is happening right now.