Government

THE gas crisis caused by a pipeline rupture at Varanus Island has left a bitter legacy for many Western Australian businesses, which have been scathing of the former state government's reaction.

WESTERN Australia's long-term outlook remains bright, despite the upheaval on global financial markets, with labour shortages continuing to be one of the biggest challenges.

URBAN infill was a key policy of the Carpenter government, outlined in the 'Network City' plan for a series of transit-oriented, high-density developments in Perth.

IT'S difficult when assessing elections not to immediately reach for statistics - size of swings, percentage of preferences gained by parties, levels of various majorities, and other such measures that help assess how well or how badly parties and candida

NEW Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore is under no illusions about where his focus will have to be as he returns to the position he held in the previous Liberal government - the approvals process for mining and exploration.

Major independent Western Australian winemaker Stella Bella has raised rural property rights as a key issue in a battle with the Augusta-Margaret River Shire over a diversion road that could cut through one of its vineyards.

THERE are many things likely to change following the recent state election, not just as a result of a new government but also due to the circumstances in which it took power.

DESPITE tightening global credit markets, property analysts remain optimistic that the residential sector in Western Australia is headed for a growth phase in the near future.

WESTERN Australia's iron ore miners have called on the newly elected state government to deliver on an election promise to provide a more efficient approvals process for new mine and exploration licences.

A streamlined and efficient public service is what new treasurer Troy Buswell wants to see.

THE downturn in Western Australia's housing market has had a huge impact on the state's real estate industry, with businesses consolidating their operations and a number of sales consultants leaving the sector.

Perth company Complete Site Services, a subsidiary of the Complete Group, has been awarded a $65 million contract to supply and install a 801-man camp for Fortescue Metal Group's Christmas Creek project, about 100km north of Newman.

Australia is experiencing the biggest migration boom in its history, contributing to the fastest rate of population growth the country has experienced in almost 19 years, expanding by 1.61 per cent.

A new bill setting out a framework to better protect temporary overseas workers in Australia will be introduced into the Senate today.

World leaders have called for urgent steps to tackle the global financial crisis saying the time had come for sweeping reforms of multilateral institutions, including the UN Security Council.

Burke emerges as problem for new state government; Barnett: never on a Sunday; Premier backs Woodside on marketing, tax fight; Rudd acts to ease doubts on short-selling confusion; WA's $300m lobster industry facing disaster

Shares in embattled Structural Monitoring Systems plc have slumped 60 per cent as the company seeks a shareholder vote to reduce the nominal value of its stock for a planned $4 million raising.

BankWest has formed a referral relationship with Allianz Finance, under which the latter will provide debtor finance products to the bank's customers.

Nedlands-based Quickstep Holdings has appointed a new chief executive following the resignation of Nick Noble who has been with the company for eight years.

Woolworths Ltd chief executive Michael Luscombe has joined his Coles rival in calling for the state government to deregulate trading hours in WA at a Perth function today.

Adelaide-based Toro Energy Ltd will move ahead to the next stage of its uranium project in Western Australia, following a study that pegged capital costs at up to $247 million.

Federal Liberal Party deputy leader Julie Bishop was one of three Western Australian MPs promoted to senior roles as part of new leader Malcolm Turnbull's frontbench reshuffle.

Iron ore, coal and liquefied natural gas are all tipped to contribute heavily to Australia's commodity export earnings this financial year, forecast to rise to a record $214 billion.

Sinosteel Corporation's appetite for the Mid West region has been capped by the federal government, which granted the Chinese steelmaker up to a 49.9 per cent interest in Murchison Metals Ltd.

Business confidence in the WA economy has fallen to a seven-year low in the wake of the global credit crisis, according the latest Commonwealth Bank-Chamber of Commerce and Industry business expectations survey.

Premier-elect Colin Barnett said he is pessimistic over the state's chances of hosting Inpex Ltd's $12 billion liquefied natural gas project following a meeting with representatives this morning.

The federal government will commit $100 million a year to a Global Institute, based in Australia, aimed at accelerating the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.

The finance offer deadline for Australasian Resources Ltd's Balmoral South iron ore project has been pushed back by six months following recent merger developments with billionaire Clive Palmer.

Cape Lambert Iron Ore Ltd has urged its shareholders to carefully consider the resolutions proposed by Power United, which earlier this week proposed for the removal of several directors including executive chairman Tony Sage.

Premier-elect Colin Barnett is aiming to have parliament sitting within the next month following the expected swearing-in of his new ministry next week.

Major independent Western Australian winemaker Stella Bella has raised rural property rights as a key issue in a battle with the Augusta-Margaret River Shire over a diversion road that could cut through one of its vineyards.

Premier-elect Colin Barnett has unveiled an expanded 17 member cabinet featuring three Nationals MPs and plans to split three government departments.