Opinion

Taxpayers are entitled to know exactly what went wrong when two prisoners escaped from Geraldton Airport under Serco's watch.

If the GST rules are not changed, WA risks perpetuating its status as a cash cow propping up inefficient east coast manufacturers and retailers.

Effective workplace training requires more than the transference of knowledge and good intentions.

More needs to be done to encourage savings self-sufficiency if policymakers want Australians to carry the financial burden of extended retirement years themselves.

It's called a supply-side surprise and unless the sometimes erratic government of Indonesia changes its mind by Monday, WA's beleaguered nickel-mining industry could receive a welcome boost.

Multilevel knowledge, working out which Big Data skills are actually needed and better understanding of social media are among the talent trends that will shape the recruitment landscape in Australia in 2014.

Australia's love of property speculation has dragged down housing affordability and inflated household debt levels but renters are the biggest losers of all.

In the shadow of its worst ever annual sales figures, Holden is persisting with an extraordinary advertising campaign to “explain” its decision to cease car making in Australia by 2017.

The “root and branch” review into Australian competition policy should be broad ranging.

Federal and state issues will intersect sharply in Western Australian politics over the next few months because of uncertainty over whether a new half Senate election will be ordered following the debacle over last September's poll.

Four simple words to guide your success in 2014.

There are strong signs that 2014 might be a more positive year for Western Australian business.

Has your retail business done everything possible to maximise this busy shopping period?

Is your business making the most of the opportunities presented by Google, and if not, why not?

Making your website accessible benefits all users and therefore your business.

Despite the naysayers, there is nothing about the Australian housing market that makes it obviously vulnerable.

The business sector got the governments it wanted in 2013 but it's unclear what policies they will deliver.

It is interesting to see who in public life publishes their ideas, and why.

The passing of Nelson Mandela will have significant consequences for South Africa.

It is said that in space no-one can hear you scream. Amusingly, in a dark sort of way, the same can be said of the stock exchange during a crash because it's unlikely that anyone heard a peep from the 54 (yes, 54) companies that disappeared from the Australian market over the past six months.

Colin Barnett needs his new-look cabinet to hit the ground running in the New Year.

China's growing hyper-nationalism threatens the peace and security of its neighbours, and the world.

A sovereign risk no longer, Australia is fast rocketing up the charts of attractive destinations for investor funds.

Local app developers have been busy in 2013, developing in-demand products and taking the sector far from its cottage industry roots.

The results you achieve for yourself and your business will improve if you look at the big picture.

Challenging times require resilient leaders who can bring the best out in their team.

Hockey dares GM to leave

A Productivity Commission report this week has given state and federal governments a clear guide towards a better project approvals system.

Is the world about to become a better place? That's not a philosophical question, it's simply an observation that economic conditions might be better than we realise, as shown by recent developments in China, the US and the UK.

Resources stocks are almost nowhere to be seen as other players seize the day.

The honeymoon period for the coalition government, if indeed there was one, is over.

Labor needs to have a serious discussion about its fiscal failings if it is to attract new members.