Opinion

If any business sector is profitable we congratulate it and buy more shares. Why should banks be any different?

Diversity in the business world is surprisingly rich and one of the sector's great strengths.

How ironic John Howard's book is titled Lazarus Rising, when it was the former PM who brought the Liberal Party to its knees.

Troy Buswell's likely return to state cabinet will require someone to stand aside. But who?

Falling property prices in WA won't last as the resources boom gets into full swing.

Governments would be foolish to ignore the threat to the Australian economy posed by mineral development in West Africa.

Misplaced loyalty can prove costly in politics, and it seems state Labor has finally woken up to the fact when it comes to relations with the federal government.

Governments are prone to change their minds, but it's often the consumers who pay the price.

A cooperative approach is vital to remove uncertainty from negotiations over the proposed mining tax.

Emotion needs to be taken out of the debate over a possible merger between the ASX and Singapore's bourse.

Interest rate increases are never welcome but the Reserve Bank's track record needs to be respected.

The state government has failed to honour a key election promise made in 2008.

The cost of state-funded health care is simply unsustainable. We need a new model.

The planned merger of the Australian and Singapore stock exchanges highlights a global trend to which Perth businesses need to adapt.

The growing influence of the Greens must be sending shivers through Labor ranks.

Being seen to be tough on crime was an assured vote winner in the past, but recent setbacks to the government's stop and search powers have shifted the debate.

The Aussie dollar may be enjoying rare strength against world currencies, but beware the downside.

Skilled labour shortages will continue to have an impact on the state's future growth and development prospects, especially in the minerals and energy industry.

Rather than something to be feared by business, social media presents a wealth of opportunities.

How would the performance of our political leaders rate if Australia was a business?

The real gem in the prime minister's economic reform speech was her commentary on social media.

Inaction on fuel self-sufficiency poses a threat to our way of life, and sustenance.

The piecemeal wage and salary fixing mechanism for public sector workers is a political issue that won't go away, as inaction by both sides of politics demonstrates.

Artificial market manipulation most often leads to blowback, thanks to the immutable laws of supply and demand.

A recent meeting of the world's elite figures heard an interesting pitch on climate change.

Post-election indications that Julia Gillard is prepared to look at population needs on a state-by-state basis are good news for WA, where skilled workers are needed.

It seems the BRICs aren't in as strong a position as many would have hoped.

Who should serve on our boards, and what composition of supervising directors can ensure that history doesn't repeat itself?

Unrealistic expectations plague our society, from the market to the political realm.

A likely ministerial reshuffle later this year would enable the state government to lift its focus on infrastructure.

Having assumed a spoiler's role in the economic debate, retailers act in no-one's interests but their own.

The Reserve Bank has offered borrowers a small reprieve from higher interest rates but there are bigger issues to worry about.