Opinion

Are Australia's major goldminers profitable, or not?

I am always fascinated at how corporate history gets written and rewritten over time; how some people never escape their past while others seem to have a teflon coating when it comes to their mistakes.

By dint of perseverance and survival at the upper echelons of the NSW and Federal Liberal parties John Howard has come to intrigue a growing cohort of journalists, especially those based in Sydney, his hometown, and Canberra, where he's at work some weeks

Oh dear. It looks like we've inherited a premier who is having big ideas and wants to do things, a very dangerous combination.

Last week's State Scene touched on the fact that the National Party has decided to go it alone electorally, to refuse to enter into coalition with the Liberals, under any circumstances.

The present brawling between barristers regarding their ability to talk to the media is fascinating.

Hands up anyone who expects the stock market to rise between now and Christmas?

Andrew Forrest is without doubt one of Western Australia's most intriguing characters. I had the great pleasure to hear Mr Forrest speak last week at one of WA Business News's Success and Leadership events, and it was a great opportunity to gain insight

Almost certainly three years from last, this, or next Saturday, will be next election day, since February Saturdays have become the traditional poll days in Western Australia.

It's not often you can easily pick the best or worst investment on the stock market. Right now, however, the worst stands out like sore thumb.

The finger pointing by all those involved in the Westpoint Group debacle would almost be humorous if so much money was not at stake.

The last State Scene for 2005 highlighted the ways major political parties make it excruciatingly difficult for their candidates to be unseated by Independents.

Despite some people contending otherwise there was, from the moment Geoff Gallop resigned, never any doubt that Alan Carpenter would become premier.

Australia's great grape glut is causing wine producers no end of pain. But in Western Australia there seems to be a variation emerging on that theme – the great grape shortage.

The wine industry's woes are not self-inflicted and are an important example of what happens when government decisions start distorting business in an unhealthy way.

I have never believed in the regulated monopoly powers of AWB Ltd or its predecessors.So it is perhaps unfair for me to use the appalling news of the Iraqi wheat scandal to add to the call for the archaic wheat export monopoly to be scrapped.

There's little doubt all state MPs learned the obvious lesson from Liberal leader Matt Birney's unpleasant pre-Christmas encounter with the Privileges Committee – don't secretly slip amendments into your Parliamentary Financial Interests Register, or else

If a man in a pub offered to sell you the Sydney Harbour Bridge for $50,000, would you write out a cheque on the spot?

Steel, in case hot-headed speculators playing the Australian stock market had not noticed, is essentially made by blending two materials – iron ore and coal, with a bit of limestone tossed in, plus nickel and other stuff for speciality steels.

It's not often that a political announcement genuinely catches everyone by surprise, but Geoff Gallop's decision this week to step down as premier and retire from politics certainly falls into that category.

Last week, State Scene canvassed some of the underlying reasons for the collapse in Liberal leader Matt Birney's standing among party colleagues during the closing months of 2005, which may well result in the emergence of pressure for his replacement duri

With Western Australia entering what promises to be another year of strong economic expansion, the major challenge facing the state continues to be managing its rapid growth.

The ranks of those Liberal MPs who are wondering if their leader, Matt Birney, will still be in his position on April 17, his wedding day, swelled markedly just before Christmas, when the Parliamentary Privileges Committee adjudicated on his secret insert

WILL 2005 be forever etched in our memories?

State Scene wishes to conclude this year's assessment of the local political scene with some observations about the featherbedding and political funding of political parties.

Last week's in-camera parliamentary privileges committee hearings on Liberal leader Matt Birney's financial interests statements raised a host of questions that will hopefully be addressed before Christmas.

‘Unintended consequences' is one of those marvellous expressions which, when translated, simply means we have no idea what will happen after we change the rules.

It might feel like a long way away but the events at Cronulla Beach in Sydney at the weekend are something we should all be wary of.

Buying local is a good thing when shopping for fruit and vegetables, but not necessarily a wise investment policy.

Was Peter Costello serious when he suggested reportedly he had no responsibility to investigate the background of Reserve Bank of Australia board candidate, Robert Gerard?

State Scene expects to be voting, soon after New Year, in a by-election for the seat of Yokine, currently held by one-time Labor minister Bob Kucera.