Opinion

How do you budget for an iron ore boom that no-one believes will survive more than a few months?

For Perth to become an innovation hub, in a global context, there will need to be a step-change from a range of stakeholders – the startup community and its funders, schools and universities, and, importantly, the state government – in order to support the structural change needed to achieve significant success.

In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Dan Wilkie discuss Geoff Rasmussen, NRW, defence contracts, Scoop Magazine, Quickflix, apartment developments and universities.

The trend in dwelling sales activity in Perth recorded in Reiwa’s weekly Real Facts across the first three months of 2016 suggests sales increased during the month of January, stabilised in February, with volatility in sales seen during March.

Price shouldn’t be a problem for a salesperson who has done their homework and believes in their product.

A state industry plan has some positives but don’t look to the past for jobs policy.

Businesses operating in WA’s cyclical resources sector need to deal prudently with debt, or trouble is just around the corner.

In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Dan Wilkie discuss iron ore, lithium, shipbuilding, retail, commercial property and construction.

Several recent high-profile cases of questionable corporate behaviour that have come to light here, and around the world, have a common element – whistleblowers.

Colin Barnett’s political fellow travellers seem unwilling to help him in his efforts to achieve GST distribution reform.

This week, Reiwa members reported an increase in weekly sales to 708.

Hackathons are creative, collaborative and crucial to the development of social networks in the startup sector.

Spot the difference in these two statements: one in two households rely on pensions to make ends meet; and one in two reliant on public purse’.

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss Unemployment and the markets, Rio Tinto, Freightlink, LNG 18, our special report Apprentices and Training. 

Each of us likes to think we have the silver bullet solution to the pressing issues of the day – from the environment to superannuation to tax. However political reality most often means good policy ideas get thrown into the too-hard basket in the face of pressure from lobby groups and vested interests.

ABS data released this week portrays dwelling commencements continuing to trend lower since peaking in March 2015.

Those who think the grass is greener on the other side need to think again.

Legend has it the wife of King Louis XVI of France, Marie Antoinette, said, ‘let them eat cake’ on hearing the starving peasants were in revolt against bread shortages.

TPG’s half-year profit statement suggests where a company is headquartered may be less important than the value for money of its offering.

The shift towards negative interest rate in some countries is a scenario that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. 

The efficiencies of local agribusinesses’ owner-operator model makes them prime targets for foreign buyers.

It’s refreshing to encounter executives who seemingly conduct their business in a manner that accords with their stated values.

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss Gorgon dramas, FMG, Newman Hotel, retail construction, foreign acquisitions and our special report corporate finance.

Colin Barnett has made some strategic ministerial changes ahead of next year’s poll.

Reiwa members reported an increase in weekly sales to 671 this week.

As this column has mentioned previously, startups and conventional businesses are different in a number of ways, and the ‘first mover advantage’ is one.

If money, careers and future investment in Western Australia were not being jeopardised, it would be amusing to watch some of Australian biggest companies adopt a management policy best described as ‘run and hide’.

Mark Pownall and 720Drive presenter Jane Marwick speak with Austal CEO David Singleton, X-press Magazine founder Joe Cipriani and Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Hugh

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss the Kailis family and agribusiness, the $A, state cabinet, WA stocks performance and oil & gas.

Latest demographic data as at September 30 2015 indicates WA’s population continues to slow. 

Two high-profile reports from the commission have reaffirmed its role in upholding public accountability.

Political leaders would do well to read a recent UWA report, which targets unsustainable expenditure and plots a prudent economic pathway.