Opinion

Business and their marketing advisers put a lot of thought and effort into how best to appeal to consumers, and colour is a big part of that.

The South West may be the scene of a political and environmental battle over bauxite mining not seen for 30 years.

Only time will tell if the sector has reached a point where it is unstoppable.

The inclusion of gambling revenue in Commonwealth Grants Commission funding is one of a number of suggestions to reform Australia's federation, following the release of a recent federalism paper by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia.

In this week's Podcast, Mark Pownall and Shanna Crispin join James Lush to discuss the increasingly prominent apartment development sector, news in the project contracting scene, takeover manoeuvers around Perth telco Amcom, carbon sequestration at Harvey and a new medical research institute.

The third instalment from Peter Kennedy's new book on WA's recent political past examines the pressure on Carmen Lawrence to set up a royal commission into what became known as WA Inc.

Psst … looking for a bargain? Here's a way to buy $1 for less than $1 by acquiring a fistful of shares in Mt Gibson Iron.

Politicians rarely voluntarily seek to lower the tax take or reduce the size of government, so what's behind Tony Abbott's call for a ‘mature' debate over the federation?

Listings are the big mover again this week, rising a further 1.5% and pushing through the 12,000 equilibrium.

Performance appraisals may be a ubiquitous feature of HR departments in businesses economy-wide, doubts remain about their use.

There are lots of excuses for failing to achieve success, but very few reasons that actually stand up to scrutiny.

Like all businesses, university assets funds should be put to work.

China's maturing economy, not a conspiracy of collusion, is behind the actions of WA's two biggest iron ore miners.

In this week's Podcast, Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall join James Lush to discuss Premier Colin Barnett's future, iiNet founder Michael Malone's new business, the Wesfarmers chairman role, Business News' biggest employers survey, the slow roll-out of the NBN in WA and some favourite cafes and bars getting a new lease of life.

The draft report by the Competition Policy Review has signaled a revolution in the provision of human services- but the interest has all been elsewhere.

The second of four extracts from Peter Kennedy's new book examines the Rothwells rescue and the murky links between WA business and politics.

Money is moving out of iron ore but where it goes next is the more interesting question, because it seems that some investors are developing a taste for agriculture – a shift that might prove to be a case of leaving the frying pan to land in the fire.

Unlike 2013 when reported sales increased steadily across October, activity in 2014 remains volatile with house sales up again this week by 11% to 619 but below the reported 635 a fortnight ago.

The Whitlam legacy lives on, on both sides of the political fence, in the push for ever-greater concentration of power in Canberra.

The year's most important retail period is almost upon us, so is your business ready to make the most of the opportunity?

The science of networking is getting more sophisticated, but how you deal with this may be easier than you think.

The state rarely wins in battles with big resources outfits.

Seven Group Holding's performance may be more accurate barometer of the state's finances than treasury calculations.

A recent Grattan Institute report on the east coast gas market has further fuelled debate in Western Australia over the merits or otherwise of the gas reservation policy.

Editor Mark Beyer and reporter Dan Wilkie join James Lush to discuss: the Wealth Creators, an updated listing of WA's richest company directors; Kerry Stokes, the subject of two biographies; land s

In the first of four extracts from Peter Kennedy's recently released book, Tales from Boom Town, the author looks at the first WA Inc deal and the introduction of fly in, fly out mining in WA.

The big get bigger and the small get crushed.

The excitement of increased activity in recent weeks has seen more vendors bring property to the market with listings jumping by a further 490 or 4% this week to 11,598, the highest level since mid-July 2012.

Colin Barnett's tough talk on iron ore has all the hallmarks of a government fearful of losing control of the narrative.

The values of a business need to be more than abstract concepts; they need to be reflected in staff behaviour.

Most people take networking for granted and fail to capture the opportunities on offer.

Bringing personal views to managing other people's money is tricky.