Regulation

A recommendation by Western Australia's environmental watchdog that new emissions-intensive projects should be carbon neutral has swiftly been rejected by the state government.

The Environmental Protection Authority has recommended that operators of future major projects in Western Australia pay to offset their carbon emissions, in order to help Australia meet its climate change obligations.

The former chief of staff to ex-NAB boss Andrew Thorburn has been arrested over a $40 million fraud against the bank.

The cash-strapped company that received Western Australian government funds despite not meeting milestones attached to a wave power project has been suspended from trading on the Australian stock exchange for failing to lodge its half-year financial report.

State government agency VenuesWest and contractor Perth Aluminum Scaffolds have each been fined $90,000 over the death of a worker who fell through a skylight in the roof of HBF Stadium in Mt Claremont.

A company that supplies and installs underground services and its director have been fined a total of $69,500, and ordered to pay $4,391 in costs, over an incident in which a worker sustained serious permanent injuries.

Tabcorp has confirmed it is interested in acquiring the Western Australian government-owned TAB, on the same day it announced a 642 per cent rise in profit stemming from its $11 billion merger with Tatts Group.

Silver Lake Resources has been fined $58,000 in Perth Magistrates Court following an incident in 2014 that seriously injured a worker at its Murchison gold operation, located 25 kilometres south-east of Cue.

Rebel Sport owner Super Retail Group is set to repay six years' worth of unpaid overtime and allowances to retail managers in an expected $43 million pre-tax hit to first-half earnings.

The Western Australian government has reportedly offered contractor John Holland $20 million to settle the long-running dispute over the Perth Children's Hospital.

The Takeovers Panel has declared unacceptable circumstances in the proposed delisting of the Flinders Mines, giving minority shareholders of the company a victory in the feud.

The panel tasked with reviewing the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority will be led by former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Graeme Samuel and includes Wesfarmers non-executive director Diane Smith-Gander.

The state government and the Western Rock Lobster Council have reached a comprise on the future of the industry, with the annual catch to increase by just 315 tonnes. However, details of how this will be delivered to the local market have not yet been worked out.

Optus has been ordered to pay a $10 million fine, one of the highest penalties to be imposed by the Federal Court, for misleading its customers over digital content.

Construction company John Holland and two contractors are facing federal work health and safety charges over an incident that injured a worker at Main Roads WA’s $1 billion NorthLink road project.

Shares in Perth-based Australian Finance Group and in ASX-listed Mortgage Choice plunged today on concerns the mortgage broking sector will be one of the biggest losers from the banking royal commission, which recommended the banning of commissions paid by lenders to brokers.

National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburn says he is "more determined than ever" to lead the bank despite strong criticism from Kenneth Hayne in his final royal commission report.

The current and former prime ministers agree they waited too long to call the banking royal commission but the treasurer says it's time to look forward, not back.

The banking sector has been told it "must change forever" for forcing the Australian community to pay an immense financial and emotional price over many years.

Some of Australia's bank chiefs remain unwilling to accept responsibility for poor conduct, royal commissioner Kenneth Hayne says.

There are doubts Chinese government-owned telecommunications giant Huawei will be able to deliver a $136 million contract for Perth’s rail network, after the United States brought criminal charges against the company.

US federal agents have conducted a search at Austal’s offices in Mobile, Alabama, in relation to an inquiry by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission into announcements the shipbuilder made in late-2015 and mid-2016.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has appointed Morgan Stanley Wealth Management to sell approximately 12 million ordinary shares in Tribune Resources.

The Federal Court has imposed a $2.6 million penalty on Ultra Tune Australia, after it was found the automotive servicing and roadside assist company made false or misleading representations about a franchise site, and then tried to mislead the court in its defence.

Alfresco dining areas will now be fee-free for restaurant and cafe owners within the City of Perth.

Jason Burns Homes has been fined $20,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal after the father-and-son building partnership failed to rectify defects at three new homes.

Western Australia’s revamped strata regulations have made it easier for property owners to sell together and realise a higher premium than if they sold individually, particularly in strategic locations.

The state government has hit a key milestone in the partial privatisation of Landgate, seeking a private sector operator to undertake automated land titling transactions.

Medicinal cannabis company Creso Pharma has announced it will expand into Sri Lanka, after it signed a binding letter of intent with Ceyoka Health, one of Sri Lanka’s largest pharmaceutical distribution companies.

Wesfarmers-owned Kleenheat Gas has paid $25,200 in penalties, after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued two infringement notices for alleged false and misleading discount gas campaign.

Opponents of a Puma Energy development on Dunsborough’s main street have emerged victorious from the three-year stoush, after the developer behind plans to build the 24-hour service station announced it would no longer proceed with its bid.

Luxury car dealership Luxuride and its director have been fined a total of $100,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for breaking laws designed to protect consumers.