Regulation

The state government has taken a first step to protect subcontractors by introducing a bill to establish a specialist investigations unit within the Small Business Development Commission.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has permanently banned a Perth man from providing financial advice, following his conduct as a representative of Westpac and The Financiallink Group.

A Willetton-based nominee company associated with contractor Pascoe's Gas, Water & Electrical has been hit with an increased fine after refusing to provide documents to the state government, which is trying to clarify the precise links between the two entities.

Many minority shareholders of Flinders Mines have voiced discontent at the conduct of their board.

Australian Mines says it cannot explain sharp rises in its share price, after the ASX issued it with two queries in the space of seven days.

The federal court has ordered Garuda and Jetstar to pay $19 million and $1.95 million in penalties, respectively, after action taken by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission.

The Environmental Protection Authority will commence formal consultation next month on its greenhouse gas guidelines, refuting media reports it has already decided to revive the guidelines that caused industry outrage earlier this year.

Buru Energy has confirmed Andrew Forrest has taken a small stake in the company, after the oil producer responded to a price query today.

Some financial institutions may face additional capital requirements after the prudential regulator said many show the same weak risk-assessment capabilities it found last year at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Clive Palmer's estranged Chinese joint venture partner has largely lost an appeal over royalties from their massive iron ore project in Western Australia's Pilbara.

An entity related to a developer with plans for a 146 block-estate in the suburb of Southern River has been placed into liquidation.

The state government has selected a newly formed company owned by drink manufacturers Coca-Cola Amatil and Lion to run the state's container deposit scheme.

A legal dispute between Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart and two of her children will be heard in private after the High Court ruled in her favour.

Federal Labor is calling on Environment Minister Melissa Price to explain why she approved a controversial uranium mine in Western Australia the day before the national election was called.

The Australian Building & Construction Commission has commenced legal proceedings against the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union and three of its officers, including WA state secretary Michael Buchan.

Ausdrill has sacked an employee and reported them to police after discovering approximately $10 million of allegedly fraudulent payments over eight years.

A businessman who orchestrated a $20 million insurance scam that involved burning down the former Western Australian headquarters of Bunnings has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison.

A former insurance broker who admitted funnelling almost $200,000 owed to clients into his own bank accounts has been sentenced to two years and nine months imprisonment.

The consumer watchdog says price compare website iSelect misled customers for two years by recommending energy retailers that paid it higher commissions.

A woman who stole more than $500,000 from her employer in part to fund holidays and home renovations has been sentenced to four years in a Western Australian prison.

The process for obtaining liquor licences in Perth has become less clear after the Commissioner of Police successfully challenged approvals for a new Dan Murphy's store in Rockingham.

Dyno Nobel has been fined $250,000 and ordered to pay costs of $30,000 in the Perth Magistrates Court, following the death of one of its employees at the Telfer gold mine in May 2015.

A Western Power contractor has been found largely liable for destruction wrought by a 2014 bushfire in the Perth Hills region that was sparked by a fallen power pole.

Possibly flammable cladding at four Perth hospitals must be replaced but there is no risk to public safety, the state government says.

Shares in West Perth-based Skin Elements have fallen 23.3 per cent today to trade at 3.3 cents each, following its response to two ASX queries after trade closed yesterday.

A consortium comprised of private equity firm BGH, AustralianSuper and former Navitas chief executive Rod Jones have agreed to buy the global education provider for $2.3 billion.

RCR Tomlinson's secured creditors may only receive around $70.6 million of the $230 million they are owed, and its unsecured trade creditors are likely to receive none of the $170.6 million they are owed, as administrators McGrathNicol recommended the failed engineering firm be liquidated.

The last of the 19 civil actions brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on behalf of a number of investors in the Westpoint Group has been finalised.

IOOF Holdings faces a class action over the beleaguered wealth manager's alleged failure to tell shareholders about APRA's concern over possible breaches of superannuation laws.

A rigger has been fined $4,000 plus $10,000 in court costs after two Irish workers on an East Perth construction site were crushed to death by a tilt-up panel weighing more than three tonnes.

The consumer watchdog is calling for an overhaul of Australia's product safety laws to help reduce the two deaths and 145 injuries it says are caused each day by unsafe products.

The head of the Australian Taxation Office has declared "integrity is everything" after the organisation was cleared of allegations it had executed a widespread cash grab on small businesses.