By far the most dominant demographic influence on the Western Australian economy – and most developed economies for that matter – is that of the baby boomers.
The Australian Tourism Exchange 2005, the largest international trade show in the Southern Hemisphere, held in Perth in June, was touted as the most important event in the history of the state's tourism industry.
As part of the health upgrades, the State Government will invest $206 million in the redevelopment of four major country hospitals across Western Australia into regional resource centres.
The housing and resources booms in Western Australia's so-called ‘V8 economy' have been credited with the state's above-average performance, but higher prices are creeping into the picture as the cycle is prolonged.
West Australian Newspapers is embarking on a $189 million, two-year expansion plan that includes a $31 million redundancy provision to cover 220 full-time production staff at the company's Herdsman headquarters.
The battle for territory in Perth's independent newspaper market is getting fiercer as new players look to secure a slice of the action, as Mark Mentiplay reports.
The $173.5 million acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in Hoyts Cinemas, a step outside West Australian News-papers' traditional comfort zone and the development of its online services, is costing the company.
While television is still the first medium of choice for major advertisers, Perth agencies and their clients are looking at new alternatives to break through the growing advertising clutter and reach an increasingly fragmented audience.
With the number of people living in Western Australia expected to double within three decades, dealing with the pressures of a growing population is a challenge for legislators and developers, as Marsha Jacobs reports.
Policy, regulation and unclear or contradictory legislation are major impediments for the development industry, according to attendees at WA Business News' development forum.
Issues over infrastructure, particularly the provision and accessibility of water, were among the most significant challenges of the next two decades, according to participants at the WA Business News boardroom forum.
The state Government proposal to establish a ‘super planning agency' is seen by many as the result of its frustration with the decision-making processes of local governments in relation to planning issues.
AN increase in iron ore prices of 71.5 per cent this year has added a massive incentive to second-tier iron ore producers/explorers in Western Australia, particularly those in the Mid-West.
Alumina and petrochemicals are set to join the iron ore and oil and gas industries as major drivers of the state's extraordinary investment boom, WA Business News'annual major projects review has found.
With a review of Western Australia's public infrastructure concluding it is generally superior to other states, the Gallop Government is spending $4.7 billion this year to try and keep it that way.
The petrochemical industry, which has long been targeted as a growth sector for Western Australia, seems likely to start realising some of its potential during the next year.
Western Australia is losing its share of global investment in mineral exploration, according to Association of Mining & Exploration Companies CEO Justin Walawski.
With so much interest in the booming resources sector it is easy to understand the raft of junior explorers keen to etch their name on the Australian Stock Exchange board.
Rising costs somewhat dampen the enthusiasm that surrounds a significant increase in exploration expenditure by listed juniors in the June 2005 quarter.
A shortage of suitable exploration land and expertise have meant mineral explorers and producers alike have had to find ways around obstacles to project development.
Changing employee demands and a tight labour market are putting strains on human resource departments at many of Western Australia's large companies and government departments.
