Special Reports

Family Business Australia chief executive Philippa Taylor delivered an overwhelmingly positive message to those at the 2005 Family Business Australia (WA) Family Business Awards held this month at the WA Art Gallery.

THE Gallop Government's plan to appoint former state development minister Clive Brown as head of a new skills development taskforce has met with a muted response from industry, which is seeking tangible and prompt action.

As an integral part of Bunbury's economy and driver of the mining industry in the South West, the Bunbury Port plays an important role in the region.

The shortage of skilled labour in Western Australia has worsened significantly over the past three years to record levels, in sharp contrast to the rest of the country where the problem has passed its peak.

Sadleirs Transport, winner of the FBA Family Business Awards third-generation and family employer categories for 2005, is really two family businesses in one, according to the company's managing director Ian Cook.

More than a decade ago, Western Australia had the highest number of Internet service providers (ISPs) in the country.

The Internet services marketplace is tipped for a significant shakeup this year as boundaries that divide traditionally separate sectors disappear.

As the creator of Australia's third largest Internet service provider, iiNet's Michael Malone has evolved from a hands-on technology operator. David Gibson and Mark Beyer report.

In Australia, $3.4 trillion is contributed to the national economy by family owned/operated businesses.

Chocolate AttractionCorporate DynamicsDesign ShopHottie.com.au

Herdsman Fresh Essentials has the rare distinction of being a mid-sized food and grocery market that is able to draw loyal customers from a wide sweep across Perth's western and northern suburbs.

aussie i.t

The Gallop Government is claiming to have outperformed several of its conservative predecessors by negotiating a boost to iron ore royalties that is expected to add a further $150 million annually to state revenue after 2010.

Having been exposed to the business side of their family since they were toddlers, it is no surprise the Marcolina children, Kristy (Delporte) and her twin brothers Daniel and Ad

Peter Wright's children are Michael, Angela Bennett, and Julian. Only Michael and Angela appear among BRW's Top 200 Richest.

An appreciative audience of 250 filled the Art Gallery of Western Australia last night for the announcement of 2005 Family Business Australia (WA) Family Business Award winners.

In some respects, this year's field was harder to judge than ever because of the wider-than-usual spread of businesses – not just from sector to sector but also in scale.

Passion and integrity are the keys to family business success, according to Leonie and Eric Gully, owners of Moon-Haven Natural Products and its manufacturing arm, Margaret River Natural Soap Co.

Atrium HomesAtrium Homes is a family owned company with 40 years' experience in constructing quality homes.

Sadleirs Transport created an FBA Family Business Awards first for Western Australia last night by winning two categories – third generation and best family business employer.

Airefrig Australia

Pilbara iron ore producers are experiencing strong demand and prices.

There are few family businesses in Western Australia, let alone Australia, which are almost halfway through their second century of business.

Long-time business partners Lang Hancock and Peter Wright could never have foreseen the fallout from their Pilbara iron ore venture. Joe Poprzeczny reports.

Evans & Tate executive chairman Franklin Tate has made a passionate defence of his company's corporate governance practices and its commercial prospects.

A major international review has found no empirical evidence to support the corporate governance ‘best practices' supported by organisations such as the Australian Stock Exchange and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Australia has a long history of entrepreneurial business leaders who stamp their personality on their companies. Mark Beyer and David Gibson examine the role of executive chairmen in light of recent controversies at three prominent WA companies.

Having worked on the Perth Town Hall refurbishment for nearly a decade, conservation award winner, Cox Howlett and Bailey Woodland's Bret White, is delighted that the recently completed four stages of refurbishment will allow the building to be better ut

There is no one single, simple solution to the skills shortage faced by SMEs and business in general, says Sean Gavin from Gavin Construction, but what he suggested as a starting point was an integrated, multi-pronged approach by government and industry.

An innovative design for St Brigid at Mercy College Koondoola by Murray Slavin has won the top award for interior design at this year's awards.

Make no mistake about it, more and more small and medium businesses will start to disappear from the WA market, because big business is squeezing out the little guys.

Based in the Faculty of Architecture at UWA, Simon Anderson was asked to design a light, warm, open and low-maintenance house addition that made use of the whole site while preserving garden space for the children.