Special Reports

One of the most significant challenges facing the state government is its capacity to provide economic and social infrastructure that is able to keep pace with Western Australia’s rapid growth.

The big spenders in the September quarter may represent a vastly different group but one commodity group that stands apart from the iron ore hunters is the diamond explorers.

As the gutted shell of Xanadu Wines, the renamed Global Wine Ventures, considers its options, the Rathbone family is moving quickly to re-establish founder Dr John Lagan’s vision of Xanadu as a premium Margaret River wine and tourism icon.

The state’s recently passed Mining Amendment Bill may aim to provide greater incentive for mineral exploration, but concerns remain that the current production boom is blinding decision makers to the decline in exploration spending.

Margaret River wine pioneer Dr John Lagan has seen his Xanadu Wines collapse and its major assets sold to eastern states interests. In the process shareholders, his family included, have lost millions of dollars. Mark Mentiplay reports

People in Perth may be surprised to learn that current laws allow cafes and restaurants to serve alcoholic drinks to customers who do not purchase a meal.

This time next year, buying liquor in Western Australia could be a whole lot easier.

While participants in the WA Business News forum agreed that more inner-city development was needed, the issues and consequences that arise when residential and commercial developments are combined are well known, as evidenced by the Old Swan Brewery and

If the recently unveiled plans for the redevelopment of Perth’s foreshore sound familiar, they should.

The Liquor Stores Association of WA has crafted a compromise reform proposal that would allow independent stores to trade on Sundays but would maintain restrictions on chain stores owned by Coles Myer and Woolworths.

The Dullsville tag irks many people in Perth but it refuses to go away. WA Business News responded to this problem by convening a forum of liquor, hospitality and tourism industry leaders to discuss what should be done about it.

Although the state government has voiced its support for foreshore development, the controversial issue of coastal development seems to have died down after the government introduced a height policy earlier this year.

Has anyone noticed that the iron ore industry is morphing into something resembling gold?

The changing face of the international iron ore game is probably best exemplified by the current rapid development of Australia’s second largest iron ore region in Western Australia’s Mid-West region.

The unprecedented China-fed demand for iron ore has set the stage for a new golden age of development in Western Australia. The rush for the big Pilbara producers to catch up with demand has been coupled with the emergence of the state’s second iron ore r

Western Australia’s iron ore export industry started in the mid 1960s with the first major shipments to Japan, expanded to South Korea and Taiwan in the early 1980s and, in more recent years, China.

Australia's two biggest iron ore miners, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, have either just spent or have in the pipeline more than $10 billion worth of short-term Pilbara expansion plans to cash in on the booming China-fed steel market.

Wesfarmers broke with widely accepted industry practice when it negotiated the salary package for its new chief executive Richard Goyder earlier this year.

The salary package paid to Health Department director general Neale Fong continues to attract a lot of comment because it is substantially higher than any other public sector salary, yet it also highlights the disparity between private sector and public s

Biotechnology is a lucrative sector for chief executives, judging by the remuneration paid by Perth-based companies such as pSivida, Regenera and Stirling Products.

The role of chairman of a board of directors is normally a part-time position, yet the chairmen at some of Western Australia’s biggest companies earn more than most chief executives.

The number of Western Australian chief executives earning more than $1 million increased to 37 last financial year, helped in most cases by bonuses and share options.

WA Business News' third annual salary survey has idesntified a growing pool of millionaire executives but found it is necessary to go beyond the headline numbers to understand remuneration trends. Mark Beyer reports.

The top executives at emerging biotech company Regenera had a bumper year in 2005 courtesy of performance shares, which are rarely used in Australia.

Australian chief executives are guaranteed half of their income, irrespective of performance, a national survey has found.

Shareholders in engineering and mining contractor Macmahon Holdings gave the company a bloodied nose at its annual general meeting this month, with shareholders who hold 19 per cent of shares voting against the company’s remuneration plan.

Voyager Estate, one of Margaret River’s iconic wine producers, has been recognised for its contribution to the state’s arts community, winning the 2005 best small or medium-sized business partnership award.

Planning your next conference, brainstorming session or staff incentive program? Maybe you just want to get away with a loved one.

Woodside Energy first funded the AWESOME Arts Australia in 2000 as part of its long-standing commitment to young Australians.

Built on strong foundations of creativity, innovation and a passion for the arts, the partnership between Marketforce and the Art Gallery of Western Australia reflects the corporate outlook of both organisations.

A long-time sponsor of the arts community in Western Australia, Wesfarmers has again been recognised in 2005 for its continued commitment to supporting local artistic endeavours.

LWP Property group is the developer of Ellenbrook, the fastest growing and most awarded new urban community in Western Australia.