THE sale of major public assets is looming as the only realistic option for a government of either stripe hoping to reclaim the state's AAA credit rating and fund infrastructure needs in the decade
Western Australia's peak business group has welcomed the state government's budget, but other business groups believed more could have been done for their respective sectors.
Treasurer Mike Nahan hopes to raise $16 billion from an expanded asset sales program, with Western Power and Horizon Power's Pilbara transmission lines now targeted but two other assets unexpectedly removed from the government's sell-off list.
The gap between the state's minimum wage and the national floor should be reduced to prevent putting low-paid workers at risk of job losses, according to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA's submission to the upcoming state wage case.
Tax reductions earned plaudits from the business community, with the budget's cuts in both tax company and income tax burdens likely to inspire confidence, particularly in Western Australia.
Despite the tax cuts in last night's budget, the federal government is still relying on increasing revenue in the five years ahead to return to balance, which is still anticipated for 2020-21.
The federal government has signed a $2 billion contract with a group of defence contractors that will ensure maintenance of ANZAC class frigates continues at Henderson for the next eight years.
The federal government's future submarine project will be assembled in South Australia under French company DCNS, although there's still hope for Western Australian industry to win contracts.
SPECIAL REPORT: The state government is pursuing major reforms to the training sector, at a time when national data on traineeships and apprenticeships tells a surprising story for WA.
Treasurer Mike Nahan will embark on a regional pitch for the sale of Fremantle Ports, today revealing that the package could include a redevelopment of the passenger terminal, and a long-term fund to pay for infrastructure at the future outer harbour.
Agriculture Minister Dean Nalder has made his first major move since being given the role, announcing the deregulation of the state's potato industry and a handsome $14 million compensation package for growers.
The federal government's decision to inject an extra $260 million into the Perth Freight Link for construction of a road tunnel has drawn heated criticism, with the City of Fremantle saying an additional $1.4 billion was still required to address a core shortfall of the latest proposal.
Roughly four in every five Western Australians feel the state government doesn't have a suitable plan to pay back debt and recover a AAA credit rating, according to a recent Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA survey.
The head of Shell's Perth-based communications and government relations team has been named the next chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
PENALTY rates are a common frustration for many retail and hospitality businesses, but it's surprising to find they adversely affect even that most transient of enterprises – the food van.
SPECIAL REPORT: Business News CEO and online entrepreneur, Charlie Gunningham, analyses the social media influence of the political and business elite.
Managing the state's economic transition was the main focus of today's cabinet reshuffle, Premier Colin Barnett said, with tourism and agriculture in his sights as key growth industries.
The state government's privatisation program hit more trouble today, with a mining lobby group that represents the users of the Utah Point wharf condemning a lack of consultation on the proposed sale. It follows a move by the National Party on Tuesday to refer the sale legislation to a parliamentary committee.
The state government's asset sales campaign has hit a major snag today, with state Nationals leader Terry Redman announcing the party would not support the sale of Fremantle Ports, which had been forecast to raise $2 billion.
West Leederville-based commercial fishing company Austral Fisheries has become the first seafood business in the world to be certified as carbon neutral.
The impact on economic development and power prices from a sale of the state's electricity network could be managed by a strong regulatory framework, Premier Colin Barnett said today, as he continued to reassess his view on the ownership of Western Power.
Premier Colin Barnett has ruled out any further state tax increases in the upcoming budget, and has said the government might look at reviewing land tax aggregation, at this morning's Business News Success & Leadership breakfast.
A public sector wage freeze, amalgamations of major departments and a reform of health would be key moves to fix the state government's worsening debt position, according to Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA's pre-budget draft submission.
There is little immediate prospect of the state government expanding its current $5 billion asset sales program, despite Premier Colin Barnett seeming to flirt with the possibility this week.
Ratings agency Moody's has downgraded Western Australia's credit rating to Aa2, reflecting an ongoing deterioration in the state's finances and concern that the government will be unable to meet its own spending targets.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA's Energy Apprenticeships Group has kicked off with 16 process operator apprentices to begin their four-year training today.
WA chief executives are hoping a federal election year and a new direction from Malcolm Turnbull will ignite reforms needed to get the state moving again, according to the latest CEO survey by Business News.
The Turnbull government has sought to head off a Labor-trade unions scare campaign on weekend penalty rates by leaving any change to the independent workplace umpire.
The state government has flagged more asset sales after its mid-year budget update confirmed deepening financial problems, with the annual deficit worse than expected and state debt tipped to reach an unprecedented $39 billion.
The federal government's National Innovation and Science Agenda, released last week, has been well received by Western Australia's business community, despite mixed evidence that publicly funded incentives for research affect growth.
Business confidence in Western Australia has improved for the first time in 12 months, according to the latest results of a Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA survey.
The state is considering shifting control of industrial relations to the Commonwealth, in an effort to make it easier for small businesses to negotiate on issues such as penalty rates.
Thirteen peak industry groups in Western Australia have backed the establishment of an infrastructure advisory group, in a move designed to give the business sector a unified voice and more weight in policy setting.
Fortescue Metals Group has set an ambitious target of having Aboriginal workers fill 20 per cent of all trades positions in its workforce, on the back of an apprenticeship program launched today.
SPECIAL REPORT: Business News looks at what needs to be done to energize small business during the state's economic transition, reviews the growth of franchises in WA, and looks at the rise of women owning SMEs.
