Gold miners have warned of devastating consequences from a higher royalty rate, including potential mine closures, while business groups have also taken aim at proposed payroll tax hikes for larger employers, after both were targeted in a $1 billion revenue grab by the state government in today's budget.
Some of the major players formerly behind essential oils business Mt Romance are involved in a new sandalwood player in Western Australia, which is half-owned by an indigenous group.
OPINION: Ben Wyatt has dealt with a range of challenges during his relatively short political career, but next month's budget will be his most significant.
Energy Minister Ben Wyatt hopes to introduce laws to ease network access rules for new electricity generators by mid 2018, while acknowledging concerns about Synergy's market power in an address today at the Energy in Western Australia Conference.
SPECIAL REPORT: More than $1.6 billion of renewable energy projects are proposed for the South West Interconnected System, but their success may hinge on how the government handles two regulatory issues.
SPECIAL REPORT: As WA households benefit from increased competition in gas retailing, the electricity sector wants to be able to compete with Synergy in providing to small customers, with some industry members calling for a reduction in the contestability threshold to 20 megawatt hours.
Unemployment in Western Australia is at its lowest level in more than two years, with Treasurer Ben Wyatt saying it was pleasing to see the rise in employment driven by full-time work.
The state government plans to prepare reforms to allow third-party access in the North West Interconnected System, the Pilbara's electricity network, ready for a cabinet decision in March 2018, in a move that would end years of impasse.
The state government has made a formal submission to the Commonwealth Grants Commission seeking a fairer share of the GST distribution, following lack of progress in talks on the issue last week in Perth.
Treasurer Ben Wyatt has emerged disappointed from a meeting with federal counterpart Scott Morrison after failing to secure measures to prevent a shortfall of almost $2 billion in the state budget.
Renewable energy company WestGen has moved close to proceeding with WA's second new solar farm this year, after appointing key contractors for its $75 million Byford project.
Treasurer Ben Wyatt has all but ruled out the introduction of a bank tax in the September budget but has kept the option open for a future decision, while the industry has called on the state government to protect Western Australia's economic growth by not bringing in the levy.
Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation will seek compensation from Fortescue Metals Group after the Federal Court recognised it has exclusive rights over Pilbara land where the company operates the Solomon hub.
Competition among developers of renewable energy projects in WA's South West is hotting up, with two solar farms starting construction this year and a further eight major projects hoping to join them.
Treasurer Scott Morrison has rejected warnings the Liberals would face an electoral wipeout in Western Australia if the federal government doesn't give the state more GST money.
OPINION: Those among us who are unfamiliar with the term ‘collateral damage' are about to learn its meaning first hand, because it is what we have become – innocent victims of bad governance across Australia.
State Treasurer Ben Wyatt says the South Australian government's controversial bank levy is an attractive option and he'll watch with interest ahead of delivering his own budget in September.
The state government has lifted an array of fees and charges as it seeks to address its budget woes, with iron ore exporters in the Pilbara and electricity consumers facing the largest increases.
Premier Mark McGowan has refused to reiterate his election promise made three months ago of no new taxes or tax increases, instead deflecting the issue by saying the state is in a "catastrophic" financial mess.
Perth businessman John Langoulant has been appointed to lead the state government's commission of inquiry into the Barnett government's spending on 26 projects over the past eight years.
Premier Mark McGowan will seek to freeze the wages of all politicians, public service heads, judges, magistrates, the WA governor, and local council chief executives for the next four years, while offering a $1,000 increase to all public sector employees.
The state government has confirmed that Perth Stadium will not be ready to host the Ashes cricket Test in December this year, saying the first confirmed event was an Ed Sheeran concert on March 3 2018.
The WA Independent Power Association has called for the state government to block a plan by public generator Synergy to set up a new renewable energy fund, while supporting a move to reduce Synergy's capacity.
Western Australia's building regulator is investigating claims of defective firewalls at the new Perth Children's Hospital, as the construction union warns that replacing them could take many months.
The head of Western Australia's public sector union has defended what is being viewed as a muted response to the biggest slashing of the public service in decades and job losses that might be in the thousands.
The state government has taken control of the trouble-plagued Perth Children's Hospital to solve what it believes is the cause of the ongoing lead contamination problem.
OPINION: During the state election campaign, Mark McGowan said his government would repay the state's debt as though it were a home mortgage; now, unfortunately, he is experiencing the equivalent of mortgage stress, which comes with taking on too much debt without enough income to service it.
The dramatic fall in the price of iron ore since the start of March could punch a $1.4 billion hole in the state's finances in the next financial year.
A wage freeze could be on the agenda for public sector staff in the upcoming state budget, according to new Treasurer Ben Wyatt, as Treasury officials warn the state will need to pay increasing rates of interest on government bonds.
New Liberal Party WA leader Mike Nahan has written to Bill Shorten asking for his commitment to a GST floor, saying the federal Labor leader cannot be a spectator on the issue.
New state Treasurer Ben Wyatt has labelled the latest recommended GST distribution "abysmal" and a threat to the state's finances after the Commonwealth Grants Commission recommended Western Australia receive 34.4 per cent of its per capita share.
Premier-elect Mark McGowan has given added responsibilities to incoming treasurer Ben Wyatt, while Rita Saffioti, Paul Papalia, Peter Tinley and Alannah MacTiernan have been given key economic portfolios.
ANALYSIS: Freshly recycled Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan has been fast tracked into Premier-elect Mark McGowan's new cabinet, even though she will not formally start her term in the Legislative Council until mid-May.
