News Articles for Colin Barnett

Western Australia can only compete for a bigger share of defence contracts if it has a dedicated minister for defence issues, the opposition says.

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.

Colin Barnett's political fellow travellers seem unwilling to help him in his efforts to achieve GST distribution reform.

The suggestion Treasurer Mike Nahan threatened to quit if the privatisation of electricity utility Western Power was not contemplated has been shot down by the premier.

State politicians will get a 1.5 per cent rise in their base salaries, with Premier Colin Barnett's paycheque to rise to $355,681 per annum.

The state's shipbuilding industry has had a big win, with the federal government selecting Austal to build 21 Pacific Patrol Boats at its yard in Henderson in a contract worth at least $500 million.

Former police minister Rob Johnson has fired a parting shot at Premier Colin Barnett as he resigned as a member of the Liberal Party, saying the state's debt burden was out of control, among other issues.

A local academic has warned that failure to privatise the operation of Fremantle Ports could have a negative effect on the competitiveness of the Western Australia's exporting industries.

Woodside chief executive Peter Coleman told the LNG 18 conference in Perth today there could be opportunities for LNG producers to move further into downstream markets, particularly in developing countries, where demand for gas existed but barriers to entry had slowed take up.

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.

LNG 18 conference organising committee chair Grant King is positive about the industry's future, despite the low oil price environment and a predicted short-term oversupply, saying international demand growth for electricity will underpin a need for gas.

Colin Barnett has made some strategic ministerial changes ahead of next year's poll.

The auditor general says the state government has made a good start on its $400 million land asset sales program but improvements could be made, following criticism earlier this week that some properties are being sold at a loss.

Brookfield Multiplex will start work by the middle of the year on a $350 million expansion of Mandurah Forum, with the redevelopment to make the southern suburbs mall the sixth-biggest shopping cen

The prime minister's proposal to allow states to raise income tax has more chance of succeeding than previous tax reforms, Colin Barnett says.

Two high-profile reports from the commission have reaffirmed its role in upholding public accountability.

The hotel industry expects up to a quarter of Perth's hotel rooms to be filled by delegates attending next month's LNG18 conference, though the number of people attending and the flow-on economic benefits to the state remain unclear.

SPECIAL REPORT: Business News CEO and online entrepreneur, Charlie Gunningham, analyses the social media influence of the political and business elite.

SPECIAL REPORT: There has been a major shift in business influence in WA amid waning international investment and, with two elections on the way, there is a prospect of even bigger changes in political influence. Click through to see our listing of WA's most infliential leaders in politics and business.

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.

Premier Colin Barnett clings to hope the Woodside Petroleum-led Browse liquefied natural gas joint venture will be revived, but says he's not surprised it has been shelved.

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.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum has put on hold its multi-billion dollar Browse liquefied natural gas project in view of the challenging market environment.

Chevron's $55 billion Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project has finally shipped its first cargo, two weeks after production commenced at the first of three gas processing trains.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder has highlighted the social benefits of Roe 8 and touted the minimal environmental impact of the project at a lunch today, adding that the link would need to be built regardless of any move to an outer harbour.

Investment banking giant Credit Suisse has dealt a blow to the state government's hopes of a big windfall from the privatisation of Western Australia's TAB, revising its value estimate down by at least 65 per cent to under $250 million.

Former senior federal cabinet minister Stephen Smith has identified Western Australia's economic future as a major factor in his audacious bid to wrest leadership of the WA Labor Party from the incumbent, Mark McGowan.

Mirvac Group and Singapore-s Keppel REIT's soon-to-be opened office tower at the Cathedral and Treasury Precinct has been officially named the David Malcolm Justice Centre.

A lobby group set up to defend a major component of Western Australia's oversupplied electricity market has stepped up its political stunts today presenting a large likeness of a gold watch as a symbol that it's time to retire Muja AB power station.

As five women and one male champion were honoured at this year's Chamber of Minerals and Energy's women in resources awards, Premier Colin Barnett declared the resources industry to have reached a mature level of growth that will likely be eclipsed by advances in the state's other sectors.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will join a range of international energy leaders in Perth to open the LNG 18 global conference in mid-April.

Asset sales are expected to feature heavily when the Barnett government releases its budget in May.

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.

The premier's ‘follow-me' style makes his performance in the lead-up to the next state poll vital for the government's chances of re-election.

Two weeks after Elizabeth Quay was opened to the public, construction trucks are coming back to Barrack Square, with work to begin on SKS Group's DoubleTree by Hilton hotel next month.

While proponents laud the benefits in capital recycling from an electricity network sale, there's evidence it would lead to lower prices for users.

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.

The state government is facing a period of tough negotiations with Perth's AFL clubs over access to the new Perth Stadium after rejecting a bid by the WA Football Commission to be involved in running the venue.

The state government has again changed its mind on a key election promise, with Transport Minister Dean Nalder saying he is now in favour of an underground heavy rail system for Perth's north-western suburbs.