Shipbuilder Austal has signed a $305 million contract to build and maintain Pacific Patrol Boats for the Australian government, however the contract's price tag was smaller than what the Commonwealth had flagged.
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.
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.
Mining giant Rio Tinto has backed down from its decision to double the payment period on its supply contracts after widespread criticism from politicians and an outcry from suppliers.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he will raise mining contractors' concerns with Rio Tinto over the mining giant's move to double its standard payment terms, while premier Colin Barnett went further, saying its move was not fair or reasonable.
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.
Treasurer Mike Nahan has called on the federal government to test a variation of its state income tax plan in Western Australia, after saying WA was again ripped off in the latest Commonwealth Grants Commission distribution.
SPECIAL REPORT: Western Australia's next major greenfields liquefied natural gas project could be a decade away after Woodside last month decided against further progressing its Browse floating LNG facility.
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.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has upped pressure on the Senate crossbench to pass the government's two reforms to trade union governance by announcing parliament will sit an extra three-week session beginning next month.
There are many growth-driving tax reform options still on the table despite the federal government's move away from a GST increase, according to KPMG tax partner Grant Wardell-Johnson.
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.
South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon has renewed his call for an inquiry into the cause of the dramatic recent fall in the iron ore price while in Perth today, as shares in the state's biggest miners continued to fall.
Former resources minister Ian Macfarlane, who has served in federal parliament since 1998, says he'll use the Christmas break to contemplate his future, after Queensland's Liberal National Party said today it wound not support his switch to the National Party in Canberra.
State governments have agreed taxes they control such as payroll and stamp duty could be targets as part of the federal government's tax reform agenda next year, which many tip will involve an increase in the GST.
The federal government seems to be preparing the public for reform with its semi-regular announcements from ministers that ‘everything is on the table', particularly since Malcolm Turnbull took the prime ministership from Tony Abbott.
Tax breaks for risk-taking businesses and a boost in science spending lie at the heart of a four-year $1.1 billion innovation package designed to drive an "ideas boom" in Australia.
Long-time Liberal frontbencher Ian Macfarlane has moved to the Nationals, just weeks after he lost his role as minister for industry and science in Malcolm Turnbull's cabinet reshuffle.
Young Australians are deeply concerned about personal debt and less-than enthused about the nation's economic prospects, according to a survey by local organisation Student Edge.
Treasury has cut Australia's potential economic growth forecast, while predicting a return to a budget surplus will take longer than previously forecast.
As much as Australia might benefit from a cut in official interest rates, it would definitely benefit from encouraging a new industry, such as the nuclear-fuel processing facility being championed by the South Australian government, and supported by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Labor and Greens voters are so glad Tony Abbott's gone they are indicating their support for Malcolm Turnbull. But will this support transfer to the ballot box?
Australia's incoming chief scientist believes the country should work towards zero emission energy generation and must consider nuclear as part of the mix.
The government of Malcolm Turnbull moved quickly to differentiate itself from that of Tony Abbott with some key cabinet announcements –including the reintroduction of the position of a minster for cities and the built environment.
