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The WA Planning Commission has moved to address a shortage of large industrial plots in the metropolitan area, seeking to rezone large swaths of rural land in Hazelmere to allow for industry use.

Woodside Petroleum fell below its targeted spend on social investment programs last year, despite more than $9 million flowing to the communities in which it operates.

The Abbott government's sale of Medibank Private is likely to be a good opportunity for investors, but bad news for the health insurer's staff.

The Abbott government has announced $10.8 million in funding to build a new road train assembly facility for heavy vehicles servicing Bunbury Port.

QUBE Holdings has made further inroads into Western Australia, acquiring Pilbara-based ore haluage business Walmsley Bulk Haulage for $8 million.

Dollar up, gold down. It wasn’t supposed to be like that, especially in a week when Australian miners have been trying to convince international investors at a conference in Hong Kong that it’s time to take a fresh look a country that was in danger of pricing itself out of the market.

The Abbott government has complained that a Senate inquiry into the national broadband network was stacked in favour of their opponents and didn't reflect the evidence heard.

Australian stocks have opened weaker following a sell off on US markets overnight.

US stocks have finished lower with technology names tumbling the most after the market snubbed a Facebook acquisition announcement and King Digital's first day of trade as a public company.

Despite being an agnostic in terms of anthropogenic global warming, John Howard was spooked by Labor and the Greens in 2007.

Oil prices in New York jumped after data showed a fall in crude supplies at a key US trading hub and a surprisingly large decline in petrol stocks.

The Australian dollar has hit a new four-month high as it looks more likely that the cash rate won't be reduced again this interest rate cycle.

The Telethon Institute for Child Health Research is targeting philanthropists and the corporate sector under a new business model aimed at diversifying its revenue base.

Alinta Energy has entered into negotiations to supply more Pilbara businesses with electricity following the termination of a long-standing state agreement, which restricted its ability to provide power.

Junior resources companies are enjoying a renewed interest for capital raisings as investors return cautiously to equity markets after a dry 2013.

Burswood residents who objected to Crown Resorts’ planned new hotel have failed in their attempt to overturn the state government’s special approval process.

Education provider Navitas has recorded its strongest ever first-semester university programs enrolment figures, with the company attributing the growth to supportive regulatory and visa policy settings.

Export earnings from resources and energy commodities are expected to increase by eight per cent a year, driven by growth in volumes and despite softness in prices, a federal government forecaster predicts.

UK-based Intertek has been awarded a dimensional control contract at Chevron's $29 billion Wheatstone liquefied natural gas project.

Investors in collapsed engineering contractor Forge Group have been dealt more bad news, with the company's liquidators declaring shareholders' stock holdings are now worthless.

Business owners can improve productivity if they actively engage with their staff.

The share market rose on the back of strong consumer confidence data in the US and higher commodity prices.

Agricultural chemicals and seeds supplier Nufarm has more than doubled its half year profit but says the drought hit Australian market remains challenging.

The federal government will go ahead with the sale of Medibank Private next financial year, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says.

Wesfarmers has been given the tick of approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to divest its insurance underwriting businesses.

Ritz-Carlton has confirmed it will open a luxury hotel at Elizabeth Quay, marking a return to Australia for the high-end operator.

See highlights from Business News' 2014 40under40 awards night. An audience of 980 people were treated to a spectacular evening at the Crown complex in Burswood.

Australian stocks have opened higher, following gains on European and US markets overnight.

US oil prices have slipped as traders anticipate a gain on stockpiles in the United States in the government's weekly crude inventory report, but prices were slightly higher in London.

US stocks have finished higher as biotechnology companies and other high-tech equities steadied following a two-day skid.

The Australian dollar has hit a four-month high, helped by continuing speculation that the Chinese central bank will take action to stimulate its economy.

There has been a rapid response to the economic reform pathway decreed last year by China’s leaders.