Latest Headlines

Gold miner Newcrest Mining has withdrawn from its joint venture with Leederville-based SmartTrans Holdings over the Mount Mackenzie gold joint venture in Queensland.

Woodside Petroleum says production at its Vincent oil project will resume production at the end of June after a fire at its processing facility earlier this month.

Australia's largest resource project, the Gorgon gas development, inched closer to proceeding after WA's Environmental Protection Authority gave it qualified support today.

The steep economic slowdown reduced new infrastructure projects to a trickle in the first three months of the year, propped up only by a major federal government initiative, according to economic consultancy Access Economics.

Fortescue takes axe to $400m in costs; ANZ slumps on rising bad debt; Low rates boost WA housing market; Turnbull sets new ETS plan; Lower costs help nickel miners lift earnings

LAST year's boost to the first home owners grant and cuts to interest rates have given rise to a two-tiered property market, with the first home buyer and sub-$500,000 market firing while the middle to upper end of the market languishes.

Industry in WA does not fully take advantage of supercomputing, a rapidly maturing IT segment.

IF there's any upside to the current housing slump it would have to be the easing of several boom time pressures, such as labour shortages, input costs and time blowouts.

Could a major metropolitan centre in the Pilbara be a precursor to statehood for the region?

THE property industry was one of the most affected by the global financial slowdown, which gripped the state in late 2008 as plummeting global markets and job losses became more and more prevalent.

The federal government is going to great lengths to cosy up to China.

EARLY analysis of the property market for 2009 is showing signs of revival, as the effects of the increased first homeowners grant, lower interest rates and stamp duty concessions for first homebuyers start filtering through.

THE recent launch of the Small Bar Association of WA is another signal of the big changes taking place in Perth's hospitality industry.

DESPITE trade volumes falling at Fremantle Port in recent months, complaints about delays at the wharf by members of the Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia (CBFCA) suggest efficiency has not improved as expected.

The Western Australian Trade Opportunities Service is operated by the International Trade Centre of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia.

THE small business sector is missing out on the benefits of lower interest rates, with higher risk margins on business loans outweighing the fall in rates, new research has found.

THE first stage of the transition of Fremantle storage facility Fort Knox into warehouse apartments is taking shape, with major upgrades of the facility recently finalised.

THE tenure of chief executives in Western Australia is likely to get a lot shorter if recent trends keep up, with a flurry of local firms making changes at the top.

THE rural townsite of Gidgegannup to the north east of Perth is perched for significant expansion if the master plan from property developer, Port Bouvard, lodged last week with the City of Swan and the Western Australian Planning Commission, receives app

BUSINESS owners have been urged to understand their legal obligations when making staff redundant.

AGGRESSIVE and often controversial managed investment scheme (MIS) operator and latterly, corporate agriculture company, Timbercorp, has succumbed to the weight of its ever-increasing mountain of debt.

THE current condition and future use of the rural rail system across Western Australia as part of the state's grain freight network continues to generate debate, as stakeholders seek a commitment from the government to support the ageing infrastructure.

MADDINGTON-BASED Coote Industrial and associated company Greentrains have negotiated related fund raising deals worth $8 million with Victorian Caterpillar dealer Dale Elphinstone.

Mark Pownall reports on Lyle Palmer’s vision to place WA at the forefront of medical research.

WITHOUT an information technology background, husband-and-wife team Ian and Vanessa Furlong had a major problem to overcome early on in the establishment of their online small business, Trade Chaser.

PROFESSOR Lyle Palmer's Laboratory for Genetic Epidemiology has been restructured to come directly under the control of the University of Western Australia, leaving the umbrella of the WA Institute of Medical Research.

MOST theatre companies have a simple approach to their business - get bums on seats.

CRYSTAL Printing Solutions has become the first printing firm in the state to obtain international Forest Stewardship Council accreditation.

The award-winning Royal Perth Yacht Club has made the most of its attributes. Jashuan Dias reports.

Property players believe the time is ripe for a visionary state planning strategy. Janelle Macri reports.

Andrew Carter is inspired by his unique creative niche in the world of visual arts.

ACCESS to finance and tighter lending criteria by the banks remain the biggest obstacles for the property industry.