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Why should some people’s pay packets be public property while others are allowed to keep theirs private?

It’s time for some critical analysis in the climate debate.

Twelve months is clearly a long time in an economy, as WA’s remarkable turnaround indicates.

AFTER a brief respite, employers can expect to face severe labour shortages again as economic growth quickly soaks up whatever genuine unemployment there is.

THEY may be accidents of history, geography and geology, but Western Australia's long-term economic future is all the more rosy because of its tremendous resources, located near the most important growth markets in the world.

MAIN Street in Osborne Park is a real place with a range of small businesses servicing Western Australian consumers and enterprises.

What are the key issues for the WA economy over the next 12 months?

THE Real Estate Institute of Western Australia is predicting Perth's median house price to remain steady over the next 12 months, while the rental vacancy rate is tipped to decrease slightly over the next quarter.

TIMBER industry group Forest and Wood Products Australia predicts the structural use of manufactured timber products will be an important future growth area for the Western Australian timber industry.

THE developers planning to turn land around Jandakot Airport into a major commercial and industrial precinct have shifted their focus to industrial tenants as the project nears a final environmental approval decision.

Environmental bonds for the state's mining industry will remain unchanged until the end of next year, as the government extends the existing moratorium to help miners weather the global economic crises.

Nomad Building Solutions has forecast a $12 million second half profit for 2009/10 but has warned of a first half loss of $1 million due to a downturn in orders.

Shares in Po Valley Energy closed higher today as it began commissioning its first gas field in Italy, with first gas sales expected by the end of the year.

Engineering and construction contractor United Group has won a $190 million contract with state electricity generator Verve Energy for the ugrade of its Kwinana power station.

The state government has taken the next step in the revitalisation of the South Hedland town centre with planning approval for the development of up to 130 townhouses and apartments plus commercial, medical and retail space.

Perth-based property funds manager Aspen Group has outlined steps taken to address market pressures, which resulted in a $64.7 million loss for 2008-09 after the financial crisis severely hurt property valuations, management fees and transaction activity.

Adelaide-based Flinders Mines is planning to raise more than $50 million through an institutional placement and a fully-underwritten rights issue to progress its Pilbara iron ore project.

The state government has announced plans for a development of more than 70 lots straddling the Bluff Point and Beresford suburbs, less than four kilometres north of Geraldton's central business district.

Shares in Breakaway Resources have not been affected in trading today after announcing it will recommence drilling at it's Scotia Nickel mine project, located 70 kilometres northwest of Kalgoorlie, by early November.

The City of Cockburn has been awarded $150,000 by the Fremantle Magistrate's Court following legal proceedings against Swan Bay Holdings for unlawful development of a roadway and concrete container yard operation.

The federal government has introduced legislation to close the tax loophole around hobby farms and similar non-commercial pursuits by high-income individuals which is expected to deliver $700 million in revenue.

Start-up companies will have to repay financial support they receive from the federal government's Commercialisation Institute, which is being established as a replacement for the popular Commercial Ready grants scheme.

An Applecross real estate agent, who had his licence cancelled due to misconduct, has failed in a bid to appeal against the cancellation.

Asset impairments and one-off items totalling $52.2 million substantially impacted Territory Resources' bottom line with the iron ore miner reporting a full-year loss of $71.4 million.

Synergy's recent decision to award energy supply contracts to Verve Energy has only strengthened Eneabba Gas' position to provide power in the Mid West region, the company claims.

Explorer Hazelwood Resources has revealed plans to raise up to $12.35 million to fund exploration works and a bankable feasibility at its Cookes Creek tungsten project in the east Pilbara.

Verve Energy's decision to restart the state's oldest coal fired power station will not be formally assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority.

The Woodside-operated North West Shelf venture has contributed $70 billion to Australia's gross domestic product in the past 20 years, a new report by economic consultants ACIL Tasman has found.

Shares in Moly Mines surged higher today after the company last night announced a $US700 million deal with privately-owned Chinese company Hanlong Mining Investment for its flagship Spinifex Ridge molybdenum project in the Pilbara.

The state government today announced funding to the tune of $110 million for projects in the state's South West to coincide with the regional cabinet meeting in Bunbury.

Canning Vale has emerged as the preferred suburb among first home buyers in the September quarter, as the median house price for first time buyers edged up to $380,000.

The cost of developing the PNG LNG project, which is competing with Western Australian gas projects for customers and resources, has lifted by 20 per cent to US$15 billion (A$16.7 billion).