Latest Headlines

Colin Barnett may be an astute premier but is he in the right political party?

SHELL Australia chairman Russell Caplan has capped an extraordinary week for Western Australia's LNG industry, with a swipe at Premier Colin Barnett's attempt to dictate how the $30 billion Browse LNG project in the Kimberley should be developed.

Economic theorists can’t be blamed for the global financial crisis and, for the situation to improve, we may have to start thinking about things in a radically different way.

Despite the massive plunge in share values in recent months, many junior miners are once again optimistic about the future – provided government comes to the party.

A recent discussion paper throws up some good questions about what we expect from government.

INTERNATIONALLY embarrassing.Not the words any government would like to see used to describe the regulatory regime applying to their most important industry.

There’s been a lot of talk, but not much action, from Rudd-led Labor.

FOR decades, successive state governments have dreamed of adding value to the millions of tonnes of raw materials mined and exported from Western Australia by moving further down the processing chain.

ANXIETY over foreign investment is compounding the funding challenges created by the global financial crisis, according to the junior mining executives at the recent WA Business News roundtable.

INVESTMENT in new infrastructure, and ensuring equitable and fair access to existing infrastructure are key issues that must be addressed if government is to encourage new mining investment, according to those at the WA Business News junior miners forum.

TEACHERS Credit Union has given its new Perth office plenty of time to prove it's a worthwhile venture.

Nasser to replace Argus at BHP

ONGOING growth in services exports has prompted business and industry groups to call for greater state and federal government focus on the trade opportunities available in the sector.

GLOBAL environmental and social impact assessment consultancy, Coffey Natural Systems, has bought Perth-based firm Q&A Communications Group for an undisclosed sum.

Sydney-based RIMCapital has written off its investment in unlisted company Yilgarn Infrastructure Ltd, which was the unsuccessful bidder for the development of the Oakajee deepwater port and associated rail project.

Western Australia's top end properties are among the most heavily discounted in the country's most expensive suburbs, according to new figures from RP Data.

The state government has committed to spend $123 million this financial year to upgrade local government roads in Western Australia.

West Perth-based Antares Energy has pocketed $10 million and plans to raise a further $2 million to buy additional Eagle Ford shale acreage in Texas and boost working capital.

Shares in Moly Mines surged 42 per cent before being placed in a trading halt pending an announcement by the start of trade on Friday.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA says it would be a "mistake" to abandon reform in the state's electricty market by re-amalgamating Verve Energy with Synergy.

South Korea's Samsung Corporation has agreed to invest $40 million to take a small direct interest in Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers' $3.5 billion Collie urea project.

A popular Leederville burger bar has beaten hamburger craftsmen and women from around the country to win the title of Australia's Best Hamburger in the nation's biggest people's choice food awards.

Perth office vacancies worst in 17 years; RBS deal furthers ANZ's Asia push; Bankers punt on renewed appetite for IPOs; Avoca chief warns rival for Dioro is unproven; Rates on hold, but not for long

A popular Leederville burger bar has beaten hamburger craftsmen and women from around the country to win the title of Australia's Best Hamburger in the nation's biggest people's choice food awards.

Atlas South Sea Pearls expects to record a half-yearly profit of $2 million on the back of a general downturn in demand for luxury goods, offset by cost savings implemented by the Subiaco-based company.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank expects its full-year earnings to be cut by a further 16 per cent after making extra provisions against its $550 million exposure to investors in Great Southern agribusiness schemes.

Western Australia's house price index has risen 2.7 per cent in the June quarter, in line with the national upward trend, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said today.

ASG Group has defied a challenging IT services market to book a record $11.3 million net profit for the 2009 financial year.

Development of Galaxy Resources' Mt Cattlin lithium project is ramping up with the emerging producer awarding a key contract to the DRA Pacific, Mintrex and BEC Engineering joint venture.

Perth-based Po Valley Energy has relinquished an application over a prospective oilfield in Italy following environmental concerns from locals.

Shares in West Perth-based Metals Australia have plunged today after a Namibian court ruled two of the explorer's prospecting licences be turned over to their original owner.

Shell Australia chairman Russell Caplan has warned the world faces an energy supply crunch by 2015 if solutions are not found soon to the conflicting issues of rapid demand growth, dwindling supplies and the need to lower greenhouse emissions.