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COMPANY executives have called on the government to provide more certainty for public sector innovation funding.

There is a relatively limited pool of directors in Australia and an under representation of women on company boards, a new report has found.

THE state's politicians will not receive a pay rise this year after the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal ruled the base salary will remain at $128,980 a year.

THE state opposition spokesperson for science and innovation has called for major changes in the portfolio after a series of significant funding cuts.

A healthy dose of scepticism is a mandatory job requirement for a journalist.

THE International Accounting Standards Board has issued an international financial reporting standard for small and medium-sized enterprises, which are estimated to represent more than 95 per cent

The state government has established a project team from Main Roads and environmental and engineering consulting firm AECOM to manage environmental approvals, engineering design and community engagement processes for the contentious Roe Highway extension.

Woodside Petroleum expects to treble production from its Pluto LNG project at the Burrup Peninsula by 2014, after formally starting front end engineering and design work for two additional production trains at the site.

Following the Varanus Island explosion last year and today's massive Gorgon gas deal announced with China, the state government has introduced legislation to avert future gas shortages and secure WA's future gas supply.

Gold producer, Avoca Resources may have secured a victory in the final hours of its bid for Goldfields miner Dioro Exploration, raising its stake in Dioro to just over 36 per cent after a UK fund manager relinquished its hefty interest in the miner.

A leading economist believes the record $50 billion Gorgon liquified natural gas deal with China could lead Western Australia into a "symbiotic" relationship with the Asian giant while the Greens reiterated the deal hasn't received environmental approval.

Engineering and construction company, AusGroup has delivered record earnings thanks to it work in the resources sector over the last 12 months, with revenue and profit surging 26 per cent and 52 per cent respectively.

Globe Metals & Mining has teamed up with South African engineering outfit, Thuthuka Group to invest $US10.6 million into Globe's Kanyika Niobium Project, in return Thuthuka will receive a 25 per cent stake in the project.

Gold exploration company Tianshan Goldfields has agreed to sell all of its Chinese assets to Hong Kong-based company China Power Sino Renewable Resources for $US22.5M.

Mineral sands producer Iluka has posted a net losst after tax loss of $55.8 million in the half year to June 30 after cutting production earlier this year and selling its interest in Consolidated Rutile (CRL).

Western Australia has signed its biggest-ever resources deal overnight, a $50 billion agreement to export liquid natural gas to China.

Twiggy's discount no help to China; French, Santos in gas play; Amcor to buy Alcan despite profit dip; NAB grows housing book; Curtin in bid for medical school

The state government has earmarked the future possible use of geothermal energy to power homes and businesses in Perth following the recent awarding of the first geothermal exploration permits in the Perth Basin.

Engineering services provider, LogiCamms has announced a 59 per cent increase in after tax profit, reaching $4.6 million on the back of a strong second half performance.

West Perth-based nickel miner Western Areas has announced a $35 million loss in the year to June 30 as a result of weak nickel prices, delayed sales and continued investment in its expanding nickel operations.

The push for extended retail trading hours in Perth is doomed to fail after the Labor opposition decided to oppose the move, joining the Nationals who also oppose change.

Three regional Western Australian companies have led the country in collectively receiving the greatest funding allocation from the first round of the federal government's $35 million Regional Food Producers Innovation and Productivity Program (RFPIPP).

Brockman Resources has gained environmental apporval for its Marillana iron ore project in the Pilbara, where the company aims to establish a 17 million tonne per year mining operation.

Shares in iron ore pellet producer Grange Resources fell after it unveiled plans to raise $167 million in new equity in a deeply discounted offer to key stakeholders including a Chinese investor.

Civil and mining contractor Brierty has returned to the black with an annual net profit of $6.7 million, compared with its $1.3 million net loss in the 2008 financial year.

OneSteel is blaming the global financial crisis after announcing a six per cent fall in net profit for 2008/09.

Despite building products group James Hardie Industries NV posting a loss for the first quarter of its fiscal year, due to weakness in the US housing construction market and the general economy, ea

Super boom forecast as Gorgon go-ahead looms; Miner good as gold after Varanus payout; Fortescue's $7bn shock deal; ASIC push to abolish commissions; Reform call after Storm collapse

Three partners of KPMG's Perth office, Brett Fullarton, Robert Kelly and Grant Robinson, have agreed to stop practicing as auditors for between nine months and two years following their involvement in the collapsed Westpoint investment group.

Drilling services company Imdex has posted significant profit fall for the year ending June 30, which the company attributed to the impact of the global financial crisis and the downturn in mineral exploration.

Perth-based property fund manager Aspen Group has raised $10 million from investors in its embattled Diversified Property Fund, leaving the company to raise a further $5 million to meet its minimum loan obligations.

Fortescue Metals Group says a proposed $US6 billion funding agreement with Chinese banks will give it optimum flexibility to expand its Pilbara iron ore operations to meet demand from Chinese customers.