The state government's plan to force amalgamations of small local councils could be blocked in parliament after Labor leader Eric Ripper said today his party would oppose the plan, a move that would be supported by the WA Local Government Association.
Cost-cutting measures have reached new heights with Osborne Park-based Northern Mining going to extremes to reduce the company's overheads and its ongoing operating costs in light of the current economic environment.
Nickel miner Western Areas is seeking to finalise a new offtake arrangement after announcing a major restructure of its old offtake agreement with Norilsk Nickel, which is closing its Australian mining operations.
Wesfarmers Ltd has reported a 46 percent rise in net profit saying its businesses have weathered the global economic crisis but as expected its earnings per share have slumped.
Perth-based car retailer and logistics company Automotive Holdings Group has posted a $1.8 million loss for the half-year to December 2008, as a result of a modest decline in operating profit combined with impairments and write-downs.
Some 68 employees at CopperCo's Lady Annie mine have been stood down today as record rainfall and significant flooding in Queensland bring operations to a halt.
Attorney General Christian Porter has today appointed Judge John Chaney to the Supreme Court of Western Australia and as president of the State Administrative Tribunal.
Fisheries Minister Norman Moore has imposed further conditions on the rock lobster industry after his initial raft of measures failed to achieve the necessary results.
Western Australia's crucial trade and investment relations with Japan will be the focus of Premier Colin Barnett's four-day visit to Japan, which begins on Monday.
Thundelarra Exploration plans to raise up to $2.7 million through a renounceable rights issue with funds raised to progress the evaluation of its suite of projects across Australia.
The corporate watchdog has banned Perth stockbroker Colin Hebbard from providing financial services for five years after he passed on inside information regarding a possible takeover while working for Citi Smith Barney .
The current global uncertainty is expected to lift demand for contract staff in Western Australia this year as businesses look for flexible staffing solutions to ease shortfalls, a survey has revealed.
Uranium miner Paladin Energy has significantly extended its interim net loss on the back of a $US527 million ($A804 million) impairment charge to its Mt Isa assets and investment write downs.
Integra Mining will raise almost $14 million through a share placement, with proceeds to be applied to feasibility studies and exploration at its Randalls and Aldiss-Randalls projects.
The state government will spend over $100 million on new water infrastructure in Margaret River and surrounding communities while the Water Corporation will join forces with the locals to carry out an $800,000 water efficiency program.
A German-based company will invest a further $49 million in waste recycling company CMA Corporation through a private placement, with shares priced at a generous premium.
Uranium miner Paladin Energy will move to compulsorily acquire the remaining shares it does not own in Fusion Resources, after its takeover offer for the minnow closed yesterday.
Laws to change for $30bn Rio deal; Crisis talks try to save Rudd's $42bn rescue bid; Leighton profit off 56pc but firms on Macmahon; China Inc move to send shudder through ore negotiators; Suncorp expecting $180m bill
Rio Tinto has reported a 50 per cent drop in net earnings for the 2008 calendar year which includes an asset impairment charge of $8.4 billion, mostly attributed to a write down of its aluminium business.
Mining giant Rio Tinto has sold minority interests in some of its most valuable assets, including iron ore miner Hamersely Iron, to Chinese group Chinalco as part of a transformational US$19.5 billion deal.
Property developer and manager United Overseas Australia has revised up its earnings guidance for the 2008 calendar year, expecting profit to be $44 million.
The current economic climate has prompted more high net worth individuals to consider directly managing their investable funds rather than using an advisor, new research shows.
Payment of a minimum salary and return travel costs for spouses are some of the draft regulations released by the federal government today for employers of subclass 457 visa workers.
Chalice Gold Mines has received the final $841,000 payment of the sale of its Higginsville and Chalice gold projects in the Eastern Goldfields to Avoca Resources.
Shares in Leighton Holdings have surged as much as 10 per cent today as Australia's biggest construction company reports a 56 per cent fall in first-half net profit and a $239 million write down on the value of its infrastructure investments.
Directors in Incremental Petroleum have unanimously recommended TransAtlantic Petroleum's takeover offer after securing a further increase in the cash bid.
Western Australia's January jobless rate has risen to a seven-month high but the state still holds the lowest unemployment rate in the country, new figures show.
Engineering and fabrication company Ausgroup says the short-term outlook for the business will be challenging as it reports an 11 per cent dip in its interim net profit.
