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THE Margaret River wine region welcomed its newest microbrewery late last month with the opening of the $10 million Saracen Estate/Duckstein microbrewery.

Allied Gold Ltd's registered office is now: Unit B9, 431 Roberts Road, Subiaco 6008. Tel: 9276 4604, Fax: 9287 4655.

SOME of the Western Australia's top companies have cut or redeployed staff in recent weeks.

What is your favourite holiday destination? Sicily because of the relaxed lifestyle, and the fact I was born there and the mammas still love me.

Events ACEA Breakfast: Association of Consulting Engineers of Australia presents: Are you prepared to risk a WorkSafe investigation or a prosecution?

WESTERN Australian businesses may still have critical skills shortages to deal with, but in the current climate of uncertainty many employers are also looking for legal advice to potentially downsize their workforce.

LOW-COST carrier Virgin Blue this week said it would reduce fuel surcharges by 20 per cent on its domestic flights and Pacific Blue trans-Tasman and Pacific Island flights, just days after Skywest Airlines announced its airfares would rise by 4 per cent.

Powering up in the SWIS A NEW power station in the suburb of Naval Base opened last week, ensuring a capacity boost of 10 per cent to Western Australia's power supplies.

THE debate over infrastructure provision in WA has taken many intriguing twists and turns since the election of the Barnett government.

BARELY known in Western Australia five years ago, the '457 temporary long-stay business visa' became part of the everyday language for WA businesses, as sourcing overseas workers became crucial for local operators' growth and survival.

THE highly lucrative and increasingly competitive international education market is now top of mind for many of the state's educational centres and learning institutions, as demand for their services goes global.

Property developer Nigel Satterley believes the Perth residential property market is virtually at the bottom of its downward cycle, with increases to the first home owners grant and the drop in interest rates injecting some stimulus into the market.

Copper miner Matrix Metals today appointed Vince Smith and Justin Walsh of Ernst & Young as voluntary administrators, after being squeezed by falling copper prices and debt repayments.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA has expressed concern that the fundamental strength of the local economy is being undermined by uncertainty and pessimism.

Perth-based Mineral Sands has changed its name to Corvette Resources following a vote at the company's AGM today.

A major redevelopment of Belmont Park racecourse is back on the table after Planning Minister John Day today approved the advertising of a metropolitan region planning scheme amendment.

Fortescue Metals Group chief operating officer, Alan Watling has tendered his resignation with the Perth-based iron ore producer.

Perth-based Westralian Gas and Power has signed a title transfer and share sale agreement and a joint venture shareholder's agreement with Oswal Resources.

Perth-born business executive Sir Rod Eddington has been named as the new chairman for ANZ Bank.

Construction of the $55 million Muchea Livestock Centre has been given the green light by the state government.

The federal government's proposed petrol price monitoring scheme, which has its foundations in Western Australia, has been defeated in the Senate.

Western Australia had the nation's fastest annual wages growth of more than 5 per cent in the year to September, but it has started to fall away.

Perth-based engineering firm, GRD Minproc has been awarded an ore processing technology contract on the world's largest uranium deposit and a world scale copper and gold resource, BHP Billiton's Olympic Dam Expansion Project.

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Galaxy Resources has appointed Iggy Tan as the company's managing director.

West Perth-based Iron Ore Holdings has discovered a new high-grade iron ore deposit at its 100%-owned Weeli Wolli Project near Yandicoogina in the Pilbara.

Expressions of interest are open to childcare providers wanting to operate the non-viable ABC Learning centres.

Timbercorp has revised its profit forecast from an estimated $57 million down to approximately $44 million following a review of its current projects and assets.

The North West Iron Ore Alliance has appointed former chief executive of the Association of Mining & Exploration Companies (AMEC), Dr Justin Walawski, as its chief executive.

Alcoa has shelved the proposed expansion of the Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, estimated to cost approximately $3 billion, amid weakening demand and volatility in financial markets.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has defended Treasury's growth forecast, saying it does not conflict with more pessimistic predictions by the World Bank and the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Property prices in most capital cities including Perth have plummeted in the September quarter, with house and unit prices flattened or posting negative rates of return in the past 12 months.