Latest Headlines

Fortescue Metals Group has told engineering company NRW Holdings to walk off the Cloudbreak-to-Christmas Creek rail line site in the Pilbara because construction has been deferred.

Rio savaged after BHP walks from hostile bid; Labor swings balance to workers; China signs $20bn LNG deal; Qantas aborts mainline services; Long view urged on infrastructure needs

Babcock & Brown Power has sold its interest in two Western Australian power stations for a total of $130 million.

The value of BHP Billiton's Ravensthorpe and Yabulu nickel operations have been written down by $US2.1 billion ($A3.3 billion), which equates to three quarters of its total investments in the related projects.

Former Western Australian Premier Carmen Lawrence has today been appointed to the board of the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund, replacing founding board member Kerry Sanderson.

Finland-based company Poyry has been awarded more than $5 million worth of engineering work for Woodside Petroleum's Pluto liquefied natural gas project.

Petroleum company Royal Dutch Shell has reportedly agreed to sell an annual 2 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas over a 20-year period to a Chinese company, with the undeveloped Gorgon project in Western Australia to be tapped for supplies.

OZ Minerals says it will defer $20 million of work at its Golden Grove operation in Western Australia, as part of a wide ranging review of its assets in light of the financial crisis.

BankWest has sold its 49 per cent interest in the IT joint venture company Unisys West to Unisys Australia for an undisclosed sum.

Engineering company Clough has secured a new $84 million contract by ConocoPhillips, operator of the Bayu-Undan joint venture in the Timor Sea.

Regional power supplier Horizon Power has entered into a 20-year deal with a Canadian company to build a gas-fired power station in the state's north to meet the growing energy needs in the Pilbara.

The owner of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline says it has saved $55 million on current expansion works, which will start operating early next month.

Falling commodity prices and higher operating costs have forced Russian miner Norilsk Nickel to halt production at two of its Western Australian mines.

Several lobby groups from across the country have expressed concern over the Rudd government's introduction of its new industrial relations bill, which has been backed by the federal opposition.

Bedding franchiser Joyce Corporation has reached a deal to sell its Queensland property for $9 million, some $500,000 more than its valuation at the end of the 2008 financial year.

US forced to save Citigroup; Unions regain power to bargain; Babcock deal fails as execs resign; Time to strike for rights, say unions; Scarborough gets nod for 12 storeys

Yilgarn Infrastructure has continued its rearguard bid for a slice of the planned Oakajee port and rail project, claiming today that its Chinese partners would not work directly with the government's preferred bidder.

Bassendean company Verriers Engineering Services has won the Prime Minister's award for the best small business of the year in the Australian Training Awards.

Civil contractor Brierty has warned shareholders of a slower second half for the 2009 financial year as customers, including Fortescue Metals Group, defer work.

Perth-based Mirabela Nickel has extended its $127 million bridge financing facility with Barclays and Credit Suisse to June next year.

The state's mining sector weighed heavily on the market capitalisation of Western Australian stocks, which lost $36 billion during October, a survey has found.

The global economic turmoil has prompted nickel miner Independence Group to stop its on-market share buyback in a bid to maintain cash reserves.

West Perth-based IronClad Mining has entered into an agreement with a Chinese steel making company over the development of two of its iron ore projects in South Australia.

Redcliffe-based Global Construction Services has secured a $24 million contract for works at Brookfield Multiplex's City Square project in Perth.

Destined for a deficit; Property price fall worst in 25 years; Industry funds face attacks on unlisted valuations; Powers lock horns on crisis; Atlas digs in as big backers flex muscle

Perth-based Stirling Products are aiming to raise $210,000 in immediate capital raising, or up to $960,000 in total before expenses, through a placement of fully paid ordinary shares and convertible notes.

The Esplanade Property Fund is intending to put a proposal to shareholders to unlock value by delisting the fund from the Australian market.

An administrator has been appointed to Aluminex Resources by two directors of the company without the consent of the board.

Murchison Metals has disclosed that the state government is requiring it to include Chinese suppliers in its $1.5 billion Oakajee port and rail infrastructure project.

In response to research findings released by Curtin University yesterday, indicating that people on the minimum wage are as happy and medium-paid workers, the union responsible for a large percentage of Australia's low-paid workers have issued a statement

Western Australia is approaching the current global economic crisis from a position of strength with the strong growth in the resources sector having a widespread direct and indirect positive impacts on the economy.

Engineering firm, SKM has taken out the top prize at the Engineers Australia, Engineering Excellence Awards for its work on Rio Tinto Iron Ore's US$1.4 billion Dampier Port Upgrade in the Pilbara, with two Western Australians taking out individual honours