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A Public Private Partnership project between the state government and Western Liberty Group has been delivered with the completion of one of Perth's new District Court building.

The City of Perth has budgeted a revenue increase of 11.7 per cent for fiscal 2009 as expenditure on capital projects rise.

Liontown, Bonaparte, Centaurus in trading halt Perth-based exploration companies Liontown Resources Ltd, Bonaparte Diamonds NL and Centaurus Resources Ltd have all entered trading halts.

Apex Minerals NL has entered into a second nickel joint venture with Barrick Gold Corporation over its Lawler gold tenements in the north eastern Goldfields, which more than doubles the extent of nickel interests.

Mineral exploration company Platinum Australia Ltd and earthmoving player NRW Holdings Ltd have been added to the S&P/ASX 200 list.

Welshpool-based NRW Holdings Ltd is pleased to advise that the agreement between NRW and Simfer S.A, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto, has been extended through to December 31 2009

West Perth-based Lion Energy Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lion International Investments Ltd, has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire 20.7 million ordinary shares in Papua Petroleum Ltd.

BHP confident about EU showdown over Rio bid; Gas crisis: now industry is hit by electricity cuts; Midwest shares slump as more take Sinosteel cash; Fast money: how Opes director blew $40 million; Regulator fines Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto Ltd has paid a $100,000 fine to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission after it alleged the major had failed to adhere to disclosure provisions in its $US38.1 billion acquisition of Alcan Inc

As concern grows about the impact of Tuesday's explosion at the Varanus Island gas plant the spectre of the 1998 Longford gas explosion in Victoria looms, notably in terms of economic cost.

One of Western Australia's longest serving resources sector representatives, David Parker, has quit his role as a director of leading industry lobby group the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy.

Osborne Park-based Fairstar Resources Ltd can now concentrate on its takeover of neighbour Golden West Resources Ltd, after the sale of shares held by ANZ Bank in the wake of the Opes Prime disaster.

Funds management group, Viburnum Funds Pty Ltd has opened the Viburnum Private Equity Fund 2, a new fund targeting private equity investments in small to medium-sized enterprises in Western Australia.

Belmont-based mineral exploration company Richmond Mining Ltd expects to list on the stock market next week after its initial public offer closed oversubscribed.

Perth-based engineering services company Neptune Marine Services Ltd has delivered its new million construction support vessel and signed a $4.5 million letter of intent for its charter.

US-based company Apache Energy Ltd said it will have a clearer picture over the coming days of the extent of the damage and the impact on gas supplies caused by an explosion at its Varanus Island gas plant.

The state government plans to deliver more affordable housing for Western Australians in the community housing sector as part of its $210 million state community housing investment program.

Global steel company ArcelorMittal will increase its stake in Perth-based coal producer Coal of Africa Ltd beyond 15 per cent following approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board.

The takeover saga surrounding Midwest Corporation Ltd has taken another turn today as Chinese bidder Sinosteel seeks orders from the Takeovers Panel to prevent Murchison Metals Ltd and US company Harbinger capital from acquiring any more shares.

Subiaco-based Brockman Resources Ltd is targeting first ore production in late 2009 as it embarks on a hefty capital raising to accelerate development of its flagship Marillana iron ore project.

Midwest investor swing to Sinosteel; Rudd to drive Asian union; Opes director recanted fraud claim; Burrup eyes early shutdown as gas dwindles; Upgrade by Ausdrill fails to impress

State employer organisations and unions have voiced concerns over the federal government's overhaul of more than 4,000 industrial awards, to be completed in less than two years.

Rising fuel prices have failed to re-ignite the state's fledgling biofuels sector, with producers looking to side businesses, such as glycerine production and feedstock, to generate revenue.

The market may be tired of hearing about Andrew Forrest's ever-growing paper fortune, but the continuing rise of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd is astounding.

Exploration into second-generation technologies and feedstocks is gathering pace as rising feedstock prices significantly affect the viability of the biofuel industry.

LIONS Eye Institute founder Ian Constable and Wesfarmers managing director Richard Goyder were among the winners at the 36th Annual Western Australian Citizen of the Year Awards, announced last weeken

Premier Alan Carpenter has left many people confused and frustrated by his blanket rejection of the ambitious island development proposal announced last week for North Fremantle.

Western Australia could be recycling 30 per cent of its wastewater by 2030, with the state government making water recycling a key focus of its water plan.

A CONSULTATION session will be held in Perth on June 13 to discuss the merits of a free trade agreement between Australia and India.

Ongoing disputation over government-provided education, including the so-called Outcomes Based Education (OBE) imbroglio, hasn't electorally harmed Premier Alan Carpenter who was, for several years, Labor's education spokesman and then education minister.

Businesses could be faced with an added layer of environmental assessment when planning new developments and projects to take into consideration the effects of climate change.

A FEDERAL government-funded parental leave scheme should not be committed to without first undertaking a comprehensive investigation into the impact on business, according to the Chamber of Commerce a