Latest Headlines

A $112 million hybrid microgrid to power Gold Fields’ Agnew gold mine has been completed, with 22 megawatts of renewable capacity, a battery, and gas/diesel backup plant in what the company claims is the largest such grid in Australia.

BGC Australia has taken its second major step to consolidate its residential businesses, announcing the merger of the BGC Housing Group and Ventura Home Group.

BGH Capital has entered into talks with Village Roadshow to acquire the cinema and theme park owner for between $429.4 million and $468.5 million.

Copper explorer Hot Chili is targeting its first resource estimate for two projects in South America after announcing an oversubscribed $5 million placement and $3.9 million rights issue, with majority of the funds going towards a drilling restart at the Cortadera project in Chile.

The federal government has granted Perth company Agrimin major status for its Mackay potash project in Western Australia for an initial three-year period.

As students return for term two, some of the state’s private and independent schools are embracing new practices born out of the COVID-19 disruption.

WA’s university sector is concerned with the lack of federal support for international students, warning that choices made now could cause years of damage to the country’s economy and reputation.

The Lateral INCITE Awards has shortlisted 26 entrants for this year’s program, with Leederville-based startup InteliCare and IT consultancy firm Modis Australia among those advancing to the second round of judging.

Some volunteer programs have been put on pause due to COVID-19 restrictions, while those continuing to operate are welcoming new volunteers.

Perth bar and restaurant operators are looking forward to reopening, but hope further easing of restrictions will be on the menu soon.

Emirates Group is planning to cut about 30,000 jobs to reduce costs amid the coronavirus outbreak, which will bring down its number of employees by about 30 per cent from more than 105,000 at the end of March, Bloomberg News reports.

Four private equity firms are the leading candidates to buy Virgin Australia, the biggest regional casualty of the coronavirus crisis in the global aviation industry.

Normality is starting to resume for Western Australians with cafes, restaurants and pubs reopening their doors and workers returning to offices

Shares on the Australian market are off to a good start, with a gain of more than 1.0 per cent and most sectors trading higher.

Perth is test case for return to office

US crude prices have reached their highest price since March, on strengthening fuel demand as countries around the world eased travel restrictions they had imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Gold prices have jumped to levels last seen in 2012, as renewed US-China trade tensions added to concerns about a deep economic slump due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The state government has said it will allow public and private hospitals to increase elective surgeries to 50 per cent of normal activity as of Monday, following new guidelines set today by the national cabinet.

The whipsaw action on the Australian share market has continued for a fifth straight day of back-and-forth action.

Virgin Australia is expected to receive as many as eight non-binding indicative offers from potential buyers, which will be whittled down over the next few days to a shortlist of around three, its administrators said.

Premier Mark McGowan has announced details on the COVID Safety Plan businesses need to complete before reopening next week. The federal government has announced a $48.1 million mental health support package.

Trevor Badger has been voted off the CBH Group board by the slimmest of margins at a special general meeting today, with the vote exposing a divide between members and the farm co-operative's board.

Architects are hoping the government will consider a series of targeted initiatives to stimulate the economy as attention shifts to COVID-19 recovery plans.

An expected pick-up in commercial construction activity in Western Australia has been wiped out by COVID-19 restrictions, with Master Builders Association now tipping a small decline over the next two years. The outlook is worse at a national level,

As shops across WA begin to reopen as social distancing restrictions ease, retail property owners are starting to reflect on the health of their assets.

Western Australia-based Mair Property Funds has bought a West Perth property and an office in Victoria, for $10.6 million and $13.9 million respectively.

The Housing Industry Forecast Group (HIFG) has downgraded its estimate on the number of dwellings to be built in Western Australia for the current financial year, with the updated figure almost 20 per cent lower than FY19.

PODCAST: Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss the pandemic’s economic impact, labour force, construction, hospitality, Qantas and Perth Airport, Minderoo rebrand, China spat, new corporate finance deals, Jennifer Lawrence, the City of the Future and our special report on the education sector.

GR Engineering Services has received a contract extension from the federal government for operations and maintenance services at the Northern Endeavour Floating Production Storage and Offtake (FPSO) vessel in the Timor Sea.

Local company EMCO Building has been awarded the build contract at South Regional TAFE’s new $18.34 million Esperance campus, under a deal with the state government.

Australian Football League boss Gillon McLachlan has confirmed the resumption of the 2020 season, with an initial four rounds of football to begin on June 11.

Perth Airport has resolved its recent dispute with Qantas over unpaid fees during the COVID-19 pandemic, following weeks of acrimonious brinkmanship with the nation’s flag carrier.