Business News

Nicola Betteridge has replaced Mariah Khoury as company secretary of 333D.

Rio Tinto has announced the development of a $US98 million ($A144 million) solar plant at its Koodaideri mine in the Pilbara, which is expected to supply around two thirds of the mine’s average electricity demand once completed.

Mandurah Magistrates Court has hit Queensland-based property manager Asset Realty with an $80,000 fine, for failing to lodge tenancy bonds on time as well as falsifying dates on records.

Michael Ma has been appointed non-executive director of AustSino Resources Group.

AGL Energy has achieved a 37 per cent rise in the number of Western Australian customers buying its gas, as it continues to eat into the market share of Alinta Energy and Kleenheat.

Our weekly appointments wrap includes Bruce Godfrey, Graeme Hunt, Sarah Ryan, Lisa Paul, Mark Woffenden, Miranda Johnson, Daniel Gordon, Vaughan de Vos and Stephen Nano.

A $15 billion merger between Vodafone Australia and TPG Telecom has been given the green light in the federal court, but the consumer watchdog says it will cause mobile data prices to rise.

There have been 14 insolvency appointments to Western-Australian-incorporated companies in the first 11 days of February.

Dampier Gold has appointed Gavin Solomon as special advisor to the board of directors.

Magmatic Resources has secured commitments to raise $5 million from a share placement to explore its tenements in the East Lachlan gold-copper province in NSW.

Matt Callahan has re-joined the board of Botanix Pharmaceuticals as an executive director following the decision by Robert Towner to step down as non-executive director.

Half price TAFE fees have led to a 20 per cent increase in student enrolments this year, particularly in engineering, cyber security and early childhood courses.

Electricity provider Horizon Power has been fined $40,000 for incorrect work in Kununurra, causing a fire and telecommunications equipment at various properties to become potentially unsafe.

PSC Insurance Group has purchased Perth-based Ultimate Safety Solutions Australia (USSA) and the majority of shares in Eden Software, which owns USSA’s SafeX technology, for an upfront payment of $700,000.

Australian Vanadium has received a $1.25 million grant from the federal government to find ways to improve vanadium production.

Alicanto Minerals has exercised its option to acquire Zaffer Australian which owns the Oxberg and Naverberg Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide Projects within the highly endowed Cu-Au-Zn-Pb-Ag Bergslage

Boral boss Mike Kane has announced he is standing down after the company confirmed staff at its North American windows business had inflated earnings figures over a 20-month period.

Bronwyn Barnes will transition as non-executive chair of Indiana Resources to executive chair, in order to focus on leading activities to protect the rights of shareholders in the

Airbnb says 4.5 million people booked rooms on its online lodging platform in regional Australia last year, with 260,000 guests visiting regional Western Australia, confirming the widespread uptake of its accommodation services.

The Yamatji Indigenous community has celebrated a landmark economic package and native title recognition for more than 100,000 hectares of land in Western Australia’s Mid West.

Mackerel Islands will begin managing Karijini Eco Retreat as of next month, with the Pilbara-based operator taking over operations of the Gumala Enterprises-owned facility.

Our weekly appointments wrap includes Paul Vogel, Steve Rowe, Grant Bowen, Kaylene Gulich, Robert Kennedy, Rob Cossart, Tym Duncanson, Robert Mosig, Murray Criddle, Paul Catalano, Wayne Scheggia, Gary Morgan, Bob Kucera, Richard Gregson, Jane Chiang, and Joe Lamhut.

Our board moves wrap includes Michelle Prater, Howard Golden, Steven Michael, Richard Homsany, Nathan McMahon, Michael Jefferies, and Wayne Zekulich.

National retail spending fell by a worse-than-expected 0.5 per cent in a fire-affected December, however, retail giant Coles recorded a surprisingly strong Christmas period.

Nationals MPs Keith Pitt and Darren Chester have been elevated to federal cabinet in a ministerial reshuffle.

Our board moves wrap includes Andrew Penkethman, Katina Law, Tim Edwards, David Straface, Jordan Luckett, Justin Barton, and Greg Cunnold.

AMP has been ordered to pay a $5.2 million penalty after the Federal Court found the bank had failed to take reasonable steps to ensure its financial planners complied with the best interests duty.

Biotech company Zelira Therapeutics has received commitments to raise around $4.6 million from a share placement, while rent.com.au is planning an underwritten $2.9 million rights issue.

Richard Homsany has joined the board of Brookside Energy as a non-executive director.

Perth-based engineering group Clough has secured a design and construction contract with ASX-listed Australian Bauxite for an aluminium fluoride production plant in NSW.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has held the cash rate at a record low 0.75 per cent, as widely expected by economists.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has repelled a leadership challenge from Barnaby Joyce, emerging victorious in a party room ballot this morning, while Adam Bandt has been elected unopposed as Greens leader following the resignation of Richard Di Natale.