Edited announcement

The State Government will investigate Australian Forestry Standard certification for native forests and State-owned plantations by the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Forest Products Commission.

Middle Eastern steel producer Qatar Steel Company has signed a share placement agreement to acquire a significant (9.07 per cent) shareholding in Perth-based Sphere Investments Ltd.

Leederville-based medical research and development company Salus Technologies Ltd is looking to raise $800,000 to fund the development of the company's existing medical research projects primarily focused on advanced wound care technologies.

Subiaco-based Elkedra Diamonds NL has secured a $5 million standby finance facility with West Perth-based managed investment scheme LinQ Resources Fund.

Increased funding for arts organisations, new museum programs and designer fashion grants are some of the initiatives announced in the 2006-07 State Budget.

New tourism accommodation projects worth almost $1 billion are in the planning or construction stages in Western Australia.

Former managing director of BankWest, Terry Budge, has been elected chancellor of Murdoch University.

Global provider of mine production management solutions Gemcom Software International Inc has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to acquire Perth-based mining software developer Surpac Minex Group Pty Ltd.

Soaring global oil prices have hit Australian exporters where it hurts with a record low number expecting increased export orders in the next three months, however a growing diversity of export destinations suggest the tough times will be short-lived.

Property investor and manager Mirvac Group's subsidiary Mirvac Fini (WA) Pty Ltd has entered into an agreement with M.A.P. Nominees Pty Ltd and Preston Beach Resort Pty Ltd to plan the development of a 424ha site in Preston Beach, 120 km south of Perth.

South Perth-based wine producer Australian Wine Holdings Ltd has advised the placement of 48.6 million ordinary fully paid shares at 0.8 cents each has raised $388,800.

West Perth-based minerals explorer Tanami Gold NL's 100 per cent-owned Coyote Gold Mine, located in the Tanami-Arunta Province of Central Australia, has been officially opened today.

Environment Minister Mark McGowan today announced the existing Department of Environment and the Department of Conservation and Land Management would be merged to form a new agency.

Welshpool-based Mineral Commodities Ltd has launched a takeover bid for all unrelated shares in Erebus plc whose major asset is the ownership of an advanced diamond tailings dump re-treatment project in the African state of Sierra Leone.

Perth-headquartered IT services group Alphawest has announced it has been selected by the Queensland Government as part of its Shared Service Initiative.

Tasman Resources NL subsidiary Eden Energy has closed its inital public offer under the prospectus dated 29th of March, accepting applications for approximately $8.2 million worth of shares.

Subiaco rent-roll specialists Wentworth Mutual Ltd has acquired the management rights to The Regal apartment complex in Port Douglas, Queensland.

Perth-based HarvestRoad Ltd's HarvestRoad Hive has been chosen by APS IT-diensten, a partner of the Dutch Education New Program Matrix project, to manage teaching materials for primary, secondary and vocational education in Holland.

Water Resources Minister John Kobelke said plans for a new wastewater plant at Alkimos could help provide a new marina in the region.

There's bad news on the way for Australian wine drinkers - wine prices are tipped to rise over the coming years as demand for grapes outstrips supply.

Local government water conservation and water quality projects will benefit from a $600,000 State Government commitment to continue funding of the Western Australian Water Campaign.

Bio-nanotech company pSivida Ltd has announced that Michael Soja has been appointed Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, and Lori Freedman has been appointed Vice President, Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary.

Western Australia's first online marketing campaigns in Japan and Korea have been launched.

A major initiative has been launched to encourage Perth-based businesses to look at relocating to the South-West.

Research and development company Silex Systems Ltd, chaired by Perth investor Barry Patterson, has announced the signing of a Commercialisation and License Agreement for the SILEX Uranium Enrichment Technology with General Electric Company.

Subiaco olive oil marketer Piquant Blue Ltd has secured two more US supermarket accounts, with Delhaize America and Demoulas Super Markets, to sell its redisland brand.

Perth Airport has posted a record 452,071 passengers travelling through the domestic terminals in April, up 11.9 per cent on the same month last year.

Perth headquartered biotechnology company Stirling Products Ltd has finalised a $1.3 million placement to US institutional investor, Indus Capital Partners, LLC, to fund the further development of R-salbutamol as a growth agent and in obesity applications

Perth-based biodiesel producer Mission Biofuels Ltd has announced the Malaysian Government has approved the company's application for a license to establish an additional 200,000 tonnes per annum biodiesel facility.

Increasing renewable energy in the state's main electricity grid is the focus of a report released today.

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd announced it has signed an EPCM contract with WorleyParsons Ltd covering engineering, procurement and construction management of Fortescue's Pilbara iron ore and infrastructure project.

South Perth-based diversified resources player Aquila Resources Ltd has announced creditors of Pasminco Group Companies have approved the payment of a $14 million dividend to Aquila.