During his two years at Business News, Michael covered public policy issues, with a broad interest in the relationship between business and politics. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Western Australia. michael.ramsey@businessnews.com.au
Western Australia’s residential property market is set for further growth in the year ahead but commercial construction is expected to soften, industry experts say.
A prominent group of Perth investors may be drawn into a legal stoush over the financially stricken development of a multi-million dollar Broome apartment resort.
Construction group Pindan has secured a contract to build a $17 million student accommodation facility at Edith Cowan University’s Joondalup campus, adding to its order book for student housing fun
Mining services contractors have slashed thousands of jobs as the slowdown in the resources sector piles pressure on companies to cut costs after several years of growth.
The Barnett government has scrapped funding for a small business training scheme as it seeks to rein in spending to preserve its modest budget surplus.
The coalition’s proposed parental leave scheme has come under attack from equal opportunity advocates, who argue investing in childcare would be a better way to boost participation.
Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke has taken aim at the poor standard of political leadership in Australia, which he said was the fundamental barrier to implementing vital economic reforms.
The two men vying for the nation’s top job at next month’s federal election talked up their infrastructure credentials during their first visits to Western Australia during the campaign.
First and second year apprentices across all industries are set to receive phased pay increases of up to 40 per cent over the next two years, following a Fair Work Commission ruling today.
Western Australia is destined for further skills shortages and a reliance on temporary migrants despite the slowdown of work on major resources projects.
Greens leader Christine Milne has warned the botched approvals process for James Price Point is a sign of things to come under a coalition plan to return environmental decision-making powers to the
Opposition leader Tony Abbott says the coalition will contribute more than $600 million towards the $840 million Swan Valley Bypass project if it wins government at next month’s federal election.
Two new oil and gas research initiatives have received promises of federal funding, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd talking up the future of the sector in Western Australia today.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says plans to introduce tax concessions and incentives in the Northern Territory could be extended to northern Western Australia and Queensland.
The coalition has refused to commit to reducing application fees for 457 visa workers if elected to government, despite flagging plans to make the scheme more “user-friendly”.
The managing director of collapsed Perth building firm Gavin Construction made an unsuccessful last-ditch bid to recover a failed Karratha laundry project just weeks before appointing administrator
The Barnett government's cost-cutting measures in the state budget have prompted an industry backlash, with the government accused of adding to the cost of doing business in Western Australia.
The state government will embark on a record infrastructure spend of almost $27 billion over the next four years, despite a deterioration of the state’s revenue base and warnings from credit agenci
The Barnett government is forecast to deliver a $147 million budget deficit in 2014-15, with a blowout in spending and net debt set to place significant strain on the state's finances.
The state government’s proposed council amalgamations were framed in terms of increasing efficiency, but could make life more difficult for developers.
The $1 billion Gateway WA roads project is set to proceed to major delivery, with finalisation of the project price, scope of works and construction methodology.
Plans to build an apartment development at the historic Dalgety Wool Stores building in Fremantle are a step closer with the signing of a $97 million funding deal.
Perth-based education services provider Navitas has recorded a modest rise in net profit for the financial year, amid signs the international student market is returning to positive territory.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has made a pre-election pitch to union members in his first visit to Perth since dramatically reclaiming the leadership of the federal Labor Party last month.
A slowdown in the mining sector could have positive flow-on effects for employers in other industries, Business News' annual survey of the state's 100 largest employers has found.
