Staff Reporters

THE Perth office of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association will be re-jigged at the end of this month.

David Pike has started the search through his wardrobe to find his best ‘wine-drinking clobber’ in preparation for the State’s wine show and tastings circuit.

The amount raised in the tax-effective investment sector has fallen for the third year, to about $300 million from a high of $1.5 billion in 1999. Gary Kleyn and Mark Beyer report on the latest developments.

Clearly, in WA, the Labor party holds sway in that department, particularly with at least two years to go before election time comes around again.

LARGELY, this is a political zone, although some private consultants only play a small role in influencing government.

SORRENTO’S Plum Restaurant will undergo renovations in the coming months meaning that, by September, patrons will be able to sit out in the sun.

THIS is an eclectic mix of businesspeople. Some such as Manny Papadoulis and Michael Monaghan are at the top of their fields and wield influence in the interest of their businesses and industries.

IPT Systems Ltd’s wholly owned subsidiary, Synergy Business Solutions, has executed a contract to provide electronic purchase order delivery services for J Blackwood and Son Ltd, a division of the Wesfarmers Group.

BARELY a year into the job and Labor state secretary Bill Johnston is being highly rated for his ability to open doors to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.Note his predecessor, John Halden, now ranks highly as an adviser.

TELSTRA should not be privatised until such time as it delivers a satisfactory communications service to metropolitan business.

THE importance of this list largely lies not with their impact on the Federal sphere but the factional leadership they offer in the State scene.

Iron ore to ChinaMOUNT Gibson Iron Limited and the Geraldton Port Authority have signed a contract to export 1.5 million tonnes of iron ore from the Geraldton Port to China.

State politicians rule our world

RETAILING has always been important in WA but as the world becomes a village, it is worth noting those that remain highly regarded in this arena.

STATE Development Minster Clive Brown has presented three WA firms with awards recognising their innovation in the information and communications technology sector.

IT is hard not to order this group in terms of the budgets they control, particularly when long serving under treasurer John Langoulant sits atop State Government finances. But it is not always that simple.

ADVERTISING agency 303 is leaving its Northbridge headquarters for the advertising belt of Subiaco. It will be setting up shop at 1 Outridge Crescent.The firm has been operating out of the old Fitzgerald Hotel for the past seven years.

LIKE most other areas, business influence is not always cut and dried. However, starting with the heads of WA’s two biggest companies – according to the latest WA Business News Book of Lists – seems appropriate.

PERTH City Council last week approved a $79.6 million budget for the 2002-03 year, an increase of about $4 million spent on the previous financial year.

WA business confidence dipped in June but remains near five-year highs, according to CCI-BankWest Survey of Business Expectations.

THE abundance of women, broader employment choices of younger people and the emergence of a service-orientated society are driving the demand for part-time work.

After 15 months of negotiation between Western Power and Burns and Roe Worley, Esperance will today be assured of a long-term power supply from a new gas-fired power station.

SOLBEC Pharmaceuticals Ltd has filed two new provisional patent applications with the Australian and US Patent Offices.

MANY businesses in Perth’s major industrial estates might never be able to use the standard system for high-speed Internet connections.

A CHANCE to target one of the largest business sectors in WA led the Chamber of Commerce and Industry to link with the Family Business Awards.

THE Australasian Fleet Managers Association has been working with the Federal Government’s Energy Efficiency Best Practice Program in a nationwide campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the efficiency of Australia’s vehicle fleet.

WITH interest rates on the rise many business people are considering their funding needs for the 2003 financial year.

TWO of WA’s top business people have been snared by WA Business News for its next success and leadership event, to be held next month.AlintaGas chief executive officer Bob Browning and Poynton and Partners managing director Mark Barnaba will feature...

PERTH-BASED software developer Micromine Pty Ltd has successfully implemented its exploration and mining data management solution GBis into BHP Billiton’s iron ore operations in the Pilbara and its coal operations in Queensland.

Insurance has become one of the biggest issues facing business in this State. WA Business News investigates the industries hardest hit by the crisis.

DOMAIN name administrator auDA has lodged a complaint with the ACCC about the conduct of a domain name registering company, and warned businesses to beware of misleading information relating to the registration of Internet domain names.

SELF insurance is looming as a possible alternative for companies looking to reduce their insurance premiums, however, it is an option that needs careful planning to be implemented successfully.