Latest Headlines

Those who think the grass is greener on the other side need to think again.

Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg said the federal government would be pushing states to remove moratoriums on unconventional gas extraction, including fracking, he told the LNG 18 conference today.

Residents at Alkimos Beach and White Gum Valley are set to participate in trials of solar energy technology and battery storage that could lead to large reductions in power bills.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum has signed an agreement for the supply of liquefied natural gas to an Indonesian corporation for an undisclosed sum.

Total chief executive Patrick Pouyanne has flagged that the next batch of LNG projects may not be as far off as some think, speaking at the LNG18 conference today.

The state’s building commissioner says contractors and suppliers need to be paid within 50 days, as controversy over the extension of Rio Tinto’s payment terms continues.

Fortescue Metals Group says it is running ahead of its production target and may be able to increase its full-year guidance, but has cautioned it may not hit its cash cost target.

The Australian share market has opened nearly one per cent higher.

Gorgon lessons but no regrets

Global oil prices have hit four-month highs, hovering just under $US45 a barrel after a report that top producers Russia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to freeze output ahead of a much-anticipated producers meeting on Sunday.

Wall Street has closed higher, led by surging energy shares that were buttressed by rising oil prices, as investors scooped up equities at the start of corporate earnings season.

Legend has it the wife of King Louis XVI of France, Marie Antoinette, said, ‘let them eat cake’ on hearing the starving peasants were in revolt against bread shortages.

The Australian dollar is soaring towards 77 US cents amid an oil price rally.

Henderson-headquartered ship building company Strategic Marine has secured a $US50.1 million ($A66 million) contract to build two liquefied natural gas-powered aluminium catamarans for a European client.

Woodside chief executive Peter Coleman told the LNG 18 conference in Perth today there could be opportunities for LNG producers to move further into downstream markets, particularly in developing countries, where demand for gas existed but barriers to entry had slowed take up.

The Australian share market has closed higher due to gains among the major banks.

TPG’s half-year profit statement suggests where a company is headquartered may be less important than the value for money of its offering.

Perth's commercial landlords are seeking innovative ways to utilise office space left vacant by falling demand from business.

Alumina giant Alcoa could be on the cusp of a strong growth period, yet significant challenges remain in its way in ensuring it can keep up with low-cost global competitors.

West Perth-based tech company TikForce has closed marginally lower on its first day of trading, following completion of a $4.5 million capital raising as part of a reverse takeover by Palace Resources.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he will raise mining contractors’ concerns with Rio Tinto over the mining giant’s move to double its standard payment terms, while premier Colin Barnett went further, saying its move was not fair or reasonable.

Local financial services provider Pioneer Credit has raised nearly $6 million from investors as it seeks to further grow its business.

There may have been a breach of corporate duties at Queensland Nickel, according to the company's administrators, which have recommended the Clive Palmer enterprise be liquidated.

The federal government's decision to inject an extra $260 million into the Perth Freight Link for construction of a road tunnel has drawn heated criticism, with the City of Fremantle saying an additional $1.4 billion was still required to address a core shortfall of the latest proposal.

The Australian share market has opened flat.

Western Power advised its staff yesterday that an estimated 215 roles are no longer needed as the utility continues a three-year program that has already cut more than 300 jobs.

The Australian dollar has broken above 76 US cents as the greenback suffers and commodities strengthen.

Gold prices have risen to their highest in almost three weeks, setting the market on course toward $US1,300 an ounce, drawing confidence from continued ultra-low interest rates.

Breakthrough as Turnbull agrees to pay for Freight Link tunnel

The shift towards negative interest rate in some countries is a scenario that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. 

The news last month that CBH Group was shutting down its Lupin Foods subsidiary after failing to find a buyer shows that commercial requirements and scientific advancement do not always connect neatly.

Charities in WA will need more fundraising champions like Vince Gareffa as traditional events prove harder to sell.