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OPINION: Emissions concerns are one factor driving change in the car industry, but the transport habits of a changing demographic are also in play.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has dismissed a critique of Labor’s wages policy, describing the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA as a trade union for employers and insisting wage increases were sensible.

Residents will start moving into Far East Consortium’s premium apartments project The Towers at Elizabeth Quay before the end of the month, with the Hong Kong-headquartered developer shifting focus to its Perth Hub at Perth City Link as its Ritz-Carlton Hotel also nears completion.

DTI Group has won a contract to supply and install its CCTV recording system in Volgren’s 900 new buses in Western Australia.

Private equity investors have bought the assets and business of Welshpool-based coatings distributor Robayne, two months after the company was placed into voluntary administration.

The Public Transport Authority (PTA) has awarded Delron Cleaning and Westland Works contracts valued at about $12.44 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

RCR Tomlinson’s secured creditors may only receive around $70.6 million of the $230 million they are owed, and its unsecured trade creditors are likely to receive none of the $170.6 million they are owed, as administrators McGrathNicol recommended the failed engineering firm be liquidated.

Aged care group Rosewood has appointed Pindan for its latest build, a $70 million facility to be built on Cleaver Street in West Perth that will include a restoration of the heritage-listed Florence Hummerston Lodge.

The prime minister has defended the timing of his government's migration intake announcement, despite it occurring days after the Christchurch terrorist attacks.

AMP has scrapped short-term cash bonuses and cut directors' fees in an effort to avoid a second shareholder strike on remuneration and possible board spill at May's annual general meeting.

Australian shares remain in negative territory despite clawing back some ground lost in the morning on jitters about international trade.

Pay rises to cost jobs

Oil prices were largely steady around four-month highs overnight on expectations that OPEC would continue production cuts till the end of the year, and ahead of weekly US data that was forecast to show a build in crude stocks.

Palladium surged past $US1,600 for the first time overnight, in a seven-session rally, on expectations that strained supplies of the autocatalyst metal could worsen, while platinum soared 3 per cent.

Australian shares have closed marginally down after a spike in the price of iron ore that boosted mining companies couldn't make up for losses elsewhere.

The replacement of the logo at the top of Perth’s second tallest skyscraper has commenced, after BHP Group changed its name from BHP Billiton in November.

Global education provider Navitas has signed an agreement with Queens College at The City University of New York (CUNY), as part of the public university’s internationalisation strategy.

Construction companies Doric and Jaxon have unveiled a management shakeup, with David Dodds to exit the group and Vince Mulholland to take the reins of the combined business.

OPINION: Industrial emissions policy in a resources state such as WA is fraught, with much of the electorate wanting action and business requiring certainty.

An emphasis on placemaking has driven an evolution in town planning across Western Australia as developers and landowners strive to achieve a point of difference through activation and engagement.

The last of the 19 civil actions brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on behalf of a number of investors in the Westpoint Group has been finalised.

Premier Mark McGowan and Tourism Minister Paul Papalia have unveiled a $12 million spending boost for tourism and events marketing, but there remains a gap between Western Australia’s total tourism budget and those of the big-spending eastern states.

Kalium Lakes has secured around $102 million of debt funding for the development of its Beyondie sulphate of potash (SOP) project, less than a month after receiving commitments for $74 million from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility for the project.

Mincor Resources has extended its offtake agreement with BHP Nickel West, marking a key step in Mincor’s restart of its Kambalda nickel operations.

Perth is shaking off its reputation as an expensive place to live, dropping 18 positions to be 64th of 133 cities surveyed in a new report by The Economist magazine.

A Brazilian court has ordered Vale SA, the world's largest iron ore miner, to suspend operations at two more dams, demanding that it prove the structures are stable.

TPG Telecom's first-half profit has slumped 76.5 per cent to $46.9 million after its decision to halt the rollout of its planned mobile network resulted in a $227.4 million impairment.

Westpac is selling its personal financial advice business as Australia's second-biggest bank exits the scandal-hit sector, and the bank's consumer boss George Frazis is set to leave.

Australian shares are up marginally as a spike in the price of iron ore boosted mining companies, offsetting losses by tech and health care companies.

WA doubles down on tourism

Oil prices rose to around four-month highs overnight, aided by the prospect of prolonged OPEC-led oil supply curbs and signs of inventory declines in US crude stockpiles.

Palladium touched an all-time high overnight, continuing a strong run this year on a supply shortfall of the autocatalyst material, while gold held above the key $US1,300-per-ounce level on expectations the US Federal Reserve will hold rates steady this week.