Edited announcement

Disagreement over pay and conditions between management and staff at Murdoch University has escalated, with union members today agreeing to withhold student results.

East Perth-based Aragon Resources has called off its takeover of private Australian company Hot Chili after it was unable to gain surety of pending agreements on key tenements.

A Bibra Lake-based transport company has been fined $30,000 in relation to a workplace incident where a mechanic had his legs crushed under the wheels of a truck trailer driven by one of the directors of the company.

West Perth-based Breakaway Resources has signed a $10 million joint venture agreement with BHP Billiton over the Eloise copper mine in Queensland.

The state government has released proposed new housing codes for higher density areas for public comment today.

The state's public sector needs to "lift the bar" when preparing their financial statements and key performance indicators, Auditor General Colin Murphy has found in a report handed down today.

St Barbara has today revealed a $124 million rights offer, described as the next logical step for the gold miner's growth objectives, chief executive Tim Lehany said.

Small to medium enterprises are sticking with the safety of the big four banks, which have increased their market share in the increasingly competitive market for small business deposits, new figures show.

Subiaco-based GBM Resources has entered into a joint venture arrangement with a Singapore company over large-scale phosphate projects in north Queensland.

West Perth-based Cauldron Energy has secured $10 million from Chinese investors to ramp up exploration at its suite of uranium assets in Australia and Argentina.

The state government will immediately provide the St John Ambulance Service WA (SJA) with more than $1 million in funding following the recommendations of the independent inquiry into the safety and quality of SJA's clinical practices released today.

The Assistant Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia has joined other finanical experts in suggesting the Asian region had been largely insulated from the economic downturn and would aggressively outperform other global economies in the medium term.

Western Australia's largest private sector employer, Wesfarmers, has launched its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) targeting employment and community engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Liquefied Natural Gas Limited's share purchase plan has been completed, raising almost $18 million, bringing the company's cash position to some $55 million.

Education services provider Navitas has secured a memorandum of understanding with Charles Darwin University, enhancing the company's global presence to develop further educational programs.

Sundance Resources has raised $85 million from international institutional investors to complete a definitive feasibility study of its Mbalam Project, including mine, process, transport and port infrastructure and also provide general working capital.

A former Adelaide franchisee of Power Loan has been sentenced to six months in prison following a charge brought by Australian Securities & Investements Commission relating to investments in Westpoint financial products.

Cedar Woods Properties says it will restart its interim dividend next year after it tipped a $12.5 million full year profit for 2009/10 on the back of a strengthening residential property market.

The federal government has announced it will deliver a free superannuation clearing house service for small businesses with less than 20 employees through Medicare Australia.

The state's leading business lobby organisation said problems such as severe labour shortages, a lack of affordable housing, and infrastructure bottlenecks will hamper the state from realising its full economic potential.

The Griffin Group's Ric Stowe has affirmed his reclusive reputation by asking ratings agency Standard and Poor's to withdraw its debt ratings on his diversified private company, which has $US475 million of debt.

Azumah Resources has raised more than $4 million through an oversubscribed share placement as part of its push to fast-track exploration and development at its Wa gold project in Ghana.

China has entered into the takeover battle for coal company Rocklands Richfield with Meijin Energy Group proposing a $154 million offer, trumping India's Jindal Steel and Power's $144 million offer.

The state government will take over funding of the Australian Technical College in the Pilbara from the federal government, which will not renew an act covering the operation of the college.

Penalties of up to $1.1 million will apply to businesses engaged in unconscionable conduct as the federal government moves to strengthen the Franchising Code of Conduct and parts of the Trade Practices Act.

Chinese company CREC Resources has received approvals from the Foreign Investment Review Board and the Chinese regulatory body for its proportional takeover of Perth-based RMA Energy.

Ian Burston has been appointed as non-executive director of gold explorer Carrick Gold.

Dianella real estate agent, Alexander Landa, who has been previously fined for misconduct, has today been disqualified from the industry for two years.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore has today opened the Newman mining hub, a key component of BHP Billiton Iron Ore's $US1.85 billion Rapid Growth Project Four.

Woodside Petroleum will raise $US700 million through the issue of corporate bonds in the United States to repay short-term debt and general corporate purposes.

Rio Tinto is rebuilding ship loading infrastructure at its Dampier Salt operation in Port Hedland, which will allow ships to be loaded faster and reduce environmental impacts.

The latest capital raising for Peet's residential land syndicate, the Peet Point Cook Kingsford Syndicate has closed oversubscribed with investors applying for more than 22 million units.