Edited announcement

Redcliffe-based Global Construction Services has secured a contract to provide scaffolding for the construction of BHP Billiton Ltd's Newman HUB, part of the mining giant's iron ore expansion plans.

The Bank of Queensland has unseated perennial leader St George bank in the latest East & Partners' monthly Business Banking Sentiment Index, which surveys customers' feeling of empathy and loyalty.

Shares in St Barbara Ltd closed 10.7 per cent higher today at 31 cents after the company reported a high grade gold discovery near its Marvel Loch operations in WA's Goldfields region.

Salary is the most important consideration for both women and men when deciding upon a new job, but it's not enough to attract job seekers, new research has found.

Emerson Stewart Group Ltd has executed a memorandum of understanding with Bovis Lend Lease Consulting to jointly pursue program and project management opportunities arising through the WA Government's Strategic Projects initiative.

Diploma Group Ltd today announced it has been awarded preferred tenderer status for the first stage of the circa $60 million Genesis Office Park, located in East Victoria Park.

Over the month of June, the market capitalisation of Western Australian listed companies featured in the Deloitte WA Index maintained record highs and performed considerably better than all other major indices.

West Perth based Goldstar Resources NL has appointed Mr Peter Hatfull to its board as a non-executive director.

The first stages of Perth Airport's $1 billion redevelopment have commenced with work starting on the aircraft parking apron, which will service the new intra-state terminal, Terminal WA.

Plan B Group Holdings Ltd says it is on track to achieve its existing profit forecast, after reporting that its funds under management increased by just 1.1 per cent last financial year.

North Perth-based Blue Energy Ltd has revealed a number of entities have registered interest in securing a 25.56 per cent parcel of shares controlled by the receiver of Primebroker Securities Ltd, part of the Chimaera Financial Group.

Subiaco-based Wolf Minerals Ltd has appointed Ausenco Services Pty Ltd to carry out the feasibility study on its Hemerdon Ball tin and tungsten project in the United Kingdom.

Higher royalties and increased energy costs have pushed up iron ore miner Portman Ltd's operating costs, while a higher iron ore price will boost revenue per tonne by 87 per cent.

Three new dedicated centres in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne have been opened to speed up the applications process for 457 visas.

Burswood-based surgery technology company NSL Health Ltd will switch focus to the resources sector later this year after entering into a merger agreement with unlisted company Iron Ore Hill Ltd.

Osborne Park-based Anvil Mining Ltd is set to raise $310 million from a share placement to Israeli mining investor Dan Gertler who, on completion of the raising, will hold 25 per cent of the company.

Low-cost carrier Jetstar has today launched a new direct Singapore-to-Perth service, which is expected to boost the the number of Asian tourists visiting the state.

The median house price in Perth has fallen $30,000 down to around $446,000 in the past six months and the rental vacancy has returned to normal for the first time in several years, according to the data released today by the Real Estate Institute of WA.

Around 85 per cent of accommodation providers in the metropolitan and South West region may be without clean sheets next week as Prime Laundry reveals it has been without gas for the last three days.

The state gas crisis is expected to cut Alumina Ltd's underlying earnings by $31 million for the June quarter after the company revised down the impact for the month of June.

The state government's 'Gas Bulletin Board' has not gone far enough to help alleviate problems according to Western Australia's food and beverage manufacturing sector.

Western Australia continues to hold a AAA local and foreign currency ratings given by Standard & Poor's Rating Service but that score could be under threat in 2012.

Perth-based Rent.com.au Pty Ltd has formed a partnership with internet company Yahoo!7 to provide a rich user experience for Australian renters and landlords.

Chevron Australia has announced an extension at its Iago gas field, located offshore Western Australia, with drilling reaching an untested reservoir compartment.

Only one more hurdle remains for the $400 million sale of Cape Lambert Iron Ore Ltd's namesake project to MCC Mining, which today received Chinese government approval.

Osborne Park-based internet kiosk company pieNETWORKS Limited has entered into an agreement with BBG Global AG to jointly market telecommunication services and webphones internationally.

Engineering company Ausenco Ltd will provide West Perth-based Equinox Minerals Ltd with $8 million in additional costs following a fire at the Lumwana copper project in Zambia.

Balkans Gold Ltd plans to raise $3.2 million via a non-renounceable pro rata rights issue to help fund its acquisition of West African Resources Ltd and ongoing exploration programs.

Neptune Marine Services Ltd has extended its reach in the Asia Pacific region after finalising its $4.5 million acquisition of Perth-based Access Management (WA) Pty Ltd.

Applecross-based education group Navitas Ltd has revealed it is in discussions with Portsmouth University over an agreement to establish a college in the United Kingdom.

Perth-based GRD Ltd has been awarded a contract by Rio Tinto to carry out order of magnitude studies on the Sulawesi nickel project in Indonesia.

VDM Group Ltd, through its Queensland subsidiary Bellero Constructions Pty Ltd, has been awarded the contract by the state's government for stage two of the Bundaberg Ring Road project.