Jack McGinn

Premier Roger Cook hopes a $7.2 million spend to attract a UK startup accelerator to Perth will help the state diversify its economy by fostering expertise in biodiversity technology.

The state’s latest efforts to diversify the economy of the historic coal mining town of Collie will include spend on commercial diving, dentistry, energy storage and support for tourism.

UPDATED: The nation’s consumer watchdog has welcomed a proposed reform of the nation’s merger laws, announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers today.

Australian oil and gas plays Woodside Energy and Santos must act swiftly as the global market for LNG declines, according to a report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

BCI Minerals says it has received a series of mining lease approvals necessary to finalising its Mardie salt project, as it works to get the $1.6 billion dollar project off the ground this year.

BP’s $1 billion Kwinana biorefinery has received ministerial approval at the recommendation of the Environmental Protection Authority, subject to a target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

PRESELECTION WRAP: City of Perth councillor Brent Fleeton will not join Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas as a Liberal candidate at the 2025 state election, while a former reality TV contestant has been recommended in Tangney.

Chevron Australia paid close to $8 billion worth of dividends to its parent company in 2023, despite a hike in the amount of tax it paid in Australia.

Chalice Mining has lodged plans to develop its Gonneville nickel-copper-platinum project to the Environmental Protection Authority, with an eye to begin building in 2027.

Beach Energy and Mitsui & Co’s Waitsia stage two gas project will not produce this year and will cost hundreds of millions more than previously expected as a result of quality issues.

Mark Beyer and Jack McGinn discuss BAE Systems' significant investment in Kardinya based Innovaero.

Government utility Western Power has defended large forecast hikes to discontinued tariffs still applied to some business customers, as it continues moves to reform its product offering.

Yara Pilbara and Woodside Energy will explore the feasibility of carbon capture and storage, to mitigate the emissions impact of Yara’s existing Karratha facilities.

WorkSafe is investigating after separate incidents at workplaces in O’Connor and Dalwallinu resulted in the deaths of two workers yesterday.

Tom Zaunmayr and Jack McGinn discuss the state's transport and logistics networks.

Defence industry shipbuilder Austal has confirmed it has received an unsolicited takeover offer from South Korean firm Hanwha Ocean Co, but has poured cold water on a deal for now.

Tom Zaunmayr and Jack McGinn discuss the latest signals from the US around the Inflation Reduction Act.

The state government says recent national data that suggests a fall in the number of defence industry businesses in Western Australia does not paint a true picture of the sector’s growth.

Western Australia’s move away from coal-fired power will push the state into a gas supply shortage in the early 2030s, according to new analysis from Wood Mackenzie.

Adelaide-based Perth Basin gas play Beach Energy will slash its workforce by 30 per cent, following a strategic review into its operations in the east and west coast gas markets.

Jack McGinn and Nadia Budihardjo discuss the most influential figures in Western Australia. 

Constraints which blocked Karratha residents and businesses from connecting residential solar to the North West Interconnect System grid have been removed, Horizon Power has revealed.

Plenty has shifted in Business News’ annual look at WA’s 50 most influential figures, with changes starting at the top of the list.

Liv Declerck and Jack McGinn discuss the increased focus on environmental protection in the South West region of Western Australia.

The 10 per cent owner of the Shell-operated Prelude floating LNG project reported a post-tax loss of $US3.4 million ($5.2 million) in 2023, despite gross profit of almost $US76 million.

Woodside Energy has completed its sale of a 10 per cent interest in the Scarborough LNG project to Japanese interests, as the project’s development continues.

A proposal to permanently expand the operating hours of the Kemerton gas power plant has been referred to the Environmental Protection Authority, as the state seeks to firm its energy future.

Mineral Resources has hailed the latest results from its Lockyer gas project in the Perth Basin as the highest quality in the region, as it turns its exploration attention to the region’s oil potential.

Liv Declerck and Jack McGinn discuss increased biosecurity measures being taken to keep WA produce safe.

The Nationals WA have accused Regional Development Minister Don Punch of misleading the people of the South West in relation to the affairs of Bunbury’s Dolphin Discovery Centre.

Zinc bromine and sodium sulphur batteries will be tested at microgrids in regional Western Australia, as Horizon Power looks to beat the impacts of heat on its remote storage solutions.

The Liberal Party of WA has finalised the top 18 spots on its Legislative Council ticket, as the state approaches its first election without multi-member electoral regions in 2025.