Kym Fuhrmann

New housing starts in Western Australia were down 19.9 per cent for the September quarter.

Austereo continues to dominate the radio ratings in Perth, but top rating station Mix 94.5 has lost some of its market share in the final Nielsen poll for 2010.

Premier Colin Barnett has returned Troy Buswell to the front bench and Christian Porter will take on the role of Treasurer in a major front bench reshuffle announced today.

CBH Group has awarded its long-term grain rail contract to US transportation group Watco Companies, replacing QR National subsidiary Australian Railroad Group.

After months of speculation Qantas has confirmed it has taken over regional airline Network Aviation to move into the fly-in-fly-out air charter market in a deal believed to be valued at more than $30 million.

The Ten Network has announced Gina Rinehart, along with James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch will take up their seats on the television station's board next week.

Woodside Petroleum has executed a five-year US$1.1 billion syndicated loan to refinance existing debt.

Western Australia's unemployment rate has fallen to a seasonally adjusted 4.5 per cent in November compared with an unrevised 4.7 per cent in October.

Retiring University of Western Australia transport Professor John Taplin has advocated the introduction of a congestion tax in the CBD as one way to reduce traffic problems and make public transport more attractive.

The chairman of Neptune Marine has promised wholesale changes at the company after the engineering contractor recorded an operating loss of $6 million in the September quarter.

Perth house prices have continued their downward slide falling 1.8 per cent in October according to the latest RP Data-Rismark Hedonic Home Value Index.

Shareholders of Coote Industrial have approved the company changing its name to Engenco.

Shares in scooter manufacturer Vmoto have dived 20 per cent today after the company announced on Friday it expected to record a $2.24 million loss for the first half of the 2011 financial year.

Shares in Skywest Airlines have plunged more than 10 per cent today after the company's executive chairman announced the airline has halved its 2011 half-year profit outlook to $2.9 million.

New homes sales improved slightly in October, led by an increase in sales of detached houses, a survey shows.

The National Stock Exchange has approved the appointment of controversial businessman Frank Timis as non executive chairman of African Petroleum Corporation, but subject to unusual rules relating to the company's disclosure and governance.

Several weeks after being dumped from the Sino Iron project in the Pilbara, Austrian contractor AE&E has been placed in administration leaving hundreds of workers at the Worsley Alumina project with an uncertain future.

The Wilderness Society is calling on the Commonwealth government to further delay the release of a key report on the proposed gas hub at James Price Point.

Environment Minister Donna Faragher has resigned from cabinet ahead of the birth of her first baby, increasing speculation about the imminent return of disgraced former Treasurer Troy Buswell to the front bench.

Mines minister Norman Moore has attacked South West Greens MLC Lyn MacLaren accusing her of whipping up hysteria over the issue of a proposed coal mine in Margaret River.

Two scientific studies into the impact of the Montara oil spill have been released and have found no oil reached Australia's mainland or the Indonesia coast.

A Labor-dominated parliamentary committee has questioned whether the state government's contribution to the Oakajee port project was the best value for money for taxpayers.

Western Australians take home the second highest average annual wage in Australia at $71,706, beaten only by the residents of Canberra, according to new data.

BUSINESSES from Carnarvon and Karratha have scooped the pool at this year’s GWN Western Australian Regional Small Business Awar

The owners of the Guildford Hotel, which was gutted by fire more than two years ago, have appointed heritage and architect consultants to advise on the redevelopment of the pub.

Perth has been chosen to host a major Liquefied Natural Gas conference in April 2016, which is expected to inject up to $50 million into the state's economy.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has given environmental approval for Shell's Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Project in the Browse Basin with strict conditions.

The dispute between Burrup Holdings managing director Pankaj Oswal and the company's 35 per cent shareholder Yara Australia has escalated after Burrup blocked an independent audit of its financial accounts.

The state opposition has accused Premier Colin Barnett of misleading parliament by not releasing hundreds of documents relating to contact with Queensland mining magnate Clive Palmer.

The state opposition says it will do whatever it can to reverse a decision to award the contract for non-clinical services at the new Fiona Stanley Hospital to UK-based Serco.

Environment Minister Donna Faragher has released an integrated conservation strategy for the Greater Western Woodlands in the state's south east, saying the area will be protected but benefits from mining, pastoralism, tourism, and forestry will continue

The state government expects that new residents will start moving into National Lifestyle Villages' new $30 million housing estate in Karratha by Christmas.