Mark Beyer

Australia's inflation rate was higher than expected in the September quarter, prompting economists to review whether the Reserve Bank will agree to any further interest rate cuts.

Mining services group Emeco Holdings has recruited Aurizon executive Ken Lewsey as its new managing director, on a package that will make him one of the top 25 best-paid executives in Perth.

A global business executive provided a good perspective this week on two perennial issues – dealing with change and coping with high costs.

The value of Western Australia's resources industry has fallen slightly from last year's record level, but has still topped $100 billion for the third consecutive year.

Business News' annual export review charts the state’s reliance on a handful of major companies and commodities, despite the emergence of new players.

Sino Gas & Energy Holdings has reported an increase in reserves and resources for its production sharing contracts in China.

Alumina producer Alcoa of Australia has revealed it's cutting dozens of jobs from its local operations and pushing all of its contractors to slash their rates by 12 per cent.

Nothing beats real-life examples to illustrate the costly and debilitating effect of the bureaucratic process.

Macmahon Holdings has written to shareholders urging them to vote in favour of the company’s remuneration report, to ensure it does not incur a ‘second strike’.

Broome Port Authority has secured Royalties for Regions funding for an upgrade that will bolster its ability to compete with Darwin as a supply base for offshore oil and gas projects.

Property developer Paul Blackburne is finalising plans for a major apartment development in Swanbourne, after completing the purchase of a site on Alfred Road.

Pay cuts, some up to 50 per cent, were the order of the day in the Business News quarterly CEO salary survey, but not all companies have been on trend.

The strong growth in RCR Tomlinson's share price has delivered windfall gains for chief executive Paul Dalgleish, who exercised another batch of share options today.

The search for growth industries beyond mining is a perennial topic of debate in Australia.

The Brian Gilberston-led Jupiter Mines plans to seek a delisting of its shares from the Australian Securities Exchange, after its major shareholder lifted its stake in the business.

The sale of 16 private businesses worth an estimated $500 million helped to sustain activity in what was otherwise a depressed market for mergers and acquisitions in the September quarter in Western Australia.

Western Australia’s payroll tax system is one of the most onerous in the country, according to a review by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has advocated major reform of transfer duties and payroll tax.

It will be fascinating to see where Economic Regulation Authority chairman Lyndon Rowe takes his inquiry into micro-economic reform.

Sandy MacKellar and Chris Glass’s counter-cyclical approach to property investing has delivered high returns during the past 20 years.

The Fremantle Dockers’ on-field success has delivered a pay-day for its supporters and corporate sponsors.

The state government was caught by surprise last week when ratings agency Standard & Poor's cut Western Australia's long-term rating from AAA to AA+.

The certainty and stability that business craves from Canberra may not be delivered.

Status quo was the election headline in Western Australia - but there will still be several new voices on the state's political stage.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has released further details on growth options for its iron ore business, after loading the first shipment of iron ore from its expanded Pilbara operations.

OF all the listed companies looking to join the ranks of Western Australian iron ore producers, Iron Ore Holdings stands apart.

Former Leighton Holdings chief executive Wal King has been recruited by Hong Kong-based CITIC Pacific to help deal with problems at its trouble-plagued Sino Iron project.

With Tony Abbott cruising towards The Lodge, it is imperative that he lays out the path forward.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group says it remains focused on debt reduction, despite playing hardball on a proposed asset sale and lifting its annual dividend following a strong surge in profit

Atlas Iron has reported a significant improvement in earnings in the second half of the financial year, but it was not sufficient to offset big write-downs and weak operating profits carried over f

Government failures at James Price Point can teach us many lessons, around long-term planning, due process and adapting to change.

Global resources giant BHP Billiton's full-year profit has fallen by 29 per cent to $US10.9 billion ($A12.0 billion), as falling commodity prices outweighed efforts to cut costs.

Premier Colin Barnett's push to keep the Browse gas project onshore has suffered another blow, with lead proponent Woodside recommending, as expected, the construction of a floating offshore plant