Mark Beyer

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering and Leighton Contractors have gone their separate ways after failing to negotiate mutually acceptable terms for a major contract on the Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

The iron ore sector illustrates the profound impact technology and innovation can have on ‘old’ industries.

The high Australian dollar is generally considered bad news for business, but some of the recent evidence suggests it is not that simple.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has suffered a setback to its growth plans, announcing today that it has failed to complete negotiations for a major contract on the Gorgon gas project.

Investor and entrepreneur Michael Boyd has been rapped over the knuckles by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and his company Fulcrum Equity fined $15,000 after failing to lodge annual accounts.

PERTH company Resource Development Group has started international expansion of its mining services business, 15 months after the company founders completed the highly profitable sale of their rail engineering joint venture with Calibre Group.

Orthodox views on the role of state governments and company directors were questioned at a Perth function last week.

PREMIER Colin Barnett has admitted that the state government and resources companies dropped the ball on the issue of local content, but he remains opposed to Labor’s plan for tough new laws.

Fortescue Metals Group has announced that its chief executive Andrew Forrest will retire from his current role, and will succeed Herb Elliott as chairman of the company.

Scottish engineering group Wood Group Kenny and Perth companies Fastwave Communications, Matrix Composites & Engineering and Atteris were winners in the inaugural Subsea Energy Australia awards.

Premier Colin Barnett has described relations between Canberra and the states as being at a low point, as the controversy over mining royalties and the GST continues.

The review of the GST grants system should be accelerated if Canberra is serious about delivering genuine reform.

RISING costs are hindering the growth of Western Australian businesses and in some cases prompting business owners to move their operations overseas.

The growth momentum in the natural gas industry has gathered steam over the past month, with three project proponents passing major milestones.

LEIGHTON Contractors subsidiary Metronode has released details of its new Perth data centre, which will be the fourth data centre to open in the city in the past year.

The Takeovers Panel has declined to take action against Bentley Capital chairman Farooq Khan over allegations he acted in concert with relatives to acquire shares in the listed investment company.

Premier Colin Barnett said today he was "gobsmacked" by the federal government's threats to Western Australia, as the row with Canberra over mineral royalties heats up.

Energy giant Royal Dutch Shell announced today it will go ahead with the world's first floating liquefied natural gas project, off WA's northern coast, at a cost of approximately US$12 billion.

More than ever before, the outlook for state finances seems to be dictated not by the policy decisions as by the underlying assumptions, with three being particularly important this year.

State government spending on capital works projects is projected to increase to a record $7.6 billion in 2011-12 but the government has disappointed sports fans hoping for tangible progress on development of a major new stadium.

The federal government has warned Western Australia will get lower GST grants and lower infrastructure funding after the state announced an increase in iron ore royalties in today's budget.

The state government's annual budget has projected a blow-out in state debt to more than $22 billion over the next four years but is based on revenue estimates that treasurer Christian Porter admits are not realistic.

The Barnett government seems to have slipped up in its efforts to strike a balance between decisive leadership and due process.

LEIGHTON Holdings subsidiaries Leighton Contractors and John Holland are two of Australia’s major construction contractors, but they are not names normally associated with engineering work on LNG projects.

The chief executive officer of state superannuation fund GESB, Michele Dolin, is to step down next month after eight years at the helm, a period that included an aborted plan to privatise the $13 billion group.

THE resources sector anticipates Enterprise Migration Agreements will enable more than 30 large projects to overcome the labour shortages that threaten their viability.

New figures have shed light on the enormous scale of the emerging oil and gas boom, for both investment and employment.

International conglomerate GE has bought out its Australian partner Transfield Services from their jointly owned business, Perth-based TGE Energy Services.

Two months after overcoming a bruising boardroom battle, window furnishings company Kresta Holdings has selcted internal candidate Andrew Tacey as its new chief executive.

Incoming Woodside Petroleum chief executive Peter Coleman said today he would focus on delivering on the company's established strategy, including work on its three major growth projects Pluto, Browse and Sunrise.

Burrup Fertilisers founder Pankaj Oswal has stepped up his criticism of the sale process of the ammonia producer, and revealed that he has a claim for US$500 million against the company, which is currently in receivership.

The backers of the James Price Point gas hub in the Kimberley face real challenges getting support where it is really needed.