Mark Beyer

Union membership has declined to 1.7 million people, or about 19 per cent of the workforce, data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics has found.

Last week’s takeover of United Credit Union continues a long run of Western Australian financial institutions falling prey to interstate and overseas predators; but surprisingly, this trend has done little to dampen competition.

Readers with long memories may recall that one of Bob Hawke’s major initiatives upon being elected prime minister in 1983 was to convene a national economic summit.

Japanese company Inpex has attracted the ire of environmental campaigners over its planned gas project off the Kimberley coast, yet it won an environmental award at last week’s Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) conference

The possibility of Western Australia becoming a major international centre for radio astronomy has prompted the state’s two major universities to recruit some of the world’s top minds in this specialist field

The multi-million dollar fortunes of Paladin Energy Ltd chairman Rick Crabb and company secretary Gillian Swaby are at risk after the company disclosed that about half their shares are subject to margin loans with failed lender Lift Capital.

Engineering and construction company Clough Ltd has continued a run of big contract wins, being awarded a $260 million contract for Apache Energy's Devil Creek gas project in the Pilbara.

The buoyant stock market conditions that prevailed for most of 2007 have helped broking firm DJ Carmichael & Co achieve a big increase in profit.

Electricity dispute  

Western Power has responded to the skilled labour shortages and rising costs in Western Australia by adopting a fundamentally different approach to its contracting and capital works program.

The market value of Western Australia’s biggest listed companies tumbled by 7.4 per cent in March to $160.7 billion.

Kerry Stokes' Seven Network Ltd today continued its attack on the performance of West Australian Newspapers Holdings Ltd, arguing that WAN's improved quarterly results did not mean the company was "back on track".

The state government plans to introduce a $780 million subsidy scheme to limit increase in electricity prices, after rejecting a recommendation to lift prices by about 60 per cent over two years.

Managing risk in the financial sector  

The mining sector, the small business sector and the regions all claim from time to time to be the powerhouse of Western Australia’s economy, and they will all find evidence to back up their claims in a new research report prepared by the Chamber of Comme

Western Australia’s resources boom may be the powerhouse of the national economy, but that is not reflected in the participants in the federal government’s Australia 2020 Summit.

Two weeks on from his retirement, the state’s top industry policy adviser says the project approvals system and the development of the Pilbara are among the most pressing issues facing the Carpenter government.

Western Australia is best known for its mining and agricultural exports, but in the past month a handful of local companies and institutions have announced deals that will widen the state’s export profile.

Gindalbie Metals Ltd's biggest shareholder has taken legal action to block the sale of 32 million shares, or more than six per cent of its issued capital, that is caught up in the collapse of Melbourne stockbroking firm Opes Prime.

Finance fall-out still a big unknown  

40U40 winners selected for prize.

A state government decision to divert trucks off part of Leach Hwy will cost the industry $20 million, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA has estimated.

Look local for ideas

Australia's population growth rate has risen to the highest level in 18 years and Western Australia is leading the way with growth of 2.35 per cent in the year to Sepetmber 2007.

The Domenic Martino-chaired ComputerCORP Ltd has announced that its planned merger with Melbourne company Leading Solutions, which was designed to create a national IT business, has been terminated.

WA keeps rolling on 

More than $6 billion is likely to be invested in Western Australia’s energy infrastructure over the next four years to meet growing demand for electricity and improve reliability. The biggest investment will be the progressive upgrade of Western Power’s

The state government has a record capital works budget, but does it have the right priorities and can it deliver?

Despite big investments in energy infrastructure, Western Australia is still subject to major disruptions.

Ask Western Australia’s two major business groups about their infrastructure priorities and the response is unexpected.

Seven Network Ltd chairman Kerry Stokes plans to break his silence on his challenge to the board of West Australian Newspapers Holdings Ltd, agreeing to speak exclusively at a WA Business News' Success and Leadership breakfast.

Energy giant Chevron has announced plans to develop its wholly owned Wheatstone gas field offshore from Karratha as a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, and says it is still pursuing plans to develop its long-delayed Gorgon LNG project nearby.