Mark Beyer

The planned merger of Curtin and Murdoch universities highlights the major changes facing Western Australia’s higher education sector. WA Business News convened a boardroom forum to discuss the current issues and future outlook for the state’s public universities.

As many businesses consider new ways of supporting university training in light of Western Australia’s growing skills crisis, the Fogarty Foundation is one organisation already doing something.

Perth's Technology Park got an unexpected result when it invited the commercialisation experts from Perth’s four public universities to speak at its 20th anniversary conference last week.

The Royal Automobile Club of WA’s foray into the mortgage broking business has proved costly, with the group writing down the value of its broking arm by $4.3 million.

Financial services company Sealcorp is planning to hire an extra 45 technology staff in Perth, reinforcing its position as one of the biggest systems development houses in Western Australia.

The hospitality sector has introduced a new ‘fast track’ training scheme that will be the envy of other industries struggling to cope with the shortage of skilled labour in Western Australia.

Belmont firm PCT Engineers has used its oil and gas expertise as a basis for diversifying into the defence sector, in partnership with east coast consulting firm Capability by Design.

A new technology float that is commercialising products developed in the US is working with Curtin University in Perth to research future developments.

Listed Perth company ORT Limited has signed a funding agreement with Perpetual Investment Management that it hopes will end a year-long halt to work at its flagship waste treatment project.

Twenty years after Technology Park was established as a research and development centre in Bentley, the State Government is preparing to spend $25 million developing what it calls a technology precinct in the area.

The massive oil and gas projects in the north-west of Western Australia have overshadowed the development of the Perth Basin and the emergence of ARC Energy. Mark Beyer reports.

Western Power has deferred the sale of Bright Telecommuni-cations after turning around the subsidiary’s financial performance by focusing on niche Internet services.

Software developer Chris Farquhar, who established WiredCity in Perth in 1999, has scored another success following his move to Silicon Valley in California.

Burswood-based automotive supplies cooperative Capricorn Society has continued its rapid growth with sales revenue jumping 16 per cent to $537.6 million in the year to June 2005.

The Gallop government has allocated an additional $890 million to cover extra capital works spending in the health system.

IBT Education has become the third listed Western Australian company in as many months to switch its audit work from a second-tier firm to one of the big four accounting firms.

The Gallop Government has reported a surprisingly large $1.24 billion budget surplus for 2004-05, adding to pressure on Treasurer Eric Ripper to deliver major tax cuts. Also releasing its final results this week was Western Power, which as expected report

Western Australia’s chief executives are the most confident in the country, according to the latest survey by The Executive Connection.

Sonic Healthcare subsidiary SKG Radiology has highlighted the growing cost of modern medical technology with its latest capital spending plans.

Fremantle is poised to become home to Western Australia’s 30th Community Bank branch, which will break new ground by targeting the local business community.

A big interest bill and one-off amortisation charges have seen heavy equipment hire company Emeco Group report a net loss of $2.1 million for the half-year to June.

Bidders for failed beef processor EG Green & Sons will have to spend an estimated $15 million to address bottlenecks in its Harvey abattoir, industry sources have told WA Business News.

The petrochemical industry, which has long been targeted as a growth sector for Western Australia, seems likely to start realising some of its potential during the next year.

The State Government is cranking up its tourism marketing push in China with the establishment of a full-time tourism office in Shanghai.

The Kailis and Paspaley families can look forward to continued dominance of Australia’s pearling industry after a major review recommended only gradual changes to the current quota production system.

BHP Billiton subsidiary Worsley Alumina could become a significant player in the Western Australian electricity industry after gaining approval to build a second 120 megawatt gas-fired power station.

With a review of Western Australia’s public infrastructure concluding it is generally superior to other states, the Gallop Government is spending $4.7 billion this year to try and keep it that way.

Alumina and petrochemicals are set to join the iron ore and oil and gas industries as major drivers of the state’s extraordinary investment boom, WA Business News’annual major projects review has found.

Foodland Associated has reported a drop in net profit after spending $19.6 million on its takeover defence and subsequent demerger and schemes of arrangement.

THE five-year battle by WA Plantation Resources to build a $10 million woodchip mill in the South West comes to a head this week, with Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan personally hearing submissions from the company and the City of

Canadian company Custom House Global Foreign Exchange has expanded its Perth operations with a view to joining Travelex as an alternative to the banks in the commercial forex market.

Having spent 12 years and $US45 million developing its software, technology company DDD Group plc may be on the brink of finally turning a profit for its patient shareholders.