Mark Beyer

THE chief executives of Western Australia’s major industrial companies are automatically placed in a position of influence, both for the decisions they make about their own company and for the leadership role they can exercise on wider business issues.

LEATHER and the Liberal Party may not have much in common, but Danielle Blain is aiming to become an expert in marketing both.

IF there is one businessperson in Perth who stands out for their rapid rise to prominence over the past year it is Neil Hamilton.

THE Federal politicians judged to be most influential are those who both exercise power in their respective parties in Western Australia, and hold positions of some authority in Canberra.

A REPORT into February’s power supply crisis has provided a timely reminder about the importance of both forward planning and crisis management plans.

THE policies implemented by the State Government are the culmination of a complex process that filters input from multiple sources. Political advisers, lobbyists, factional power brokers and public servants can all affect the final outcome.

THE increasingly globalised nature of Western Australia’s economy is highlighted by the resource companies driving increased investment in the State.

A RESEARCH report highlighting rapid growth in State tax collections over the past decade has set the scene for the release this week of the State Budget.

SUPERANNUATION and mobile telephony have been identified as two areas likely to contribute to increased corporate fraud.

BUDDING national AM radio network WorldAudio has bought licences for three regional locations in Western Australia as it builds its network for a planned national launch at the end of August.

TWO senior tax advisers from KPMG and Pricewaterhouse Coopers have set up a consultancy specialising in the field of indirect tax.

A UNION campaign to highlight alleged exploitation of imported workers has turned into a stoush between labour hire company Freespirit and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry ove

THE new leadership of Western Australia’s largest industrial company could be announced next week after Wesfarmers’ annual strategic planning conference.

STATE taxes such as stamp duty and payroll tax are causing substantially more concern among business advisers in Western Australia than in any other State, a survey has found.

WEST Coast Group has continued its rapid growth with the recruitment of former Mellon State manager Adrienne Hall.

A TEAM of Perth-based software programmers has played a key role in the development of the Australian army’s new armed reconnaissance helicopter.

THE listed biotechnology sector has sprung to life with Perth-based companies planning to raise more than $40 million from investors in Australia and overseas.

THE staff at Total Corrosion Control have taken an unusually assertive role in challenging plans for a back-door listing of the Kwinana-based company on the Australian Stock Excha

THE recent charging of a CSBP executive over a $1.7 million fraud has served as a timely reminder of the risks posed by corporate fraud.

A SURVEY of Western Australian listed companies has highlighted the dominance of accounting firm Ernst & Young in the local audit market.

AN extraordinary rift between two blocs of shareholders could unravel the planned $5.4 million backdoor listing of Total Corrosion Control on the Australian Stock Exchange.

DANIELLE Blain is well known to many people in Perth as the State president of the Liberal Party and as a director of Schaffer Corporation.

BHP Billiton has awarded the engineering, procurement and construction management contract for its $1.4 billion Ravensthorpe nickel project to a joint venture between GRD Minproc

THE surprisingly strong growth in big resource projects across Western Australia has left industry watchers increasingly worried about looming shortages of skilled labour.

TWO thirds of Western Australian businesses believe government red tape is adversely influencing their business.

The entry of Melbourne accounting firm Pitcher Partners into the local market will be followed by more big changes among second tier accounting firms.

THE Woodside Building and the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre are two of the biggest recent commercial construction projects in Perth – and Blackadder Group supplied scaf

THE rapid growth in housing lending has been great news for Australian Finance Group, which has a hand in nearly 10 per cent of all new housing loans across the country.

A NEW policy gap between the Federal Government and the Labor Party has opened over last month’s Australian Industrial Relations Commission ruling on redundancy payments by small

FREMANTLE Port Authority will be calling tenders this week for the construction of a new rail loop and rail terminal at North Fremantle.

THE Rising Stars survey provides unique insights into the strategies and outlook of fast-growing Western Australian

Federal Opposition leader Mark Latham, visiting Perth next week, could be Prime Minister before the end of the year.