Mark Beyer

A review of Barnett government programs and projects has identified a raft of shortcomings in governance, project management and financial management, and listed Royalties for Regions as the single biggest problem.

BHP Billiton has increased the expected cost of its South Flank iron ore project to $US3.6 billion ($A4.6 billion), substantially above the estimated range it provided in June 2017 when initial funding was approved.

EY has named Fiona Drummond as its next managing partner in Western Australia, making it the second of the big four accounting firms to have a female heading its Perth office, and only the sixth out of 86 accounting firms listed on the BNiQ Search Engine.

The state government’s chief information officer Giles Nunis is moving to the private sector after a recent review recommended sweeping changes to his office, which was established under the Barnett government.

Onslow-based NTC Contracting has been awarded a civil and earthworks contract for up to five years at the Chevron-operated Wheatstone LNG plant.

PODCAST: In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss McGowan’s first year, Perth Modern School, Scarborough LNG, cryptocurrency and blockchain, Pilbara Minerals and junior mining.

Former Western Australian governor Ken Michael has been elected chairman of the board at Perth Modern School, but only after two more board members resigned yesterday ahead of a crucial meeting last night.

SPECIAL REPORT: There has been a flurry of high-profile moves by senior lawyers in Perth as the sector readies for a pick-up from several quiet years.

PODCAST: In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss market volatility, Cooper & Oxley, Bunnings, infrastructure WA, Ron Sayers, Kelvin Ryan, and musical chairs in Perth’s law firms.

Cooper & Oxley Builders has today gone into voluntary administration, but only after taking legal action to try and retrieve a $5 million investment in the Kings Square project in Fremantle.

Singapore-based developer Dradgin Pte disclosed today it had offered financial assistance to Cooper & Oxley Builders, which has suspended work on all its construction sites this week.

Cooper & Oxley Builders, which is one of the 10 largest construction companies in Perth, has suspended work on its projects while it reviews its financial viability.

PODCAST: In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss house prices – up or down? CBD office vacancies, residential building volatility, AWE bidding war, Quintis update, mining robots, Adventure World and ports and transport.

The state government has selected investment bank Investec as its commercial adviser on land registry agency Landgate, adding to speculation it is a likely privatisation target.

Three building companies with strong indigenous links have been appointed to a panel that will handle at least $25 million of state government housing work in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

Robotic technology and the internet of things will dramatically change employment patterns, accident rates and digging costs in the mining industry over the next three years, business advisory firm BDO has boldly predicted.

Western Australian builder Choiceliving (WA), which trades as Choice Living Homes, has been placed into administration less than one week after its building contractor registration was suspended.

A critical ruling by the corporate regulator has forced Quintis investors to adjourn a meeting that was called to appoint a new responsible entity for their 2002 sandalwood project.

Quintis investors hoping to appoint a new ‘responsible entity’ to have oversight of their sandalwood project will need to change plans after the corporate regulator said their two preferred entities were not eligible to take the role.

Shares in AWE jumped 16.5 per cent today after Japanese group Mitsui & Co became the third bidder for the oil and gas producer, which is the operator and half owner of the Waitsia gas field north of Perth.

Japanese group Mitsui & Co. has announced a surprise $600 million takeover bid for AWE, trumping two existing bids for the oil and gas producer, with the main attraction being AWE’s Waitsia gas project north of Perth.

The Quintis insolvency could play out very differently from other failed agribusiness investment schemes.

One year into his new job, Cash Converters chief executive Mark Reid is on a culture change journey.

Three partners of McGrathNicol have formally taken control of sandalwood producer Quintis and its Australian subsidiaries after being appointed as receivers and managers today.

Fremantle-based Primary Securities and Sydney-based Huntley Group are positioning themselves to take over as the responsible entity for Quintis forestry schemes, as investors continue to question the motives of the company’s board and its major noteholder.

The directors of Quintis have shed light on two restructuring proposals they had been trying to finalise, after announcing on Sunday they had placed the sandalwood producer in administration because of its inability to make a $37 million payment due in two weeks.

Quintis faces more financial pressure after an investor exercised a put option to sell $37 million of plantations to the troubled sandalwood producer.

PODCAST: In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss the Australian dollar and commodities, blockchain technology, contract wins and deals, Imdex's expansion, and franchising.

Mining equipment supplier Imdex expects it will be able to deliver substantial productivity benefits to its clients after striking an option agreement over New Zealand company Flexidrill.

Blackham Resources has signed up Hartleys as lead manager for a $36 million capital raising that will be priced at just 4 cents per share, while mining contractor MACA has agreed to lend $14 millio

SPECIAL REPORT: There have been some big moves among corporate finance dealmakers in Perth, who worked on more than 850 transactions worth nearly $25 billion in 2017.

PODCAST: In this Business News podcast Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss the funeral business, St John of God Healthcare, cultural developments, big moves in corporate finance sector and Business News celebrates 25 years.