Mark Beyer

Adelaide-based York Civil has won its fourth substantial project in Western Australia since opening its Perth office in 2012, after teaming up with an Italian contractor new to the WA market to win

Australia has lost one of the most colourful and controversial figures in the nation's corporate and sporting history with the death of Alan Bond after open heart surgery.

WA needs more artistic and cultural attractions that are unique to the state, and less bureaucracy, to achieve its potential as a tourism destination, industry players have told Business News.

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has retained her place as Australia's wealthiest person in the BRW rich list, but her wealth will take a hit of up to $5 billion after her eldest daughter was awarded control of a family trust following a long-running legal battle.

Helping small business is turning into a bigger business for a handful of service providers selected to run the state government’s SME advisory network, which is about to go through a large and, in places, contentious restructure.

Three Perth industrial businesses, including Fero Group and Hofmann Engineering, are set to invest more than $40 million in new manufacturing facilities after securing federal government grants.

National engineering group UGL and WA-based bulk fuel distributor Great Southern Fuel Supplies have struck agreements with BP to operate and maintain some of the petroleum giant's facilities.

The popularity of Busselton as a residential base for FIFO workers has contributed to solid growth in house prices in the South West city, which is now a more expensive place to buy a home than Karratha, where property values continue to plummet.

A federal government move to set itself targets for indigenous procurement has met with a disappointed response from established contractors, with one critic labelling it as ‘smoke and mirrors’.

Andrew and Nicola Forrest are recognised as two of Western Australia’s most prominent philanthropists, but recent developments in Canberra show their influence on social policy continues to spread.

Social impact bonds could deliver more money and market discipline to the not-for-profit sector.

Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest says Brazilian iron ore giant Vale is a responsible producer, on the same day that Roy Hill Holdings chief executive Barry Fitzgerald warned about the impact of Vale’s rapid expansion.

Woodside Petroleum has provided some telling insights into how it plans to achieve $800 million in productivity gains by the end of next year; as well as chopping 600 jobs, it has slashed the number of vendors supplying its Australian business from 3,000 to 800.

Just days after it strongly criticised plans for a new medical school at Curtin University, the Australian Medical Association is again at odds with the state government, this time over a restructuring of Healthway.

The war of words over a proposed parliamentary inquiry into the iron ore industry escalated today, with BHP Billiton saying it would send a "terrible signal" to Australia's trading partners, while the main supporter of an inquiry claimed he had been misrepresented.

BHP Billiton spin-off South32 has closed its first day of trade on the ASX valued at $10.91 billion, ranking it as Western Australia’s third largest company and a top 30 stock nationally.

Having run the local operations of multinational MTU Detroit Diesel for 10 years, Mike Cippitelli has established a new business that is defying the tough times facing many operators in Western Australia.

Michael Chaney’s return to Wesfarmers confirms his standing as the most influential company director in WA. Click through to see our listing of the 12 Most Influential company directors in WA.

The ‘iron ore wars’ and budget battles are defining where power and influence lies in business and politics in WA. Read our latest Most Influential feature to see who is on the rise, whose influence is waning and who has dropped off the list.

The new chair of the University of Western Australia’s Energy and Minerals Institute says scientists and researchers need to deliver tangible results to their industry partners.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has declared support for an inquiry into the iron ore industry, providing a huge boost for the campaign being waged by Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest against his two biggest competitors.

The state government’s decision to sell Fremantle Ports is likely to halt two separate sale and tender processes currently under way, including privatisation of the port’s automotive trade.

The state government is aiming to collect up to $5 billion from a vastly expanded privatisation program that includes Fremantle Ports, the TAB, office buildings, residential land estates, Keystart loans, houses, plantations and power stations.

Premier Colin Barnett has rejected calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the iron ore industry, despite repeating his criticism of the major producers.

Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have highlighted their competitive advantage in the iron ore market, with BHP predicting further large reductions in its operating costs in the Pilbara and Rio detailing the big price discount Fortescue Metals Group has to accept for its products.

A privately owned transport group that started operations in 1996 after winning a Transperth contract to run bus services in Midland has secured a major new contract in Singapore.

The owners of two major iron ore developments in the Pilbara have flagged changes to their timetable and ownership structure respectively, as they seek to deal with the sharp fall in iron ore prices.

Mining industry groups in Perth and Canberra have come out today in favour of free markets in the iron ore industry, after Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest criticised the actions of heavywights Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.

The owners of South Perth company Desktop Mapping Systems, led by managing director David Baxter, have agreed to sell the business to ASX-listed Technology One for $12 million in cash.

Most of the big law firms in Perth have shrunk in size over the past year, with Ashurst experiencing the biggest drop in staff, while only a couple of smaller firms have achieved significant growth, research by Business News has found.

Rio Tinto reaffirmed today plans to continue its brownfield iron ore expansions in the Pilbara but has noted all new mine developments are still on hold, leaving a question mark over when it will reach its 360 million tonnes per year production target.

South32 chief executive Graham Kerr says he is confident the diversified mining company will be ready to operate as an independent entity later this month, after BHP Billiton shareholders strongly endorsed the demerger.