Mark Pownall

THE who's who of politics behind the parliamentarians features those who act as gatekeepers to their ministers, implement policy or are appointed to shape the direction of important government agencies or corporations.

DESPITE a major spat with federal Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop, political observer Peter van Onselen still puts her in his top 10 most influential Western Australians.

THE third attempt in a decade to merge the iron ore assets of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto could resolve this issue for good, with Premier Colin Barnett seemingly prepared to negotiate over a long list of demands.

WITH the drums of the global financial crisis still pounding their deep-toned warnings, the shrill sounds of peripheral issues appear to have been drowned out.

THE world of lobbying was turned upside down with the ousting of Alan Carpenter's Labor state government in September last year.

DOMESTIC energy users pursuing greater access to the North West's existing gas supplies have a new fight on their hands, with the partners of the $50 billion Gorgon project seeking urgent joint-selling authorisation from the federal government's competiti

THE more things change, the more they stay the same.

COULD a sea of electricity generators appear on the distant horizon off Yanchep in the next few years? Perth-bred scientist and entrepreneur George Taylor certainly hopes so, having a struck a deal with Griffin Energy to develop a wave power station capab

The true price of power will soon become apparent to Western Australians.

State development agency LandCorp has become a surprise vehicle to deliver on government promises.

Environmentalists are pitching a new approach to conservation – across a region bigger than England.

Who’d be a taxi driver, particularly considering the current state of the industry?

ARE the stars aligning for a dramatic overhaul to the approvals process which caused so much angst during the boom? As the government takes receipt of the first concrete advice from three different working groups, there is growing optimism within industry

WESTERN Australia's energy users have developed a gas security plan they believe should be implemented to the benefit of the domestic power sector.

Questions are being raised over the government’s plans for infrastructure.

As the state rushes to commit to a port at Oakajee, it would do well to heed the warnings of previous infrastructure arrangements.

THERE is growing speculation that some grain traders are considering establishing their own port-based grain loading facilities to take advantage of the deregulated export environment and challenge the monopoly of grains handler CBH.

There’s a wealth of indigenous rock art on the Burrup Peninsula, if you know where to look. Mark Pownall reports.

STAFF costs at Western Australia's public universities have risen significantly as the institutions seek to deal with rising students numbers and improve their reputations at home and overseas.

Savvy South Australia’s daylight saving solution may provide the way forward for us here in the west.

THE battle to deregulate wheat exports may have been won but the war over monopolies in the sector continues.

WA’s public universities are taking up the post-boom challenge.

The temporary feel of the state’s north makes it less inviting than it could be for potential residents.

A new tell-all book on failed fuel pill company Firepower shows strong evidence of pre-meditation.

Environmental issues in the Mid West could be overcome with a more planned approach.

Could a major metropolitan centre in the Pilbara be a precursor to statehood for the region?

Mark Pownall reports on Lyle Palmer’s vision to place WA at the forefront of medical research.

PROFESSOR Lyle Palmer's Laboratory for Genetic Epidemiology has been restructured to come directly under the control of the University of Western Australia, leaving the umbrella of the WA Institute of Medical Research.

Coyne salinity plan

A new book about former department store Boans provides a fascinating insight into corporate promises

In the second part of our series on big ideas for WA, we feature FORM’s Lynda Dorrington,a passionate advocate for change.

Perth planners could learn a lot from our neighbours to the north, in Singapore.