Mark Pownall

I can’t work out whether Premier Alan Carpenter has pulled a masterstroke of politics or blundered beyond compare with his talk of reserving gas for domestic use.

Liberal Party state president Danielle Blain has hit back at claims that the party is broke, outlining a new fundraising strategy at the weekend state conference where accounts were revealed showing a significant asset base.

Small Business Development Corporation managing director George Etrelezis is to officially leave the organisation next week, ending the reign of one of Western Australia's great political survivors.

A new phenomenon seems to have arisen across the nation. Australians now seem to think that the federal government’s welfare and protection extends beyond our borders to anywhere they may be.

Well Written specialises in helping managers move their business or business unit forward by developing and formalising their management systems, policies and procedures.

The glare of the markets can sometimes be a costly distraction for companies.

Housing affordability is something we are hearing more and more about. It’s the classic case of an issue everyone knows is a major problem yet no-one is really prepared to deal with.

Jennifer Clay launched JH Computer Services more than 20 years ago in response to a need to service the emerging personal computer marketplace.

Evans & Tate CEO Martin Johnson is optimistic about the winemaker’s future.

In an already competitive airspace, Western Australia’s regional air charter sector is set to have a new player after Brisbane-based Alliance Airlines Pty Ltd muscled into the local business.

Politics has always been a subject we’ve tried to cover objectively, seeing the issues from a business point of view, which is often quite removed unless the subject affects the bottom line.

Regina Eccleston-Wirth started as a sole-trader in September 2005, and incorporated after four months, to become Waxing Moon Pty Ltd trading as The Nappy Tree.

Western Australia's biggest advertising agency Marketforce has announced a merger with local rival MJB&B, effective from August 1.

Just as one battle ends, it may well be that another is beginning. Last week, Australian Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo made a submission to a federal parliamentary inquiry into tax issues, stating that 98 per cent of some 42,000 cases involving tax-

Patersons Securities Ltd has brought in former Western Australian stockbroker Andrew Coppin to drive its national expansion and, hopefully, share the spoils of success.

There has been a lot of discussion recently about whether or not Telstra will be investing billions in rolling out a new network.

Perth-based stockbroker Patersons Securities Ltd has brought in former Western Australian broker Andrew Coppin to drive its national growth plans.

Perth debt collection specialist Keith John has sold his Pioneer Credit Management Services business into a listed national enterprise for the second time in the past six years.

A few months ago I found myself disagreeing with a move to gag barristers discussing their clients’ cases.

Multiplex's construction arm may be saddled with the weight of troubles in the UK, but its fund management arm is not pausing for breath - lodging a prospectus for a $170 million fund raising for its new fund to buy the American Express site in Sydney.

iiNet founder and managing director Michael Malone has increased is stake in the company to almost 20 per cent, shelling out $4.3 million.

Our Most Influential survey enters its fifth year this week – the first time Geoff Gallop is not heading the list.

Michael Malone has emerged from a month-long trading halt still in charge of Australia’s third-ranked ISP. But in many ways it’s a substantially changed business.

West Perth has intrigued me for several years. It is everything that governments try to do when they create business parks or clusters to help foster the development of an industry.

The appointment of Chris Sutherland as chief executive of Perth-based labour hire company Integrated Group appears to have restored the market’s faith in the company.

WA Business News has again won key awards for business newspaper publishing, taking out the bronze for Best Newspaper – small tabloids, and a bronze for Best Scoop.

A few years back we ran a piece on Western Australia becoming a branch economy, reflecting on the loss of major businesses and brands in sell-outs to national firms.

Subiaco-based winemaker Evans & Tate has claimed a big win in its legal tussle with distributor Australian Beverage Distributors Pty Ltd, announcing that the NSW Supreme Court has dismissed ABD's winding up application.

Shares in Perth-based Amcom Telecommunications Ltd surged 28 per cent after it emerged as a big buyer of iiNet Ltd stock, taking 19.97 per cent of the ISP with funding from Futuris Corp Ltd.

Biofuesls are not going to save rural Western Australia or deliver fuel users from the tyranny of high petrol prices.

Ending its five-week trading halt at the beginning of this week, iiNet shares plunged as expected to levels around 85 cents per share, the mark struck as a placement deal with white knight PowerTel Ltd.

I regret I didn’t take advantage of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission’s live streaming of its hearing into the Trades and Labor Council’s application for a 4 per cent wage rise.