Matt Mckenzie

The travel industry is reeling from a decision by the US government to ban all travel from Europe for a month, while the Australian government has decided against a similar move after consideration. Shares in ASX-listed travel companies were smashed today in response to the clamp down and as travel dries up globally.

Premier Mark McGowan has called for federal support to get a new research centre for hydrogen and LNG exports off the ground, while there’s work under way to attract investment in new industries using domestic gas.

The federal government will announce a stimulus package of up to $20 billion tomorrow to fight the impact of the Covid-19 virus, it has been reported this afternoon, while $2.4 billion of new health funding was announced today.

PODCAST: Dan Wilkie and Matt Mckenzie discuss the ongoing impacts of coronavirus, new economic data, positivity in property, a Liberal Party reshuffle, Andrew Forrest's investments, King Street exodus, the fashion festival, a Roy Hill contractor goes under, and a special report on junior miners.

Western Australia-based businesses have won 70 of 134 contracts awarded for work on five major mining projects, while state government data shows 53 tenders were awarded to businesses with local content plans in the 2019 financial year.

SPECIAL REPORT: The Perth Basin could be in for a transformational year.

SPECIAL REPORT: Decisions are expected on three major oil and gas projects worth $24 billion combined in 2020, with more to follow.

Creditors have opted to liquidate Perth Fashion Festival today, just days after festival director Tony Sage failed to sell down his Perth Glory soccer club stake; while the administrators had been unable to recover a debt owed to the company by industry body the Fashion Council WA.

An increase in retail spending, a growing population and improved housing finance figures suggest positive times ahead for Western Australia’s economy, according to CommSec chief economist Craig James.

Woodside Petroleum and BHP have reshuffled their interests in two petroleum titles key to the Scarborough LNG project, as the companies prepare for a final investment decision this year.

A move by Norwegian government-backed Equinor to withdraw from oil and gas exploration in the Great Australian Bight has been labelled disappointing by industry groups, and welcomed by environmentalists.

A 34 per cent lift in first-half profit at MMA Offshore shows an improving environment for offshore service providers, with the company having won work with Woodside and Esso.

Yara Pilbara and Engie have received a $1 million boost for a planned renewable hydrogen project from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, but Western Australia will not be involved in the establishment of a new Australian Hydrogen Centre.

Wesfarmers has sold $1.1 billion of Coles shares, reducing its holdings of the supermarket chain to 10 per cent, while revealing $24 million of payroll problems during its half-yearly results released today.

As rapid technological change disrupts the economy, WA must ensure women share the benefits.

Almost one in 10 people aged 24 to 30 have left WA in the past five years, signalling more must be done to create a culture of opportunity.

Ambitious entrepreneurs and sensible policies could make WA the world’s pre-eminent location for data analytics, remote operations and high-tech industries.

The Metronet rail rollout could cost about $2 billion more than first estimated, as the state government gets shovels moving on projects amid delays.

An industry consortium including Woodside and two universities has confirmed Perth will be the hub of a new remote operations centre dedicated to the space industry.

How do we prepare the next generation for the jobs of the future?

Australia’s economy could go backwards in the March quarter, although a recession is unlikely, one of Australia’s top economists has warned.

Iron ore miner Roy Hill Holdings is taking a further leap into the world of autonomous mining, selecting Epiroc and ASI Mining to convert its fleet of 77 trucks from manned to driverless use.

The Fashion Council WA says it is finalising a deal to pay suppliers to the 2019 Perth Fashion Festival, four months after the event.

Work on the first Henderson-built offshore patrol vessel will get under way within weeks, part of a 12-ship program worth $2 billion headed by German business Luerssen and local partner Civmec.

SPECIAL REPORT: Bushfires on Australia’s east coast will put pressure on emissions policy at a time when decisions are being made on major projects needed to boost the economy in the west.

SPECIAL REPORT: A hiatus in the US-China trade war and an improved economic outlook gives WA leaders an opportunity to look at longer-term challenges such as climate change and technological disruption.

More than 80 per cent of spending on the Eliwana iron ore project has been through local contractors, Fortescue Metals Group said today, while Premier Mark McGowan announced a major approval had been fast tracked to enable the mine to be completed on schedule.

A decision by Wesfarmers and partner SQM to pause investments at the Mount Holland mine and Kwinana refinery bring to about $3 billion the value of lithium projects deferred in Western Australia during the past year.

Domestic gas users will benefit by as much as $241 million over five years under Australian Gas Infrastructure Group’s latest pricing proposal for the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline.

Indian state-owned corporation NMDC recently lifted its stake in local mining hopeful Legacy Iron Ore to more than 90 per cent in a deal that minor shareholders say dramatically diluted their equity, with regulators powerless to take action.

A private business has lodged documents with the environmental regulator for a new bauxite mine in the Kimberley, a project estimated to be worth around $35 million.

Burch Family Wines chief executive and 40under40 winner Anthony Wilkes is making a move into beef with his appointment to Yeeda Pastoral Company, which takes effect next month.