Matt Mckenzie

Engine technology developer Orbital Corporation has moved to acquire half of electrical product manufacturer REMSAFE from co-founder Nick Bertucci for $5 million.

International aluminium producer Alcoa has joined a number of companies fined for workplace deaths this year, today receiving a $68,000 fine for a fatality at its Wagerup refinery five years ago.

Attention turns to the state’s south as the property market in the north-west stalls.

The inclusion of gambling revenue in Commonwealth Grants Commission funding is one of a number of suggestions to reform Australia’s federation, following the release of a recent federalism paper by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia.

Cattle and lamb slaughters have continued on a strong upwards trend in September 2014, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Gold miner Resolute Mining has announced plans raise $25 million through a convertible note issue to fund projects in West Africa and near Peel.

Embattled collier Continental Coal has struck a $70 million deal to offload its interest in its South African subsidiary, leaving the company debt free and with excess cash reserves.

The state’s healthcare and social services sectors are in for another decade of rapid change, industry leaders say, after growing employee numbers by more than 60,000 during the past 10 years.

Western Australia is feeling the effects of recent changes to workplace relations law, with 457 visa restrictions causing skills shortages in niche markets and a high level of industrial activity.

Our annual Biggest Employers feature has the latest BNiQ data on employment trends in WA, including the companies that are expanding and those that are shrinking, and in-depth analysis of what's happening in mining, construction, health care, accounting, law and other industries.

Western Australia would rank third in the world in economic freedom if it were its own country, but recent resources-driven success should not make governments complacent about reform, according to Canada’s Fraser Institute.

Expanding the coverage of the foreign ownership register, further investment in infrastructure, abolition of excessive regulation and adjustments to the tax system have all been suggested as policy initiatives in the federal government’s Agricultural Competitiveness green paper.

Mining contractor Macmahon Holdings has again extended talks with Mongolian government-owned coal miner Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi concerning $30 million it is owed in overdue payments.

A recent Grattan Institute report on the east coast gas market has further fuelled debate in Western Australia over the merits or otherwise of the gas reservation policy.

The state government will legislate to include the University of Western Australia, Kings Park, the QEII Medical Centre and the City of Vincent in the City of Perth, but will not include the Burswood Peninsula after that proposal was rejected by the independent Local Government Advisory Board.

The state government has further incentive to loosen retail trading restrictions after a Productivity Commission report found current regulations are of no benefit to business, but impose a major cost on consumers.

Encouraging employee share ownership, reform in vocational education and training, increasing skilled immigration, and the establishment of industry growth centres will be key planks in the federal government’s new industry innovation and competitiveness agenda, released last week.

The Australian dairy industry would not benefit from adoption of a Fonterra-style ‘national champion’, as in New Zealand, and suggestions otherwise are not consistent with market realities, according to a recent Productivity Commission report.

Subiaco-based graphite player Kibaran Resources has achieved some preliminary success in developing a process to convert the carbon-based mineral into graphene.

Two long-term Perth franchises are hoping to embrace opportunities in WA's changing economy.

Former copper and gold explorer Quintessential Resources has moved another step towards its scrip takeover of technology incubation company Yonder and Beyond with the appointment of Y&B chief executive Shashi Fernando as a non-executive director.

The state government must take action to amend its freight network lease, and should take action to recommission rail lines that have been put into care and maintenance, according to a report by the state parliament’s Economic and Industry Standing Committee.

Leading plant technology provider ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions has unveiled its newly expanded service centre in Henderson today.

Australian resources companies are under-represented in Latin America’s mining sector despite its attractive operating environment, according to a seasoned player in the region.

Housing finance for owner occupation fell 2 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms last month, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ August figures.

WA’s higher education providers are benefiting from strong growth in Asia, but are facing increased competitive pressure.

Chinese demand continues to drive export growth in Western Australia, with more than 57 per cent ($6.2 billion) of the state’s $10.9 billion of goods exports in August bought by China.

Niche production of quality exports might be the future for high-cost sectors of WA’s agribusiness industry.

The Productivity Commission has called for a series of reforms to improve the competitiveness of the dairy industry, and warned that the federal government’s drought assistance measures would have costly unintended consequences.

Tin and gold producer Metals X will reward shareholders with an $11 million dividend, the first since the company was listed over a decade ago.

The state government has announced a further investment in the local agriculture industry, with nearly $10 million to go to a new sheep business centre in Katanning.

Local miner Western Areas is extending its exploration program in South Australia, inking farm-in and joint venture agreements with Gunson Resources and Monax Mining.