Matt Mckenzie

The federal government has had to accept some significant amendments to its bill to repeal the mining tax, including a review into the creation of an ‘Australia Fund’ and changes to superannuation increases legislated by the previous government.

The continuing strength of the Australian dollar and flat-to-falling commodity prices remain concerns for the economy.

Receivers have said there are more than two dozen potential buyers in the sale of WA’s largest locally owned mushroom farm, Jongro, with expressions of interest closing this week.

Osborne Park-based BCJ Plastics has survived four decades of change in the local manufacturing industry, but sales and research manager Tim Hartung said it was a move into boutique production that helped the company flourish.

The state government today launched a two-year project to increase the supply of labour to the agrifood industry through migration, workforce development and training.

Global law firm Squire Patton Boggs has grown its Perth corporate practice division with the addition of Simon Rear, who is moving from Allion Legal.

Western Australian new vehicle sales are down 10.2 per cent for the month of August, according to a report from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

Property developers have reported substantial earnings growth during the 12 months to June as low interest rate settings foster a transition from resources to dwelling investment.

BCP Energy International has altered its conditions in its takeover of Nido Petroleum, making the offer nearly unconditional upon 50.1 per cent acceptance.

Western Australia’s grain handling cooperative CBH Group has announced a record $4.55 per tonne growers’ rebate after a year of strong harvest last financial year.

Vocational education and training needs more funding and recognition according to business leaders in the sector, who met in Perth this week.

Sharp timing on commodities stocks has helped drive a strong result for investment manager Katana Capital, with a 187 per cent increase in revenue to $8.3 million, from $2.8 million the previous financial year.

Silver Lake Resources continues to be buffeted by a low gold price, with operating losses at its Murchison operation and impairments dragging it to a $170 million loss.

The GFC and new technology have put increasing pressure on law firms, but local firm HHG Legal Group is taking the opportunity to tailor a new service for the middle segment of the market.

What started as a hobby is developing into something Funky Monkey Bars creator Shane Roberts calls “Ikea, but for playground equipment”.

Movements in the US dollar and Ghanaian Cedi relative to the Australian dollar have combined with lower gold production and higher costs to drive Perseus Mining into losing territory.

Mineral explorer and developer Mirabela Nickel still faces uncertainty as a going concern after coming out of administration in June, on the back of lower than expected nickel prices.

Caravan and accommodation manufacturer Fleetwood Corporation has revealed a 99 per cent fall in net profit to $76,000.

Agricultural lobby group WA Farmers will be releasing its own milk brand in November, with proceeds used to support market development in the farming industry.

Drilling services provider Swick Mining Services has released its earnings and dividend for the 12 months to June 30, with net profit after tax down 83 per cent year-on-year to $1.5 million.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has won a $70 million electrical and instrumentation works contract from CITIC Pacific for its Sino Iron project at Cape Preston, adding to a $10 million job won two weeks ago.

Ship builder Austal has won a joint contract of up to $100 million with General Dynamics for provision of modernisation services to the US Navy’s Freedom and Independence class littoral combat ships.

Roleystone woman Hayley Goad has been selected by the Cattle Council of Australia as WA Beef Industry Rising Champion, and will head to Canberra for the NAB Agribusiness Beef Industry Rising Champions Initiative national final.

Fisheries minister Ken Baston has announced a new aquaculture development zone off the coast of Broome, to facilitate large scale fish farms.

Vehicle part and caravan manufacturer Fleetwood Corporation has announced a $5 million earnings drop as a result of challenging demand circumstances for recreational vehicles.

Iron ore exporter Atlas Iron has taken a $25 million hit to earnings as a result of restructuring and valuation changes to its Centaurus Metals investment.

The state government has today unveiled the Northern Beef Futures project, a $15 million investment in supply chain and trade development that it says will have a flow on benefit of half a billion dollars across the community.

Engineering and infrastructure company RCR Tomlinson has returned a fifth straight year of revenue growth, delivering a statutory net profit after tax of $43.3 million.

A recent report has found that while incomes have risen across Perth’s suburbs, some areas have struggled to keep up with the average.

Western Australia’s labour force will increase 30 per cent to 1.75 million by 2025, with the highest annual employment growth projected in agriculture, health care, education and accommodation/food services, according to a report released today by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre.

Whilst the Reserve Bank’s next move is still likely to be up, the chance of a cut has increased in the last few months, according to Bankwest’s monthly economic and financial market snapshot.

Western Australian farmers benefited from low interest rates, good crop yields and timely strength in commodity prices in the most recent financial year, according to the Planfarm Bankwest Benchmarks 2013-14.