During his two years at Business News, Michael covered public policy issues, with a broad interest in the relationship between business and politics. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Western Australia. michael.ramsey@businessnews.com.au
ERM Power says it will seek to recover legal costs paid by Empire Oil & Gas for its directors' personal legal actions against shareholders as a showdown between the two companies looms at a general meeting next month.
Point-of-sale financing solutions group ThinkSmart has entered into a trading agreement with a division of Europe's largest home improvement retail group, Kingfisher, for an innovative gas boiler product.
Chevron is one of five petroleum companies to have been awarded new exploration permits in the federal government's latest round of offshore acreage release.
Shell Australia boss Andrew Smith has defended his company's decision to walk away from an onshore gas development at James Price Point at an at-times heated parliamentary committee inquiry.
Mirabela Nickel has disclosed that it has missed an interest payment on a debt structure as the possibility of a default looms for the struggling miner.
The Environmental Protection Authority has recommended the approval of a silver-lead-zinc mine and processing facility near Kununurra involving China's largest lead producer.
Wangara-based Ranger Drilling has been awarded its largest ever contract in the form of an $18 million grade control drilling contract at Hancock Prospecting's $10 billion Roy Hill project.
Mining services company Calibre Group has launched a marketing joint venture with a Canadian oil and gas company as it looks to expand its presence into North America.
Sundance Resources has signed agreements to raise $40 million from a consortium of investors as it looks to progress its Mbalam-Nabebe iron ore project in West Africa.
Monadelphous Group has sold its aviation support services business Skystar for $10 million as it looks to implement a wide-ranging cost reduction and restructuring program.
Straits Resources says it will close its Perth office and relocate to Brisbane by the end of the month as it undertakes a significant downsizing and corporate restructuring.
Former federal resources minister Martin Ferguson has joined the board of trustees of the University of Western Australia's Energy and Minerals Institute.
Ausdrill has backed former Leighton Holdings chief executive Wal King to continue serving on its board despite allegations of bribery and corruption against Mr King and several other executives.
Perth-based AnaeCo has commenced waste material processing trials at its advanced waste treatment facility in Shenton Park almost a year after it had planned to begin processing activities at the plant.
The value of Western Australia's resources industry has fallen slightly from last year's record level, but has still topped $100 billion for the third consecutive year.
Perth-based explorer Australian American Mining Corporation has announced further capital raising plans as it looks to bring its American copper interests to production.
Payment solutions provider Emerchants has signed a three-month trial agreement with Perth-based Cash Converters International for the distribution of prepaid debit cards at the second-hand dealer's network of stores.
The war of words between Empire Oil & Gas and its joint venture partner ERM Power continues, with Empire directors warning shareholders that ERM lacks the experience needed to guide an oil and gas company.
Resolute Mining says it remains on track to achieve its production guidance despite recording softer quarterly production figures and an increase in cash costs.
Labor leader Bill Shorten has named his opposition ministry, with WA MPs Gary Gray and Melissa Parke awarded the resources and assistant health portfolios respectively.
Industry groups have welcomed the federal government's appointment of the former commissioner and deputy commissioner of the Australian Building and Construction Commission to lead the soon to be revived building industry watchdog.
Tiger Resources has lined up $US50 million in funding towards construction at its Kipoi copper project in the Democratic Republic of Congo under a proposed offtake arrangement with commodity trader Gerald Metals.
Property group PBD Developments will tap the market for $41.8 million as it looks to reduce its existing debt facilities and pursue new development projects.
West Perth-based junior Avanco Resources has completed an $18.1 million share placement as it looks to fast-track development of its Pedra Branca copper project in Brazil.
Vanadium producer Atlantic has secured a further $11.75 million in unsecured funding from its biggest shareholder, Droxford International, the latest in a series of cash injections to sustain its working capital.
The federal government has begun the process of establishing a so-called "one stop shop" for environmental approvals, announcing a three-stage framework for the process.
