Michael Ramsey

Industry groups have welcomed the federal government's announcement of an independent review into the 457 visa scheme.

A joint venture between Viento Group and indigenous business Koodaideri has been awarded a $5 million road maintenance contract at Rio Tinto's Nammuldi below watertable project.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has reported a stronger half-year profit result, driven by the successful completion of key contracts.

Saracen Mineral Holdings has taken advantage of a strong share price rally to launch a capital raising to fund its Thunderbox project acquisition and strengthen its balance sheet.

Atlas Iron has confirmed it will ramp up production at its part-owned Mt Webber iron ore mine to 6 million tonnes per annum this year and expects to see a solid reduction in operating costs as a result of the expansion.

Mermaid Marine Australia has agreed to purchase the subsidiaries of Singapore-based marine services provider Jaya Holdings for $S625 million ($550 million), in an all-cash deal which represents one of the largest acquisitions by a Western Australian company in recent years.

Troy Resources has become the latest Perth-based miner to take a financial hit on the back of a softer gold price, reporting a half-year net loss of $6.8 million.

Belmont-based contractor GR Engineering Services has lifted its half-year net profit despite what it described as persistently subdued trading conditions in the mining services sector.

Poseidon Nickel has signalled it no longer plans to pursue a major debt capital raising in the United States, appointing a new chairman to replace US-based Bud Scruggs.

SPECIAL REPORT: Former Verve Energy CEO Shirley In’t Veld says when it comes to government-owned businesses, politics often wins out over commercial imperatives.

Swick Mining Services has posted a narrow half-year loss on the back of softer demand in the mineral driling market.

Engineering contractor Monadelphous Group has been awarded a $680 million construction contract at Inpex's Ichthys liquefied natural gas project.

Welshpool-based contractor MACA has broken a run of losses in the mining services sector, posting a 44 per cent gain in half-year profit.

Engineering and construction contractor Calibre Group has reported a 13 per cent fall in half-year net profit, driven by a slump in revenue from its rail and transport business.

Regis Resources has been forced to suspend full operations at its Rosemont and Garden Well open pit gold mines in the Goldfields for at least three months after torrential rain caused extensive flooding.

Sandfire Resources has reported a 58 per cent fall in half-year net profit on the back of almost $60 million in depreciation and amortisation expenses and exploration costs.

Global law firm Jones Day will open a Perth office in April this year with plans to focus attention on project disputes in the state's growing energy sector.

A peak industry group says new data showing a drop in apprentice and trainee commencements is cause for concern and reflects continuing employer uncertainty about the state of the economy.

Engineering and construction contractor Decmil Group has posted a 10 per cent increase in half-year profit, despite reporting a decline in revenue.

Mining equipment supplier Emeco Holdings has posted a $180 million half-year loss, writing off $158 million in goodwill amid softness in the mining sector.

Litigation funder Bentham IMF and law firm Slater & Gordon will pursue a potential class action against failed engineering contractor Forge Group amid allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct by the company.

The Environmental Protection Authority has rejected a bid to rezone land in Port Hedland which LandCorp had earmarked for its proposed $152 million Spoilbank Marina development.

Diversified industrial group Schaffer Corporation has posted a 7 per cent half-year profit reduction on the back of a goodwill impairment in the company's building products division.

Point of sale financing group ThinkSmart has returned to positive territory, posting a $2.3 million full-year net profit in 2013 after recording a loss in 2012.

Property investor and developer Aspen Group says it is likely to post a half-year loss of up to $72 million on the back of impairments on a number of its assets, including the Septimus Roe office tower in central Perth.

Mount Gibson Iron has added to the run of strong half-year results from iron ore miners, more than doubling its net profit on the back of record sales. The market, however, marked down its shares after the company confirmed it would not pay interim dividends.

Contractor Brierty has posted a 19 per cent half-year profit reduction as increased competition in the company's civil construction division squeezed its margins.

Seven Group Holdings chief executive Don Voelte has stepped down from his role as chairman of oil and gas junior Nexus Energy, saying the position was no longer appropriate as Seven Group eyes opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

Macmahon Holdings has returned to profitability but warned that tough conditions for companies servicing the mining industry are unlikely to pass anytime soon.

Engineering group RCR Tomlinson says its $140 million purchase of infrastructure business Norfolk Group is paying dividends, announcing a 14 per cent increase in half-year net profit.

Engineering contractor Monadelphous Group has posted a record half-year net profit of $87.1 million, with cost-cutting efforts offsetting softer revenue.

The City of Perth is poised to give the green light to plans for a $280 million, 40-level luxury hotel development in East Perth.