Government

Legislation designed to simplify the mining approvals process in Western Australia amid record exploration spending and labour shortages has passed in the upper house overnight.

About half of the state’s local governments will either lose councillors, move to direct mayoral elections or abolish wards as a result of sweeping overhauls to the sector.

One of the state's leading commercial litigators, Michael Lundberg, has been appointed as the first Aboriginal judge on the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

Corporate accounting and legal giants Grant Thornton and MinterEllison have been named in a CCC report into further Department of Communities misconduct.

Premier Mark McGowan's former director of strategy has resurfaced to spearhead a new branch of eastern states lobbying company Anacta.

The McGowan government has confirmed that its latest wages offer includes a one-off $3,000 bonus payment and will cost taxpayers more than $3 billion.

Kate Chaney has conditionally backed the ongoing use of gas in the path to net zero while panning the business case for Woodside's Scarborough project as overly optimistic.

Australia's peak social services group is warning a slight increase to the JobSeeker payment will do little to help the poorest people make ends meet.

Laws to set up a national anti-corruption commission might not pass until early 2023, a senior Labor MP says.

Philip Lowe has denied saying interest rates wouldn't be lifted until 2024 as an independent review into the reserve bank is set to examine the effectiveness of its communication.

Those fighting to repurpose the Fremantle Traffic Bridge say it can serve a practical, modern purpose as well as a historical one.

Former premier Colin Barnett believes it's time to bite the bullet and demolish the South Fremantle Power Station in the wake of another failed bid to redevelop the 1951 building.

The City of Nedlands is pursuing greater protection for its land after being overruled by the state government on the proposed children's hospice and Tawarri Hot Springs.

The McGowan government won't confirm if it has made a new pay offer in a third attempt to quell anger from public sector workers.

Michelle Roberts has forged a political career the envy of many since coming to the attention of Labor Party talent scouts in 1988.

Mark McGowan has backed the board of the Perth Mint amid reports its owner was operating without the necessary registration, putting the matter down to an “administrative failing”.

The Town of Cottesloe and Andrew Forrest's Fiveight are butting heads again over the proposed facelift of Indiana Teahouse, with the council now nine months into its deliberations.

The permanent migration cap will be lifted this financial year to help relieve labour shortages across the country.

The prime minister says increasing the benefit to 26 weeks is worth considering - but budget constraints mean it won't happen immediately.

Land covering almost 60 hectares in Mandogalup is within Satterley and Qube Property Groups' reach after the state government stepped in to override the local council's decision.

National cabinet has agreed to reduce the mandatory isolation period for positive COVID-19 cases from seven to five days.

The shortage of workers in the resources and infrastructure sectors will peak at 84,000 in two years’ time and would be worse if not for project cancellations, Pit Crew has found.

Perth engineer Kate West will push for a greater focus on female workforce participation and better planning for the industries of the future at this week’s jobs summit.

Nine state government-owned sites are now on the market in a bid to increase the supply of social housing in Western Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed a referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution will not be in the first half of next year.

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran criminal barrister Mark Trowell has warned the Liberal Party that a proposal to force a member of parliament to resign unless they meet key performance indicators would be against the law.

A costly public investment in a private company has come up short, and with it an opportunity for more public housing.

EXCLUSIVE: A proposal to have Liberal members of state parliament meet a list of key performance indicators or be forced to resign will face robust debate at a state executive meeting this week.

Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott and FMG founder Andrew Forrest are likely to be the only Perth-based business leaders at next week’s jobs summit in Canberra, with Meg O'Neill a conspicuous absentee.

Washington's new diplomatic representative in Perth has hailed the possibility of international collaboration on defence technologies as part of the AUKUS security pact.

Perth-based gas explorer Asset Energy is reviewing its legal options against former prime minister Scott Morrison following the revelation of his secret ministerial roles.

Work is ongoing to reduce a backlog of visa processing for skilled workers looking to enter Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.