Government

The holiday season is usually a slow news period, but one very important announcement that came out between Christmas and new year was the state government’s mid-year budget review.

The Australian Property Institute, in conjunction with Finsia, is holding its fifth annual residential property outlook breakfast, January 31 at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre.

An up-market wine bar planned for Leederville’s Oxford Street has been stopped in its tracks after the Town of Vincent rejected planning approval, leaving its developer nursing $30,000 in costs and considering taking the business to Melbourne or overseas.

Some charities and non-government agencies in the human services sectors are set to benefit from a boost in funding, after a revision of the state government’s indexation policy delivered an extra $36.3 million for organisations over the next three years.

It is fitting that the life and legacy of Sir Charles Court, the trade unionist’s son who became Western Australian Liberal premier, be celebrated when the state is in the midst of an unprecedented time of economic prosperity.

The Western Australian Trade Enquiry Service is operated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia (CCI) with the support of the WA Government’s Department of I

Five new councillors have been appointed to the Heritage Council of Western Australia, with long-standing councillor Gerry Gauntlett continuing in his position as chairperson.

Property group Stockland has sold its 25 per cent stake in the Karrinyup shopping centre for $152.5 million, more than doubling the value of its original investment.

The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia has again called on the state government to reign in the state's runaway stamp duty, after new estimates reveal stamp duty on residential homes has blown out by 31 per cent this financial year.

Banks give Swan an interest rate slap; Bad year tipped for super; Race is on to power desalination plant; Alinta shareholders are better off: Indermauer; Investors wary after second stockmarket correction

Non-farm small businesses in drought affected areas of Western Australia can apply for the state government's Dry Season Assistance grants today.

West Perth-based uranium explorer Uran Ltd has lodged an appeal against a decision by authorities in the Czech Republic to decline its licence application to explore the significant Brzkov deposit.

Oil and gas producer Chevron is planning to seek environmental approval for an additional gas production train on Barrow Island, after deciding to expand the capacity of its proposed Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project by 50 per cent.

Former Western Australian opposition leader Matt Birney announced today that he would be retiring from politics at the next state election, due in early 2009, to pursue opportunities in the private sector.

Western Australia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry has taken a swipe at the state government over its dependence on gas from the North West shelf, as the government-owned Western Power moved to allay fears of rolling blackouts this afternoon.

The Western Australian Planning Commission has approved ING Real Estate's controversial $200 million Victoria Quay redevelopment in Fremantle, paving the way for the transformation of the harbour-side locale into a major office and retail hub.

The state government has called for submissions on an issues paper released today as part of a review of electricity prices for all residential, community and business customers.

The State Government has established a new committee to work on solutions to the skills shortage in the Information and Communications Technology industry in Western Australia.

The Federal Court today ordered 91 workers who took part in unlawful industrial action on the Perth to Mandurah railway project to pay fines of up to $10,000 each.

Western Australian attorney general Jim McGinty has poured cold water on a proposal to introduce a state-based charter for human rights, saying human rights protection was "an objective best pursued at a national level".

Solbec Pharmaceuticals Ltd's Anthony Kiernan has announced his retirement as chairman and director of the company.

Prime minister Kevin Rudd and the premiers have agreed at today's Council of Australian Governments meeting to set up several working groups to drive policy reform.

Ainslie Gatt - Ainslie Gatt Art Consultancy.

Farmers in some parts of Western Australia may be still reeling from a poor season in 2006-07, but others are looking towards recovery as the 2007-08 harvest nears completion.

Premier Alan Carpenter has called on the corporate sector to lift its contribution to the Western Australian arts sector, after unveiling a $73 million arts funding package to reinvigorate the state’s cultural landscape.

This week’s property trust rout has highlighted the way in which an unexpected ‘x’ factor can change economic and market trends.

The Western Australian Trade Enquiry Service is operated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia (CCI) with the support of the WA Government’s Department of I

The state Liberal Party has put forward a radical plan to phase out commercial shipping activity at Fremantle harbour in favour of a new port at Kwinana adjacent to the private port planned by private company James Point Pty Ltd.

THE state government has rezoned more than 700 hectares in Perth’s southern suburbs for residential development, adding to the number of projects on land to be serviced by the new Perth to Mandurah ra

Mining services companies dominated the major business awards programs in Western Australia in 2007, which was a fitting reflection of the economic drivers during the year.

Future generations of Western Australians are likely to recall 2007 because of several significant, indeed unique, political events.

The more things change, the more they remain the same.