Opinion

DEPUTY Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s whistlestop tour of Western Australia last week returned the political conversation to industrial relations for the first time in several weeks.

The state of political debate in Australia is no joke.

The expression ‘with great risk comes great reward’ does not always hold true.

Recent concern over Greece’s sovereign debt has focused attention on some deep-seated problems in Europe.

Australia is ill-prepared to deal with potential threats in the north-west

Recent developments between Australia and China point to both the increasing importance and growing complexity of the relationship.

Do the wealthy have a moral obligation to help those less fortunate?

The current market provides an ideal opportunity for one of the big banks to break away from the pack.

MINING magnate Clive Palmer might be from Queensland, but he doesn’t mind weighing into Western Australia’s political scene, as he did in Albany at the weekend with promises to spend up big in support of The Nationals WA campaigning at state level.

The Liberals have lost a traditional ally in the suburbs of Australia.

Australia’s relationship with China is a two-edged sword, as the Stern Hu saga has shown.

China’s property market is a giant bubble and Australian analysts have failed to understand its implications.

If the US Treasury formally declares China to be a currency manipulator on April 15 ... watch out

Investment theory, which has been at the foundation of strategies used by Australia’s superannuation and funds management industries, has been upended in new research.

Canberra doesn’t have the money to take control of the health system – yet.

Three industry events held in Perth this month illustrate the city’s unique and fortuitous profile.

AS Perth surveys the damage wreaked by Monday’s storm, political observers were picking over something completely different – the results of two state elections at the weekend and trying to assess the implications for Western Australia.

Ample supplies of low-grade black and brown coal could provide a solution to oil shock.

Two new reports have illuminated public debate over the merit of building major sporting venues and chasing big events.

FINANCIAL responsibility was the big subject last week, as the state government and opposition sought to expose each other’s weaknesses on the fiscal front.

Little separates the major parties when it comes to the centralisation of power.

The collapse of some international currencies is the next stage in the ongoing GFC.

Recent criticism of the nuclear power industry’s prospects called into question.

The maternity leave plans of both major political parties leave a lot to be desired.

The stronger Australian dollar is bad news for a host of businesses.

Climate change is an opportunity for Australian businesses, as the world moves towards a greener future.

The Liberals’ centralist urges should be of concern to the true believers.

Kevin Rudd’s ambit reform plans and Colin Barnett’s defence of WA’s rights have taken federal-state relations to an uncomfortably low ebb.

BUSINESS has been cautiously supportive of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s National Health Reform Plan, the centrepiece of which is a takeover of majority responsibility for hospitals as well as other structural reforms to the health system.

Kerry Stokes’ move is a little bit Buffett, a little bit Wesfarmers.

State and federal governments are formulating plans to deal with looming labour shortages, but progress is slow.

No Australian is exempt from paying their 10 per cent tax on goods and services and no state generates more good and services tax revenue than Western Australia.