Special Reports

THE collection tins will come out during the lead-up to Christmas with almost every charity, benevolent institution and not-for-profit organisation asking the haves to donate to the have-nots.

A NEW air charter company is looking to grow its business during the economic slowdown after identifying a niche market opportunity.

WESTERN Australians don't give like their east coast counterparts.

THE Christie's broker who sold an 1863 double magnum of Chateau Lafitte to Howard Park founder Jeff Burch and his friend was horrified to find out they drank it.

THE tourism industry was underwhelmed last month when Geoff Carmody described his report on the impact of the global financial crisis on the sector as one of the most downbeat since his first analysis in 1984.

A NEW shopfront with a difference has been set up to unearth the best of Perth's creative talents.

RON Manners remembers getting his first glimpse of what free-market thinking was all about as a youngster in Kalgoorlie, unpacking parts and machinery that arrived from the US.

IT seems one of the final sanctuaries from that ubiquitous modern-day technological wonder, the mobile phone, is about to be breached as airlines operating within Australia consider allowing the full-blown use of in-flight connectivity.

AT the start of the decade, Annie and Brettney Fogarty embarked on a journey to improve education.

Come on board AUSTRALIA'S largest wine storage business, Wine Ark, has expanded its national business with a new facility in Perth.

JUST a decade ago, philanthropy was nearly invisible in Western Australia.

MALCOLM and Pauline Tew joke that they have the perfect combination of brains and brawn, combining 50 years of experience in international tourism and hospitality between them.

CHILD health researcher Fiona Stanley is a big fan of the concept of what she calls a "philanthropic hub" in Western Australia that would help donors refine their decision-making process and direct them to the worthiest causes that best fit thei

What is your favourite holiday destination? Paris; it's the most beautiful city in the world.

WESTERN Australia is considered the next boom state for renewable energy, according to a new report from Ernst & Young.

THE state's largest electricity retailer is strongly advocating the introduction of advanced metering, in-home displays and critical peak pricing so customers are provided with immediate price signals to modify their behaviour and energy use habits.

A SIGNIFICANT number of liable companies remain unaware of the emissions trading scheme's potential impact on their business, according to GHD global climate change response services leader Chris Lund.

CHIEF executive of the Gull Group of Companies, Wayne Ferrell, sees both risks and opportunities in the national emissions trading scheme.

IT may only be a temporary reprieve but global events have conspired to assist the Department of Education and Training in its bid to fill its teaching needs for 2009.

KEVIN Reynolds' 34-year reign as Western Australian representative to the federally registered Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union could end this week when the results of the union's election are released.

AT first glance it's hard to imagine there's much similarity between running warehouse hardware stores and private hospitals.

FOR almost 25 years, Leeuwin Estate has staged a series of alfresco concerts in its picturesque grounds as part of the winery's ongoing association and sponsorship of the arts.

OUTDOOR cinemas have a long history in Western Australia, dating back more than 60 years.

LOW-COST carrier Virgin Blue this week said it would reduce fuel surcharges by 20 per cent on its domestic flights and Pacific Blue trans-Tasman and Pacific Island flights, just days after Skywest Airlines announced its airfares would rise by 4 per cent.

THE skills shortage has been an important element in the changes to Perth's social fabric during the past five years.

THE Margaret River wine region welcomed its newest microbrewery late last month with the opening of the $10 million Saracen Estate/Duckstein microbrewery.

WESTERN Australian businesses may still have critical skills shortages to deal with, but in the current climate of uncertainty many employers are also looking for legal advice to potentially downsize their workforce.

MUSIC festival organisers in Perth are taking a 'green' approach to the events they stage, creating carbon-neutral concerts and implementing elaborate environmentally friendly programs.

WHILE the top end of town chases the advertising dollar in securing chart-topping commercial acts to tour Western Australia, a niche market for musical entertainment has emerged with a different focus.

THE Perth music landscape has been irreversibly transformed over the past decade with events organisers for outdoor concerts and festivals poised to stage one of the busiest summers in Perth's entertainment history.

What is your favourite holiday destination? Sicily because of the relaxed lifestyle, and the fact I was born there and the mammas still love me.

BARELY known in Western Australia five years ago, the '457 temporary long-stay business visa' became part of the everyday language for WA businesses, as sourcing overseas workers became crucial for local operators' growth and survival.