Ben Small

Ben Small has won a Liberal Party preselection to fill the senate casual vacancy created by the resignation of Mathias Cormann, while a challenge to government whip Dean Smith fell desperately short.

Western Australia has a new senator with the Liberals' Ben Small officially replacing former finance minister Mathias Cormann.

A construction and demolition waste recycling project led by Perth-based Sycamore Civil Group has been awarded $1.65 million as part a federal government initiative to promote collaborations.

Lucrative top-tier mining assets have mostly gone in Australia, so workers need to be flexible to help make new investment possible, mining giants have warned.

Federal Liberal MP Nola Marino will retire from parliament at the next election, bringing an end to a 15-year tenure in the Forrest electorate.

The Liberal preselection contest in Bateman, Forrest, Dawesville, Jandakot and Riverton appears to be a formality, with sole nominees, including some familiar faces, raising their hand in each electorate.

PRESELECTION WRAP: City of Perth councillor Brent Fleeton will not join Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas as a Liberal candidate at the 2025 state election, while a former reality TV contestant has been recommended in Tangney.

A former adviser to the WA agriculture minister has been selected to run as Labor candidate for Forrest in the upcoming election, as the prime minister revealed Australia will head to the polls on May 3.