Deidre Willmott

Despite the tax cuts in last night’s budget, the federal government is still relying on increasing revenue in the five years ahead to return to balance, which is still anticipated for 2020-21.

Tax reductions earned plaudits from the business community, with the budget's cuts in both tax company and income tax burdens likely to inspire confidence, particularly in Western Australia.

Treasurer Mike Nahan hopes to raise $16 billion from an expanded asset sales program, with Western Power and Horizon Power’s Pilbara transmission lines now targeted but two other assets unexpectedly removed from the government's sell-off list.

Western Australia's peak business group has welcomed the state government's budget, but other business groups believed more could have been done for their respective sectors. 

THE sale of major public assets is looming as the only realistic option for a government of either stripe hoping to reclaim the state’s AAA credit rating and fund infrastructure needs in the decade ahead.

An increase to the minimum wage announced today will mean Western Australian businesses pay roughly $20 per week more for mimimum wage workers than their eastern states counterparts, while the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA warns it will have a flow-on effect on employment.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has promoted little-known Queensland Nationals Senator Matt Canavan to a cabinet position as resources minister, with Josh Frydenberg moving from that role to the portfolios of energy and environment.

Brendon Grylls has snatched back leadership of the WA Nationals and will press the Barnett government to support his plan to slug BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto with a $5 per tonne mining tax.

Resolving disputes between contractors and subcontractors on government jobs is looming as a key state election issue.

SPECIAL REPORT: Small businesses have taken a hit as confidence drops and the economy slows, but there are a few things governments can do to begin to alleviate the pain.

The state’s budget position for the 2016 financial year has come in nearly $700 million better than was initially forecast when it was released in May last year, but still in the red to the tune of $2 billion, with revenue $915 million down on the previous year.

Perth-based Scope Training has been recognised in the WA Training Awards for the second consecutive year, while engineering firm Civmec has also taken a top honour.

Two different proposals from the Western Australian government to change the way Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton pay an iron ore charge is already damaging the state's reputation as an investment destination, a business lobby group says.

Western Australia’s peak business group is facing competition for members after the Australian Industry Group established a Perth office, shortly after ending a commercial alliance with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA.

Mike Nahan says recycling of capital invested in Western Power will be key to job creation and economic growth in Western Australia’s transitioning economy. 

The state government is putting the finishing touches on the business case for a second floating dock at the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson, which it plans to pitch to the federal government to cement the complex’s place as one of the nation’s two shipbuilding hubs.

Three leading professionals have joined forces to take control of the Peppermint Grove branch of the Liberal Party, which is influential in the preselection process for Colin Barnett’s state seat of Cottesloe.

Unemployment in Western Australia is now at its highest since 2002 with new figures today revealing a 0.4 percentage point increase to 6.9 per cent in November.

The state’s businesses leaders are optimistic about improved conditions in the year ahead, according to feedback from the annual Business News chief executive survey, with tax reform identified as a priority issue whichever party is in government after the March poll.

The state’s unemployment rate dropped 0.3 percentage points in December to 6.6 per cent as the number of women in the labour force eased slightly, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

The Royal Automobile Club of WA and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA have both welcomed an election pledge by Premier Colin Barnett to spend $520 million upgrading a freight rail line between Thornlie and Cockburn to enable passenger service.

SPECIAL REPORT: Two Perth mayors have more at stake than most if the controversial Roe 8 contract is ripped up, having both devoted decades fighting on opposite sides of the debate.

Business representatives have welcomed a move to ease Sunday and public holiday penalty rates for hospitality and retail workers, saying it would be particularly beneficial for reducing unemployment in Western Australia.

Moves to extend trading hours on weekdays and on Sundays could be a hit with voters, according to a recent survey conducted for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA, with 59 per cent of shoppers keen for longer weekday trade.

SPECIAL REPORT: A 19 per cent drop in the number of trainees and apprentices in WA over the past five years is a challenge for the new state government, but also an opportunity to grow the sector.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced the abolishment of the 457 skilled visa program, which will be replaced by a visa with new requirements for temporary foreign workers.

CCI chief executive Deidre Willmott joined Business News at Julio’s to discuss her career in law, politics and business.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA chief executive Deidre Willmott will not be a contender for Liberal Party endorsement for the Legislative Assembly seat of Cottesloe when the incumbent, former premier Colin Barnett, quits politics.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA chief executive Deidre Willmott has been chosen to join the board of Australia Post, following the recruitment of Blackmores boss Christine Holgate as CEO yesterday.

The state government will be seeking to pile pressure on the Commonwealth to secure more defence industry spending in the west, according to Minister for Defence Issues Paul Papalia, as he hit out at his federal counterpart over a perceived lack of naval shipbuilding cash flowing to local players.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA will be hunting for a new chief executive after Deidre Willmott signalled she would move on from the role early next year to pursue non executive director opportunities.

Unions and businesses have welcomed a review of Western Australia’s industrial relations system, the only remaining state-based scheme operating in parallel with federal laws in the country.

The Western Australian opposition will not block the Labor government's proposed payroll tax increase, despite describing it as a broken election promise and predictions it will cost over 1,300 jobs.

Perth’s shoppers will enjoy the same extended shopping hours as last year to buy presents and hunt for bargains, but employers want longer hours all year round.

A further reshuffling of state government departments appears likely after Treasurer Ben Wyatt released the government's service priority review today.

Our weekly appointments wrap includes John Stanning, Paul Ryan, Ashley Muirhead, Simon Atkinson, Chris Woodall, David Schummer, Kim Beazley, Deidre Wilmott, Richard Court, Rebecca Tomkinson, Lynn Kuok, Andrew Eddowes, Linnet Solomons, Emma Woolaston, Alex Petrovski, James Hambly and Paula Rogers.