Michael Mischin

A new courthouse for Fitzroy Crossing is a step closer to reality with the construction tender being awarded to building firm Pindan Contracting.

The state government’s latest round of approvals reforms has been hailed by the housing construction industry as a game-changer for affordability and another step towards the ultimate goal of private certification for planning and building.

Mobile phone and internet covering across regional Western Australia is set to get a boost with 22 sites prioritised for the construction of 85 mobile phone towers, through the state government’s $45 million regional telecommunications project.

Henderson-based engineering and construction firm Civmec has won a $73 million steelwork contract for the new Perth Stadium.

Engineering construction contractor Primero Group has entered into the final stages of its contract to build the domestic gas meter station at Chevron's Wheatstone project.

Supreme Court Justice John McKechnie has been named as the new commissioner of the Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commission.

The resources sector is undoubtedly going through challenging times, however, Perth has clearly established itself as a global centre for business expertise in mining and oil and gas.

The state government has awarded contracts worth a combined $104.6 million to local builders Broad Construction Services, Pindan and Emco Building.

The state government has announced an expansion of its Mobile Black Spot program, with plans for 130 new or upgraded mobile phone towers across regional and remote areas of Western Australia.

The federal government’s $89 billion spend for new naval vessels represents an opportunity for businesses at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, as energy and resources projects dry up.

New retail trading laws for WA will affect businesses as varied as Bunnings, Masters, stallholders at short-term markets and even shops on Rottnest Island as the state government moves to widen trading hours and remove anomalies in current regulations.

Commercial fishing company Austral Fisheries has taken the top prize in the agribusiness category at this year’s Australian Export Awards.

The state government has pressed on with its red tape cuts initiative by removing a cap on fees charged by settlement agents and land valuers, while amending the codes of conduct.

The state government has signalled its intentions to proactively support Western Australian companies interested in growing energy commodity exports to Europe and participating in European Union activities.

Mirvac Group and Singapore-s Keppel REIT’s soon-to-be opened office tower at the Cathedral and Treasury Precinct has been officially named the David Malcolm Justice Centre.

Managing the state’s economic transition was the main focus of today’s cabinet reshuffle, Premier Colin Barnett said, with tourism and agriculture in his sights as key growth industries.

The search is on again for local innovators and entrepreneurs to participate in the 10th anniversary of the WA Innovator of the Year program.

The gap between the state’s minimum wage and the national floor should be reduced to prevent putting low-paid workers at risk of job losses, according to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA’s submission to the upcoming state wage case.

The High Court has dealt a major blow to the state government after ruling invalid legislation that would have propelled it to the top of the creditors’ list for the $1.75 billion carve-up of the failed Bell Group.

The state government has cast a wide net in its bid to boost defence-related work in Western Australia, with 16 small businesses – ranging from a landscape gardener in Port Hedland to a signage contractor in Bellevue – sharing in the latest round of defence-specific grants.

Prominent Perth barrister Peter Quinlan has been appointed as the state’s new solicitor general.

Mirvac Group and Singapore’s Keppel REIT’s $103 million new office tower at Cathedral Square has officially opened, with the Supreme Court to take up residence next month.

The state government is hoping a two-year pay deal with 16,000 health sector workers will set a precedent for other public sector workers including prison officers and nurses as it tries to contain spending growth in the lead-up to next year's election.

Colin Barnett says he is confident he has the support to continue as premier if there is a leadership spill this week, following the resignation of ministers Dean Nalder and Tony Simpson over the weekend.

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.

Western Australian Director of Public Prosecutions Joseph McGrath has been appointed a judge of the WA Supreme Court.

Attorney General Michael Mischin said today he was disappointed at the federal government’s role in overturning state legislation designed to settle the long-running Bell Group dispute, as the amount of litigation around the matter once again escalates.   

Commerce Minister Michael Mischin will today encourage local defence contractors to apply for a state government industry assistance program to fund productivity enhancements, speaking at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA defence conference.

Mark Potter will be one of around 100 Western Australian industry representatives ready to tout the state's defence contracting capability at a forum with the federal government’s new Centre for Defence Industry Capability this morning.

A new code of conduct for the state’s construction sector has been hailed as a game-changer for the industry, with the potential to reduce costs across the board by 20 per cent.

Consumers and contractors are becoming frustrated with the regulatory regime in residential construction.

The state government has granted $415,000 to 20 local defence industry businesses on the same day it announced applications were open for a pool of $400,000 of innovation vouchers.

Attorney-General George Brandis has been asked to make a statement explaining when he first became personally involved in the Bell Group litigation.

West Perth firm Peter Hunt Architect has won a $2.2 million contract to design the new Armadale Courthouse and Police Complex.