Owen Whittle

Western Australia's parliament has cleared the way for industrial manslaughter laws which will enforce a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment for workplace deaths.

WA’s teachers and policymakers could learn from industrial negotiations between their counterparts in NSW.

ANALYSIS: With close to a dozen industrial agreements under negotiation and a forecasted salaries bill of $16.2 billion, the state government is holding firm on its public sector wages policy.

Union figureheads have decried the state government's public sector wages policy despite the premier insisting it will deliver wage growth in line with inflation.

Public sector unions in WA are willing to turn up the heat on the McGowan government over its pay policy.

WA's teachers' union has accepted the state government's contentious offer of a 2.75 per cent pay increase and signed off on a new, two-year agreement.

Teachers, nurses, police officers, cleaners and public servants in Western Australia have been offered a revised pay deal but unions say it still amounts to a cut in real terms.

Policymakers who leaned into big government to deal with the pandemic may face increasing pressure to do more on public sector wage increases.

ANALYSIS: Mark McGowan’s ministerial reshuffle was in many respects a sideshow – real power in the government remains with a small group of ministers and advisers close to the premier.

Our annual update of WA’s 50 most influential people analyses those using their role and profile to make a difference.

The state’s minimum wage and pay rates will increase from July 1, after a ruling by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

UnionsWA secretary Owen Whittle has taken up a new role as West Australian Music chief executive after 12 years with the state's peak trades and labour council.

Our weekly appointments wrap includes Holly Knight, Seamus Rafferty, Reece Wheadon, Jacob Whiteford, Jenelle Goddard, Adam Simpson, Owen Whittle, David Flanagan and Jimmy Wilson.

One-time Mark McGowan adviser turned lobbyist Mark Reed will be the next state secretary of the WA Labor Party, Business News understands.

One-time Mark McGowan adviser turned lobbyist Mark Reed will be the next state secretary of the WA Labor Party, Business News understands.

Public sector union boss Rikki Hendon has been picked to lead Western Australia’s trade unions peak body following the resignation of Owen Whittle.

Our weekly appointments wrap includes Stephen Pearce, Matt McIntyre, Claire Wright, Stephanie Juszkiewicz, Samantha Craig, Stacey Wellings, and Rikki Hendon.