Terry Redman

SPECIAL REPORT: A flurry of deals over the past fortnight, including four acquisitions by international companies expanding in Western Australia and the year's largest capital raising, has added life to a flat corporate finance market. 

SPECIAL REPORT: The state government is pursuing major reforms to the training sector, at a time when national data on traineeships and apprenticeships tells a surprising story for WA.

The state government has provided $16 million to ScreenWest to boost film productions in Western Australia.

A construction start is imminent on yet another CBD hotel, while Western Australia’s tourism sector is in line for a $30 million marketing boost as the state government moves to the next phase of its tourism development strategy.

Nationals leader Terry Redman says the party remains opposed to the sale of Fremantle Ports, despite supporting treasurer Mike Nahan's introduction today of a bill to enable a lease of up to 99 years to proceed.

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.

The state government has launched a new advertising campaign to further promote Western Australia as a thriving tourist destination for domestic and overseas travellers.

Wangara-based contractor Ertech has won an $8.3 million contract for work on the state government’s Exmouth Boat Harbour upgrade project.

The state government has announced $23.1 million in funding to tackle waterfront erosion in Geraldton.

The state government has announced new directors for the Gascoyne, Peel and Pilbara development commissions.

Some users may have welcomed the removal of the port enhancement charge at Geraldton, but it may not be smooth sailing for all.

Pilbara accommodation businesses run by one-time trucking boss Craig Mitchell and the Collinson family are set to be the winners from BHP Billiton’s surprise decision to close Kurra Village in Newman, which at its peak houses up to 1,600 fly-in, fly-out  workers

Cockram Construction has won a $20.4 million contract for redevelopment of the Katanning Health Service.

State National Party MPs met at Parliament House today as former leader Brendon Grylls tried to retake the leadership from Terry Redman, claiming the Liberal/National alliance was not in a winnable position for the upcoming state election due in March.

A move flagged by National Party leadership challenger Brendon Grylls to effectively double the rate of the royalty paid by the state’s two biggest iron ore miners would make Western Australia one of the most punitive jurisdictions for taxes on production of the commodity.

The WA Liberals can govern without the support of the Nationals, who are still deciding who will lead their party, Premier Colin Barnett says.

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.

Construction company Pindan has won a $27.7 million contract to build a new hospital in Manjimup.

Work is expected to start later this year on Western Australia's first dedicated health and knowledge precinct in Murdoch, with developers sought to deliver up to 400 homes, 33,000 square metres of office space and more than 80 short-stay apartments.

A new $3 million premium food centre that will help regional agricultural and food businesses find new markets was officially opened in Manjimup today.

The state government has announced a new $8.1 million branding campaign to promote local agrifood producers to overseas buyers.

The state government has been forced to make a special budget allocation of $9.74 million to demolish the old Port Hedland hospital, 18 months after announcing a deal to sell the site to apartment developer Finbar Group.

The state government has allocated $2 million for a new co-working space in Karratha to promote small business and startups in the area.

LandCorp is seeking businesses to populate a new industrial estate in Nambeelup, a key plank of the state government’s plan to create more than 33,000 jobs in the Peel region by 2050.

The state government’s co-working hub Spur has announced nine local startup companies which will share in $91,000 of grants to help develop their products.

Work has started on a $70 million expansion of the Busselton-Margaret River regional airport, after Ertech and Arup were awarded contracts for development of the project.

The City of Karratha has strongly opposed Woodside Petroleum’s plans for a 700-bed fly-in, fly-out camp, but the final decision rests with Planning and Lands Minister Rita Saffioti, who is playing her cards close to her chest.