By far the most dominant demographic influence on the Western Australian economy – and most developed economies for that matter – is that of the baby boomers.
Returns in the farm sector were mixed in 2004-05, both in volume and value terms, but good rainfall in the state’s agricultural areas during the past two months will ensure a strong harvest this year across most commodities.
The state’s economy is showing no signs of cooling its demand for additional emplo-yment capacity, with all signs pointing to a further tightening as the skilled labour market feels the pinch of shortages across the board.
WHILE Western Australia has traditionally been one of the less expensive Australian states in which to live, recent rises in key indicators point to a closing of the cost-of-living gap.
The Health Reform Committee report of March 2004 recommended a fundamental reconfiguration of the state's health system during the next 15 years. The Government’s recent allocation of $3.6 billion with the release of the 'WA Health Clinical Services Frame
For all the lifestyle it has to offer Perth is often attacked as lacking the vibrancy and cultural diversity available in cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.
As part of the health upgrades, the State Government will invest $206 million in the redevelopment of four major country hospitals across Western Australia into regional resource centres.
The in-depth economic year in review of business sectors in WA reveals some stand-out performers. Measuring the impact of these sectors and their standing in the national picture, David Gibson reports.
Perth's Technology Park got an unexpected result when it invited the commercialisation experts from Perth’s four public universities to speak at its 20th anniversary conference last week.
The State Government’s role in regional Western Australia was recognised in Perth this week when two of the year’s StateWest Achievement Awards were won by public sector employees working in fields that service predominantly regional areas.
The Australian Tourism Exchange 2005, the largest international trade show in the Southern Hemisphere, held in Perth in June, was touted as the most important event in the history of the state’s tourism industry.
Matt Birney’s Liberal Party manifesto announced at the weekend marks a key point in his fledging leadership.While publicity about his plan was largely overwhelmed by the news of new bombings in Bali, there were several initiatives of interest to business
I don't normally pick up on issues raised by politicians campaigning for their slice of the funding pie, but I was intrigued by the efforts of Greenough MLA Grant Woodhams who raised the vision of the Indian Ocean Drive in State Parliament last week.
By now, most politicians will have marked their favourite Mark Latham diary quotation. Mine was his remark about Labor’s Kevin Rudd: “If he grew up in poverty in rural Queensland where did the posh accent come from?”
With the Internet playing an increasingly important role in real estate marketing, two Western Australian organisations have formed an alliance they hope will give them the leading market position over large media-owned websites.
Economic and industry forecaster BIS Shrapnel has outlined a strong future for Perth’s construction industry in its latest Building Industry Prospects Report.
AS is the case with many businesses in Western Australia, interior designers are enjoying good times, as the resources-led economic boom shows no sign of slowing.
Subiaco's Delizioso Cafe has made a name for itself on the national stage, finishing second in ‘Best of the Best’ pizza competition at the Fine Food exhibition in Sydney.
While the debate over genetically modified foods continues unabated, another ‘food science’ is attracting growing interest, on the production side of the equation at least.
The battle for territory in Perth’s independent newspaper market is getting fiercer as new players look to secure a slice of the action, as Mark Mentiplay reports.
While television is still the first medium of choice for major advertisers, Perth agencies and their clients are looking at new alternatives to break through the growing advertising clutter and reach an increasingly fragmented audience.
West Australian Newspapers is embarking on a $189 million, two-year expansion plan that includes a $31 million redundancy provision to cover 220 full-time production staff at the company’s Herdsman headquarters.
The $173.5 million acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in Hoyts Cinemas, a step outside West Australian News-papers’ traditional comfort zone and the development of its online services, is costing the company.
Policy, regulation and unclear or contradictory legislation are major impediments for the development industry, according to attendees at WA Business News’ development forum.
The state Government proposal to establish a ‘super planning agency’ is seen by many as the result of its frustration with the decision-making processes of local governments in relation to planning issues.
