INDUSTRY groups have welcomed increased federal government support for training, as one of Australia's largest training providers was forced for the first time ever to stand down probationary apprentices.
THE Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA has named the Small Business Development Corporation, LandCorp and the state's eight port authorities as prime candidates for privatisation or review.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA has identified 33 government agencies which it believes are superfluous and, subject to review, need to be consolidated, abolished, or have their services privatised or contracted out.
THREE Western Australian companies servicing the resource sector have managed to defy the economic downturn to report record sales and profits in the half-year to December 2008.
Wesfarmers has confirmed a sharp downturn in earnings in two of its Perth-based business units, with the energy and chemicals & fertilizer divisions both adversely affected by last year's Varanus Island gas explosion.
