Mining Minister Norman Moore has turned down the opportunity to become WA's next Agent-General in London, a likely disruption to Premier Colin Barnett's plans to bring new blood into the cabinet well ahead of the next state election.

The state government has announced Satterley Group as its preferred partner to develop around 3,000 new homes in the northern half of the new suburb of Eglinton. Lands Minister Brendon Grylls said first land was expected to be released to the market in 2014.

iiNet founder Michael Malone has become the second Western Australian businessman in as many years to be named Ernst & Young's Australian Entrepreneur of the Year. Mr Malone will go on to represent Australia at the World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Monte Carlo Next year.

Matrix Composites & Engineering has announced $61 million in new contracts, taking its order book through February 2013 to $105 million.

Silver Lake Resources says it has received strong support for a $70 million share placement to fund the development of its Murchison gold project and ramp up its copper exploration activities at the mine's Eelya Complex.