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Business News - Business, finance, political, & economic news.

Corporate Finance DealsView all

ASG Group

$350m offer for ASG Group

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
30 Sep 2016

ASG Group's board has recommended its shareholders approve a takeover offer from a Japan-based consulting and IT services firm, which values the business at more than double that of a previous bid three years ago.

BrainChip Holdings

BrainChip soars on Las Vegas casino deal

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
29 Sep 2016

Shares in technology company BrainChip Holdings have skyrocketed on news the company has landed a deal with an unnamed Las Vegas casino.

Breaker Resources

Breaker taps investors for $12m

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
29 Sep 2016

Perth-based gold explorer Breaker Resources has confirmed a $12.4 million capital raising to fund ongoing work at its Lake Roe project near Kalgoorlie.

Echo Resources

Echo, Metaliko confirm $39m merger

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
29 Sep 2016

Investors have reacted well to news that gold-focused companies Echo Resources and Metaliko Resources will merge in a deal worth $38.9 million.

MMJ Phytotech

MMJ to list Canadian subsidiaries

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
28 Sep 2016

MMJ Phytotech has announced plans to spin-out its medical cannabis-focused Canadian subsidiaries onto the TSX Venture Exchange through the reverse takeover of a resources company.

Most CommentedView all

BHP Billiton

BHP renews attack on Nationals

Mark Beyer Mark Beyer
22 Sep 2016

BHP Billiton's top Australian executive has stepped up the company's criticism of the WA Nationals' planned iron ore tax hike, two days after an opinion poll found high support for the proposal.

Property Council of Australia

Perth CBD needs a new plan

Lino Iacomella Lino Iacomella
05 Sep 2016

The state government has spent $3.5 billion over the past decade in the CBD and the Swan River foreshore, generating an expected $8.2 billion worth of spending by the private sector, but making all the pieces work together remains a significant challenge.

Death by numbers, do we need a census?

Mark Pownall Mark Pownall
12 Sep 2016

Perhaps it is time to reconsider why we need to survey the nation every five years. 

Talison Lithium

Green light for Kwinana lithium plant

Matt Mckenzie Matt Mckenzie
06 Sep 2016

A $400 million lithium processing plant to be built in Kwinana has got the green light, with West Perth company MSP Engineering to act as head contractor.

International School of Western Australia

Site for western suburbs high school secured

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
28 Sep 2016

The state government has locked down a site for a new public secondary school in Perth's western suburbs that will open its doors in 2020.

Politics & the EconomyView all

CITIC Pacific Mining

Investment drop hits construction

Matt Mckenzie Matt Mckenzie
29 Sep 2016

Falling private sector investment in heavy industry and electricity generation were major contributors to a big drop-off in total construction and engineering work in Western Australia in June, down 21.7 per cent quarter on quarter to $6.75 billion.

Gresham Partners

Bank buys $1.35bn Keystart loan book

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
29 Sep 2016

The state government has sold $1.35 billion of Keystart housing loans to Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, but the divestment wasn't as big as it had hoped.

Australian Hotels Association

Backpacker tax reduced, travel fees to rise

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
27 Sep 2016

Western Australia's hospitality and agricultural industries have welcomed the federal government's decision to amend its planned backpacker tax, but the tourism body says it will cost the state jobs nevertheless.

Australia set for years of low rates: economist

AAP AAP
27 Sep 2016

Australia's interest rates are likely to stay low for years, perhaps even decades, a top global economist warns.

PwC

Porter opens conversation on data-driven welfare

Matt Mckenzie Matt Mckenzie
27 Sep 2016

Two reports last week took quite different approaches to welfare reform, but both were a move away from the approach undertaken in the 2014 budget.

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PropertyView all

LandCorp

Malaysian group plans $100m Cockburn project

Dan Wilkie Dan Wilkie
30 Sep 2016

Malaysian property group Seri Mutiara Development is planning a $100 million residential project in Perth's southern suburbs, having bought three plots of land at Cockburn Central West.

Fini Group

Perth's new icon revealed at Elizabeth Quay

Dan Wilkie Dan Wilkie
29 Sep 2016

A public art gallery and viewing platform 45 storeys above the ground will create a new tourist drawcard at Elizabeth Quay, with the latest development at the state government's flagship redevelopment project unveiled today.

Large number of Perth homes sold at a loss

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
28 Sep 2016

About one in five homes resold in Perth are done so at a loss, new data has revealed, with the city's western suburbs among the hardest hit.

Starhill Global REIT

Uniqlo on its way to Perth CBD

Dan Wilkie Dan Wilkie
27 Sep 2016

Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo will open its first Western Australian store in Perth's Murray Street Mall, with a flagship two-level shop anchoring a $6 million redevelopment of Plaza Arcade.

AMP Capital

Landlords look at upgrades to lure new tenants

Dan Wilkie Dan Wilkie
23 Sep 2016

CBD landlords are continuing to invest in their assets to ensure they remain relevant in an increasingly competitive office market.

Arts & CommunityView all

Ear Science Institute Australia

Top Lion hears positive message on Perth foundation

Katie McDonald Katie McDonald
28 Sep 2016

Perth has hosted the head of Lions International for the first time in four decades, with US-based Bob Corlew in town this month to see first-hand the impact of the Lions Foundation of Western Aust

University of Western Australia

Giving voice to topical issues

Katie McDonald Katie McDonald
23 Sep 2016

In the age of social media, led by a generation of digital communicators, it may seem remarkable a tradition dating back millennia has not only survived, but is thriving.

Telstra

Nerves, dreams, desires...

Attila Csaszar Attila Csaszar
16 Sep 2016

PHOTO ESSAY: A month before the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival, more than 150 models fronted an industry panel in the hope of being selected to walk the runway in one of the fashion parades during the six-day event. 

Fashion Council WA

Designers hatch plans for local, overseas growth

Matt Mckenzie Matt Mckenzie
12 Sep 2016

SPECIAL REPORT: Slower growth in discretionary spending is a challenge for some local fashion hopefuls, but export markets and tech-style accelerator programs are presenting opportunities.

Chevron

Staff health a strategic move

Katie McDonald Katie McDonald
09 Sep 2016

Western Australia workplaces are taking a big-picture view of employee wellbeing, implementing programs to target mental, social, financial and physical health.

Featured PhotographsView all

More than 150 models participated on a fashion casting in the hope of being selected to walk the runway of Telstra Perth Fashion Festival.
More than 150 models participated on a fashion casting in the hope of being selected to walk the runway of Telstra Perth Fashion Festival.
More than 150 models participated on a fashion casting in the hope of being selected to walk the runway of Telstra Perth Fashion Festival.
Fremantle Markets
Fremantle Markets (1985) photo State Library of WA
Cicerello's (1984) photo State Library of WA
Tamzin Walker is doing a masters of engineering degree at Edith Cowan University
Face recognition
Gemma and Glendora is getting instructions
Roy Mellon - Proactiv Payroll

EnergyView all

Horizon Power

Renewable shift for Onslow

Matt Mckenzie Matt Mckenzie
30 Sep 2016

More than half of the electricity used in the Pilbara town of Onslow will be sourced from renewable sources by 2020, with the state government today announcing it will be home to Australia's largest distributed generation microgrid.

Programmed Maintenance Services

Programmed slides after guidance cut

AAP AAP
29 Sep 2016

Shares in Programmed Maintenance Services have slid more than 20 per cent after the labour hire and maintenance group slashed its earnings guidance for the current financial year.

Carnegie Wave Energy

Carnegie in Garden Island microgrid grant

Matt Mckenzie Matt Mckenzie
28 Sep 2016

Perth-based renewable energy technology developer Carnegie Wave Energy has won a $2.5 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency for a wave and solar power microgrid it aims to develop on Garden Island.

AGL

AGL announces buy-back, earnings lift

AAP AAP
28 Sep 2016

AGL Energy has forecast a lift in underlying profit for the current financial year while also announcing a near $600 million share buy-back and a higher dividend payout as it benefits from strong electricity margins.

Citation Resources

Citation enters voluntary administration

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
21 Sep 2016

Citation Resources has appointed KordaMentha as voluntary administrators, while the oil and gas company continues to pursue recovery of funds through a civil action against former director Peter Landau.

"Mark My Words" PodcastsView all

30 September 2016

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss city retail, Elizabeth Quay developments, ICT mergers and acquisitions and our special report on residential building.
23 September 2016

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss state politics, lithium developments, financial failures and our special report brewing.

22 September 2016

PODCAST: Business News chief executive Charlie Gunningham discusses the local tech startup scene with the director and co-founder of local venture capital firm Yuuwa Capital Matt Macfarlane and the founder of the Spacecubed and Flux coworking spaces Brodie McCulloch.
16 September 2016

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss newspapers merger, law firms growth, tourism down south and what’s happening in the gold sector.

09 September 2016

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Dan Wilkie discuss property planning, builders fraud, Fastbrick Robotics and fashion.

Food & WineView all

Gage Roads Brewing Company

Little Dove win a gauge of local craft brewers’ art

Dan Wilkie Dan Wilkie
23 Sep 2016

SPECIAL REPORT: Western Australian breweries' continued success is building on a rich brewing pedigree.

Feral Brewing Company

Carrying the can for craft beer

Dan Wilkie Dan Wilkie
23 Sep 2016

SPECIAL REPORT: There's a definite case of old school meets new school going on in the boutique brewing set, with aluminium cans increasingly the container of choice among the craft beer crowd.

Gage Roads Brewing Company

Brewers, bars team up to grow craft consumption

Dan Wilkie Dan Wilkie
23 Sep 2016

SPECIAL REPORT: WA brewers are finding that it's better for the industry if they work together.

Pastacup

Watchdog takes Pastacup franchisor to court

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
22 Sep 2016

The competition regulator has initiated Federal Court proceedings against Perth-based franchise chain Pastacup and its co-founder Stuart Bernstein for alleged breaches of the Franchising Code of Conduct.

Mangrove Hotel

WA venues top national awards

Edited announcement
20 Sep 2016

Two Western Australian businesses and a WA venue manager have won major titles at the Australian Hotels Association national awards for excellence, announced at the Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast last night. 

Special ReportsView all

Something brewing

Something brewing

23 September 2016

Western Australian brewers work together to build on rich beer pedigree

Brewers, bars team up to grow craft consumption

Brewers, bars team up to grow craft consumption

Dan Wilkie
23 Sep 2016
Carrying the can for craft beer

Carrying the can for craft beer

Dan Wilkie
23 Sep 2016
Little Dove win a gauge of local craft brewers’ art

Little Dove win a gauge of local craft brewers’ art

Dan Wilkie
23 Sep 2016
Gold miners 2016

Gold miners 2016

19 September 2016

Currency and cost factors favour gold stocks

Currency and cost factors favour gold stocks

Matt Mckenzie
20 Sep 2016
Welborn resolute on innovation

Welborn resolute on innovation

Matt Mckenzie
19 Sep 2016
Digging in for exploration spend

Digging in for exploration spend

Matt Mckenzie
19 Sep 2016
On the runway

On the runway

12 September 2016

US market draws WA designers as local dynamics shift

Designers hatch plans for local, overseas growth

Designers hatch plans for local, overseas growth

Matt Mckenzie
12 Sep 2016
Well at Work 2016

Well at Work 2016

08 September 2016

Business News' annual health check on WA workplaces

Identifying workplace safety risks

Identifying workplace safety risks

Mark Beyer
08 Sep 2016
Caught short on workplace wellness

Caught short on workplace wellness

Katie McDonald
08 Sep 2016
Staff health a strategic move

Staff health a strategic move

Katie McDonald
09 Sep 2016
Buyers' choice

Buyers' choice

29 August 2016

Retail emerges as the standout performer in property.

The future, coming to a mall near you

The future, coming to a mall near you

Dan Wilkie
29 Aug 2016
Neighbourhood centres the place to be

Neighbourhood centres the place to be

Dan Wilkie
29 Aug 2016

MiningView all

Rio Tinto

State govt green lights Rio's Western Turner expansion

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
30 Sep 2016

The state government has given its tick of approval for Rio Tinto to develop more iron ore deposits at the mining giant's Western Turner Syncline operation near Tom Price.

Department of Mines and Petroleum

$110k fine over WA mine worker death

AAP AAP
30 Sep 2016

A company has been fined $110,000 over the death of a worker at a mine in Western Australia's East Pilbara region.

South32

Grimbeek touts South32 performance

Matt Mckenzie Matt Mckenzie
29 Sep 2016

South32 Australian chief operating officer Ricus Grimbeek has pointed to the company's share price performance against BHP Billiton to show that its assets shouldn't be considered poorer quality, speaking at a WA Mining Club lunch today.

Gold Road Resources

Gold Road to spend $18m on early work at Gruyere

Fraser Beattie Fraser Beattie
29 Sep 2016

Gold Road Resources has been given the green light to build an accommodation village and an access road at its Gruyere gold project, which it says will cost about $18 million.

Mount Gibson Iron

Iron ore survivors plan reset

Tim Treadgold Tim Treadgold
28 Sep 2016

A couple of smaller miners that rode out the slide in iron ore prices could be the early movers in a more widespread revival in the sector.

OpinionView all

Mark my words podcast

Mark Pownall Mark Pownall
Mark Beyer Mark Beyer
30 Sep 2016

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss city retail, Elizabeth Quay developments, ICT mergers and acquisitions and our special report on residential building.

Lacking the confidence to lead

Catie Low Catie Low
30 Sep 2016

A lack of political direction and inertia across much of the economy are an unhealthy combination.

Conform and perform the model ‘type’

Jeffrey Gitomer Jeffrey Gitomer
29 Sep 2016

The 'type' of salesperson you are will go a long way to determining how well received you are by your boss, your co-workers, and your clients.  

Lotterywest

Gaming the system might be the best bet

Mark Pownall Mark Pownall
27 Sep 2016

Disruption is affecting the GST allocation model, so when will that change?

Mark my words podcast

Mark Pownall Mark Pownall
Mark Beyer Mark Beyer
23 Sep 2016

In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss state politics, lithium developments, financial failures and our special report brewing.

RetailView all

Woolworths

Woolies considers petrol stations sale

AAP AAP
30 Sep 2016

Struggling retailer Woolworths is considering offloading its petrol stations, not long after striking deals to rid itself of its loss-making hardware business.

JB Hi-Fi up on Good Guys buy

AAP AAP
16 Sep 2016

JB Hi-Fi shares have soared after returning to trade for the first time since the electronics retailer announced an $870 million takeover of The Good Guys.

Myer

Myer is a stronger business, CEO says

AAP AAP
15 Sep 2016

Department store chain Myer has shown signs its turnaround plan is working after it more than doubled its full-year profit to $60.5 million.

Wesfarmers

Wesfarmers fighting on two fronts with Homebase in far-flung Britain

Tim Treadgold Tim Treadgold
07 Sep 2016

ANALYSIS: No-one knows how long it might take for Wesfarmers' foreign foray to bear fruit, and at what cost.

JB Hi-Fi downplays takeover speculation

AAP AAP
06 Sep 2016

JB Hi-Fi has responded to renewed media speculation by saying that it is continuing acquisition discussions with whitegoods retailer The Good Guys but nothing has been finalised.

Most viewed people

Andrew Donnelly

Andrew Donnelly

Former Chief Executive Officer, Reliance Group

Dacre Alcock

Dacre Alcock

Former Chief Executive Officer, Shire of Dowerin
Former Manager, Finance &
Administration, Shire of Coorow

Victor Goh

Victor Goh

Director, AAIG

Thought LeadershipView all

What is the digital bait to hook a top applicant?

Alex Hu Alex Hu
08 Sep 2016

It's common knowledge that often the best applicants are currently employed, however recent studies suggest that nine out of ten Australians are keen to know about a job opportunity regardless of h

Are your wages on the nose? You can cut wages to spite your face

Melanie Bridge Melanie Bridge
11 Aug 2016

In this current economic climate, many small businesses find themselves faced with the prospect of cutting wages costs.  Gone are the 'boom' years when the main concern was finding the

Practical Engineering - Getting the hands dirty again and training for the future.

Cameron Henry Cameron Henry
28 Jul 2016

With the future of manufacturing, construction, innovation and development in Australia over the next 20 years of vital importance to the resource sector, it's time to reset and rethink how we plan

Learning and Development on a Budget

Melanie Bridge Melanie Bridge
11 Jul 2016

Your budget for the next year is set and one of the casualties is learning and development; meanwhile your employees are asking what training is available in the coming year.  Bel

How can remuneration benchmarking impact your bottom line?

Alex Hu Alex Hu
14 Jun 2016

The changing Australian economy has resulted in a greater focus on operating costs for many businesses.  Employees are often an organisation's greatest resource, and typically they also represent t