IT was quite fitting that the chairman of state tourism body Australia's North West, Ian Laurance, was awarded the industry's top individual honour last week, an award named after one of his earliest mentors.
WESTERN Australia will be among the first states targeted in the national roll-out of Origin Energy's domestic solar roof-top systems installation program.
THE global credit crunch has made a significant dent in Perth's commercial and retail sales for the year to November, with total sales value down 26 per cent on last year.
JUST 18 months out from the introduction of a national emissions trading scheme, uncertainty still overrides the debate over how the scheme will directly, and indirectly, affect some of Western Australia's largest businesses.
THE state's largest electricity retailer is strongly advocating the introduction of advanced metering, in-home displays and critical peak pricing so customers are provided with immediate price signals to modify their behaviour and energy use habits.
THE federal government is pinning too much hope on successful commercialisation of carbon capture and storage technology, the WA Business News emissions trading forum has heard.
A SIGNIFICANT number of liable companies remain unaware of the emissions trading scheme's potential impact on their business, according to GHD global climate change response services leader Chris Lund.
SOME of the state's largest greenhouse gas emitters have called for a moderate introduction of the emissions trading scheme to protect the country's emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industries.
THE credit crunch continues to tighten conditions in the Perth property market, with some new apartment developments requiring close to 100 per cent pre-sale to proceed.
THE state government has lifted the moratorium on the commercial production of genetically modified cotton in the Ord River Irrigation Area, renewing calls for it to move on the Ord Stage Two project.
THE residential population of the area encompassed by the City of Perth is forecast to double in the next 20 years, as the number of new dwellings and net migration numbers grow.
A REPORT released this week has provided the first accurate and detailed picture of the Western Australian forestry industry, which employs 5,570 people, half of whom rely on native forest resources.
THE Links Kennedy Bay golf course has been re-opened under new management with developer Mirvac taking over the role after the former manager was placed into administration.
FOR someone who wasn't even a member of a political party just four years ago, Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman has settled comfortably into his new, if somewhat unexpected, role.
THE Margaret River wine region welcomed its newest microbrewery late last month with the opening of the $10 million Saracen Estate/Duckstein microbrewery.
RESIDENTIAL developers are beginning to see the effects of sliding interest rates and boosts to the first homeowners grant, with some recording a significant increase in traffic through sales offices.
