Mark Beyer

The establishment of a register of lobbyists is one of the main reforms flowing from the CCC inquiry, but apart from voyeuristic journalists it is hard to find supporters of this initiative.

Western Australia’s Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry has become a much bigger issue than any observer would have predicted at the outset – or even at the start of last week.

Western Australia’s economic boom has not been all plain sailing for private companies. Our annual review of the sector identifies both winning companies and strugglers, and highlights the large number of sharemarket floats and trade sales.

The automotive trade has traditionally been the exclusive preserve of private companies but that changed dramatically 16 months ago when Perth’s biggest car dealer listed on the stock exchange.

Swiss mining giant Xstrata is considering legal action after the Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry revealed it lost a $20 million law suit following a corrupted WA parliamentary inquiry into the closure of its Windimurra vanadium mine.

Energy utility Alinta Ltd, which today reported annual results in line with its market guidance, has disclosed that a "small number of parties" were conducting due diligence on the business as part of its potential sale.

Listed companies in Western Australia have delivered a succession of record profits over the past week, providing a solid basis for the strong rise in the sharemarket.

Financial services businesses, ranging from banks to stockbrokers and superannuation funds, have been warned they need to start preparing for new laws designed to counter money laundering.

Gindalbie Metals Ltd has deferred the expected completion of the bankable feasibility study for its Karara iron ore project by six months to August 2007 but is still aiming to commence production by late 2009.