Mark Pownall

AS the State Budget fast approaches there are some in business who question the wisdom of one of the biggest capital expenditures ever planned by a State Government. WA Business News' Mark Pownall and Catie Low report.

One is my belief that WA's future lies with making Perth a lifestyle capital, a place where globally competitive people want to live.

While the Gallop Government ponders the immense cost of a new rail link to Mandurah, there is no shortage of advice coming from those in the gaming sector about where some handy revenue might appear from.

TRANSPERTH'S Perth Urban Rail Development unit figures from April 2000 show the annual net recurrent cost to government over 30 years for operating and capital was at least $80.6 million – based on the (then) proposed cost of $941 million.

THIS year, hundreds of millions of dollars will be ploughed into heavily marketed tax-effective investment schemes, just as it has for much of the past decade – give or take a bad year or two.

THE editorial team at Business News embarked on a survey of the WA corporate finance market with some trepidation.It was not the scale of the market that had us worried, though it did turn out to be broader than we expected.No.

FOR those who have scoffed at the Internet's impact on traditional business, the recruitment sector might change their thinking.

TALK by certain unionists of natural justice as they held the WA construction industry to ransom stuck in my craw this week.

AT least 10 former executives axed from Hartleys' investment bank operation have taken legal action against the WA-headquartered stockbroker with claims that could amount to millions of dollars.

The business formerly known as Hartley Poynton has struggled to convince the market it has a magic formula under the leadership of Tim Moore. Even he knows he has to start producing a profit soon.

THERE is at least one consistent agitator for change at Hartleys, though its difficult to know who he is working for.

IT is no secret that there is some bad blood between former Hartley Poynton executive chairman John Poynton and his one-time managing director, Tim Moore.

WESTPAC head of media relations David Lording answered the following questions posed by Business News this week.

JUST how quickly our exports get back to double digit growth is one for the crystal ball watchers, but the key is that we need to do more to make sure we don't go backwards.

CLIENTS are shaping up to be the key to HP JDV's move onto the register of rival WA broking technology player Sanford.

ANYONE who doubted the growing competitiveness of the wine industry need only look to the recent sponsorship manoeuvring which took place at the recent charity event featuring former US president Bill Clinton.

REVENUE growth from WA's vital minerals and energy has slowed rapidly in the wake of last year's softer international markets, with confirmation of this trend expected from State Government figures next week.

IT is just 14 days until the former equity holders of WA brokerage Porter Western are freed from the golden handcuffs they accepted at the sale of their business to Macquarie Bank.

GIVEN the amount of attention surrounding the Ansett collapse, I was a bit surprised to see how little fuss followed the Skywest deal announced last week.

I AM usually hesitant to go and hear economists speak.Perhaps it is because we are bombarded by news about the economy.

THE dot.coms may be returning to their mining roots with their tails between their legs, but at least one area of IT is attracting attention as it records some success against traditional players – online recruitment.

SIDELINED industrial technology player Vostech is set to return to the field tomorrow after a $1.7 million equity raising, which has helped pave the way to a deal with creditors.

AUSTRALIA needs more immigration, but new arrivals will never drive our economy like exports.That was the word from highly regarded economist Don Stammer, after he addressed the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce this week.

DURING the image grooming that resulted in “Dr Geoff Gallop the political leader”, much was made of his close connection with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

THE Howard Porter business is set to make a comeback after its purchase by CBH subsidiary Bulkwest, which plans a big research and development push.

THE debate around private health insurance costs has stirred up an interesting hornet's nest.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL Daryl Williams has drafted legislation to gag whistleblowers and journalists. The Federal Government plans to introduce laws it says is aimed to deter espionage by increasing jail time for spies.

A SOFTENING of contempt laws could be part of a package of media-related legal reforms being examined by WA Attorney-General Jim McGinty.

DOZENS of tribunals, boards and referees are expected to disappear under State Government plans to create WA's own administrative appeals tribunal.

SEVERAL of the many reforms planned this year by the WA Attorney-General have implications for business.

Business must develop strategies to avoid becoming part of the fossil recordIT was my great pleasure this week to meet Scott Hocknull, just a few days after he was named Young Australian of the Year.

OUR courts are steeped in history, but many of the traditional practices are under threat as governments move to modernise justice.Last year, the title of Queen's Counsel was abandoned in WA in favour of Senior Counsel.