Matt Mckenzie

Two business units of technology retailer Dick Smith could live to see another day, as receivers today announced that the majority of the empire will be shut down after a number of proposals to acquire the company were all deemed unacceptable.

Grain handler CBH Group has called for more information on the $1 billion-plus offer from Graincorp-backed Australian Grains Champion to corporatise and list the cooperative, highlighting concerns around long term cost increases, the proportion of grower ownership and board representation.

The impact on economic development and power prices from a sale of the state’s electricity network could be managed by a strong regulatory framework, Premier Colin Barnett said today, as he continued to reassess his view on the ownership of Western Power.

Shares in miner and contractor Mineral Resources were up 13 per cent today after it announced dividends of 8.5 cents per share, about 60 per cent larger than what it committed to in November.

Almost 80 contract variations worth more than $81 million tripled the cost of a Department of Health central computing services contract, with issues including more than 60 per cent of data racks going unused, the auditor general revealed today.

A public sector wage freeze, amalgamations of major departments and a reform of health would be key moves to fix the state government’s worsening debt position, according to Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA’s pre-budget draft submission.

Special report: A subsidiary of global banking giant Goldman Sachs is backing a local private equity player to develop a freight hub near Bullsbrook, in anticipation of increased freight movements connected with the state government’s Northlink WA project.

Veteran Labor Party politician Alannah MacTiernan has confirmed she will not seek to stay in federal parliament after the election due later this year.

While proponents laud the benefits in capital recycling from an electricity network sale, there’s evidence it would lead to lower prices for users.