Government

The federal government will announce a stimulus package of up to $20 billion tomorrow to fight the impact of the Covid-19 virus, it has been reported this afternoon, while $2.4 billion of new health funding was announced today.

OPINION: The McGowan government has made a big call to put jobs at a major Perth hospital on the public payroll.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison told business leaders today that its stimulus package to address the impact of coronavirus would be proportionate, targeted, scalable and temporary.

The state government plans to halt three major contracts at Fiona Stanley Hospital held by Serco Australia, resulting in 650 jobs moving back to the public sector at a cost of $93 million over 10 years.This adds to similar moves in the water and corrections portfolios.

The Morrison government has reached an agreement with the states and territories to bear the health costs of tackling the coronavirus on a 50/50 basis, which could end up costing $1 billion.

OPINION: The Corruption and Crime Commission has experienced highs and lows since being established with draconian powers in 2004 by the Gallop Labor government to root out poor practices in the public sector.

The national economy put in a better than expected performance during the back end of 2019 with GDP growing 0.5 per cent in the December quarter, but the news for Western Australia was not so good, with state final demand falling.

Steve Thomas and Tony Krsticevic are among those given more responsibility in changes to the shadow cabinet announced by opposition leader Liza Harvey on the weekend.

An increase in retail spending, a growing population and improved housing finance figures suggest positive times ahead for Western Australia's economy, according to CommSec chief economist Craig James.

It was Premier Mark McGowan's ‘Christian Porter moment', the day he saw his talented younger colleague, and probable successor, decide that a promising future in state politics was not for him.

Scott Morrison has described the coronavirus outbreak as a global health crisis, warning the economic impacts will stretch far beyond Australia's tourism and education sectors.

OPINION: The outlook is threatening on several fronts for a global economy connected by trade links and mutually beneficial supply chains.

The state government's most accomplished minister is planning to retire at next year's state election, dealing a blow to premier Mark McGowan, with a handful of current ministers seen as potential successors should Labor be re-elected.

OPINION: A decades-long investment has provided little in the way of financial reward but offers lessons nonetheless.

Almost one in 10 people aged 24 to 30 have left WA in the past five years, signalling more must be done to create a culture of opportunity.

The Metronet rail rollout could cost about $2 billion more than first estimated, as the state government gets shovels moving on projects amid delays.

Beverage manufacturers have been informed of the prices for Western Australia's container deposit scheme on Friday, with the average price of a container starting at 11.65 cents.

This year's Most Influential feature has been narrowed down to the 50 people in WA making the biggest impact in business and politics.

OPINION: State Labor's hold on several regional seats could be in jeopardy with the impending retirement of some stalwarts and tough electoral fights for others.

As recently as a fortnight ago, industry leaders and government officials were urging caution as the novel coronavirus swept through China, with representatives from Western Australia's tourism and education sectors confident the state was prepared to manage any possible fallout.

Australia's economy could go backwards in the March quarter, although a recession is unlikely, one of Australia's top economists has warned.

Tourism is the canary in the coalmine ahead of the global economic hit expected as China slows while dealing with the coronavirus.

OPINION: Western Australia's lithium boom, which ran out of steam last year, will not be returning soon given the nationwide slowdown in China as it battles to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

The Yamatji Indigenous community has celebrated a landmark economic package and native title recognition for more than 100,000 hectares of land in Western Australia's Mid West.

Four of Perth's most notable business leaders offered their thoughts on how corporations can have a positive impact on the Western Australian community this afternoon, as Business News celebrated its 'Great for the State' series ahead of the first edition for 2020.

City officials and service providers say helping Perth's homeless requires more investment from federal and state governments.

OPINION: The public sector workforce is growing again, having been cut to streamline state expenditure amid the McGowan government's budget repair efforts.

Nationals MPs Keith Pitt and Darren Chester have been elevated to federal cabinet in a ministerial reshuffle.

Rio Tinto and Telstra have announced shorter payment terms for small and medium Australian businesses, whereby SMEs will be paid within 20 days of a valid invoice receipt.

There are concerns the share market's strength doesn't accurately reflect the nation's economic performance, or outlook.

OPINION: Australia's natural environment requires us to return to more effective strategies to minimise fire risk.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has repelled a leadership challenge from Barnaby Joyce, emerging victorious in a party room ballot this morning, while Adam Bandt has been elected unopposed as Greens leader following the resignation of Richard Di Natale.