Government

WA Labor's state executive has backed a motion calling for the expulsion of construction union boss John Setka, albeit by a small margin, and with Premier Mark McGowan using the issue to step up his attack on Maritime Union of Australia boss Christy Cain.

SPECIAL REPORT: A strong network has developed in WA to help local businesses gain access to defence opportunities across the country.

Business peak groups have slammed newly minted opposition leader Liza Harvey's policy shifts on public sector wages, privatising Western Power, and retail trading hours.

The public sector union is claiming it has broken the state's wages policy on the back of a new enterprise agreement offer that includes a range of new entitlements such as an extra holiday, superannuation during unpaid parental leave, and cultural leave for Aboriginal employees.

WA's Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) this morning announced a 2.75 per cent increase to the state minimum wage, provoking criticisms from unions and business groups.

The state government has announced new regulations to help boost lamb exports, which hit a record $306 million in 2018.

Western Australia was the only state in the country to record both a decrease in employment numbers and an increase in its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May.

OPINION: In WA and on the national stage, the men in charge of the purse strings face challenges of control and confidence.

Liza Harvey has been elected unopposed as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party in WA with Bill Marmion chosen as her deputy.

Mike Nahan announced at 7pm last night his intention to step down as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, with a view to installing a new leader by the end of this week.

Premier Mark McGowan announced this morning that South Metropolitan TAFE will begin offering automation courses from semester two, 2019, the first of such nationally recognised qualifications available in Australia.

Anthony Albanese is moving to expel John Setka from the Labor Party, after the controversial union official criticised anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty.

Australian financial markets are waiting to see if a purported jump in confidence on the back of the federal coalition's election win is reflected in key jobs, consumer and business data due this w

With the Environmental Protection Authority starting public consultation today on its greenhouse gas assessments, the state government could do more to provide certainty for investors in WA's potential gas projects.

Pauline Hanson has declared she will not support the coalition government's tax cuts when federal parliament returns next month.

Ratings agency Moody's has announced that it will lift Western Australia's credit rating from Aa2 to Aa1, with the McGowan government's strong control over spending highlighted as a key reason.

Western Australia's domestic economy was the smallest it has been since 2010 in the March quarter, with state final demand just below $50 billion.

Gold steadied below a three-month peak on Tuesday on news China was open to negotiating its trade dispute with the United States, while rising expectations the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates provided underlying support.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut the cash rate to 1.25 per cent, a day after CoreLogic data revealed Perth house prices continue to fall more sharply than other state capitals.

OPINION: The economic pressure simmering away below the surface in many households was a key factor in the surprise federal election outcome.

Australia's lowest paid workers will get a $21.60 a week pay rise.

Recently released numbers show Western Australia's net contribution to the the federation was a whopping $15.5 billion during the 2018 financial year, while also indicating a long running debate about federal health funding cuts in the state was off the mark.

The state government has introduced a science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills strategy, which aims to have 85 per cent of year 12 students completing two or more STEM courses.

The worst unemployment rates in the nation in the month before the federal election were largely in areas of Queensland and WA.

Consumer confidence increased over the weekend amid talk of a cut to interest rates while inflation expectations fell, an ANZ Banking Group analyst says.

The Environmental Protection Authority will commence formal consultation next month on its greenhouse gas guidelines, refuting media reports it has already decided to revive the guidelines that caused industry outrage earlier this year.

OPINION: Federal Labor failed to capitalise on any remaining goodwill WA voters had for the party after Mark McGowan's 2017 success.

Andrew and Nicola Forrest's Minderoo Foundation has pledged up to $2 million to The Nature Conservancy to undertake a series of activities to improve the Swan-Canning Estuary's health, including the restoration of lost shellfish reefs.

Scott Morrison says he has high expectations for his new ministry, with Western Australians Christian Porter, Linda Reynolds and Ken Wyatt among those to be promoted.

The fishing industry says it is disappointed by the state government's backdown on a local lobster supply deal, with a planned international lobster festival to be one of the casualties.

The state government says it will fix a planning loophole that enabled small housing subdivisions in WA to be built without connection to telecommunications infrastructure.

Oil prices fell about 2 per cent overnight as an unexpected build in US crude inventories compounded investor worries that a trade fight between the US and China could dent crude demand over the long haul.