Government

Small retailers find service and customer loyalty pay dividends in a downturn.

ASIA offers Western Australian winemakers a market ripe with potential, particularly for top-end produce, according to renowned wine critic James Halliday.

THERE'S not much talk of the global economic downturn or falling commodity prices when you listen to companies with an interest in iron ore mining and infrastructure projects in the Mid West region.

ONE in six BankWest customers and more than 7 per cent of St George customeras plan to vote with their feet and leave the banks as a result of the recent corporate activity, a new poll by Retail Banki

CARBON credits have been a major growth area in the forestry sector, as companies move to exploit the market created by the federal government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, due for introduction in mid 2010.

Proposed IR changes will have a major effect on businesses across the nation

SMALL business has been urged to manage their cash flow more carefully this year as the global economic downturn creates more financial pressure.

THE six not-for-profit organisations that have teamed up to buy the failed ABC Learning centres say childcare should be the responsibility of not-for-profit organisations and not the corporate sector.

EAST Perth-based hospitality contractor Compass Group has called for amendments to the federal government's proposed industrial relations laws to clarify ambiguity over a provision concerning the 'transfer of a business'.

The Western Australian Trade Enquiry Service is operated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA with the support of the WA Government's Department of Industry and Resources.

BUILDERS, insulation suppliers and solar hot water providers will be winners from the state and federal government stimulus packages, announced this week.

I REMEMBER a scene from a Monty Python sketch where a father and son were looking out from a second-storey window.

TALK about a baptism of fire.Shortly after taking over the top job from founder, John Young, Great Southern managing director Cameron Rhodes faced the challenge of not only negotiating the company through tough economic times, but also steering it through

US Supreme Court ruling paved the way for financial meltdown.

The downturn in managed investment schemes could hurt horticulture, while the carbon credit market is boosting forestry projects.

Shareholders in Gindalbie Metals have approved a $162 million share placement to AnSteel, which will boost the Chinese steelmaker's stake to over 36 per cent.

Building approvals in Western Australia rose over 12 per cent during December, bucking the national trend which declined for a sixth consecutive month.

CBA, Westpac mull loan book as Dexia plans exit; Westfield goes shopping for $2.9b; Qantas asks for $500 million; Big punch but doubts still linger; New logo for Woodside to mark focus on LNG

The federal government says today's $42 billion stimulus package will add to gross domestic product growth but the budget will enter into a $22.5 billion deficit this financial year.

One in six BankWest customers and over 7 per cent of St George customers plan to vote with their feet and leave the bank as a result of the recent corporate activity of their bank, a new poll by Retail Banking Review has revealed.

The official cash rate has been cut by an expected 100 basis points to 3.25 per cent following the Reserve Bank of Australia's board meeting today.

The federal government will inject $42 billion into the national economy to help prevent the country from entering into a deep recession.

The state government has officially halted work on a major new sporting stadium and museum, preferring instead to build more public housing, establish a new childrens' hospital and police complex, and extend the northern rail line.

Treasurer Troy Buswell has revealed that state revenue has dipped a further $1 billion since the interim budget was released last month as the government moves to cap employees in the public sector at 99,155.

Asset manager PearlStreet has reported a 201 per cent jump in its interim net profit as it maintains its full year revenue guidance.

Perth has recorded the largest annual drop in the average house price in 2008, according to latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia today called for economic reform that will support local firms, encourage new investment and create jobs during the deepening global financial crisis.

Ausco Modular has opened a new 250-room accommodation village in Karratha, six months after construction started.

The state government has announced a raft of measures to reduce the burden of excessive red tape on businesses and consumers and to bar the way to unnecessary government regulation in the future.

The shortage of skilled tradespeople and contractor prices in the housing sector has eased in Western Australia, according to a key industry survey.

The expansion of Kalgoorlie's Super Pit gold mine has been approved after Acting Environment Minister John Day signed off on the expansion under a new set of stringent environmental conditions.

A federal committee has endorsed a High Court decision related to the collapse of WA miner Sons of Gwalia that allows certain shareholders to rank equally with creditors.