The 40under40 Awards are rapidly becoming the premier event in Perth for the city’s business community. And if the 2005 guest list is any indication, a ticket to the awards is the hottest item in town come February.
The 700 people who attended this year’s WA Business News 40under40 Awards made history when they walked down the red carpet as the first guests at a private function held at Parliament House in the building’s history.
Past 40under40 winners from every year since the inaugural celebration in 2002 were in attendance at the 2005 Awards gala, which not only celebrated the achievements of 40 new and outstanding young entrepreneurs, but also the ongoing successes of all 40un
It has been suggested that success in business doesn’t often happen until there has been a business failure. According to that view, then, Manny Papadoulis is well on his way to success.
The City of Perth is targeting businesses in the lead-up to May’s council elections as voter apathy again threatens to deny business an effective role in the city’s affairs.
Both major political parties may now resolutely embrace presidential-style campaigning by thrusting their leaders at voters but, at rock bottom, contemporary election campaigns are encounters between party-hired advertising agencies.
Business people wanting to have their say in the upcoming City of Perth elections have less than three weeks to enrol, with registrations closing on Friday March 18.
While the business sector’s apparent lack of involvement in the affairs of the City of Perth council is considered a sign of apathy or a lack of interest, an argument could be mounted that a hands-off approach is a sign that all’s well.
The balance of power between state and local government often results in a relationship that’s almost parental in its functioning, complete with the tension that type of relationship often invokes.
Calls for a capital city charter to give special status to the City of Perth as a valuable asset to Western Australia, and also as containing a unique constituency, have been made for some time.
The City of Perth’s engagement with the business community is not just about registering voters, it also involves getting quality business candidates onto council.
