The volume of freight through Fremantle Ports has remained static for the third year running, raising further questions about when the proposed outer harbour development at Cockburn Sound will be needed.
New ports, better planning and increased use of technology are in the sights of transport industry leaders preparing the state's freight network for coming decades, according to a panel of experts at a recent Committee for Economic Development of Australia lunch.
The state government has lifted an array of fees and charges as it seeks to address its budget woes, with iron ore exporters in the Pilbara and electricity consumers facing the largest increases.
Could the state government solve the political headache created by the freight congestion at Fremantle, set up the state's future as significant trading hub, and make a big profit on privatisation all at the same time? One local infrastructure expert certainly thinks so.
Shadow treasurer Ben Wyatt said he had no intention of raising taxes after the state election, while leaving wriggle room to do so, and declined to provide further details about how Labor's value capture proposal to partially pay for the Metronet rail package might affect residents living in proximity to stations.
SPECIAL REPORT: Two Perth mayors have more at stake than most if the controversial Roe 8 contract is ripped up, having both devoted decades fighting on opposite sides of the debate.
US-based transport group Watco Companies is seeking further acquisitions and growth opportunities in Western Australia, after buying a majority shareholding in Intermodal Group and winning a contra
Creating a tourism precinct on the southern side of Fremantle Port has again been floated as a possibility, after the City of Fremantle put out the call for government and private sector support for its next wave of development opportunities.
Six south metropolitan councils are formalising a lobby group to push for development of an outer harbour near Kwinana as the March 2017 state election approaches.
The state's five port authorities posted substantially lower net incomes in the 2016 financial year but were still in the black by $223 million, according to annual reports tabled in parliament in recent weeks.
Victoria's Labor government has reaped a bumper price of $9.7 billion from the sale of the Port of Melbourne, suggesting the WA government could potentially raise in excess of $2 billion from the sale of Fremantle Ports.
The biggest single user of Fremantle Ports, Mediterranean Shipping Company, has unveiled a new headquarters for its Australian and New Zealand operations in a heritage building in Fremantle's historic West End.
Prominent corporate adviser John Poynton, former mining executive Bill Turner, and Supreme Court judge Carmel McLure are among the Western Australian luminaries to receive honours as part of this year's Queen's Birthday awards.
Nationals leader Terry Redman says the party remains opposed to the sale of Fremantle Ports, despite supporting treasurer Mike Nahan's introduction today of a bill to enable a lease of up to 99 years to proceed.
Treasurer Mike Nahan hopes to raise $16 billion from an expanded asset sales program, with Western Power and Horizon Power's Pilbara transmission lines now targeted but two other assets unexpectedly removed from the government's sell-off list.
Treasurer Mike Nahan will embark on a regional pitch for the sale of Fremantle Ports, today revealing that the package could include a redevelopment of the passenger terminal, and a long-term fund to pay for infrastructure at the future outer harbour.
Fundraising campaigns run by footwear manufacturer Steel Blue and the Fremantle Dockers on behalf of local charities have both hit the $1 million milestone this month.
A local academic has warned that failure to privatise the operation of Fremantle Ports could have a negative effect on the competitiveness of the Western Australia's exporting industries.
SPECIAL REPORT: A flurry of deals over the past fortnight, including four acquisitions by international companies expanding in Western Australia and the year's largest capital raising, has added life to a flat corporate finance market.
Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder has thrown his support behind the state government's plan to lease Fremantle Ports, saying the state needs a world-class operator to ensure exports are competitive internationally.
The state government's privatisation program hit more trouble today, with a mining lobby group that represents the users of the Utah Point wharf condemning a lack of consultation on the proposed sale. It follows a move by the National Party on Tuesday to refer the sale legislation to a parliamentary committee.
The state government's asset sales campaign has hit a major snag today, with state Nationals leader Terry Redman announcing the party would not support the sale of Fremantle Ports, which had been forecast to raise $2 billion.
Transport Minister Dean Nalder has highlighted the social benefits of Roe 8 and touted the minimal environmental impact of the project at a lunch today, adding that the link would need to be built regardless of any move to an outer harbour.
Investment banking giant Credit Suisse has dealt a blow to the state government's hopes of a big windfall from the privatisation of Western Australia's TAB, revising its value estimate down by at least 65 per cent to under $250 million.
The Pacific National rail business and the Patrick container terminal business are set to come under new ownership after Asciano agreed to a $9.05 billion takeover deal that is designed to sidestep regulatory concerns.
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.
The state government has completed the first in a series of planned asset sales, announcing that it has concluded negotiations with an industry consortium to purchase the Perth Market Authority's Market City.
There is little immediate prospect of the state government expanding its current $5 billion asset sales program, despite Premier Colin Barnett seeming to flirt with the possibility this week.
The state government's asset sales program has taken a step forward today, with Gresham Advisory Partners appointed as lead adviser for the partial sale of Keystart's loan book.
Ratings agency Moody's has downgraded Western Australia's credit rating to Aa2, reflecting an ongoing deterioration in the state's finances and concern that the government will be unable to meet its own spending targets.
SPECIAL REPORT: Amid controversy surrounding Roe 8 and the privatisation of Fremantle Port, a shift to an outer harbour in Cockburn Sound is a question of when, not if, according to proponents.
The state government has flagged more asset sales after its mid-year budget update confirmed deepening financial problems, with the annual deficit worse than expected and state debt tipped to reach an unprecedented $39 billion.
An industry consortium led by members of the Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries in WA has been selected as the preferred bidder for Market City, putting the state government a step closer to its first major asset sale.
