Premier Colin Barnett has confirmed plans for an initial public offering of Western Power are on the table, while the opposition has blamed the privatisation plans for the alleged cancellation of a contract with a major supplier.
Rio Tinto has hit back at accusations by Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls that large miners had failed to live up to their contractual obligations in state agreements with the government, after he stepped up his campaign to increase taxes on iron ore production today.
The state's resources industry has applauded Federal Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce's public opposition to the WA Nationals' planned mining tax changes, which drew return fire from Brendon Grylls.
Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton say they have no intention of taking up the state government's offer to change how they pay the controversial iron ore lease rental that Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls wants to hike.
BHP Billiton's top Australian executive has stepped up the company's criticism of the WA Nationals' planned iron ore tax hike, two days after an opinion poll found high support for the proposal.
BHP Billiton is locked in a $1 billion dispute with the Australian Taxation Office over the amount of taxes payable on the sale of Australian commodities to its Singapore marketing business, while its chief executive has seen his annual pay slashed in half follwoing the Samarco dam disaster.
BHP Billiton says its plans to invest in a huge new iron ore mine in the Pilbara are threatened by The Nationals WA's proposed new $5 a tonne mining tax.
Rio Tinto has announced the 50th anniversary of its first contracted iron ore shipment from the Pilbara, as debate continues around the adequacy of its royalty payments and the legacy for indigenous people in the region.
Miner BHP Billiton has posted a loss of $US6.4 billion for the 2016 financial year following its $7.2 billion impairment of US shale assets in January, a slightly better result than had been anticipated by the market.
In this Business News podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss Brendon Grylls, Ritz-Carlton sale, women directors, digital disruption and small business.
Brendon Grylls was something of a change-agent when he got the Royalties for Regions policy implemented, but his plan to tax iron ore tonnages has business worried.
Brendon Grylls has snatched back leadership of the WA Nationals and will press the Barnett government to support his plan to slug BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto with a $5 per tonne mining tax.
State National Party MPs met at Parliament House today as former leader Brendon Grylls tried to retake the leadership from Terry Redman, claiming the Liberal/National alliance was not in a winnable position for the upcoming state election due in March.
ANALYSIS: Politics and business never mix well, which is something the state government is about to discover with news that former Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls is eyeing a return to his party's top job.
Port Hedland investors and developers are proving to be resilient and opportunistic, but it remains to be seen how the Pilbara town will successfully diversify from its resources-reliant economy.
Much has been made of Colin Barnett's decision to run up the white flag after referendum results in three local government areas, which rejected council amalgamation proposals. It was a humiliating result for a key government reform, strongly promoted by the premier.
BHP Billiton's plans to renew the lease on its fly-in, fly-out camp on the outskirts of Newman, rather than take up existing empty housing in the town, has prompted a chorus of dissent from Pilbara-focused property groups.
Spending a few days in Port Hedland meant we spent a few days longer than most travellers, and it also afforded an opportunity to get some insights into the town's development.
The accommodation squeeze in the north-west appears to be over with at least one Pilbara hotel shutting temporarily amid industry claims construction camps close to major population centres are competing with traditional hospitality providers.
Having had its influence eroded at this year's state poll and now their dynamic leader, Brendon Grylls, the Nationals face a tough road to stay competitive.
Terry Redman has been elected as the new leader of the WA Nationals, replacing Brendon Grylls who yesterday confirmed he would step down from the Nationals leadership and from state cabinet.
A big population centre at Lake Argyle has been proposed by a Fremantle consultancy as the winning entry to an international competition. The objective was to balance the nation's development with a northern capital.
FARMING groups are taking a cautious view of the Barnett government's promises to make legislative reforms to benefit the sector if it wins the March 9 election, given the lack of action they say h
Another mistake in acquiring land for Woodside's controversial Browse gas hub has made targeted timeframes "tight", Lands Minister Brendon Grylls concedes.
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls has beefed up the powers and responsibilities of the Pilbara and Mid West Development Commissions in an effort to boost efficiency and co-ordination of
The state government is seeking developers to complete the five remaining mixed-use lots in the second stage of its Cockburn Central urban regeneration plan.
PLANS for hotel developments in Busselton and Albany could hinge on the application of state government incentives, announced last year to assist hotel investment in Western Australia.
