News Articles for Paul Fletcher

The federal opposition is calling on the government to allow extensive debate on controversial workplace law changes.

Public policy shortcomings have continued to pay dividends for private internet network providers.

The price tag of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road will hit $1.25 billion, with the state government to pledge a further $80 million in the upcoming budget.

The federal government will now spend $1 billion on the Bunbury Outer Ring Road, almost double initial projections; amid a $1 billion top-up to projects also including the Yanchep and Thornlie-Cockburn rail lines.

Local company Highway Construction has been tasked with upgrading a major intersection in Tuart Hill, as part of a $20 million project.

A charity for musicians, performers and crew will receive a $20 million funding boost as calls for help spike on the back of COVID-19 lockdowns.

Fake Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and crafts will come under the microscope of a major inquiry into the market.

Ministers are standing by government grants spending, which would face public scrutiny under Labor's proposed "anti-rorting" bill before parliament.

Fremantle Biennale, Factory Summer Festival and Origin Fields are among the arts events to have received a share of $40 million in funding from the federal government.

WBHO Infrastructure and Decmil Group have been contracted to complete upgrades at two major highways in Perth.

The federal government has thrown Opera Australia a $4 million lifeline amid cancellations and disruptions caused by the latest COVID-19 lockdowns.

The last piece of more than 16 kilometres of track for the $1.86 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link has been laid, another step toward completion of the Metronet project.

A report into Christine Holgate's acrimonious departure from Australia Post has called for the prime minister to apologise and the chairman to resign.

The national broadcaster has three new board members, including Perth-based Mario D'Orazio, after the Morrison government filled roles that had been vacant for up to six months.

Seven West has finalised a five-year content-sharing deal with Google and signed another three-year deal with Facebook.

The state government has shortlisted two consortia, led by local companies Decmil Group and Civmec, for the contract to build a $50 million bridge across the Swan River.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher says Australia Post won't be sold and there is no link between talks about selling its parcel division and the Christine Holgate controversy.

Australia Post has appointed Woolworths executive Paul Graham as its new chief executive, five months after Christine Holgate quit.

The arts and entertainment sector is being offered another $135 million to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Senior ministers have been forced to defend a modest increase to the dole after welfare groups and economists slammed the miserly boost.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says Facebook's ban on Australian news and information should be a wake-up call for the rest of the world.

Online giants including Facebook and Google have released a new voluntary code for dealing with disinformation and political advertising.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has lashed Facebook for its heavy-handed censorship of Australian news and information.

The Byford rail extension failed a cost benefit analysis and was not endorsed by Infrastructure Australia, but the federal and state governments will push ahead nonetheless.

Scott Morrison shows no signs of blinking first in response to Google's threat to remove its search engine from Australia over the proposed media bargaining code.

Canning MP Andrew Hastie has been appointed Assistant Minister for Defence in a ministerial reshuffle.

Google and Facebook face $10 million fines if they don't follow the rules of Australia's proposed media code to ensure they pay for news.

Facebook and Google will be forced to negotiate with major Australian media organisations on how much they pay for news content on their platforms.

Streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime would have to meet Australian content requirements under a federal government proposal to help local production.

Australia Post will face a one-month investigation examining the organisation's gift and expense culture after watches worth almost $20,000 were handed to senior executives.

Millions of homes and businesses will gain access to ultra-fast internet under a $4.5 billion upgrade to the national broadband network.

The Morrison government has thrown Australian Associated Press a $5 million lifeline from a public interest news gathering fund.

Australia Post has scrapped bonus payments for its executive team after facing pressure for asking workers to volunteer.

Former Perth Festival chair John Barrington has been appointed deputy chair of the federal government's Creative Economy Taskforce, which was established to help rebuild the sector.

The federal government hopes Australia will be the backdrop of more screen productions thanks to $400 million to help the industry recover from coronavirus.

More than 100 regional publishers and broadcasters will share $50 million under the Morrison government's Public Interest News Gathering program.

Artists and entertainers will be able to apply for a slice of a $250 million support package to help the sector recover from coronavirus restrictions.

The announced closure of several regional newspapers has prompted the release of $5 million in federal government funding to "help keep local communities informed" during the coronavirus crisis.

The performing arts sector is coming up with new ways to ensure people are entertained, in light of government restrictions on indoor events attended by 100 people or more as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three engineering alliances have been shortlisted for a $47 million 'smart freeways' project that will use technology to convert the emergency lane on part of Kwinana Freeway into a full-time traffic lane.