Today's business headlines - updated

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN (BUSINESS NEWS HEADLINES)

Goyder lashes Coles on 'crazy' data move

Wesfarmers boss Richard Goyder yesterday refused to rule out walking away from its bid for Coles as he made a fierce attack on the retailer for giving a head start to a rival consortium led by US private equity colossus Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.

Takeover approach to Ausdrill

Investor demand for WA's mining services companies is growing, with drilling and blasting specialist Ausdrill last night revealing it had received a confidential takeover approach.

Alumina giant signs for refinery study in north

Norwegian giant Norsk Hydro hopes new gas supplies off the Kimberley coast will underpin a potential $5 billion bauxite mine and alumina refinery in the State's far north.

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN (GENERAL NEWS HEADLINES)

Giant desal plant will push up water prices

WA will have a second desalination plant at an estimated cost of $1 billion after the State Government bowed to political pressure yesterday and abandoned plans to draw more water from the South-West Yarragadee aquifer.

Scientists vote for GM cotton

Genetically modified cotton would deliver a range of environmental and economic benefiuts to farmers in WA's ord river region, according to a new report co-written by the Department of Agriculture.

Labor says no special mines deal

Labor's industrial relations spokeswoman Julia Gillard yesterday ruled out any prospect of the ALP striking a compromise deal with mining companies on industrial relations that would not be available to other industries, saying all companies would be subjected to the same laws.