Western Australia's net debt is set for further big increases over the next three years before coming down slightly once the government's budget returns to surplus in 2020-21.
Despite a good start to the session, the Australian share market has closed steady as investors worry about the possibility of another North Korean missile test on Saturday, the anniversary of the country's founding.
It was 20 years' ago this month that Perth's two largest law firms surprised the business community by merging their operations. Herbert Smith Freehills hosted many of the 50-plus partners who were there at the time to mark the occasion.
Gold miners have warned of devastating consequences from a higher royalty rate, including potential mine closures, while business groups have also taken aim at proposed payroll tax hikes for larger employers, after both were targeted in a $1 billion revenue grab by the state government in today's budget.
UPDATED: Lisa Scaffidi has stood down from her duties as Perth's lord mayor, pending an appeal against her 18-month disqualification from holding office for repeatedly failing to disclose gifts and travel, but plans to retain the title and her annual allowance.
Poseidon Nickel is in discussions with Empire Resources for the processing of gold ore at its mothballed Black Swan processing facility near Kalgoorlie, while Empire has secured two loan deals to help pay for essential mining costs.
Payroll tax shockBusinesses will be slugged with higher payroll taxes in today's Budget as the State Government pursues a revenue windfall to help neutralise burgeoning
The Australian dollar has crept higher against its US counterpart, recouping a little of its loss following weaker-than-expected economic growth figures and gains in the greenback.
Oil prices have risen more than per cent as strong global refining margins and the reopening of US Gulf Coast refineries provided a more bullish outlook after sharp drops due to Hurricane Harvey.
Gold prices have fallen from the one-year high hit in the previous session as concerns over a potential US government shutdown eased and the dollar rose against the safe-haven yen.
Fogarty Wine Group's Margaret River Vintners business has expanded its operations, taking on the Evans & Tate brand and assets, the Smithbrook and Pemberton Estate vineyards, and buying the Amadeus vineyard at Wilyabrup
Hungry Jack's will replace Bankwest on the West Coast Eagles' jerseys next year, returning to the team it sponsored for 25 years until it was bumped by Bankwest in 2012.
More than a third of business women believe they're underpaid, according to a report published today by Business Women Australia and CoreData Group, yet nearly one in five of those surveyed has never asked for a pay rise.
A Senate committee will inquire into the future of rugby union in Australia, a day after the ARU's victory in its fight to axe the Western Force from Super Rugby.
Balcatta-based electrical, fire and security service provider Global Electrotech has gone into liquidation after creditors appointed DCS Advisory to the failed business, which owes about $1.2 million.
Troubled civil construction and mining services business Brierty has been placed in voluntary administration after failing to secure what it considered to be an adequate pipeline of future work.
Schoolchildren across Western Australia may be exposed to lead-contaminated water because the same plumbing materials plaguing Perth Children's Hospital could also be in schools, an expert has warned.
Floral wholesaler Profresh has grown from a one-person business into a team of almost 15, generating $3 million in revenue in just its second year of commercial operations
Mines Minister Bill Johnston has been criticised for holding a scientific inquiry to decide the future of fracking in the state, with the industry saying it's unnecessary and creates damaging uncertainty.
Gold junior Orinoco has tapped investors for a near-$5 million capital raising and a $3 million investment by AngloGold Ashanti, as it progresses development of its Cascavel operation in Brazil.
Western Australia's economy shrunk by 0.3 per cent in the June quarter, excluding international trade, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, while GDP grew 0.8 per cent nationally.
The University of Western Australia has fallen just short of its ambition to be a top 100-ranked institution in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, but gained ground alongside Curtin University, which also landed a higher position.
Local explorer Australian Mines has entered into an agreement to buy out its joint venture partner at the Sconi cobalt-nickel-scandium project in Queensland for $10 million in cash and scrip.
A report into an innovative project to provide sustainable housing for the city's homeless has found significant social and economic benefits across its first 12 months of operation.
Gold prices have climbed to a one-year high on Tuesday as the US dollar eased and safe-haven buying demand remained robust due to continued concerns over North Korea's nuclear tests.
