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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.

ANALYSIS: The major parties are ramping up expectations of what they will deliver if they win the March 11 state poll, but financial realities have a way of stifling the best of intentions.

Premier Colin Barnett has demanded Labor submit its election promises to Treasury for costing, saying that should be the modern standard for oppositions.

GDP has bounced back from a poor showing in the September quarter with December quarter seasonally adjusted growth of 1.1 per cent, while Western Australia snapped a five quarter streak of shrinking state demand to grow 0.4 per cent.

Marine services company MMA Offshore will sell its Dampier and Broome supply bases to Toll Group for about $53 million to pay off debt, as the company revealed a $323.7 million half-year loss on the back of a large impairment charge.

A lack of employer awareness and experience in terms of hiring people with a disability has led to misperceptions about what they can offer.

CIMIC Group's takeover bid for mining services provider Macmahon Holdings has become more complicated after Macmahon signed a heads of agreement that could give Indonesian miner Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara a 44 per cent stake in the company.

Woodside Petroleum's boss received lower pay in 2016 despite the energy giant posting a surge in profitability, after the company restructured executive pay following a shareholder vote.

The Australian share market continues to lose ground as investors steer clear of risk ahead of US president Donald Trump's long awaited first speech to Congress.

CBA scandal ‘not systemic'Commonwealth Bank of Australia has been cleared of ‘‘systemic''

The Australian dollar is slightly lower against its US counterpart with markets in wait-and-see mode ahead of US president Donald Trump's keenly awaited address to Congress and local economic growth data.

Oil prices have slipped but have continued to trade in a tight range, as concerns about rising US crude inventories ahead of data overshadowed OPEC production cuts.

The price of gold has turned downward as the US dollar comes off its lows and financial markets await US President Donald Trump's speech to Congress regarding his policies on tax reforms and government spending.

Crown Resorts has reportedly cut more than 200 jobs at its Crown Perth entertainment complex in the wake of a 38 per cent fall in high-roller revenue.

Kidman Resources has bought two lithium tenements from nickel miner Western Areas in a $6 million all-scrip deal, while Lithium Australia has signed a memorandum for a joint venture in Germany.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering expects to bounce back from a net loss in the first half of the 2017 financial year after announcing the “transformational” acquisition of a Sydney-based electrical contractor.

Western Australia's peak association for lawyers has called on the state's political parties to commit at least an additional $8 million to legal assistance services ahead of the March 11 election.

Shares in WorleyParsons have soared after the engineering group confirmed it had rejected a takeover bid from a Dubai-based professional services group, which has since emerged as a large shareholder.

Specialist medical centres are emerging as the asset type of choice for offshore buyers in Perth, according to local boutique management and consulting firm Griffin Group.

Restoration work is set to get under way on one of the Swan Valley's oldest buildings, with plans lodged to create a grower's market, art gallery and artist studios, grape processing facility and w

A late plunge on the share market has sent it to a fourth straight day of falls.

Shares in mining and civil contractor Brierty have tumbled 23 per cent today despite the company announcing a $3.8 million net profit for the six months to December, which the company said was above guidance.

Stronger commodity prices and government spending in the final months of 2016 are expected to have helped the economy bounce back from the preceding quarter's contraction.

Premier Colin Barnett says the final stage of the contentious Perth Freight Link will involve expanding Stirling Bridge and not digging a tunnel under the Swan River, although the federal government doesn't expect that to be necessary until at least the mid-2020s.

Frustration is mounting among developers in South Perth as they are forced to reassess projects after the second major change to the suburb's town planning guidelines in the past six years.

At a time when bricks and mortar retailers are facing an online onslaught, and with just about every person on the street having a camera in their pocket, Camera Electronic is fighting back, opening a new store in the CBD.

Osborne Park-based heavy equipment supplier Emeco Holdings has reduced its first-half net loss after tax by around 70 per cent, to $31.3 million for the six months to December.

ANALYSIS: Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls has attacked the debt reduction strategies of both the Liberal and Labor parties as unrealistic. However, he confirmed that, in the event of a hung parliament after the March 11 election, his party would only work with the Liberals to form a new government.

ANALYSIS: There used to be a golden rule in election campaigns that candidates should be seen but not heard. The public face of the party was the leader, whose commitments and comments were always carefully scripted.

Subiaco-based energy company Australis Oil & Gas has announced an $80 million expansion of its shale acreage in the southern US, amid plans for a $100 million raising.

Soaring energy prices, driven by growing gas exports are putting jobs at risk and "politics-driven energy policies" are making the situation worse, Australia's peak business lobby group has warned.

Australia's current account deficit was $3.85 billion in the December quarter down from a deficit of $10.2 billion the previous quarter, seasonally adjusted figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.