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I overheard this sales dialogue on an airplane recently. "He (the customer) has never responded to one of my emails and never calls me back."

In a world where a Sri Lankan-based company can provide unlimited tech support for $149 a year to a business owner in Sioux City, Iowa, no company can escape the new realities of global competition or hide in its local markets anymore.

Both the federal and state budgets, due next month, are forecast to hold little joy for investment in business and industry.

Numerous major contracts have been awarded to the state's mining and civil companies, creating a robust job market for contractors.

The state government has committed $5 million towards feasibility and planning studies for a marine common use facility (CUF) in the Pilbara, likely to be at either Anketell or Lumsden Point.

A state infrastructure plan will help Western Australia come to grips with the big development issues.

Demand for energy in WA is big and so is the demand for an open, competitive market.

The state government's freight strategy will see big changes, from Fremantle in the west to Kalgoorlie in the east and many stops in between.

An array of short-term fixes to Perth's traffic congestion woes are under development while the state government works on a strategy for the longer term.

Delivering infrastructure to regional WA isn't simple, even with a $6 billion Royalties for Region budget.

Huge potential could be added to WA's export terminals capacity over the next decade.

A TRANSPORT analyst has proposed the state government consider using a ‘value capture' funding model and increases in council rates to help pay for almost $3 billion of proposed public transport in

Two major rail freight operators are pursuing growth opportunites in WA's mining sector.

Many other companies, from Australia and offshore, are eyeing investments in varied port and rail projects in the state.

The state government is spending record amounts on capital works projects but setting priorities and meeting demand remain major challenges.

Curtin University has developed sustainable building guidelines independent of the Green Building Council Australia's Green Star ratings, after having one of its new buildings recently certified un

THE state government's planning reforms have come under fire after it approved changes to the Town of Cottesloe's development scheme, allowing up to eight-storey buildings to be constructed along t

The state government has identified 37 areas for future industrial estates in the metropolitan and Peel regions, which are expected to meet long-term demand for industrial land.

Australia's commercial property sector continued to move downwards in the first three months of the year, a survey shows.

Television stocks have been punished as ongoing weakness in advertising markets frightens investors after Seven West Media cut its earnings forecasts.

The Australian share market has opened well over half a per cent higher, buoyed by optimism on overseas markets.

The state government will support QR National and Atlas Iron's bid for a common rail line in the Pilbara, but says it won't put any money towards it.

The Australian dollar is three quarters of a US cent higher, driven by a strong rise in US stocks helped by a big boost in earnings for technology giant Apple.

Blockbuster profits from Apple and a solid showing by Boeing have pumped up US markets, with a late boost coming from a slightly improved growth outlook from the Federal Reserve.

The federal government wants to discourage people taking out high-cost, small-amount "payday loans".

The Australian share market had a flat day with falls in overseas markets overnight offset by heightened expectations of an interest rate cut.

Shares in Strzelecki Metals have soared after it announced prominent Western Australian businessmen Brian McMaster and Matthew Wood would head up a new board of directors.

Perth-based oil and gas explorer Tap Oil is entering the shale gas arena, after signing an agreement with privately-owned Rusa Resources to explore acreage in the onshore Carnarvon Basin.

Advanced Braking Technology says it has the funds in place to support the commercial launch of its garbage truck braking technology, after completing a $2.4 million capital raising.

Africa-focused uranium miner Paladin Energy says it has significantly strengthened its balance sheet after a convertible bond issue that raised $US274 million ($A266.5 million) from investors.

Treasurer Wayne Swan insists Peter Slipper's decision to stand down as Speaker won't impact on the federal government's ability to deliver a tough budget.

Premier Colin Barnett says an interim report on the way GST revenues are distributed recognises the system is "broken" and has been unfair to Western Australia.