Latest Headlines

The Rudd government has sneaked in an eleventh hour change to its unfair dismissal code which will force small busineses to pay 'go-away' money to aggrieved employees, the federal opposition claims.

South Korean steel maker POSCO has invested nearly $8 million in Jupiter Mines and entered into an offtake deal for up to 50 per cent of the West Perth-based company's future iron ore production.

Long-serving creative director at Linc Integrated, Steve Brown is considering establishing a rival agency in Western Australia following news that he, along with three other staff members, have been retrenched from the West Perth-based advertising outfit.

Panoramic Resources has followed through with plans to expand out of nickel by signing a joint venture deal with Thundelarra Exploration, the second agreement in as many days.

Agribusiness companies TFS Corporation and Elders have reported a fall in managed investment scheme sales for the 2008-09 financial year but said they were pleased with the result in light of diffi

New workplace laws come into effect today, a move the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA says will add to the cost of doing business and discourage job creation.

Union push for 6pc wage rise; Mid-West broadband rollout fast-tracked; Rio plays hard ball at ore talks; Suitors like the look of Lady Annie; Raisings and Rio give deal makers reason to celebrate

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien says securing regular passenger air services for the state is more important than wholesale deregulation as negotiations continue with existing regional airlines over new long-term contracts.

Work on the near $1 billion Southern Seawater desalination plant near Binningup will start in three weeks after the state government today signed contracts with the Spanish-led consortium building the project.

Paladin Energy has approved a $US71 million ($A88 million) expansion to its Langer Heinrich uranium mine in Namibia, which will be smaller than originally targeted.

Airline Virgin Blue will increase its services to the Pilbara, announcing today it will start direct flights from Perth to Port Hedland in August.

House values in Perth have bucked the national trend, dipping 0.5 per cent during the first five months of the year, new figures show.

The Minerals Council of Australia has called for a more efficient and effective project approvals process following the release of an interim report into the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Acquisitive Sylvania Resources has agreed to merge with a Finnish company in a deal valued at €268 million ($A466 million) to create an integrated producer of platinum group metals and ferrochrome.

Sydney-based Norfolk Group has secured a $96.5 million contract from BHP Billiton Iron Ore for rail signaling installation work as part of the miner's Rapid Growth Project 5.

Advertising agency 303 has been brought on board by The Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF) for next year after incumbent agency, Block Branding decided to resign the account two weeks ago.

Gindalbie Metals has progressed its relationship with AnSteel, today announcing the appointment of two more representative from the Chinese entity to the board.

Stimulus a short-term hit: bank; ASX Seeks to cut small investors into bonds boom; Unions gear up to exploit IR changes; Iron men's bluff threatens deadlock; Australia to feel pain as China curbs its imports

An accounting firm has warned Perth businesses that shedding staff to cut costs may be doing more harm than good, with strong leadership the key to surviving the downturn.

Iron Mountain has failed in its takeover bid for Terrain Minerals, attracting just over 15 per cent of Terrain shares on issue with the bulk of that coming from one shareholder.

West Leederville-based Emmerson Resources and Robert Friedland's Ivanhoe Australia have approved a $7 million exploration program for the remainder of this calendar year.

A corporate restructure of CopperCo has saved Cape Lambert Iron Ore from launching takeover bids for several of the collapsed company's listed investments.

The state government will contribute $3 million towards a new science building at the University of WA's Albany Campus, with half of the funds to come from the royalties for regions program.

West Perth-based ComputerCORP will undergo some major changes including a name change and a new east coast-based chief executive following the acquisition of two technology providers.

Shares in Avoca Resources have risen after the gold miner lifted its 2010 financial year production forecast for the Higginsville operation in Western Australia.

Centamin Egypt has stepped up to producer status after it achieved first gold pour on schedule at its Sukari operation, the first commercial gold mine in Egypt.

The value of works and logistics contracts awarded by the Chevron-led Gorgon gas project in the past two months has reached nearly $1.3 billion, with the latest beneficiary being Toll Group.

ASIC warns directors on valuations, solvency; Companies face 20pc profit cut; BHP benefits as Rio robots race to 'mine of the future'; West shapes as key to Rudd's second-term hopes; Hotels in rush to sign up workers.

The majority of Australia's state treasurers have agreed to implement new uniform payroll tax rules related to employees who work in more than one jurisdiction, with Queensland being the exception.

Murchison Metals says it will investigate a port option at Anketell Point, proposed by Aquila Resources and Fortescue Metals Group, as it kick starts a scoping study on its Rocklea iron ore project in the Pilbara.

Fox Resources plans to raise more than $13 million through a rights issue to complement its previous $3.4 million private placement, with funds to be applied to ongoing exploration programs and processing tests.

Bauxite Resources has signed an initial agreement with a Chinese entity to explore options for direct equity investment and the joint development of an alumina processing plant in the South West.