Latest Headlines

Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore met senior BHP Billiton executives today to discuss the company's response to recent fatalities at its iron ore operations in the Pilbara.

China Minmetals' proposed takeover of OZ Minerals cannot go ahead if it incudes the target's mining operations in Prominent Hill because it would breach national security, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.

The seven Filipino 457 workers who were laid off from Premier Building Solutions have lost their bid to stay in Australia and are likely to be deported after April 9.

Miner Kagara says production has restarted at its Mt Garnet polymetallic plant following heavy rainfall in Queensland.

Australia's major forestry companies are disappointed they have not negotiated an increase for the benchmark price of exported Tasmanian bluegum woodchip with Japan.

Hannans Reward director Terry Grammer has resigned following outraged calls yesterday by chairman Richard Scallan that he step down after accepting Fox Resources' takeover offer.

Aviva Corporation's Coolimba power station project in the Mid West has been shortlisted by Synergy for the 2009 energy supply procurement contract.

Patersons Securities will takeover the broking arm of Tolhurst whose shareholders today agreed to sell the business for $2 million, well below the figures originally mooted for the deal.

Property developer Peet plans to raise $81.5 million through a rights issue, with around two-thirds of the raising underwritten by company directors and UBS.

Aquarius Platinum plans to raise $260 million through a placement and rights issue, with part of the funds to be used for its acquisition of Ridge Mining.

The state's meatworkers union says it would not be surprised if Harvey Beef workers voted in favour of a new pay deal today, which will cut a third of employee's pay packets by 20 per cent.

West Perth company Continental Capital has appointed Petrus Snyders as chief executive officer of subsidiary Continental Coal and has topped its planned $20 million financing target.

Investor confidence has fallen to the worst level in more than four years due to the global financial crisis, a new quarterly survey shows.

Falcon Minerals has settled a sale with Iluka Resources subsidiary Basin Minerals Holdings for its 10 per cent equity in the Echo Minerals Sands Project, located in the Murray Basin in Victoria.

Apache's Australian managing director Tim Wall will move to head the group's operations in Canada, with his deputy, John Bedingfield, replacing him as the local chief.

The export of lead from the seaside town of Esperance has been plagued with controversy in recent times, however the first shipment of lead carbonate will soon be heading to southern China after being stranded at the port for the past two years.

Energy Minister Peter Collier visited Karratha earlier today to mark the start of construction of the most efficient gas-fired power station on the Pilbara's North West Interconnected System (NWIS).

Albidon has extended its trading halt as it waits on final approval from senior lenders and unsecured creditors over its funding package from Chinese company Jinchuan.

Iluka Resources says 23 employees and contractors will be affected by the shutdown of one of its Mid West Kilns, which was brought about by the global economic crisis.

Takeover target Hannans Reward has requested the resignation of one of its directors after he accepted the Terry Streeter-backed Fox Resources' takeover offer.

Rio's Chinalco deal clears first hurdle; Swan throws debt lifeline to the states; Bank chiefs see upside; Canadian uranium player eyes View camp; Chalice Bridge put up for sale

ABOUT 45 per cent of Australian businesses have been affected by fraud in the past two years, according to the 2008 KPMG Fraud Survey.

HOPES of Perth throwing off its Dullsville tag once and for all have been dashed with the government's belt-tightening and its shift in priorities for key infrastructure projects.

A COUPLE of Western Australian geothermal energy companies are hoping to make their mark on expanding clean energy markets thanks to some locally developed technology.

MINING entrepreneur Terry Streeter has continued his aggressive sell down in Western Areas during a busy week involving a takeover and court action.

INCREASING demand for student housing has prompted a number of Perth universities to commit to expanding their on-campus accommodation.

A LOT has changed in the past year,the skilled labour shortage has all but gone and unemployment is at 5.2 per cent.

SPECULATION over the status of Finbar's mixed-use development on the former Fairlanes Bowling site has been put to rest after the developer this week launched an off-the-plan sales campaign for the residential component.

A UNIQUE partnership between Shenton Park-based Dreamfit Foundation and Wesfarmers is enabling the two organisations to meet their respective staffing and recruitment goals.

INITIAL understanding of coal seam methane (CSM) was as a dangerous by-product of underground coal mining.

Ninniku Jip offers Asian fusion the whole family can enjoy amid the thriving strip in East Victoria Park, as Jashuan Dias discovered.

STRAITS Resources says it is well placed for acquisition opportunities after selling a stake in its coal assets to Thailand's PTT International Company for $US335 million ($A486 million).