Matt Birney's Liberal Party manifesto announced at the weekend marks a key point in his fledging leadership.While publicity about his plan was largely overwhelmed by the news of new bombings in Bali, there were several initiatives of interest to business
Recent multi-million dollar investments in the state's resources sector have paid off as unprecedented growth in the past four years continues on the back of higher commodity prices.
The housing and resources booms in Western Australia's so-called ‘V8 economy' have been credited with the state's above-average performance, but higher prices are creeping into the picture as the cycle is prolonged.
Perth is assured of at least one new office tower, with expressions of interest open for developers to purchase 140 William Street, but industry players have warned that more space is needed to cope with demand.
The State Government budget surplus of $1.24 billion in 2004-05 was the strongest result ever, underpinned to a large extent by higher royalties collected from the booming resources sector.
Western Australia's tourism industry celebrated a good year in 2004-05, a period during which ground was made in growing the state's share of the market.
Amid celebrations for its 20th year on the Perth hospitality scene, Julio's Restaurant in West Perth is welcoming one of its best-known names back to the kitchen.
By far the most dominant demographic influence on the Western Australian economy – and most developed economies for that matter – is that of the baby boomers.
Returns in the farm sector were mixed in 2004-05, both in volume and value terms, but good rainfall in the state's agricultural areas during the past two months will ensure a strong harvest this year across most commodities.
The state's economy is showing no signs of cooling its demand for additional emplo-yment capacity, with all signs pointing to a further tightening as the skilled labour market feels the pinch of shortages across the board.
WHILE Western Australia has traditionally been one of the less expensive Australian states in which to live, recent rises in key indicators point to a closing of the cost-of-living gap.
The Health Reform Committee report of March 2004 recommended a fundamental reconfiguration of the state's health system during the next 15 years. The Government's recent allocation of $3.6 billion with the release of the 'WA Health Clinical Services Frame
For all the lifestyle it has to offer Perth is often attacked as lacking the vibrancy and cultural diversity available in cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.
As part of the health upgrades, the State Government will invest $206 million in the redevelopment of four major country hospitals across Western Australia into regional resource centres.
The in-depth economic year in review of business sectors in WA reveals some stand-out performers. Measuring the impact of these sectors and their standing in the national picture, David Gibson reports.
Perth's Technology Park got an unexpected result when it invited the commercialisation experts from Perth's four public universities to speak at its 20th anniversary conference last week.
The State Government's role in regional Western Australia was recognised in Perth this week when two of the year's StateWest Achievement Awards were won by public sector employees working in fields that service predominantly regional areas.
West Australian Newspapers is embarking on a $189 million, two-year expansion plan that includes a $31 million redundancy provision to cover 220 full-time production staff at the company's Herdsman headquarters.
The $173.5 million acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in Hoyts Cinemas, a step outside West Australian News-papers' traditional comfort zone and the development of its online services, is costing the company.
I don't normally pick up on issues raised by politicians campaigning for their slice of the funding pie, but I was intrigued by the efforts of Greenough MLA Grant Woodhams who raised the vision of the Indian Ocean Drive in State Parliament last week.
By now, most politicians will have marked their favourite Mark Latham diary quotation. Mine was his remark about Labor's Kevin Rudd: “If he grew up in poverty in rural Queensland where did the posh accent come from?”
