Emily Piesse

The state government’s proposed South West integrated furniture precinct is close to being realised, with a feasibility study into the project due to be released this month.

Changes to income tax thresholds over the past five years have influenced salary packaging behaviour, with more employees realising the benefits and high-income earners adjusting their usage.

The arrival of Web 2.0 – the ‘new phase’ in the internet that encompasses social networking sites, podcasts and blogging – was for some users the most significant event in cyberspace since the dot.com boom.

Two Western Australian-based technology companies were recognised last month at the national Consensus software awards for Australian software developers.

Western Australian not-for-profit organisations are increasingly using the internet to communicate with their supporters and clients, particularly with regard to e-philanthropy and online giving.

As the mining boom puts further upwards pressure on wages in Western Australia, the state’s workers are enjoying the highest remuneration in the country, according to two surveys released this month.

More small business exporters will be entitled to a reimbursement of their overseas marketing costs from July 1 this year, following legislative changes to the export market development grants program.

With Western Australian workers commanding the highest salaries in the nation and the state’s unemployment rate at just 2.7 per cent, the not-for-profit sector is struggling to compete with other industries as it faces an acute shortage of staff.

State-owned energy retailer Synergy will significantly increase tariffs for its medium-to-large business customers from July to counteract increased costs in power generation and transmission.