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Austal chief executive Paddy Gregg.

ManufacturingCommentsPremiumAustal kept in dark on ‘strict conditions’ for Hanwha stake

The approval of Hanwha’s doubled stake in Austal is subject to ‘strict conditions’, including limits on access to sensitive intellectual property held by Austal and “stringent criteria” on any board nominee.

Sean Smith

Fortescue’s Christmas Creek will be home to a green iron pilot plant that will require significant amounts of water to run.

WaterCommentsPremiumThirsty pursuit of green iron raises water reserves red flag

WA’s budding zero-emissions iron industry will guzzle up vast amounts of water if Fortescue’s need for an extra 60 Optus Stadiums’ worth of groundwater a year is anything to go by.

Adrian Rauso

Hanwha is currently the second-largest shareholder in Austal with a 9.9 per cent holding but is seeking to increase its stake to 19.9 per cent.

BusinessCommentsHanwha’s Austal bid reignites North Asian strategic tensions

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has given approval for South Korean defence giant Hanwha to increase its ownership of WA-based shipbuilder Austal.

Andrew Greene and Sean Smith

Three of the big four closed higher on Thursday. NewsWire

MARKETS WRAPMining stocks lift ASX after US rate cut

Rising mining stocks powered the ASX’s performance on Thursday, despite the Australian sharemarket being unable to follow a strong lead-in from Wall Street.

Cameron Micallef

Tronox’s existing operations in Kwinana.

MiningCommentsPremiumUS miner in box seat for $900m Kwinana rare earths play

New York-listed mineral sands miner Tronox is concocting plans to build a rare earths plant in WA with taxpayer support to the tune of $904 million from Uncle Sam and the Federal Government.

Simone Grogan

Premier Roger Cook and Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.

ManufacturingCommentsPremiumSamsung in talks about WA modular home factory

Korean giant Samsung C&T has been in talks with the State Government this week weighing up an investment into a modular housing factory in Western Australia.

Matt Mckenzie

Not Supplied

MARKETS WRAPRBA’s grim rate warning drags ASX lower

The Australian sharemarket has plunged after the central bank chief delivered a shock warning to investors – leaving every sector in the red.

Cameron Micallef

Austal Henderson Shipyard pictured on Sunday.

Mergers and AcquisitionsCommentsPremiumChalmers promises Austal stake call ‘by Christmas’

Having made an unsuccessful takeover tilt at Austal last year, South Korean conglomerate Hanwha has applied to double its holding in the WA naval shipbuilder to 19.9 per cent.

Sean Smith and Andrew Greene

Caterpillar battery truck

ManufacturingPremiumBig Australian gets it first plug-in trucks

The Big Australian has taken delivery of its first pair of battery-electric trucks as part of a trial with Rio Tinto to see if the lower-emissions tech can stack up against diesel. 

Simone Grogan

Cancer Council kids sunscreen has been recalled over fears the product does not provide adequate sun protection. Image supplied.

NewsKids sunscreen recalled over safety fears

Cancer Council kids sunscreen recalled over safety fears the product separates and reduces protection from the sun.

Emma Kirk

Port Pirie Smelter

EconomyStrike threat looms for bailout plant

Workers at Nyrstar’s troubled Port Pirie smelter in South Australia have voted to strike just months after the plant scored a big taxpayer-funded bailout.

Matt Mckenzie

The deal is part of the wider UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal.

worldPremiumPBS fears after Trump’s drugs deal with UK

A major deal has exempted one nation from US President Donald Trump’s 100 per cent pharmaceutical tariffs, as questions swirl around whether Australia could be next.

Ria Pandey

Chairman Dr Andrew Forrest AO speaks at the Fortescue AGM on Oct 31, 2025.

EnergyPremiumFortescue ends bitter legal battle with ex-employees

A long-running legal saga between Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue and three ex-employees who were accused of ripping off green technology has come to an abrupt end.

Simone Grogan and Adrian Rauso

Fleetwood’s Searipple accommodation village in Karratha.

BoardsPremiumFleetwood shares hammered on sudden exit of chief executive

The one-time caravan maker said chair John Klepec had temporarily taken the reins of the company following the “departure” of Sydney-based Mr Nicholson after 4½ years.

Sean Smith

Alcoa Bauxite Mining.

updated
updated
MiningCommentsPremium
updated
Alcoa bows to pressure on Perth Hills exploration drilling

American mining giant Alcoa has forged a hasty retreat in the Perth Hills after a bid to drill searching for bauxite came under community pressure.

Matt Mckenzie

Billionaire Sanjeev Gupta is in prime position to win from a $75m State Government manufacturing fund just months after his Whyalla Steelworks collapsed — all with the help of Alannah MacTiernan.

EconomyPremiumSteel imports spark ‘Made in WA’ local content fight

There are demands for more scrutiny over the “Made in WA” label after Manufacturing Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson acknowledged the State imports all its steel.

Matt Mckenzie

Not Supplied

NewsPremiumWorker killed in horror steelworks accident

Investigations are under way after a contractor in his 20s was killed in a tragic accident at the Port Kembla Steelworks.

Emma Kirk

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in September.

DefenceCommentsPremiumAustal CEO opens up on Japan’s concerns on South Korean bid

Paddy Gregg says Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is naturally worried about any risk of a rival gaining access to its technology but insists that Austal’s protocols are strong enough to protect any partnership.

Sean Smith and Andrew Greene

Not Supplied

RECALLAsbestos warning over kids’ Kmart product

A popular children’s toy sold across Kmart and Target stores has been urgently recalled over fears of a deadly contamination.

Blake Antrobus

The founder of DroneShield has warned about the AUKUS subs agreement taking the lion’s share of Australia’s defence funding.

ManufacturingCommentsWhy crucial Aussie defence projects are losing out to AUKUS

The warning came from tech company DroneShield, which shocked the ASX to post a 30 per cent share price plunge.

Andrew Greene

Shares in DroneShield, which makes anti-drone products, are been on a tear in 2025.

MarketsPremiumDroneShield defends share sales after market plunge

The sales included DroneShield chief executive Oleg Vornik’s divestment of his entire shareholding in the company for $49.5 million between November 6 and November 12.

Sean Smith

Billionaire Sanjeev Gupta is in prime position to win from a $75m State Government manufacturing fund just months after his Whyalla Steelworks collapsed — all with the help of Alannah MacTiernan.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
EnergyPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Steelworks billionaire chasing slice of $75m WA deal

Billionaire Sanjeev Gupta is in prime position to win from a $75m State Government manufacturing binge just months after his Whyalla Steelworks collapsed — all with the help of Alannah MacTiernan.

Matt Mckenzie

The power struggle over Nexperia highlights how technology supply chain vulnerabilities are squeezing auto makers.

ManufacturingInside the chip crisis that sent carmarkers scrambling

A battle for control of a little-known chipmaker has threatened global auto production by choking off the semiconductor supply chain, though there are signs the crisis is inching toward a resolution.

Kelvin Chan and Chan Ho-Him

Chris Prior and Chelsea Herman lead Pilbara Rail Maintenance.

Mergers and AcquisitionsPremiumPrivately-held Pilbara rail builder snares $180m sale

Co-founder Chris Prior will stay at the helm of privately-owned Pilbara Rail Maintenance despite striking a lucrative deal with an Italian rail infrastructure major.

Simone Grogan