WA attempts to lift venture capital record with $30 million co-investment program

The Western Australian government is attempting to improve its venture capital ecosystem, currently ranked second-last among all Australian jurisdictions, through a $30 million initiative intended to lure global VC funds to invest in the state. According to a description on the state government’s website, the Western Australian Venture Capital (WAVC) Initiative is open to firms…

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, July 8 – July 12, 2024

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 5) Magnetite secures Japanese support for green iron project Magnetite Mines has secured Japanese financial support for its plans to develop a massive green iron ore mine and potential green iron or steel production near Port Pirie in South Australia. The…

BHP suspends WA nickel production ‘temporarily’

BHP has taken what it calls ‘the difficult but necessary decision’ to temporarily suspend its Western Australian Nickel operation, Nickel West. The company operates open-cut and underground mines, concentrators, a smelter and refinery all located in Western Australia. The company blamed ‘significant and sustained challenges to the Australian nickel industry’, which includes a period of…

Record number in free training in WA

A new record high of over 153,800 publicly funded vocational course enrolments were recorded in Western Australia in 2023. Publicly funded course enrolments increased almost 10 per cent from 2022 bating the state’s previous record of 150,310 enrolments in 2021. According to an announcement, growth was stimulated by more than 153,800 publicly funded vocational course…