The proposed changes to the Research & Development tax system look to significantly change the way companies claim R&D and may reduce expenditure on R&D placing Australia at a competitive disadvantage.

The coal industry is preparing for continued improvement in market conditions this year amid expectations that power consumption and steel output will drive up demand.

A huge boost in employment and a cash injection would help Boddington and surrounding towns become a mining centre with today's official opening of Newmont Mining Corporation's gold mine.

The Australian construction and mining equipment market fell last year, according to figures released by the Construction & Mining Equipment Industry Group (CMEIG) and Datamotive Business Intelligence (DBI).