Norwest. Wattyl hopes on first home extension

The country’s second-biggest paint maker, The Wattyl Group, based at Norwest Business Park, is counting on the extension of the first home owners boost and spending on public housing for a much-needed stimulus, according to The Australian Financial Review. Wattyl’s earnings before interest and tax would total $6 million for the year to June. Lower input costs and redundancies would help the group to cut costs by about $14 million this fiscal year and $12 million more next year. The group has manufacturing, sales and distribution operations in Australia and New Zealand.