LNG Sunrise gas gains momentum
Signs of a breakthrough in the stalemate around Woodside Petroleum’s Sunrise gas resource in the Timor Sea have raised hopes that the $US13 billion ($15 billion) project may soon begin to move towards development. The Fin
Alinta bosses ready to cash in
Alinta Energy’s senior executives have borrowed more than $60 million to position themselves for a bigger payday on the upcoming sale of the company. The West
PM gets climate action after Palmer backflip
Tony Abbott has won a deal to transform climate change policy after Clive Palmer agreed to support the government’s Direct Action plan, three months after voting to abolish the carbon tax. The Aus
‘Asian Hollywood’ in Bunbury
Bunbury could become the “movie capital of Australia” through a five-storey studio and training facility on the back of $160 million in film deals. The West
Cliffs boss vows to ‘knock down’ costs from miner
BHP Billiton chief executive Andrew Mackenzie has his “laser-like’’ focus on cost-cutting in response to weaker commodity prices. But the new chairman and chief executive at Cliffs Natural Resources, Lourenco Goncalves, prefers a “knock them down” approach. The Aus
Keating slams China bank snub
Former prime minister Paul Keating says Tony Abbott should join the new infrastructure bank being pushed by China’s President Xi Jinping when he visits Beijing next month or risk undermining Australia’s relations with its biggest trading partner. The Fin
NAB to step up UK asset sales
National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburn is expected to flesh out plans for selling the bank’s United Kingdom business on Thursday, as he seeks to close a troubled chapter in the lender’s history. The Fin
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Former prime minister Paul Keating says Tony Abbott should join the new infrastructure bank being pushed by China’s President Xi Jinping when he visits Beijing next month or risk undermining Australia’s relations with its biggest trading partner.
Page 3: Former diplomat and trade expert Alan Oxley said big investment funds might be breaching their fiduciary duties if they no longer invested in resources companies, because these delivered the best returns for shareholders.
Fizzy drink fans will have to wait until April to taste-test Coca Cola Life, the mid-calorie cola the company is relying on to reinvigorate soft drink sales.
Page 5: The federal government and the Victorian government will announce a crackdown on the illegal offshore gambling industry, which is estimated to be worth $1.5 billion annually.
Page 6: Virgin Australia Holdings chief executive John Borghetti has cautioned that the leisure sector remains flat, but he is optimistic that demand will pick up early next year.
Page 7: Libertarian senator David Leyonhjelm has unveiled a wish-list of tourism industry reforms that includes boosting the intake of working holiday-makers and trialling liberalised employment laws for tourism businesses.
Page 8: Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey says he is willing to do a deal with the Greens on petrol excise while the Australian Conservation Foundation has urged the minor party to at least engage the government to seek a win for the environment.
Exempting every trade-exposed industry from the renewable energy target would add just $6.50 to the average annual power bill and reduce the legislated 2020 large-scale wind and solar energy production target by 7 per cent.
Page 9: The first tranche of the government’s direct action policy will be passed into law following a deal struck with Clive Palmer that has also saved the Climate Change Authority from abolition.
Page 11: Competition watchdog chairman Rod Sims has called on state governments to keep a “close eye” on newly privatised container ports amid concerns price rises will be passed on to consumers.
Page 23: National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburn is expected to flesh out plans for selling the bank’s United Kingdom business on Thursday, as he seeks to close a troubled chapter in the lender’s history.
Page 25: Signs of a breakthrough in the stalemate around Woodside Petroleum’s Sunrise gas resource in the Timor Sea have raised hopes that the $US13 billion ($15 billion) project may soon begin to move towards development.
Page 26: UGL will confirm the sale of property arm DTZ is on track to be completed by the end of the year at its annual general meeting in Sydney, despite controversy over multi-million dollar payments made to former DTZ director CY Leung.
Power generator and supplier Alinta Energy has confirmed its private equity owner TPG Capital is examining potential options that could see it sell out of the company.
The Australian
Page 1: Tony Abbott has won a deal to transform climate change policy after Clive Palmer agreed to support the government’s Direct Action plan, three months after voting to abolish the carbon tax.
Page 3: An overhaul of alcohol taxes and a review of liquor-licensing laws will be raised today in a bid to curb street violence and protect the $100 billion “night-time’’ economy.
Page 4: Wharfies should receive incentives to boost productivity in enterprise agreements being renegotiated on the Australian waterfront, building on the 1998 reforms that have made imports cheaper and driven down costs for exporters, the competition watchdog says.
Page 5: A Senior academic at Murdoch University has labelled disgruntled colleagues “nameless cowards” resistant to reform after sensational allegations of misconduct helped bring down the university’s vice-chancellor.
Page 19: The chief executive of Seven West Media has insisted he will not be blinded by “emotion” as he bids to retain the AFL’s sports rights in high stakes talks that will write a cheque for the richest sports deal in Australian television history.
Page 20: BHP Billiton chief executive Andrew Mackenzie has his “laser-like’’ focus on cost-cutting in response to weaker commodity prices. But the new chairman and chief executive at Cliffs Natural Resources, Lourenco Goncalves, prefers a “knock them down” approach.
The Abbott government’s back down on the renewable energy target is another blow to the biodiesel sector, with the industry warning that the government is showing that sovereign risk is a “real thing” in Australia.
Page 21: A last-minute deal between Japanese brewer Asahi and two private equity firms in one of the largest corporate litigations in recent years appears to have killed off the prospect of a potentially embarrassing federal court trial.
Page 22: The end of the resources construction boom may be coming, but it has not arrived yet, with resources projects worth $240 billion being built or with firm commitments, while spending on infrastructure is starting to lift.
Page 26: The GPT Group and Dexus Property Group held extended merger talks about 18 months to two years ago to create a property powerhouse that would have had about $25 billion in assets under management.
The West Australian
Page 3: Bunbury could become the “movie capital of Australia” through a five-storey studio and training facility on the back of $160 million in film deals.
Page 6: Western suburbs councils fear they may miss out altogether on State Government funding for local government reform, leaving ratepayers to pick up the bill.
Page 10: Australia’s No.1 TV network unveiled its programs for next year and said it planned to stay on top until 2020 at a star-studded launch in Sydney yesterday.
Page 11: A WA scientist studying the role of genetics in early brain development and agriculture has been named Australia’s top life scientist.
Patient care at Royal Perth Hospital could face disruption today as support workers walk off the job in protest against plans to axe about 110 full-time positions at the hospital.
Page 13: The State Opposition is hopeful the operators of a luxury hotel redevelopment at the Old Treasury site appeal against a decision that knocked back their bid to serve alcohol around the clock.
Business: Alinta Energy’s senior executives have borrowed more than $60 million to position themselves for a bigger payday on the upcoming sale of the company.
Staff at the Cannington warehouse supplying Furniture Spot stores have been laid off following the collapse of a family company associated with the chain.
Heavy-hitting investors Rod Jones, Tony Grist and Brent Stewart have backed fledgling Perth-based mapping company Spookfish in a backdoor listing through the shell of failed explorer White Star Resources.
Transport Minister Dean Nalder admits he failed to read key documents tied to the closure of 500km of rail lines in the Wheatbelt, but does not think it was his responsibility as a member of Cabinet.
Once slated as the project to put WA at the forefront of global base metals production, Admiral Bay is set to return to the capital markets with former hip-replacement company PLD Corporation to announce it has acquired the zinc and lead project today.
Sirius Resources has signed up four banks to provide debt finance for its $473 million Nova nickel development as it races to start construction next year.