HBF to close branches in cost-cutting move
HBF is closing three of its 20 branches and dumping its longrunning hospital liaison service as part of new chief John Van Der Wielen’s promised focus on reining in premium increases. The West
NBN reviews internet pricing
NBN Co admits it has an image problem and is considering forcing telecommunication companies to guarantee a minimum level of service for customers as part of a review of its controversial pricing model to head off growing criticism about the project’s internet speeds. The Fin
Generators push up prices: Rio
Rio Tinto says east coast electricity generators have too much market power and are using it to drive up prices, as costs continue to bite at its power-intensive NSW and Queensland aluminium assets. The Aus
Race on for infrastructure’s $118trn boom
Australian companies have a fantastic opportunity to participate in an Asian infrastructure boom but need to move fast to avoid being left behind by international competitors, the Global Infrastructure Hub has warned. The Fin
Canavan turns up heat on LNG exports
The gas industry is set for another showdown with government over LNG exports after Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan declared he was ‘‘underwhelmed’’ by the commitments so far from producers to address the east coast gas shortage while exporters insist that restricting exports would do more harm than good. The Fin
Labor’s tax war to hit business
Bill Shorten is facing a war with small business over an imminent Labor policy to increase taxes and generate billions of dollars in government revenue, fuelling fears of a hit to more than 700,000 employers using trusts to run their operations. The Aus
BHP defends $6bn potash investment
BHP Billiton has defended its contentious plans for a fresh $US4.7 billion ($5.9bn) investment to bring the Jansen potash project in Canada’s Saskatchewan into production, saying low prices are expected to rise as oversupply eases. The Aus
WA to benefit as UK lifts military presence
WA could host Royal Navy ships from Britain as its defence minister flags new deployments in the Asia-Pacific region and joint naval exercises with Australian forces. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: NBN Co admits it has an image problem and is considering forcing telecommunication companies to guarantee a minimum level of service for customers as part of a review of its controversial pricing model to head off growing criticism about the project’s internet speeds.
Soaring household debt and the rapidly increasing disruption of financial services have spurred Labor to expand its promised royal commission into banks to incorporate yet another extensive review of the financial regulators.
Page 3: The prudential regulator has identified a number of underperforming superannuation funds it is threatening to force out of the industry if they can’t operate in the best interest of members.
Page 5: Experts agree that wealth inequality has increased sharply, thanks to big increases in the values of houses and other assets held mostly by the rich, coupled with soft taxation.
Page 7: The directors of a Mexican restaurant chain linked to the alleged ringleaders of the Plutus Payroll fraud made almost $1.3 million in questionable transactions before winding up the company and leaving workers underpaid, according to preliminary investigations.
Page 8: Fresh from his faction’s weekend victory at the NSW Liberal Party rules summit, an emboldened Tony Abbott has switched his focus to torpedoing the Renewable Energy Target and the government’s plans to introduce a clean energy target.
Page 9: Australian companies have a fantastic opportunity to participate in an Asian infrastructure boom but need to move fast to avoid being left behind by international competitors, the Global Infrastructure Hub has warned.
Page 15: The gas industry is set for another showdown with government over LNG exports after Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan declared he was ‘‘underwhelmed’’ by the commitments so far from producers to address the east coast gas shortage while exporters insist that restricting exports would do more harm than good.
Fund managers are hoping the upcoming earnings season will explain what is going on in the economy where a more upbeat business sector and downbeat consumer can seemingly coexist.
Page 17: Mount Gibson Iron’s recent insurance settlement could act as a trigger for the iron ore producer’s board to consider tapping its significant war chest to pay a dividend for the first time in three years, chief Jim Beyer says.
The Australian
Page 1: Bill Shorten is facing a war with small business over an imminent Labor policy to increase taxes and generate billions of dollars in government revenue, fuelling fears of a hit to more than 700,000 employers using trusts to run their operations.
Australians believe Malcolm Turnbull has better values and credentials to lead the country than Tony Abbott, in a new finding that counters the former prime minister’s campaign for a drastic shift in the government’s direction.
Page 4: Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott has signalled support for a highly contentious change to fixed four-year terms in the hope it will give governments more time to advance vital economic reforms.
Page 6: Activist entrepreneur Graeme Wood, who has bankrolled campaigns against Tasmania’s salmon industry, is investing heavily in products to tackle the sector’s problems with water pollution and artificial colourings.
The federal government is set to spend more than $1 billion on the Great Barrier Reef in the next few years to mitigate the effects of climate change, based largely on research that is claimed not to have been subjected to proper scrutiny.
Page 17: Rio Tinto says east coast electricity generators have too much market power and are using it to drive up prices, as costs continue to bite at its power-intensive NSW and Queensland aluminium assets.
BHP Billiton has defended its contentious plans for a fresh $US4.7 billion ($5.9bn) investment to bring the Jansen potash project in Canada’s Saskatchewan into production, saying low prices are expected to rise as oversupply eases.
Page 19: Ailing telco Vocus may be in a tug of war between two private equity outfits but the prospect of an industry player, namely Vodafone Hutchison Australia, swooping continues to excite the market.
AGL Energy is hoping to make a decision on a site for an east coast LNG import terminal “in the coming weeks”, saying it has yet to decide on one of the three sites it has been looking at.
The West Australian
Page 3: An Alzheimer’s disease trial will be run across Australia on the back of new evidence linking iron in the brain to the dementia.
Page 4: WA could host Royal Navy ships from Britain as its defence minister flags new deployments in the Asia-Pacific region and joint naval exercises with Australian forces.
Page 7: The former aged care branch of the Returned and Services League of WA was forced to pay $17 million to settle a damaging dispute that scandalised the veterans’ community, documents show.
Page 8: WA public servants are feeling more stressed in a climate of uncertainty, a survey has found.
Almost 100 Federal politicians are using trust structures to manage their finances, as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten flags a shake-up of the tax system targeting highincome earners.
Page 11: WA motorists are seeking thousands of dollars each year for damage to their cars caused by potholes, loose stones and road debris.
Page 45: HBF is closing three of its 20 branches and dumping its longrunning hospital liaison service as part of new chief John Van Der Wielen’s promised focus on reining in premium increases.