Coalition on defensive as Labor attacks union raids
The federal government has defended an investigation of union donations involving Bill Shorten, claiming the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption was too overwhelmed to examine them, despite costing taxpayers $80 million. The Fin
NBN prepares to cut prices
NBN Co is preparing to announce a new offer that will cut the price of one of its higher speed products, bringing it in line with cheaper plans, to help deliver faster speed and meet consumer expectations. The Fin
Bishop set to step in for Joyce
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will act as prime minister next week should the High Court rule tomorrow that Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is ineligible to sit in Parliament. The West
Blot on $5.4bn indigenous housing
An expert review of the nation’s premier indigenous housing program has found the $5.4 billion scheme is opaque, “complicated by multiple objectives, poor governance and constantly changing policy settings” and has not fostered indigenous homeownership or business growth. The Aus
Give seniors a gap year before retiring: Wyatt
A gap year for people approaching retirement age must be considered by the Turnbull government, Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt says. The Aus
BHP to take hard look at asset sales
BHP Billiton may be looking to offload assets other than US shale, with new chairman Ken MacKenzie and chief Andrew Mackenzie recently flagging a tougher look at what stays and what goes in the big miner’s global portfolio. The Aus
State turns on charm for direct Tokyo flights
The State Government will launch a charm offensive today in a bid to convince Japan’s two giant airlines to begin direct flights to Perth from Tokyo. The West
Potato growers urged to accept conditions put on refund
WA Potato Growers Association has advised growers to accept conditions imposed by the State Government, so they can receive their share of almost $700,000, most of which is a refund of their own money raised to pursue a legal fight against rebel grower Tony Galati. The West
Fletcher may offload assets in Australia
Ailing building products and construction company Fletcher Building has embarked on a strategic review that may result in some Australian businesses being sold off, as chairman Ralph Norris apologised for the broader financial strife that has prompted the shake-up. The Fin
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Weak wages, falling import prices and fierce retail competition have overwhelmed a spike in energy prices, putting downward pressure on inflation and cruelling prospects of any nearterm Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate hike.
The federal government has defended an investigation of union donations involving Bill Shorten, claiming the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption was too overwhelmed to examine them, despite costing taxpayers $80 million.
P3: A Tax Office probe sparked by the Panama Papers has brought in $50 million but hundreds more wealthy Australians are still being investigated.
P4: When 32 Australian Federal Police raided the Australian Workers Union’s offices over donations made by Bill Shorten on Tuesday, it was the first major public act of the Turnbull government’s new union watchdog.
P6: NBN Co is preparing to announce a new offer that will cut the price of one of its higher speed products, bringing it in line with cheaper plans, to help deliver faster speed and meet consumer expectations.
P8: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will reaffirm Australia’s commitment to a negotiated peace deal and a two-state solution during a visit to Israel, which will include a rare meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
P15: As Coles posted its weakest sales growth in nine years, incoming Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott made clear his focus was on long-term growth and he would not be distracted by short-term performance.
P17: Ailing building products and construction company Fletcher Building has embarked on a strategic review that may result in some Australian businesses being sold off, as chairman Ralph Norris apologised for the broader financial strife that has prompted the shake-up.
The Australian
Page 1: The Australian Workers Union’s headquarters in Sydney and Melbourne were raided after officials refused a request to hand over documents related to big donations the union made when Bill Shorten was in charge, it was claimed last night.
An expert review of the nation’s premier indigenous housing program has found the $5.4 billion scheme is opaque, “complicated by multiple objectives, poor governance and constantly changing policy settings” and has not fostered indigenous homeownership or business growth.
P2: Barnaby Joyce’s pet project to deliver up to $2 billion in loans to farmers, dubbed “Barnaby’s bank”, is in doubt as the Deputy Prime Minister awaits a ruling on his eligibility to sit in parliament.
P5: A staffer to Employment Minister Michaelia Cash was forced to resign last night after admitting tipping off the media about Australian Federal Police raids of the Australian Workers Union.
P8: A gap year for people approaching retirement age must be considered by the Turnbull government, Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt says.
P11: Westpac has been overcharging its customers who receive “general advice” when buying life insurance by 10 per cent — more than twice as much as the 4.5 per cent it was overcharging customers who were sold identical products under “personal advice”.
P19: Treasury secretary John Fraser has raised the prospect of further regulatory clampdowns on rampant lending and surging house prices, as he warned of the risk to the economy presented by the high levels of household wealth tied up in the family home.
The James Packer-backed Crown Resorts is understood to have taken steps to rebuild its Chinese VIP business, as investors bet that high-roller customers have put its Australian casinos back on their radar.
P21: BHP Billiton may be looking to offload assets other than US shale, with new chairman Ken MacKenzie and chief Andrew Mackenzie recently flagging a tougher look at what stays and what goes in the big miner’s global portfolio.
The West Australian
Page 1: The Chief of the Army has admitted he ordered an inquiry into the nation’s elite special forces based on rumour, hearsay and conversations that “reflected poorly” on them.
P3: The State Government will launch a charm offensive today in a bid to convince Japan’s two giant airlines to begin direct flights to Perth from Tokyo.
P4: Divisions that have plagued the City of Perth council for years were resolved at Tuesday night’s marathon negotiations, Deputy Lord Mayor Jemma Green believes.
P6: An adviser to Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has resigned after admitting he leaked information to a journalist about Tuesday’s raid on the Australian Workers Union.
P12: Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will act as prime minister next week should the High Court rule tomorrow that Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is ineligible to sit in Parliament.
Half the Australians born today will live to be 100 and it is time to introduce a senior’s gap year where older workers take a year off work to consider their next 20 years, says Aged Care minister Ken Wyatt.
P13: Planning for a rail line that became WA’s most divisive public transport issue without a metre of track being laid is about to begin.
P18: Emergency remedial work will begin almost immediately to save Rottnest Island’s distinctive orange sea wall from collapse.
P45: WA Potato Growers Association has advised growers to accept conditions imposed by the State Government, so they can receive their share of almost $700,000, most of which is a refund of their own money raised to pursue a legal fight against rebel grower Tony Galati.
P46: Kondinin farmer Lindsay Tuckwell is aiming to be the first female grower on the CBH board, after announcing her nomination to stand in next year’s director elections.