Morning Headlines

Rising cost of energy bites hard

WA has the highest rate of disconnections among electricity users of any State, after rising energy costs and a sluggish economy propelled households whose supplies were cut to a six-year high. The West.

Banks called to account over closures

The rift between the small business ombudsman and Australia’s largest lenders has widened further, with Kate Carnell set to pursue the big four banks over their decision to end banking services with more than 100 customers offering remittance services through Western Union. The Aus.

Solar scheme will cost State less

Spending by State-owned electricity provider Synergy on the Government’s flagship solar subsidy scheme will drop almost $10 million within three years. The West.

Wages to grow finally this year

The confidence gap between downbeat consumers and upbeat businesses should narrow, with economists tipping a return to healthy wage growth as the economy inches towards full employment. The Fin.

Bill shock: standard of living slump

Australians have endured their longest period of falling living standards in more than a quarter of a century as growth in costs outstripped earnings for the fifth consecutive quarter, leaving households worse off than they were six years ago. The Aus.

It’s a gas for LNG producers

Australia’s gas exporters are basking in brighter conditions in early 2018 than for the last two years after stronger than expected growth in LNG demand last year averted a feared glut in supply while crude oil prices have reached their highest since late December. The Fin.

‘Merit’ in cutting new-car tariffs

A push to cut tariffs on new imported vehicles, which could see prices on some of Australia’s most popular cars fall by about $2000, has gained ground after Transport and Infrastructure Minister Barnaby Joyce said the idea had “merit”. The Aus.

Valmec snaps up fallen APTS

Energy contractor Valmec says its deal to snap up collapsed pressure-testing business APTS comes at an opportune time of growing demand for gas industry services. The West.

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: The confidence gap between downbeat consumers and upbeat businesses should narrow, with economists tipping a return to healthy wage growth as the economy inches towards full employment.

Page 2: The movement to ban plastic bags continues to gather strength, with Western Australian the latest state to prepare for the change.

Page 3: Australian Financial Review Rich Lister and chairman of hemp company Ecofibre Barry Lambert has slammed the government’s move to green-light medicinal cannabis exports as ‘‘fake news’’, saying Australian companies won’t be able to compete with more established overseas competitors.

Page 5: Maintaining Australia’s hardline immigration and border policies cost taxpayers more than $4 billion last financial year, including nearly $1.6 billion on compliance and detention.

Page 6: Defence analysts warn the federal government needs to become more interventionist and boost the stockpile of fuel to ensure supplies continue to flow to the nation’s military and commercial sectors in the event of conflict breaking out.

Page 13: Australia’s gas exporters are basking in brighter conditions in early 2018 than for the last two years after stronger than expected growth in LNG demand last year averted a feared glut in supply while crude oil prices have reached their highest since late December.

Page 13: He might be running the most shorted company on the ASX, but Shaun Verner, chief executive of graphite miner Syrah Resources, is focused on ramping up production from his huge African mine and capitalising on growth in the booming battery market.

Page 15: The future of BHP Billiton’s stake in the Samarco iron ore joint venture in Brazil is unlikely to be resolved quickly, as the iron ore giant and its co-owner Vale inch towards a restart of the operation.

The Australian

Page 1: Australians have endured their longest period of falling living standards in more than a quarter of a century as growth in costs outstripped earnings for the fifth consecutive quarter, leaving households worse off than they were six years ago.

Page 2: A push to cut tariffs on new imported vehicles, which could see prices on some of Australia’s most popular cars fall by about $2000, has gained ground after Transport and Infrastructure Minister Barnaby Joyce said the idea had “merit”.

Page 13: The rift between the small business ombudsman and Australia’s largest lenders has widened further, with Kate Carnell set to pursue the big four banks over their decision to end banking services with more than 100 customers offering remittance services through Western Union.

Page 13: If the flood of packages rushing through Australia Post’s mail rooms is any indication, Australians enjoyed a record online spending spree at Christmas.

Page 14: Some big investors and banks are rethinking investments in a global oil and gas industry wrestling with uncertain oil demand, government regulation and disruptive technology like electric vehicles.

Page 15: The green revolution that is upending the automotive and energy industries is proving to be the saviour of the mining sector.

Page 15: McGrathNicol partners including the insolvency firm’s executive chairman Peter Anderson have hit back at the Department of Employment over allegations they breached their duties as receivers of part of failed engineering company Hastie Group.

The West Australian

Page 3: WA has the highest rate of disconnections among electricity users of any State, after rising energy costs and a sluggish economy propelled households whose supplies were cut to a six-year high.

Page 6: Spending by State-owned electricity provider Synergy on the Government’s flagship solar subsidy scheme will drop almost $10 million within three years.

Page 43: Energy contractor Valmec says its deal to snap up collapsed pressure-testing business APTS comes at an opportune time of growing demand for gas industry services.

Page 43: WA medicinal cannabis companies dominated a $300 million stockmarket charge yesterday as eager investors celebrated the Federal Government’s export green light.

Page 43: Investors are finally getting a crack at the resurgent music business.

Page 43: BHP and Vale are in talks over the possibility of the giant Brazilian miner taking full ownership of their Samarco iron ore operation, which caused a deadly dam spill in 2015.

Page 44: Cirrus Networks shares closed higher yesterday after the acquisitive IT solutions firm forecast full-year revenue up more than 60 per cent on last year’s figure of $53.9 million.