Morning Headlines

The uni boss who can be our next Julie

Vice Chancellor of the University of Notre Dame, Celia Hammond, is throwing her hat into the ring to replace Julie Bishop in the safe Liberal seat of Curtin. The West

Infant formula study in WA

WA dairy farmers could capture a slice of the insatiable Chinese demand for Australian infant formula, if early-stage plans to build a local processing plant come to fruition. The West

Oz ban won’t stop sheep ships: Kuwait

Middle Eastern live sheep importers have told ALP MPs if its policy to ban exports is introduced they will simply turn to other countries — including those with lower animal welfare standards than Australia. The West

Miner protests ‘false’ report

Progressive think tank The Australia Institute and the Conservation Council of Western Australia are embroiled in a complaint to the corporate regulator over a study challenging the financial viability of Vimy Resources’ Mulga Rock uranium project near Kalgoorlie. The Aus

Telstra reveals 5G handsets, pricing strategy

Telstra is unlikely to charge customers more to use its 5G network than it’s now charging for the 4G network, chief executive Andy Penn said. The Fin

PM to give Snowy 2.0 a $1.4b green light

Scott Morrison will give the green light to Malcolm Turnbull’s Snowy Hydro 2.0 expansion today in the form of a $1.38 billion commitment, with the remainder to be funded by Snowy-Hydro Limited. The Fin

Alinta moves on $400m wind farm

Coal and gas power generator Alinta Energy expects to reduce gas-fired generation at its Pinjarra plant in Western Australia as a result of a new $400 million wind farm it will build in WA, its first direct investment in renewable energy generation. The Fin

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: Real incomes are poised to barely grow over the next six years and living standards are destined for a slowdown, unless a wave of major economic reforms and technology innovation by business can unleash a productivity boom like in the 1990s.

The rapid adoption of cloud computing services to drive corporate and government digital transformation programs across Australia has led to three international tech companies targeting the country for expansion, with fresh investments totalling $326 million.

Scott Morrison will give the green light to Malcolm Turnbull’s Snowy Hydro 2.0 expansion today in the form of a $1.38 billion commitment, with the remainder to be funded by Snowy-Hydro Limited.

Page 3: Investors are more likely to ditch their plans to invest in new homes if Labor introduces its crackdown on negative gearing and capital gains tax breaks, according to a new poll.

Page 4: The corporate regulator is pressing the federal Parliament to enact tougher laws to make it easier to jail rogue bankers in order to deter misconduct and improve culture in the financial services industry.

Page 5: The chief executive of Australia’s biggest steelmaker, BlueScope, says the company has been casting its net far and wide to countries including India, Brazil and in Africa to ensure it obtains the best prices and most flexible arrangements for the supply of iron ore to its Port Kembla steelworks, with a Tasmanian supplier in ASX-listed Grange Resources also high up in the mix.

Page 6: Labor’s climate and energy spokesman Mark Butler has taken a harder line than his leader Bill Shorten on the Adani coal mine, saying the proposed project in Queensland’s Galilee Basin is not in the national interest.

Page 9: The spotlight has gone back on the lack of women in the Coalition ranks following the high-profile retirement of Julie Bishop – who wants a woman to inherit her blue-ribbon Western Australia seat of Curtin – and after Vince Connolly defeated four females to win preselection for the neighbouring seat of Stirling despite the desire of factional bosses to endorse a woman.

Page 10: Telstra is unlikely to charge customers more to use its 5G network than it’s now charging for the 4G network, chief executive Andy Penn said.

Page 12: Hot on the heels of Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, Huawei has come out with a folding phone of its own: the Mate X.

Page 18: Afterpay Touch has pledged to work with its competitors to block vulnerable customers from using the lay-by service but says the move, and recommendations in a Senate committee report, will have no material impact on its business model, triggering a massive relief rally in its shares.

Page 22: Coal and gas power generator Alinta Energy expects to reduce gas-fired generation at its Pinjarra plant in Western Australia as a result of a new $400 million wind farm it will build in WA, its first direct investment in renewable energy generation.

Page 23: US networking technology giant Cisco will pour $61 million into a new Australian plan to develop critical infrastructure, target work on government digitisation projects and invest in local start-ups.

The Australian

Page 2: A former media adviser with the Registered Organisations Commission has denied tipping off Michaelia Cash’s former chief of staff about raids on the Australian Workers Union, contradicting court evidence given last week.

Page 4: Health Minister Greg Hunt has accused Bill Shorten of launching a “Medi-scam” months out from the federal election, after the Opposition Leader called for campaign donations based on a claim that only a Labor government would deliver heart health checks.

Page 6: Progressive think tank The Australia Institute and the Conservation Council of Western Australia are embroiled in a complaint to the corporate regulator over a study challenging the financial viability of Vimy Resources’ Mulga Rock uranium project near Kalgoorlie.

Page 17: Scott Morrison won industry applause for a suite of measures to improve transmission and cut emissions, but is facing a fight with states and energy companies over moves to regulate prices in the search for a policy win to take to the election.

Page 18: Japanese drinks giant Asahi has pulled out of the race to buy Lion Dairy and Drinks as the troubled sales process shows further signs of struggling to nail down a buyer.

The West Australian

Page 4: Middle Eastern live sheep importers have told ALP MPs if its policy to ban exports is introduced they will simply turn to other countries — including those with lower animal welfare standards than Australia.

Page 5: Construction of a $120 million marina at Ocean Reef in Perth’s northern suburbs could start next year after WA’s environment watchdog gave the project the all clear.

Page 8: Vice Chancellor of the University of Notre Dame, Celia Hammond, is throwing her hat into the ring to replace Julie Bishop in the safe Liberal seat of Curtin.

The woman who led the successful campaign to demand a fair go for subcontractors on big WA projects is considering running as an independent in Curtin.

Media identity Ita Buttrose has emerged as a surprise frontrunner to be named chairwoman of the ABC.

Page 9: The WA Liberal Party was last night still refusing to confirm when exactly Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter received a campaign bus at the centre of his “jobs-for-mates” scandal, and when it would pay for the vehicle.

Page 14: The driver at the centre of BHP’s disastrous runaway train derailment in the Pilbara has reached an unfair dismissal settlement with the Big Australian just months after he was sacked.

Page 16: The survival of WA towns has been thrown into question as research reveals the volunteer groups that keep them running face a looming crisis.

Page 18: Commercial abalone divers on WA’s south coast are bracing for a temporary ban on fishing after a savage decline in stocks prompted alarm at the health of the fishery.

Business: Perth Airport appears to have chalked up another win in its battle with Qantas over charges after being rated as the best airport in Australia in the latest Australian Competition and Consumer Commission airport monitoring report released yesterday.

WA dairy farmers could capture a slice of the insatiable Chinese demand for Australian infant formula, if early-stage plans to build a local processing plant come to fruition.

Royalties from Iron Valley in the Pilbara and proceeds from the sale of the Kumina ore deposit are expected to see BCI Minerals through to a final investment decision on the Mardie salt and potash project without having to raise extra cash.