Barnett to ink Africa mining deal
Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett will travel to Africa next week to formalise a landmark plan to work with African governments to bolster their mining industries, a move that will also benefit the 200 listed Australian miners active on the resource-rich continent. The Aus
Francis rules out dumping Serco
Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis said yesterday it would be “reckless and irresponsible” to cancel Serco’s court security and custodial services contract, which has been breached through several escapes in recent months. The West
Labour heads warn on fall in wages growth
Former Labor federal minister and former Australian Council of Trade Unions president Martin Ferguson said the lift in official inflation to 0.8 per cent last quarter would reinforce the moderating trend in wages growth. The Fin
New WA medical school due in 2016
Curtin University is now aiming to open its planned medical school in 2016 as new figures reveal WA has the lowest rate of doctors of all States. The West
Visas and lower dollar aiding the unis
Australia’s international education industry has welcomed the Australian dollar’s recent decline but warns that the fall needs to be sustained to bring major benefits. The Fin
Demand beefs up prices
WA cattle producers are set to cash in on strong prices and another big jump in live cattle exports this year. The West
Newcrest on track to hit cash targets
Goldminer Newcrest is on track to be cash-flow positive in fiscal 2014, after strong production numbers helped drive costs much lower than expected. The Fin
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: The nation’s top infrastructure adviser has blasted the Abbott government for threatening the credibility of Infrastructure Australia by eroding its independence and muzzling its advice.
Page 3: The world’s richest football club, Manchester City, has bought underdog A-League club Melbourne Heart in a deal worth about $11 million, with City promising to inject its promotional expertise.
Page 4: Former Labor federal minister and former Australian Council of Trade Unions president Martin Ferguson said the lift in official inflation to 0.8 per cent last quarter would reinforce the moderating trend in wages growth.
A small-business lobbying body backed by mining tycoon Gina Rinehart wants to force major retailers to “shop at home” to support local small businesses and lessen monopoly market power before they can source cheaper products overseas.
Page 5: The long-standing chief executive of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will retire as the Abbott government promised a fix for the commission’s dire budget situation.
Page 6: Resource-rich Australia must remain wary of China and should not use the US military alliance as an excuse to cut defence spending, says former US assistant secretary of state Richard Armitage.
Page 8: Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Australia will not follow President Barack Obama’s lead in seeking to reform intelligence agencies in light of US leaker Edward Snowden’s revelations.
Page 11: Australia’s international education industry has welcomed the Australian dollar’s recent decline but warns that the fall needs to be sustained to bring major benefits.
Page 13: Telstra has joined forces with Indonesia’s biggest telecommunications provider, Telkom Indonesia, in its first major push to take on established players like SingTel and BT in selling technology services to companies in Asia.
Insurance Australia Group shareholders are bracing for slower earnings growth after the country’s biggest general insurer warned of lower-than expected revenue increases as competition heats up for customers’ policies.
Page 16: Goldminer Newcrest is on track to be cash-flow positive in fiscal 2014, after strong production numbers helped drive costs much lower than expected.
Page 20: Iron ore producer Atlas Iron has rejected calls by rail operators for higher road charges for heavy vehicles, arguing any increases would hurt smaller miners’ profits.
Page 21: One of Australia’s leading economists has pushed back his expectations of interest rate cuts to the second half of this year following a surprise rise in fourth quarter inflation.
The Australian
Page 1: The ABC has defended its editorial processes against a rising tide of criticism of its reports that Australian navy personnel beat and burned asylum-seekers during a tow-back operation earlier this month.
Tony Abbott has launched an optimistic, ambitious agenda for Australia’s year as the head of the world’s premier economic forum, to build on a ‘‘fragile’’ growth by encouraging business to invest and create jobs.
Page 4: Australian businesses are gearing up to tap regional markets after a senior US trade representative declared the trans-Pacific Partnership between Australia and 11 other Pacific nations was at the ‘‘endgame’’ and the Obama administration was keen to expand the partnership.
Page 15: Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett will travel to Africa next week to formalise a landmark plan to work with African governments to bolster their mining industries, a move that will also benefit the 200 listed Australian miners active on the resource-rich continent.
Some of Australia’s biggest companies are fighting a rear guard action against Abbott government plans that would deny them research and development tax concessions.
Page 16: Shares in Whitehaven Coal dropped by almost 2 per cent yesterday after the company said it expected metallurgical coal prices to fall in the first quarter this year.
Page 17: Hungry Jack’s founder Jack Cowin’s takeaway franchise company, Competitive Foods, has reported a near tripling in annual profit to $21 million on revenues of more than $1 billion over the past financial year.
Page 24: A pick-up in corporate activity has lifted confidence in the legal sector, but top managing partners expect tough conditions to continue this year amid a fresh onslaught from global players.
The West Australian
Page 6: Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis said yesterday it would be “reckless and irresponsible” to cancel Serco’s court security and custodial services contract, which has been breached through several escapes in recent months.
Page 8: Curtin University is now aiming to open its planned medical school in 2016 as new figures reveal WA has the lowest rate of doctors of all States.
Page 12: Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest will offer free assistance to Pakistan’s biggest province in a unique anti-slavery initiative.
Page 13: Heritage experts have criticised a decision by City of Perth planners to demolish a Northbridge landmark, one of the last remaining buildings of its style and type in the city.
Page 16: Tony Abbott has told the world Australia will use its G20 presidency to urge nations to scrap protectionism and open up to more free trade.
Page 36: Planning Minister John Day has refused to reveal why the WA Planning Commission overrode local authorities to approve the development of a centre in Lockridge for intellectually disabled crime suspects.
Business: WA cattle producers are set to cash in on strong prices and another big jump in live cattle exports this year.
Fortescue Metals Group is pushing forward with plans to convert its Solomon power station from diesel to gas, cutting a deal with unlisted gas supplier Sub 161 to truck compressed natural gas to the mine.
Northern Star Resources boss Bill Beament maintains he has not stretched himself too thinly with yesterday’s purchase of two new mines and says buying Barrick’s East Kundana and Kanowna Belle assets will give his company international investment credibility.
Parts of the Goldfields ground to a halt yesterday after torrential rain caused widespread flooding. South African miner Gold Fields stopped work at its St Ives operations near Kambalda.
From gold hopeful to Asian social media company, Latin Gold has become the latest Perth-based small exploration play to jump on the tech bandwagon.
Westpac has been named the world’s most sustainable corporation at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Australia is at risk of being left to cry over spilt milk as overseas companies gobble up domestic agribusinesses, according to Brownes managing director Ben Purcell.
Fish farmer Clean Seas Tuna says it may achieve annual profitability earlier than expected as survival and growth rates among the company’s yellowtail kingfish exceed plans.
