Morning Headlines

China sizes up Barrambie

A long-mooted vanadium-titanium project near Sandstone could get a kickstart after proponent Neometals signed an agreement with a Chinese research group to develop the mine. The West

Graduates earn more but unis still have a way to go

Employment rates for university graduates have improved and their salaries are on the rise, but experts warn universities should not think this will let them off the hook of government performance hurdles, especially in the face of gender pay disparity. The Fin

Labor unrest in the wild west

Federal Labor MPs have unleashed on the party’s leadership for failing to take Western Australia seriously, saying those at the highest levels in Labor still have not learnt from the disastrous May election defeat. The West

Banks face heat over ‘loyalty tax’

A push to narrow the gap between mortgage rates offered to new borrowers and those charged to loyal customers is shaping as a new threat to bank profits as the federal government weighs a fresh inquiry into the banking sector and the competition watchdog promised to target the issue. The Fin

Carbon push to transform broadacre

WA companies C-Wise and Carbon Ag have struck a joint venture to develop and manufacture carbon pellets to help farmers improve their soils and boost crop quality and yield. The West

RBA warns of ‘uninsurable’ climate risks

Changing weather patterns could lead to some risks becoming uninsurable, according to a Reserve Bank report on the financial implications of climate change. The Fin

Streaming wars: Disney strips content from Foxtel

The Walt Disney Company upped the ante in the streaming wars ahead of its Disney+ launch in Australia by stripping major content from Foxtel. The Fin

Raise Newstart by $100 a week: KPMG

Accounting giant KPMG has called for the rate of Newstart to be lifted by almost $100 to $370 a week, saying the unemployment benefit should be benchmarked at 50 per cent of the minimum wage. The Aus

Slippery slope to cheating

Year 12s who use the internet to buy or sell study notes ahead of looming ATAR exams could be starting on a “slippery slope” towards cheating, an academic has warned. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: A push to narrow the gap between mortgage rates offered to new borrowers and those charged to loyal customers is shaping as a new threat to bank profits as the federal government weighs a fresh inquiry into the banking sector and the competition watchdog promised to target the issue.

Page 4: Labor has opened the door to targeting the big banks over their refusal to pass on the latest cut to official interest rates, including through increasing a $6 billion banking levy.

Page 6: Changing weather patterns could lead to some risks becoming uninsurable, according to a Reserve Bank report on the financial implications of climate change.

Page 8: The ATO will appeal a Federal Court decision to throw out a $92 million tax bill for mining giant Glencore in a case being closely watched by multinational companies around the world.

Page 12: Employment rates for university graduates have improved and their salaries are on the rise, but experts warn universities should not think this will let them off the hook of government performance hurdles, especially in the face of gender pay disparity.

Page 13: Fourteen top companies face possible board spills this annual meeting season, as directors gear-up for fiery confrontations with shareholders.

Page 15: The world’s tardiness in starting to reduce carbon emissions will make the inevitable transition to net zero emissions more disorderly and costly, says BP’s chief economist, Spencer Dale, who says people should demand governments set policies to drive the energy transition.

Page 16: The Walt Disney Company upped the ante in the streaming wars ahead of its Disney+ launch in Australia by stripping major content from Foxtel.

Page 17: Smaller banks will bear the brunt of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decision to cut rates to an all-time low, with analysis showing Bank of Queensland and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank set to lose the most.

Page 19: The mobile phone industry is taking on growing community concerns about the potential health risks of 5G with a campaign backing the safety of the latest generation of mobile technology.

The Australian

Page 1: The big four banks are reaping an extra $14bn a year in interest repayments after withholding a quarter of all Reserve Bank rate cuts since 2011 while at the same time reducing term deposit interest rates in excess of official cash rate reductions.

Page 2: A review of Australia’s annual $578m aid program in Papua New Guinea has warned law and order is deteriorating, corruption remains rife, and “weak” governance continues to hamper basic service delivery beyond the capital, Port Moresby.

Australians are reporting cyber crimes at a rate of one every 10 minutes, with bank fraud, romance scams and ID crimes the most common offences.

Page 3: Canberra’s peak doctor’s organisation expects the ACT government will have to pump more money into health services once people can legally grow and use small amounts of cannabis.

Education Minister Dan Tehan will push universities to overhaul their teacher training courses to ensure that graduates learn how to teach children to read and write using the phonics method, amid damning evidence that many new teachers are ill-prepared for the classroom.

Page 4: Accounting giant KPMG has called for the rate of Newstart to be lifted by almost $100 to $370 a week, saying the unemployment benefit should be benchmarked at 50 per cent of the minimum wage.

Page 8: Boris Johnson will dare the Queen to sack him rather than resign as Prime Minister on October 31, cabinet ministers have revealed.

Page 17: Hong Kong’s defacto central bank, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, has been forced to reassure markets about the stability of its financial system and currency amid increasing violence which saw the city in lockdown over the weekend.

The boss of Smiggle, the trendsetting stationary chain owned by billionaire Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments, has expressed his frustration over the banks’ failure to pass on the recent interest rate cut in full, but argues his business has become partly immune to the domestic economy as it becomes a truly global brand.

Page 19: The Australian CFD and FX Association has pushed back against the corporate regulator’s proposals to crack down on Australia’s multi-billion-dollar retail derivatives sector, warning that the recommended changes will not address the harm caused to investors but could decimate the industry.

Page 23: Seven West Media is negotiating a deal to offload its Pacific Magazines operations to Bauer Media as new boss James Warburton moves quickly to restructure the business.

The West Australian

Page 1: Federal Labor MPs have unleashed on the party’s leadership for failing to take Western Australia seriously, saying those at the highest levels in Labor still have not learnt from the disastrous May election defeat.

Page 5: Labor MP Patrick Gorman is urging the Federal Government to wipe WA’s $343 million housing debt so the State can use the money to address the homelessness crisis.

Page 7: Nearly one in five teenagers on WA’s sex offenders’ register get caught re-offending — more than double the rate for adult repeat offenders.

Page 9: Australians are being warned to take extra care on social media after a new take on an old scam has robbed victims of thousands of dollars.

Page 16: Despite Optus Stadium serving the likes of a sticky char siu pork belly and HBF Stadium plating up paella or spinach tortellini with ratatouille, West Australians want more from the catering at the State’s leading sporting and entertainment venues.

Page 21: Year 12s who use the internet to buy or sell study notes ahead of looming ATAR exams could be starting on a “slippery slope” towards cheating, an academic has warned.

Business: A long-mooted vanadium-titanium project near Sandstone could get a kickstart after proponent Neometals signed an agreement with a Chinese research group to develop the mine.

WA companies C-Wise and Carbon Ag have struck a joint venture to develop and manufacture carbon pellets to help farmers improve their soils and boost crop quality and yield.