Morning Headlines

PM’s $868m spend on WA road projects to keep the State moving

Western Australia will get a billion-dollar infrastructure boost as part of a major supercharging of the economy by the Federal Government.  The West

Gorgon set to capture all carbon in 2020

Chevron says it is now confident it will be sequestering carbon at full speed within months at Western Australia’s Gorgon gas plant, the world’s biggest carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.

$1m debt seals end of fashion

The firm that staged the Perth Fashion Festival has gone into voluntary administration, owing close to $1 million. The West

Amazon Hub launches in Australia

Amazon has teamed up with Commonwealth Bank, shopping centre group Stockland and newsagents to build a network of locations where customers can pick up online purchases rather than have them delivered to their homes. The Fin

Unpaid wages bill at $1.4bn annually

As much as $1.35bn in wages are underpaid each year according to new estimates that underline the risk to business from moves to criminalise so-called wage theft and amplify calls for an overhaul of the awards system to reduce complexity. The Fin

PM slams ‘panic’ over economy

Scott Morrison has all but slammed the door on fast-tracked tax cuts or other ‘‘panicked reactions’’ in next month’s mid-year budget update, saying the government has already injected $9.5 billion of near-term stimulus into the economy since the May election. The Fin

Locals losing out on jobs in $200b defence spend

Defence suppliers have warned home grown businesses are losing out to foreign firms under Australia’s arms build-up – worth $200 billion. The Fin

Rio’s ERA equity raising challenged

Rio Tinto-backed Energy Resources of Australia could be forced back to the drawing board to meet the huge cost of rehabilitating the Ranger uranium mine in the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. The Fin

Foxtel on the ball for entertainment push

Foxtel is gearing up for the launch of an entertainment-focused streaming product next year, and its top streaming executive is confident that next-generation technology will give it a crucial advantage against the likes of Netflix and Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+. The Aus

Reserve gloomy on iron ore

The Deputy Prime Minister has played down any decline in iron ore prices predicted in a recent Reserve Bank meeting, which also alluded to the potential for the cash rate to be cut to record lows in light of weaker outlooks for household income and wages. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: Scott Morrison has all but slammed the door on fast-tracked tax cuts or other ‘‘panicked reactions’’ in next month’s mid-year budget update, saying the government has already injected $9.5 billion of near-term stimulus into the economy since the May election.

Page 3: The corporate regulator has had three quick wins in its post-Hayne strategy to pursue litigation over negotiation, forcing the Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank into guilty pleas and admissions of wrongdoing.

Page 5: Deloitte’s CEO and head of audit are facing criticism from within the partnership over the direction of the firm, its culture and the handling of relationships with key stakeholders including the corporate regulator.

Page 6: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is monitoring the big banks’ remediation projects to ensure customer payments are expedited and big consulting firms don’t become unintended commercial winners from the compensation.

Page 8: Defence suppliers have warned home grown businesses are losing out to foreign firms under Australia’s arms build-up – worth $200 billion.

Page 11: Chevron says it is now confident it will be sequestering carbon at full speed within months at Western Australia’s Gorgon gas plant, the world’s biggest carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.

Page 15: Jayne Hrdlicka, chief executive of the a2 Milk Company, says profit margins in financial 2020 will be better than previously signalled and that a revamped strategy is building momentum.

Page 17: Amazon has teamed up with Commonwealth Bank, shopping centre group Stockland and newsagents to build a network of locations where customers can pick up online purchases rather than have them delivered to their homes.

Page 18: Qantas Airways has prepped investors for operating margins to soar, with aggressive cost-cutting and revenue-focused initiatives to be taken at its local businesses.

Page 20: Rio Tinto-backed Energy Resources of Australia could be forced back to the drawing board to meet the huge cost of rehabilitating the Ranger uranium mine in the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.

The Australian

Page 1: Almost $4bn in infrastructure funding will be fast-tracked for major, state-approved projects across the country as part of an economic stimulus package that Scott Morrison says will supercharge investment.

Page 5: Australian Disney fans are being urged to sign up with a unique password after revelations of hacking of Disney+ accounts in the US.

Page 6: The early identification of those at risk of self-harm in schools, workplaces and known public suicide spots will form the next plank of the federal government’s push towards eradicating suicide.

A majority of Australians fear the work they perform will be done by robots or computers within 30 years but only about a quarter believe employers and the government are doing enough to help them prepare for changes brought on by automation.

Page 17: As much as $1.35bn in wages are underpaid each year according to new estimates that underline the risk to business from moves to criminalise so-called wage theft and amplify calls for an overhaul of the awards system to reduce complexity.

Page 19: Property company Mirvac has delivered an upbeat assessment of the residential market, and called for action to reform standards in the apartment industry.

Foxtel is gearing up for the launch of an entertainment-focused streaming product next year, and its top streaming executive is confident that next-generation technology will give it a crucial advantage against the likes of Netflix and Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+.

Page 21: The nation’s financial services industry has blown through $10bn in customer remediation provisions and program costs, although payments to customers have proceeded at a snail’s pace, according to the corporate watchdog.

The West Australian

Page 3: The firm that staged the Perth Fashion Festival has gone into voluntary administration, owing close to $1 million.

Page 4: Western Australia will get a billion-dollar infrastructure boost as part of a major supercharging of the economy by the Federal Government.

Page 5: One in four Australian children is worried about terrorism and one in 10 is still worried about a change of prime minister.

Page 7: Elizabeth Quay is being transformed into a scene from the Pilbara — and the star of the show weighs a whopping 118 tonnes.

Murdoch University has revealed it is considering severing sponsorship ties with Prince Andrew’s Pitch@Palace Australia networking event next year in the wake of the controversy over his links to late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Page 14: Edith Cowan University vice-chancellor Steve Chapman has been forced to apologise to veterans after claims emerged that a Remembrance Day display was dismantled because of concerns people might find it offensive.

Page 22: Liberal powerbroker Peter Collier, one of the most influential figures in WA politics, has reversed his decision to quit politics.

Amendments to WA’s historic Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill have won the crucial support of the State’s peak medical body, paving the way for the laws to pass before Christmas.

Page 28: Young Australians by the thousands dropped private health insurance between June and September, data reveals.

Business: Administrators have raised concerns about a property development company linked to the son of former premier Brian Burke that has collapsed, owing creditors more than $100 million.

Mining magnate, pastoralist and philanthropist Andrew Forrest may add another title to his resume if all goes according to plan — hotelier.

The Deputy Prime Minister has played down any decline in iron ore prices predicted in a recent Reserve Bank meeting, which also alluded to the potential for the cash rate to be cut to record lows in light of weaker outlooks for household income and wages.

Mincor Resources has seized on the recent bullish sentiment around nickel to tap investors for cash.

How digital platforms such as Google and Facebook treat consumer data is a top priority of the competition watchdog, says chairman Rod Sims.

Cyanide-free gold mining in Australia has been achieved for the first time out of a test site in WA and is expected to encourage more newcomers into the industry by lowering barriers to entry and reducing overheads.

Christmas is coming early for north of the river fashionistas, with Karrinyup Shopping Centre opening the first section of its new Fashion Loop tomorrow while southern shoppers are left wanting as Garden City’s redevelopment continues to sit in limbo.