Morning Headlines

Friday, 24 January, 2020 - 06:43
Category: 

$1bn mine project delayed

Wesfarmers and its Chilean partner SQM have bowed to the weak lithium market by delaying a go-ahead on their $1 billion-plus Mt Holland project in the Goldfields by a year. The West

Another local mine idled as lithium boom goes bust

Lithium producer Galaxy Resources has revealed a summer shutdown of its Mt Cattlin mine, as a market rout continues to shrink Australia’s new crop of lithium producers. The Fin

Brazil struggles may prolong iron ore boom

Australian miners and Treasury boffins could be enjoying strong iron ore prices for longer than expected, amid growing signals Brazilian miner Vale has made a weak start to the year. The Fin

Trump’s WTO bear hug

Australia has warned the Trump administration not to force changes on the World Trade Organisation purely to suit America’s interests after the US President pledged to open a new front in his trade war campaign. The Fin

ACCC delves into why Kaufland left

The competition watchdog will investigate allegations major fresh food suppliers planned to withhold supply to German retailer Kaufland in fear of reprisal from Coles and Woolworths. The Fin

Tougher means test ‘a tax on average retiree’

Retirees with average superannuation balances face a heavy “tax” from the Coalition’s toughened Age Pension means test, encouraging them to spend extra savings or invest in risky assets, according to new research that questions the retirement system’s effectiveness. The Aus

Fresh concerns over Crown’s failure to notify regulator

The MP whose questions helped trigger the gaming regulator’s investigation into Crown Resorts has raised further concerns about how the casino group handled Consolidated Press Holdings’ sale of shares to Melco Entertainment. The Fin

Turmoil as Nats split on rorts deputy

Nationals leader Michael McCormack is resisting growing pressure to sack his embattled deputy, Bridget McKenzie, over the sports rorts furore, declaring he is standing by her even after Scott Morrison pointedly refused to support the cabinet minister. The Aus

Chinese move to stop spread

Three Chinese cities have been placed in an effective lockdown amid calls for the killer novel coronavirus spreading the world to be declared a global health emergency. The West

 

 

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: Australia has warned the Trump administration not to force changes on the World Trade Organisation purely to suit America’s interests after the US President pledged to open a new front in his trade war campaign.

Page 5: Scott Morrison has abandoned his defence of Bridget McKenzie over her administration of a sports grants program, as internal pressure within the Coalition mounts on her to quit.

Page 7: The competition watchdog will investigate allegations major fresh food suppliers planned to withhold supply to German retailer Kaufland in fear of reprisal from Coles and Woolworths.

Page 8: Households are installing rooftop solar systems usually used to power small businesses to get more ‘‘bang for their buck’’ as prices hit new lows, driving a threefold jump in generation across the country.

Page 12: Supply-chain finance behemoth Greensill has buckled to a backlash against abusers of its core business, weighing up whether and how to refuse service to clients who ‘‘bully’’ small businesses by charging them just to get their invoices paid on time.

Page 15: The MP whose questions helped trigger the gaming regulator’s investigation into Crown Resorts has raised further concerns about how the casino group handled Consolidated Press Holdings’ sale of shares to Melco Entertainment.

Page 17: Struggling casual clothing retailer Jeanswest is closing one-quarter of its stores, with the loss of 263 jobs, in an attempt to lure buyers after falling into voluntary administration last week.

Page 21: Australian miners and Treasury boffins could be enjoying strong iron ore prices for longer than expected, amid growing signals Brazilian miner Vale has made a weak start to the year.

Lithium producer Galaxy Resources has revealed a summer shutdown of its Mt Cattlin mine, as a market rout continues to shrink Australia’s new crop of lithium producers.

 

 

The Australian

Page 1: Nationals leader Michael McCormack is resisting growing pressure to sack his embattled deputy, Bridget McKenzie, over the sports rorts furore, declaring he is standing by her even after Scott Morrison pointedly refused to support the cabinet minister.

Page 4: Retirees with average superannuation balances face a heavy “tax” from the Coalition’s toughened Age Pension means test, encouraging them to spend extra savings or invest in risky assets, according to new research that questions the retirement system’s effectiveness.

Page 5: Australia’s peak charity body has come out swinging over attacks levelled at the Red Cross and other organisations, accusing politicians of “scapegoating” frontline groups already overwhelmed by the unprecedented bushfire relief effort.

Page 16: Mining services provider Emeco could be back in the mix for Downer Mining, as negotiations for the business intensify.

Wesfarmers will delay a final investment decision on its Mount Holland lithium project in Western Australia, joining a growing list of producers slowing project timelines or slashing output in response to the tumbling lithium price.

Page 23: Elon Musk has navigated Tesla into new territory, as the electric car maker’s market value topped $US100bn ($145bn) on Wednesday night and overtook Volkswagen as the world’s second most valuable automaker.

 

 

The West Australian

Page 1: One of the Federal Government’s key hand-picked advisers on the creation of an indigenous “voice” to Parliament says Australia Day should be moved from January 26.

Page 7: Men are twice as emotional as women at work, a study shows.

Page 16: An outback shire facing years of repairs to flood-damaged roads is pleading with the State Government to open up disaster assistance funding.

Page 18: Three Chinese cities have been placed in an effective lockdown amid calls for the killer novel coronavirus spreading the world to be declared a global health emergency.

Page 53: Babies as young as six weeks old will become Fremantle Dockers members under an alliance between the football club and a handful of new Perth childcare centres to open next week.

Business: Wesfarmers and its Chilean partner SQM have bowed to the weak lithium market by delaying a go-ahead on their $1 billion-plus Mt Holland project in the Goldfields by a year.

The big banks’ reputational problems don’t appear to have affected their home lending, despite new research showing smaller lenders ended last year with a record market share.

A prominent Cowaramup dairy family quit the industry this week after 90 years, citing worsening conditions for the South West since the collapse of the Challenge Dairy co-operative.