Morning Headlines

Third telco enters 5G race

Jubilant TPG and Vodafone say they are ready to take on Telstra and Optus as Australia’s third telecoms giant, after the Federal Court ruled the $15 billion merger would not lessen competition and could go ahead. The Fin

Questions raised over EY’s work on cyber security

A Labor senator has revealed that consulting firm EY is providing ‘‘cyber security management services’’ to Australia and New Zealand Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and IAG, while questioning if the boards of those companies have properly assessed the risks involved in having external providers do this work. The Fin

Brother knew Chinese plans: Wright

Julian Wright claims his brother knew China was about to push the button on a major iron ore project but kept him in the dark as he prepared to sell his stake in what became a multibillion-dollar family fortune. The Fin

Coles moves to deal directly with South West dairy farms

Coles has taken steps towards dealing directly with South West dairy farmers for supply of its home brand milk in WA, but the move is unlikely to solve the industry’s pricing woes. The West

Expats brace for hit to revenue

Australian companies operating in China expect the coronavirus outbreak to wipe out as much as one-fifth off their first-quarter revenues, a new survey has found, as many review their strategy in the region. The Fin

Tax threat to oil firms

The Federal Government could slap the oil and gas sector with an extra tax to pay for the clean-up of a stranded production platform in the Timor Sea. The Fin

South32 calls for clear guidance on scope 3

South32 chief executive Graham Kerr says lawmakers must clarify how ‘‘scope 3’’ greenhouse gas emissions will be considered in planning approvals, after a commodity price slump shaved his company’s half-year profit by 84 per cent. The Fin

NAB may delay MLC split after ‘sound’ result

National Australia Bank’s separation of its MLC wealth management business could be deferred beyond the current financial year due to the challenging business environment. The Aus

Future the focus for Telstra as Penn looks past NBN woes

Telstra chief executive Andy Penn has moved to keep the option of acquiring the National Broadband Network open, while doubling down on a stance that better environmental performance will be good for shareholders in the long term. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: Jubilant TPG and Vodafone say they are ready to take on Telstra and Optus as Australia’s third telecoms giant, after the Federal Court ruled the $15 billion merger would not lessen competition and could go ahead.

Page 3: Departmental staff who spoke out against a controversial petroleum licence issued to Horizon Oil in Papua New Guinea were threatened with suspension or demotion, according to an employee at the time.

Page 4: ‘‘Dozens of versions’’ of a colour-coded spreadsheet were used to allocate $100 million in community sports grants but former minister Bridget McKenzie kept no records of project eligibility, parliament has been told.

A Labor senator has revealed that consulting firm EY is providing ‘‘cyber security management services’’ to Australia and New Zealand Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and IAG, while questioning if the boards of those companies have properly assessed the risks involved in having external providers do this work.

Page 5: Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe has warned the economic impact of climate change will be ‘‘profound’’, while the coronavirus is having a ‘‘major effect’’ on education, tourism and business deals which will hit the economy in the short term.

Page 7: Julian Wright claims his brother knew China was about to push the button on a major iron ore project but kept him in the dark as he prepared to sell his stake in what became a multibillion-dollar family fortune.

Page 10: Foreigners who have spent time in China recently will continue to be blocked from entering Australia after cabinet’s national security committee resolved to extend the coronavirus travel ban for a further week.

Page 14: British oil giant BP set the most ambitious climate change goal of any major oil company yesterday (AEDT), saying it aimed to eliminate or offset by 2050 all of the planet-warming emissions from its operations, as well as the emissions caused by the burning of the oil and gas it pumps out of the ground.

Page 15: Australian companies operating in China expect the coronavirus outbreak to wipe out as much as one-fifth off their first-quarter revenues, a new survey has found, as many review their strategy in the region.

Page 16: Telstra chief executive Andy Penn has moved to keep the option of acquiring the National Broadband Network open, while doubling down on a stance that better environmental performance will be good for shareholders in the long term.

Page 19: The boss of a2 Milk, Geoff Babidge, says consultant fees at the infant formula company are likely to be cut but its marketing spend will remain despite concerns over the impact of the coronavirus gripping the region.

Page 23: South32 chief executive Graham Kerr says lawmakers must clarify how ‘‘scope 3’’ greenhouse gas emissions will be considered in planning approvals, after a commodity price slump shaved his company’s half-year profit by 84 per cent.

The Australian

Page 1: Australia is in danger of losing a third of new Chinese students to foreign universities as tensions over the Morrison government’s extension of the coronavirus travel ban into a third week prompted the Chinese embassy to express “deep regret and dissatisfaction”.

Page 3: Love scammers preying on single women through dating apps and social media are fleecing Australian victims of up to $60.5m a year by posing as US military personnel and widowers with children.

Page 7: Auditor-General Grant Hehir has confirmed the Prime Minister’s Office made “direct and indirect” representations on behalf of grassroots clubs applying for sporting grants as part of the controversial Community Sport Infrastructure program.

Page 12: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is preparing to soften plans for sanctions on social media companies amid concerns about a backlash from tech giants.

Page 19: AMP chief executive Francesco De Ferrari has warned investors of another tough year in 2020 as the embattled wealth group braces for a repeat of last year’s huge net cash outflows of $6.3bn and executes a recovery plan.

Page 21: Shares in kitchen appliance maker Breville rocketed by nearly 28 per cent on Thursday, making it the fastest-moving stock on the leaders’ board, as investor relief over its limited exposure to China and the coronavirus combined with a stellar financial result to trigger frantic buying from investors.

Page 23: National Australia Bank’s separation of its MLC wealth management business could be deferred beyond the current financial year due to the challenging business environment.

Page 27: Flight attendants say they are working up to 18 hours with just four 20 minute breaks because the regulator has failed to deliver a fatigue risk management system for cabin crew.

The West Australian

Page 3: The Federal Government could slap the oil and gas sector with an extra tax to pay for the clean-up of a stranded production platform in the Timor Sea.

Page 8: Kevin Rudd says he is worried Scott Morrison is planning on watering down the Close the Gap targets and that the Prime Minister’s claim they had been set without proper consultation from Aboriginal people is “utter bollocks”.

Page 14: Veterans will finally be recognised and identified in the census with the Federal Government confirming it is proceeding with the change to the national survey.

Page 16: A Catholic school deputy principal is fighting to get his job back after allegations he raped a male student more than 20 years ago led to his sacking.

Page 18: A half-baked scheme to ban birthday cupcakes from an Ellenbrook primary school due to the “beliefs and traditions” of different cultures has been canned by an incredulous Mark McGowan.

Page 26: A Coalition backbencher has criticised parents who claim government benefits but fail to send their children to school regularly.

Business: Coles has taken steps towards dealing directly with South West dairy farmers for supply of its home brand milk in WA, but the move is unlikely to solve the industry’s pricing woes.