Morning Headlines

CBH investments under fire

CBH is set for a boardroom showdown which could have major implications for its investments in South-East Asia and the Eastern States. The West

Qantas debt deal seen as inevitable

The federal government is leaning towards a two-pronged response to Qantas Airways of a debt guarantee to provide short-term relief and pushing Parliament over the longer term to repeal the Qantas Sale Act that keeps the company Australian controlled. The Fin

Buswell long concerned over failures by Health

Treasurer Troy Buswell said yesterday that “significant failures” surrounding the Health Department’s commissioning of Fiona Stanley Hospital had concerned him “for an extended period of time” but he refused to criticise Health Minister Kim Hames. The West

Another WA miner in trouble with wages, debt unpaid

The casualty toll in Australia’s mining industry appears set to rise amid revelations that Perth-based Atlantic has failed to pay wages to its 200 employees and scores of creditors are demanding at least $25 million from the embattled vanadium producer. The Aus

AWU smelter deal puts jobs above pay rises

Rio Tinto has struck a landmark workplace agreement with the Australian Workers Union that forgoes guaranteed pay rises in exchange for better job security and protection of conditions that could previously be cut at the company’s discretion. The Aus

Funds’ Perth airport feud awaits document ruling

Two of the country’s biggest investment funds are headed for court next month in relation to a spat over the ownership of Perth Airport, shortly after Justice James Judd hands down a ruling on document confidentiality. The Fin

Business chiefs embark on infrastructure drive

Heavyweights of corporate Australia will meet global finance ministers and central bank chiefs this week to advance plans to unlock trillions of dollars for infrastructure investment to stimulate global economic growth and create jobs. The Aus

Poverty taken off aid agenda

The Abbott Government has officially removed poverty reduction from the goals of the foreign affairs budget, smoothing the way for the annual $5 billion spend to be redirected to a program that focuses more on growth and co-investment with the private sector. The Fin

Rich-list ‘rock kicker’ tips better times

Only days after a deal that’s made him a cool $210 million, veteran prospector Mark Creasy says mining shares are on the way back after a dreadful 2013. The Fin

Buru hit by Canning Basin oil well result

Oil and gas explorer Buru Energy has been pummelled on the market after reporting drilling results from its Ungani oil field in Western Australia that casts doubt both on production targets at the field and the potential of similar prospects in the Canning Basin. The Fin

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: The federal government is leaning towards a two-pronged response to Qantas Airways of a debt guarantee to provide short-term relief and pushing Parliament over the longer term to repeal the Qantas Sale Act that keeps the company Australian controlled.

Page 3: The Abbott Government has officially removed poverty reduction from the goals of the foreign affairs budget, smoothing the way for the annual $5 billion spend to be redirected to a program that focuses more on growth and co-investment with the private sector.

Page 4: Anxious farmers will have to wait at least another week for drought relief after the topic was not discussed by federal cabinet on Monday but set down for early next week.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has played down potential changes stemming from a review into the renewable energy target, pledging to avoid sovereign risk for major companies that have invested in Australian projects.

Page 7: Prime Minister Tony Abbott has denied any knowledge of almost $900 million that the Tax Office paid to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation between September and January.

Page 11: Telstra is facing a battle with trade unions over fears it is set to announce plans to axe at least 400 local jobs in regional areas from it sailing Sensis directories’ business later this week.

Page 17: As Myer prepares to dust off its $3 billion merger proposal for David Jones , new research suggests the combined group could lose millions of loyal customers unless they successfully differentiate their brands.

The official line from the world’s largest diversified resources company is that no serious work has been done on collapsing the dual-listed company structure. A BHP spokeswoman said: “We think that this structure has worked and continues to serve shareholders well.”

Page 19: Aurizon Holdings chief executive Lance Hockridge signalled cost-cutting by miners was paying off as the rail operator hauled record amounts of coal in the first half of the year and raised 2014 forecasts.

Page 20: Forge chief executive officer David Simpson is believed to have been made redundant from the failed mining services company, joining thousands of workers who have lost their jobs in the wake of its slide into administration.

Page 21: Only days after a deal that’s made him a cool $210 million, veteran prospector Mark Creasy says mining shares are on the way back after a dreadful 2013.

Page 23: Two of the country’s biggest investment funds are headed for court next month in relation to a spat over the ownership of Perth Airport, shortly after Justice James Judd hands down a ruling on document confidentiality.

Page 32: Oil and gas explorer Buru Energy has been pummelled on the market after reporting drilling results from its Ungani oil field in Western Australia that casts doubt both on production targets at the field and the potential of similar prospects in the Canning Basin.

The Australian

Page 1: Heavyweights of corporate Australia will meet global finance ministers and central bank chiefs this week to advance plans to unlock trillions of dollars for infrastructure investment to stimulate global economic growth and create jobs.

Rio Tinto has struck a landmark workplace agreement with the Australian Workers Union that forgoes guaranteed pay rises in exchange for better job security and protection of conditions that could previously be cut at the company’s discretion.

Page 4: Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce will try to win support among his cabinet colleagues for his massive farm drought assistance package by portraying farmers as undertaking a noble calling.

Page 6: The peak group representing older Australians — National Seniors Australia — has backed the introduction of a $6 gap fee for general practitioner visits and called for the deferral of the Abbott government’s paid parental leave scheme until the budget is back in surplus, in a controversial submission to the Treasury’s budget process.

Page 17: The casualty toll in Australia’s mining industry appears set to rise amid revelations that Perth-based Atlantic has failed to pay wages to its 200 employees and scores of creditors are demanding at least $25 million from the embattled vanadium producer.

Page 18: OZ Minerals has been threatened with another class action over disclosure around global financial crisis debt refinancing, despite having settled two similar actions for $60 million in 2011.

Page 28: Australia’s top 200 IT spenders will this financial year spend about $36 billion on technology and related services, nearly 1 per cent less than last year, as the federal government continues to slash budgets, new research shows.

The West Australian

Page 3: WA researchers are trying to create a test that would allow them to predict the chances of some people getting type 1 diabetes or developing certain complications.

Page 4: Treasurer Troy Buswell said yesterday that “significant failures” surrounding the Health Department’s commissioning of Fiona Stanley Hospital had concerned him “for an extended period of time” but he refused to criticise Health Minister Kim Hames.

Page 6: Tony Abbott has signalled his Government may not be able to make big changes to the renewable energy target because of sovereign risk implications for investors.

Page 13: Surf Life Saving WA says restrictions on the use of electronic shark shields by children, pregnant women and people with medical conditions would make their widespread use at popular beaches “problematic”.

Page 16: The blocks may no longer be a quarter acre but West Australians are reluctant to give up on the traditional homeowner dream, with a report showing the State is bucking the national trend towards higher density living.

Business: CBH is set for a boardroom showdown which could have major implications for its investments in South-East Asia and the Eastern States.

The Environmental Protection Authority has given a green light to a massive expansion of WA’s fledging fish farming industry at Cone Bay in the Kimberley.

Michael Minosora’s Atlantic faces the prospect of rebuilding its beneficiation plant at the Windimurra vanadium mine from scratch, with the company yesterday forecasting a nine-month delay before it could get back on track.

Perseus Mining has gone back to the market for a cash top-up after dipping into the red in the second half of last year.