Morning Headlines

Woodside faces a grilling over its Pluto LNG expansion plan

Woodside Petroleum will come under pressure this week to explain why its delayed Pluto-2 LNG project in Western Australia still makes sense as analysts point to cheaper options that could avoid an anticipated capital raising of $US2 billion ($2.8 billion) or more. The Fin

National security clampdown on cyber defences

Companies and institutions across the banking, finance, defence, communications, food and grocery and higher education sectors will be obliged to strengthen their cyber defences and co-operate with national security agencies in repelling malicious attacks under sweeping critical infrastructure laws. The Aus

Uncertainty lingers about airline’s regional unit

Hopes are rapidly fading that Bain Capital will retain Perth-based Virgin Australia Regional Airlines as a fully functioning unit for fly-in, fly-out and country passenger operations. The West

Fourth Amatil investor says offer is too low

Coca-Cola Amatil may have to return to the negotiating table with would-be acquirer Coca-Cola European Partners after a fourth Amatil shareholder said the $12.75 a share bid was too low. The Fin

PM to test China with veto powers

The Morrison government will risk a further deterioration in the relationship with China this week by forging ahead with legislation enabling it to veto new and existing agreements between a foreign power and state governments, local councils or universities. The Fin

Working with Biden won’t affect climate policy: PM

Scott Morrison says he will hold his ground on climate change policy in the wake of Joe Biden’s victory, while views differ within Labor over the significance it played in the US election. The Fin

Maths enrolments as bad as ever

Australia’s ‘‘maths deficit’’ at school is deepening and becoming a spiral in which the lack of maths graduates is reinforcing the lack of teachers with specialist training in the subject, according to a new report by the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute. The Fin

Banks shut ATMs and branches amid digital push and cost cuts

The number of branches and ATMs operated by the big four banks fell sharply over the past five years and is likely to accelerate as customers do more banking online, branch foot traffic falls and banks clamp down on costs. The Fin

BHP to help China steel maker cut emissions

BHP’s desire to curb the greenhouse gas emissions of its customers will take a tangible step forward after China’s biggest steel maker agreed to work with the miner on carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen initiatives. The Fin

It’s the last (plastic) straw

WA will phase out a range of single-use plastics by 2023 — including plastic straws, thick plastic bags, and plastic plates and cutlery. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: America’s 46th President-elect, Joe Biden, has promised to restore a spirit of national unity and get straight to work on the country’s COVID-19, economic and culture crises after claiming a historic win over Donald Trump, who was still refusing to concede defeat last night.

The Morrison government will risk a further deterioration in the relationship with China this week by forging ahead with legislation enabling it to veto new and existing agreements between a foreign power and state governments, local councils or universities.

Page 4: Scott Morrison says he will hold his ground on climate change policy in the wake of Joe Biden’s victory, while views differ within Labor over the significance it played in the US election.

Page 12: World leaders raced to welcome Joe Biden’s anointment as US President-elect, with some hailing the change in the White House as an opportunity to reset geopolitics.

Page 14: Australia’s ‘‘maths deficit’’ at school is deepening and becoming a spiral in which the lack of maths graduates is reinforcing the lack of teachers with specialist training in the subject, according to a new report by the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute.

A review of nursing education that recommends student nurses pass an exam at university before being allowed to qualify – contrary to current practice – has sat on a shelf in Canberra since it was submitted to government 14 months ago.

Page 15: Coca-Cola Amatil may have to return to the negotiating table with would-be acquirer Coca-Cola European Partners after a fourth Amatil shareholder said the $12.75 a share bid was too low.

Page 17: Freedom Foods Group is being sued in the Federal Court of Australia by its former group general counsel and company secretary over allegations she was misled when she took up the job nearly three years ago, and was unlawfully dismissed after complaining about the company’s operations.

Page 18: The number of branches and ATMs operated by the big four banks fell sharply over the past five years and is likely to accelerate as customers do more banking online, branch foot traffic falls and banks clamp down on costs.

Page 19: BHP’s desire to curb the greenhouse gas emissions of its customers will take a tangible step forward after China’s biggest steel maker agreed to work with the miner on carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen initiatives.

Page 20: One of this year’s best Australian gold discoveries could become one of the nation’s top five gold mines if targets included in De Grey Mining’s executive remuneration package are any guide.

Page 22: Woodside Petroleum will come under pressure this week to explain why its delayed Pluto-2 LNG project in Western Australia still makes sense as analysts point to cheaper options that could avoid an anticipated capital raising of $US2 billion ($2.8 billion) or more.

The Australian

Page 5: Labor’s dominant Right faction will demand pro-gas and coal amendments to the party’s policy platform, as Joel Fitzgibbon slams “delusional” Left faction MPs for using Joe Biden’s US election victory as a clarion call for “courageous” climate change policies.

Page 6: Anthony Albanese’s approval ratings have rebounded in the wake of the US and Queensland elections but Scott Morrison continues to dominate with ongoing record support for his leadership nationally.

Page 11: Companies and institutions across the banking, finance, defence, communications, food and grocery and higher education sectors will be obliged to strengthen their cyber defences and co-operate with national security agencies in repelling malicious attacks under sweeping critical infrastructure laws.

More than 1000 schools have voluntarily signed up to access a new federal government-sponsored phonics screening check for Year 1 students, as pressure mounts on resistant states and territories to embrace the initiative.

Page 15: Tabcorp’s systems outage may cost the company more than its $100m in lost betting turnover, as the Victorian government sounds out other big bookmakers to take on the state’s exclusive wagering and betting licence.

Page 17: The fight for the future of French company Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, which took over the international Westfield shopping centre empire in a $32bn deal almost three years ago, is coming to a head at a crucial vote this week.

Australia’s biggest health company, CSL, will on Monday start manufacturing a COVID-19 vaccine as Melbourne’s iron curtain lifts, enabling the city’s residents to visit regional areas.

Page 21: China’s trade surplus with the US and the rest of the world widened in October as the global recovery buoyed demand for made-in-China goods, helping export growth beat market expectations for a seventh straight month.

The West Australian

Page 3: Three in four people support compulsory superannuation payments increasing to 12 per cent by 2025, research reveals.

Page 7: Members of Donald Trump’s family, including his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, have reportedly approached the President and urged him to concede the election.

Page 11: Hit by COVID-19 and a recession, Australia is facing a mental health “shadow pandemic”, a leading professor has warned — a crisis that demands Australians turn society “upside down”.

Page 12: WA will phase out a range of single-use plastics by 2023 — including plastic straws, thick plastic bags, and plastic plates and cutlery.

Page 17: Scams targeting the elderly are rocketing as criminals look to rip off the increasing number of seniors turning to the internet to shop or stay in touch with loved ones in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Business: Hopes are rapidly fading that Bain Capital will retain Perth-based Virgin Australia Regional Airlines as a fully functioning unit for fly-in, fly-out and country passenger operations.

The young gun in charge of health services for WA’s biggest private insurer will be tasked with driving the value and appeal of private health insurance as the industry grapples with falling membership.

Up to 408.5 gigalitres of Fitzroy River surface and ground water could be made available for development in the Fitzroy region annually, under an option outlined in a State Government discussion paper.