Morning Headlines

Ellison offers to source vaccine and deliver jabs

Mining billionaire Chris Ellison says it is time the Morrison government let the private sector step up and run COVID-19 vaccination programs to safeguard the economy-defining resources industry. The Fin

Federal Government’s NAIF to expand remit

Emerging projects in WA’s north are well placed to secure a sizeable chunk of the $2.1 billion still left in the kitty of the Federal Government’s Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility. The West

Jetstar at last uncorks direct flights

After a 15-month delay forced by Covid-19, Jetstar expects to soon launch direct flights between Melbourne and the popular winemaking and tourist region of Margaret River, in a move expected to add $40m to the local area. The Aus

Deloitte to give staff choice on where, when they work

Once state-based restrictions are lifted, Deloitte’s staff will be able to decide when they go back to the office and which hours they work under a new policy that could spell the end of the traditional nine-to-five workday. The Fin

Pharmacies enter Covid jab frontline

Health officials have approved a nationwide Covid-19 pharmacy vaccination program following outbreaks that have plunged four capital cities, and 11 million people, into lockdown. The Aus

Retailers decry NBN Co refusal to give discounts

NBN Co will not reinstate discounts on wholesale capacity charges for retail internet providers that were in place for most of last year, despite four major cities plunging back into lockdown, to the alarm of Optus and TPG Telecom. The Fin

Oil industry fires up over $367m annual remediation levy

The oil and gas industry is up in arms about a proposed temporary 48¢ per barrel levy on offshore production to cover the cost of an abandoned oil platform in the Timor Sea, labelling it ‘‘over the top and extreme’’, while green groups called for it to be made permanent. The Fin

KFC has Collins crowing

KFC and Taco Bell fast-food restaurant operator Collins Foods traded busily through the pandemic, delivering record revenues of $1.07bn and a 5 per cent increase in profit to $33m, the first under chief executive Drew O’Malley. The Aus

COVID cuts classes in half

Classes at some schools were half-empty yesterday as anxious parents pulled their children out on the first day of Perth’s snap lockdown sparked by COVID cases in the northern suburbs. The West

Business calls for mandatory vax grow

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations will likely expand to other high-risk sectors beyond aged care, according to a leading workplace relations lawyer who expects health could be the next cab off the rank. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 3: Once state-based restrictions are lifted, Deloitte’s staff will be able to decide when they go back to the office and which hours they work under a new policy that could spell the end of the traditional nine-to-five workday.

Page 4: Confusion over the vaccine rollout has mounted as the federal government maintained its official preference for the Pfizer mRNA vaccine for the under-60s while opening up AstraZeneca for younger people.

Page 7: Mining billionaire Chris Ellison says it is time the Morrison government let the private sector step up and run COVID-19 vaccination programs to safeguard the economy-defining resources industry.

Page 10: NBN Co will not reinstate discounts on wholesale capacity charges for retail internet providers that were in place for most of last year, despite four major cities plunging back into lockdown, to the alarm of Optus and TPG Telecom.

Page 12: Business Council boss Jennifer Westacott wants to ignite a national conversation and convince everyday Australians of the merits of big economic reform, bypassing politicians who have failed to sell the message.

Page 13: Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank have extended banking arrangements with Australia Post by a decade, a move that gives the banks a broader reach into regional communities and Australia Post income to maintain its sprawling network.

Page 17: AMP Capital has warned investors of ‘‘unmanageable’’ conflicts of interest and being trapped in vehicles stuffed with ‘‘poor performing greenfield and brownfield assets’’ if unitholders in its $1.3 billion Community Infrastructure Fund jump ship to suitor Plenary Group.

The oil and gas industry is up in arms about a proposed temporary 48¢ per barrel levy on offshore production to cover the cost of an abandoned oil platform in the Timor Sea, labelling it ‘‘over the top and extreme’’, while green groups called for it to be made permanent.

Page 19: Santos has taken a decisive step towards going ahead with a $US2 billion ($2.6 billion) oil project off the coast of Western Australia, defying mounting concerns among some investors and lenders about new investment in fossil fuel supply.

Page 20: Seven Group is creeping up Boral’s shareholder register after raising its cash takeover bid last week, securing up to 26.3 per cent of the building materials group.

The Australian

Page 1: Health officials have approved a nationwide Covid-19 pharmacy vaccination program following outbreaks that have plunged four capital cities, and 11 million people, into lockdown.

Page 4: After a 15-month delay forced by Covid-19, Jetstar expects to soon launch direct flights between Melbourne and the popular winemaking and tourist region of Margaret River, in a move expected to add $40m to the local area.

Page 13: In his six weeks in power Medibank’s David Koczkar has moved quickly to put his stamp on the shop, with a new management team and on Tuesday a public relations-friendly $105m capital return to policyholders, to bring the total so far to $300m.

Page 14: Steinhoff International is understood to be calling for bids this Friday for its well-known Freedom Furniture chain, with Australian suitors leading the queue.

Page 15: KFC and Taco Bell fast-food restaurant operator Collins Foods traded busily through the pandemic, delivering record revenues of $1.07bn and a 5 per cent increase in profit to $33m, the first under chief executive Drew O’Malley.

The West Australian

Page 1: WA's resources sector was scrambling to rework rosters and reschedule flights yesterday after being upended by an order that only essential workers can fly to sites until Saturday.

Page 3: WA marketing experts have slammed the Federal Government’s vaccine advertising campaign as “pathetic”, “bland” and “a failure”.

Page 4: Mark McGowan has joined his counterparts in Victoria and Queensland in calling for a reduction in Australians returning from overseas to avoid further lockdowns.

Pharmacies in rural and remote parts of WA have been given the go-ahead to administer COVID-19 vaccines from mid-July, but the sector argues it’s too little, too late.

Page 7: Classes at some schools were half-empty yesterday as anxious parents pulled their children out on the first day of Perth’s snap lockdown sparked by COVID cases in the northern suburbs.

Page 14: State politicians will be handed a $1000 pay rise, an independent umpire has announced.

Page 21: A Federal Court judge has blasted betting scheme promoter Chris Brown over claims that his life was under threat from a Melbourne underworld strip club owner.

Business: Emerging projects in WA’s north are well placed to secure a sizeable chunk of the $2.1 billion still left in the kitty of the Federal Government’s Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.

A failure to obtain or maintain a social licence is a significant risk for miners, according to a leading ratings agency, which warns it may lead to “substantial and long-lasting negative credit implications”.

WA’s resources sector was scrambling to rework rosters and reschedule flights yesterday after being blindsided by an order that only essential workers can fly to sites until Saturday.

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations will likely expand to other high-risk sectors beyond aged care, according to a leading workplace relations lawyer who expects health could be the next cab off the rank.