Morning Headlines

Miners condemn studies changes

Australia’s most prominent mining companies say the proposed changes to the national school curriculum fail to present a balanced view of the role of the minerals sector on modern life and the country’s economy. The Aus

WA’s iron clad help for NSW

Leading economists believe that without WA’s record iron ore trade the Federal Government would not have had the financial flexibility to support NSW to the tune of $500 million a week during its COVID-19 lockdown. The West

PM said no to talks with uni chancellors

A delegation of high-profile university chancellors was rebuffed in efforts to meet Scott Morrison to discuss the crisis unfolding in the higher education sector as international student revenues dive, with the official tally of job losses now almost 15,000. The Fin

RBA ‘monitoring’ case for a digital currency

The Reserve Bank of Australia is talking to other central banks about the viability of a ‘‘central bank digital currency’’ for retail use, but is maintaining its long-held view that a convincing policy case for digital versions of paper money, has not yet been established. The Fin

Seven Group almost up to 50pc of Boral

The Seven Group has acquired almost 50 per cent of building materials group Boral after more investors snapped up its offer, raising the chances its $8.8 billion takeover bid will be extended beyond today. The Fin

Big business pushes faster vaccine plan

Australia’s biggest businesses are turning to their seasonal flu vaccine providers to administer Covid-19 jabs to their employees as Sydney faces at least another two weeks of lockdown and Melbourne teeters on a fifth shutdown. The Aus

Hotel’s mystery closure

A luxury Perth hotel that was touted to be a “world-class asset” before opening to much fanfare just over 18 months ago has closed its doors under mysterious circumstances. The West

ATO plans compliance blitz on rich

Australia’s largest private companies and wealthiest families face a crackdown by the Australian Taxation Office over governance and compliance measures as new figures suggest most of the top 500 private groups are falling short of its expectations. The Aus

Confidence up as WA, Victoria offset NSW

Consumer confidence is bouncing back despite continuing lockdowns in Greater Sydney, with surging optimism in WA helping lift the overall national mood. The West

Big miners warn easy days at an end

Lucrative top-tier mining assets have mostly gone in Australia, so workers need to be flexible to help make new investment possible, mining giants warn. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: Sydney’s prolonged lockdown for an anticipated two months will cause the national economy to shrink in the current quarter and cost thousands of jobs, according to economists, stalling momentum in Australia’s bounce back from the virus recession.

Page 2: New rules by the Australian Energy Market Commission will make it easier for households with batteries to earn money by putting power back into the grid during peak times.

Page 3: A delegation of high-profile university chancellors was rebuffed in efforts to meet Scott Morrison to discuss the crisis unfolding in the higher education sector as international student revenues dive, with the official tally of job losses now almost 15,000.

Australia has boosted its team for the Tokyo Olympics to 488 athletes, more than in Athens 2004 and the second-largest delegation after Sydney 2000.

At its annual ‘‘Inspire’’ business partners event overnight, Microsoft announced a new type of Windows computer known as Windows 365 that is not a new PC so much as a subscription to a new PC living in one of Microsoft’s Azure data centres.

Page 9: Targets used for generous bonuses paid by the company running the national broadband network could be reviewed by the Auditor-General, as Labor warned political distortions could be seeing public funds misused.

Page 13: Food retailers are struggling to fully staff stores in greater Sydney as scores of supermarkets are listed as exposure sites, forcing staff to either isolate for two weeks or stay home until they have had a negative COVID-19 test.

Page 16: The Reserve Bank of Australia is talking to other central banks about the viability of a ‘‘central bank digital currency’’ for retail use, but is maintaining its long-held view that a convincing policy case for digital versions of paper money, has not yet been established.

Page 19: The Seven Group has acquired almost 50 per cent of building materials group Boral after more investors snapped up its offer, raising the chances its $8.8 billion takeover bid will be extended beyond today.

The Australian

Page 1: Victorian health authorities are considering a lockdown of at least three days to contain a growing outbreak of Covid-19 sparked by Sydney’s Bondi cluster, which has forced five million people to comply with stay-at-home orders until at least the end of the month.

Performers from regions annexed by China have been barred from appearing at venues that are owned by the West Australian government.

Page 2: Australia’s most prominent mining companies say the proposed changes to the national school curriculum fail to present a balanced view of the role of the minerals sector on modern life and the country’s economy.

Page 3: Julie Bishop has formally dropped collapsed supply chain financier Greensill Capital as a client of her fledgling consulting firm, amid an ongoing examination of her lobbying work by the Attorney-General’s office.

Page 7: The Transport Workers Union is threatening to “cripple food and fuel supplies across Australia” by taking strike action in protest at significant changes to pay and conditions proposed by major transport operator Toll.

Page 13: Australia’s biggest businesses are turning to their seasonal flu vaccine providers to administer Covid-19 jabs to their employees as Sydney faces at least another two weeks of lockdown and Melbourne teeters on a fifth shutdown.

Page 15: Australia’s largest private companies and wealthiest families face a crackdown by the Australian Taxation Office over governance and compliance measures as new figures suggest most of the top 500 private groups are falling short of its expectations.

The West Australian

Page 1: Leading economists believe that without WA’s record iron ore trade the Federal Government would not have had the financial flexibility to support NSW to the tune of $500 million a week during its COVID-19 lockdown.

Page 4: WA is on the brink of a hard border with the entire eastern seaboard for the first time since November after reimposing travel restrictions on Victoria without warning yesterday afternoon.
Business: Perth-based Austin Engineering has defended a decision to appoint David Singleton as its new managing director despite the former Austal boss facing legal action brought by the financial regulator over his time at the shipbuilder.

Consumer confidence is bouncing back despite continuing lockdowns in Greater Sydney, with surging optimism in WA helping lift the overall national mood.

A luxury Perth hotel that was touted to be a “world-class asset” before opening to much fanfare just over 18 months ago has closed its doors under mysterious circumstances.

Global issuance of bonds for environmental, social and governance goals look set to hit $US1 trillion for the first time ever this year, more than double what was sold in all of 2020.

A Federal Court judge has fired a warning shot at insolvency accountants and lawyers scrapping over investment promoter Chris Brown’s failed bet hedging schemes.

Lucrative top-tier mining assets have mostly gone in Australia, so workers need to be flexible to help make new investment possible, mining giants warn.