Morning Headlines

Plea for lottery, passports as jab incentives

Lockdowns should end and borders reopen when 80 per cent of Australians are inoculated against COVID-19, says a Grattan Institute report that calls for vaccine passports and a national lottery to fast-track the nation’s troubled vaccine rollout. The Fin

How Stokes’ Seven outsmarted Boral board on premium

The Kerry Stokes-controlled Seven Group Holdings tightened its grip on takeover target Boral on the final day of a takeover offer that has resulted in it owning two-thirds of the $8 billion building products group without paying a premium. The Fin

WA bid for staff in lockdown

The McGowan Government’s Skills Summit will today be urged to capitalise on the indefinite lockdown of Sydney by luring workers to COVIDfree WA. The West

Trading hub to ease path to net zero

Companies aiming for net zero emissions should have an easier path thanks to a new government-backed marketplace for carbon and environmental certificates. The Fin

WA troopers lead the way to recovery

WA’s small and medium-sized enterprises are leading a national rebound as business conditions across the country surge to record highs. The West

Heat over Forrest’s green push

Fortescue Metals Group has outlined the scale of its near-term spending on its ambitious push to grow into a global green energy giant, saying it will pump up to $800m into its plans this financial year, but the company faces growing questions about when the green push will translate into value for shareholders. The Aus

PM turns to economists as well as doctors

Expert scientific advice on the vaccination rate that will determine when the nation can begin living with COVID-19 cases in the community will be tempered by Treasury advice about the economic cost of maintaining restrictions, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says. The Fin

China crossed line with malware attack: cyber chief

China has ‘‘crossed a line’’ with its state-sanctioned hacking of Microsoft Exchange email servers, Australia’s top cyber security official says, because it opens the door to criminals to exploit vulnerabilities. The Fin

Deloitte ditches ‘discriminatory’ age-based retirement

Partners at Deloitte Australia will no longer be expected to retire once they reach the age of 62, with the big four firm set to handle partner succession on a case-by-case basis, chief executive Adam Powick says. The Aus

Meat industry’s activist beef

The peak body representing Australia’s red meat and livestock industry wants the Federal Government to cut commercial dealings with financial providers that refuse to offer services to abiding businesses. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: The army has been called into Sydney to enforce compliance with the city’s lockdown, as health experts warn that record numbers of mystery cases and people failing to isolate while infectious raise the risk of Sydney’s COVID-19 outbreak spiralling out of control.

Page 4: Lockdowns should end and borders reopen when 80 per cent of Australians are inoculated against COVID-19, says a Grattan Institute report that calls for vaccine passports and a national lottery to fast-track the nation’s troubled vaccine rollout.

Page 5: Expert scientific advice on the vaccination rate that will determine when the nation can begin living with COVID-19 cases in the community will be tempered by Treasury advice about the economic cost of maintaining restrictions, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.

Page 10: China has ‘‘crossed a line’’ with its state-sanctioned hacking of Microsoft Exchange email servers, Australia’s top cyber security official says, because it opens the door to criminals to exploit vulnerabilities.

Page 11: The head of industry super fund-owned IFM Investors has blamed an ‘‘aggressive’’ and ‘‘unfounded’’ class action for the asset manager’s decision to fold a major field services contractor, leaving dozens of employees owed millions of dollars.

Page 12: International technology platforms and offshore cloud software providers have been put on notice they must comply with Australian privacy laws, even if they have no local physical presence.

Page 16: The Kerry Stokes-controlled Seven Group Holdings tightened its grip on takeover target Boral on the final day of a takeover offer that has resulted in it owning two-thirds of the $8 billion building products group without paying a premium.

Page 18: New and used car prices will remain high until mid-2022, with new vehicle supply from overseas manufacturers likely to stay constrained for several more months, industry experts say.

Page 19: Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott is sticking to his guns that the $1.38 all-cash offer remains compelling for Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, the owner of the Priceline retail chain, despite the drug wholesaler board’s rejection.

Page 20: Companies aiming for net zero emissions should have an easier path thanks to a new government-backed marketplace for carbon and environmental certificates.

The Australian

Page 1: Education Minister Alan Tudge is considering cutting off funding to student organisations that attempt to stop the airing of views they oppose on campus.

Page 2: Leading climate scientists conceded that models used to estimate how much the world will warm with rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are running too hot.

Page 4: Scott Morrison and national cabinet leaders are preparing for targeted lockdowns to run into next year, with Treasury updating its assumptions on the frequency and economic ramifications of Covid-19 restrictions in response to the highly contagious Delta strain.

Page 5: Passengers travelling overseas with Qantas or Jetstar when borders reopen will be required to carry a “digital health pass” with information about Covid tests and vaccination status.

Page 6: GPs have been warned they may face disciplinary action or law suits if they give cross-sex hormone drugs to transgender-identifying minors.

Page 15: Partners at Deloitte Australia will no longer be expected to retire once they reach the age of 62, with the big four firm set to handle partner succession on a case-by-case basis, chief executive Adam Powick says.

A major player in discussions about beleaguered telco Digicel Pacific says Australian taxpayers risk paying an inflated price by subsidising Telstra in a bid to stop China acquiring the Pacific communications firm.

Fortescue Metals Group has outlined the scale of its near-term spending on its ambitious push to grow into a global green energy giant, saying it will pump up to $800m into its plans this financial year, but the company faces growing questions about when the green push will translate into value for shareholders.

Page 16: The Nev Power and Bill Beament-backed special purpose acquisitions company Metals Acquisitions has raised $US250m ($338m) as it positions itself to buy assets in the battery minerals sector.

Page 19: Rio Tinto shares hit record highs on Thursday as investors dived into the stock after of its record $12.4bn interim dividend splash this week, but analysts warned the iron ore major has a way to go before it can return to its former operational heights.

The West Australian

Page 10: Vaccination rates among Indigenous Australians are lagging behind the rest of the nation with only one in five receiving a first COVID jab — prompting calls for governments to step up efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy in remote communities.

Mark McGowan has accused the NSW Government of “arrogance” for refusing to learn from other States which have eradicated outbreaks of the Delta variant and predicts the latest tightening of restrictions won’t bring it under control, as new cases hit a record high in Sydney and the defence force was called in to help.

Business: The peak body representing Australia’s red meat and livestock industry wants the Federal Government to cut commercial dealings with financial providers that refuse to offer services to abiding businesses.

The McGowan Government’s Skills Summit will today be urged to capitalise on the indefinite lockdown of Sydney by luring workers to COVIDfree WA.

Regis Resources has toasted record quarterly production, with improved output at its Laverton operations being boosted by first gold from its newly acquired stake in Tropicana.

Real estate group Acton is merging with a prestige east coast agency called Belle Property, creating a property giant responsible for $16 billion worth of annual residential house sales.

WA’s small and medium-sized enterprises are leading a national rebound as business conditions across the country surge to record highs.