Morning Headlines

FIFO luxury to retain workers

Chris Ellison’s Minerals Resources is set to introduce fly in, fly out for couples and build Olympic-sized swimming pools at mining camps as it looks to hang on to increasingly precious workers in the West Australian resources sector. The Fin

Forrest tells anti-vaxxers there’s no place for them at Fortescue

WA billionaire Andrew Forrest has warned anti-vaxxers are not welcome at Fortescue Metals Group, arguing their views do not fit with the values of the mining giant. The West

Pharmacies to pick up the pace

More than 3500 pharmacies around Australia will be able to administer vaccines from next week, starting with AstraZeneca before getting supplies of the Moderna mRNA vaccine in September. The Fin

Christmas Island could house European harvest workers

Hundreds of skilled agricultural workers from Europe would quarantine on Christmas Island to save WA’s predicted 20 million- tonne grain harvest, under a proposal submitted to the Federal Government. The West

WA ideal for large-scale green hydrogen: BP

BP has found that Western Australia’s mid-west is ‘‘ideally positioned’’ for the large-scale production of green hydrogen and green ammonia, but that development will require huge investment in ports, energy and water networks. The Fin

NSW braces for exit plan

Gladys Berejiklian is seeking to lead Australia out of the pandemic by driving up COVID-19 vaccination rates so NSW can emerge from its extended lockdown by October even without fully suppressing the state’s growing number of infections. The Fin

Tugboat service contract goes to Henderson

Henderson-based BAE Systems has won a multi-million dollar contract to service Rio Tinto’s tugboats. The West

World Cup bid ready to kick off

Sports and government officials are formulating plans to bid for the men’s soccer World Cup, part of a strategy to bring a string of major events to Australia before and after the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane. The Aus

CBA quizzed on investment spending surge

Commonwealth Bank of Australia has been forced to boost investment spending to chase growth amid a flurry of digital competitors, raising questions about whether it is dishing out too much given ultra-low interest rates are crunching revenue. The Fin

Rex stands down staff from next week

Rural carrier Regional Express is standing down hundreds of staff due to lockdowns and state border closures and expects to report an $18 million loss for the year to 30 June. The Fin

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: Gladys Berejiklian is seeking to lead Australia out of the pandemic by driving up COVID-19 vaccination rates so NSW can emerge from its extended lockdown by October even without fully suppressing the state’s growing number of infections.

Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn has delivered locked-down Australia a much-needed tonic, expressing confidence in people’s willingness to get vaccinated and unveiling plans to distribute $10 billion to shareholders in a bumper buyback and dividend payout.

Page 3: Scott Morrison has called for an annual economic dialogue between the trade and finance ministers of the United States and Australia in the belief that protection against coercive economic and trade practices must be part of maintaining regional security.

Page 6: More than 3500 pharmacies around Australia will be able to administer vaccines from next week, starting with AstraZeneca before getting supplies of the Moderna mRNA vaccine in September.

Page 9: The government’s signature superannuation reforms could leave workers paying for life insurance they are not eligible to claim, leading to calls for the abolition of ‘‘vague’’ occupational exclusion policies.

Samsung has killed off its popular Galaxy Note phones, or at least put it on hold indefinitely.

Page 13: Commonwealth Bank of Australia has been forced to boost investment spending to chase growth amid a flurry of digital competitors, raising questions about whether it is dishing out too much given ultra-low interest rates are crunching revenue.

Page 14: Gold sample testing company Chrysos, led by Dirk Treasure, is fronting investors for another private capital raising ahead of its anticipated float, which is now set for 2022.

Page 15: Chris Ellison’s Minerals Resources is set to introduce fly in, fly out for couples and build Olympic-sized swimming pools at mining camps as it looks to hang on to increasingly precious workers in the West Australian resources sector.

Page 16: Infrastructure projects and new homes will be hit with higher prices for steel and other building products as the cost of imported materials soars and Australian companies fight for space on shipping lines, steel makers say.

Page 18: Rural carrier Regional Express is standing down hundreds of staff due to lockdowns and state border closures and expects to report an $18 million loss for the year to 30 June.

Page 19: BP has found that Western Australia’s mid-west is ‘‘ideally positioned’’ for the large-scale production of green hydrogen and green ammonia, but that development will require huge investment in ports, energy and water networks.

The Australian

Page 1: Sports and government officials are formulating plans to bid for the men’s soccer World Cup, part of a strategy to bring a string of major events to Australia before and after the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.

Scott Morrison and the national cabinet face urgent demands from business and unions to take control of workplace vaccinations, with ACTU secretary Sally McManus warning the shifting of responsibility for mandatory jabs to employers is a “recipe for division, resentment and confusion”.

Page 4: Clive Palmer has set-up a showdown with the Morrison government ahead of the next election, threatening legal action against Paul Kelly and Greg Hunt over the federal government’s vaccine rollout.

Page 5: Australia is in danger of being left behind in the race to secure supplies of coronavirus treatments, as a new international battleground emerges for effective drugs that reduce hospitalisation and provide the path out of lockdown.

Page 6: Australia has joined a US-led program to develop new land-based guided missiles capable of striking surface targets and ships at ranges of up to 500km, as part of a push to equip the ADF with modern area denial weapons.

Page 13: The Commonwealth Bank’s $US300m ($409m) bet on global buy now, pay later provider Klarna has paid off massively, with a more than fivefold surge in the value of the bank’s 5 per cent stake to $2.7bn.

Page 15: Post offices, the union and employees would have a greater say on who sits on the Australia Post board under a plan by federal Labor to replace political appointments with “public interest directors”.

Qantas has announced a fourth extension of frequent flyer status for its most loyal members in recognition of the lack of opportunities to retain their benefits.

The West Australian

Page 6: WA billionaire Andrew Forrest has warned anti-vaxxers are not welcome at Fortescue Metals Group, arguing their views do not fit with the values of the mining giant.

Page 7: The police officer leading talks with the AFL to bring the grand final to Perth believes WA is “well placed” to secure the marquee event.

Hundreds of skilled agricultural workers from Europe would quarantine on Christmas Island to save WA’s predicted 20 million- tonne grain harvest, under a proposal submitted to the Federal Government.

Page 10: Wanneroo mayor Tracey Roberts has been endorsed by the Labor Party to take on Christian Porter in the electorate of Pearce and says if she wins she will campaign to change the toxic culture around the treatment of women in Parliament House.

Page 17: Crown Perth is owed a staggering $130 million by offshore high rollers, who were granted credit to come and bet big in Western Australia — and then flew home without settling their debts.

Business: Business confidence and conditions have slumped with half the population in lockdown and virus outbreaks in several States, but so far that hasn’t resulted in a deluge of firms having to close their doors for good.

The world’s biggest steelmaker is trialling a new technology that may cut carbon emissions by more than 30 per cent.

WA billionaire Andrew Forrest is using his increased stake in takeover target Huon Aquaculture to agitate for improved animal welfare standards at global meat processor JBS.

Woodside Petroleum has received environmental approval for its long-awaited Scarborough gas project off WA’s North West coast, marking the last regulatory hurdle before a final investment decision.

WA tech experts say the newly formed Australian Technology Council could play a big role in helping the State combat its severe skills shortages, but the lack of WA representation in the lobby group is a worry for some.

Henderson-based BAE Systems has won a multi-million dollar contract to service Rio Tinto’s tugboats.