Morning Headlines

Barnett talks tough on gas projects

Western Australian premier Colin Barnett has hit out at the oil and gas industry for ignoring the wishes of the government when developing lucrative projects, warning politicians provided “social licence” not the “playgrounds” companies built for communities. The Fin

FLNG will deliver on costs: Chaney

Woodside Petroleum chairman Michael Chaney says the use of floating liquefied natural gas technology will help the energy industry tackle the crisis of rising costs and inadequate productivity in Australia. The Aus

Redman moves on Grylls’ royalties tsar

The head of the State Government department responsible for administering billions of dollars under the Royalties for Regions scheme will stand down following a performance review meeting with WA Nationals leader Terry Redman. The West

Coalition changes tack on subs

Bill Shorten faces calls for policy changes as well as party reform after Labor’s disastrous vote in the Western Australian Senate election. The Aus

Abbott seals Japan trade deal

Australia has broken through the high tariff barriers protecting Japanese agriculture to secure a deal hailed by both governments as the most significant advancement in their economic relationship since the 1957 post war trade pact. The Fin

Barnett rues GST opportunity

Clive Palmer was able to exploit the goods and services tax as a Senate campaign issue because the major parties avoided it, according to Colin Barnett. The West

Wesfarmers eyes return of capital

Wesfarmers is contemplating returning capital to shareholders while stepping up the search for new sources of growth to plug a $240 million hole in earnings after selling its remaining insurance assets for $1 billion. The Fin

King faces AFP on Iraq bribery

Former Leighton chief executive Wal King will be interviewed by the Australian Federal Police in the coming weeks over the Iraq bribery scandal as speculation mounts that the AFP is moving to finalise its investigation into the affair. The Aus

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: Australia has broken through the high tariff barriers protecting Japanese agriculture to secure a deal hailed by both governments as the most significant advancement in their economic relationship since the 1957 post war trade pact.

Two ring-tone and music download businesses bought by Telstra five years ago paid $US67 million ($72 million) in kick-backs to two executives at the state owned China Mobile, says a Chinese media report.

Page 4: The Coalition will struggle to get its Direct Action policy through the Senate based on the current views of crossbenchers, including the four aligned with the Palmer United Party.

Page 7: Struggling cattle producers will gain $2.84 billion in benefits over the next 20 years from the Abbott government’s free trade deal with Japan, our largest beef export market.

Car buyers may not see a drop in car prices as a result of a free trade agreement with Japan, with importers opting to increase specifications to offer better value

Page 12: The risk of strikes at Port Hedland has escalated, after two more unions representing tugboat workers sought permission to ballot workers possibly leading to industrial action.

Page 15: Wesfarmers is contemplating returning capital to shareholders while stepping up the search for new sources of growth to plug a $240 million hole in earnings after selling its remaining insurance assets for $1 billion.

Brickworks managing director Lindsay Partridge has urged the competition regulator to allow Boral and CSR to combine their east coast brick operations, saying his rivals will be forced to exit the industry without the deal.

Page 18: Western Australian premier Colin Barnett has hit out at the oil and gas industry for ignoring the wishes of the government when developing lucrative projects, warning politicians provided “social licence” not the “playgrounds” companies built for communities.

Page 20: The energy utilities sector is so on the nose with the public that Origin Energy – with former Commonwealth Bank chief executive Ralph Norris on its board – has unleashed a raft of service reforms aimed at reducing high customer churn and fixing rampant customer dissatisfaction.

Page 23: Internet service providers such as Telstra Corp, SingTel-Optus, iiNet and TPG Telecom are headed for a new round of talks with the entertainment industry over a plan to issue warnings to consumers who download videos and music they do not own.

The Australian

Page 1: Exporters will add billions of dollars to Australia’s economic growth under a trade deal struck with Japan last night to give the beef, dairy, sugar and other industries far bigger concessions than they expected.

The Abbott government is in its best electoral position in six months and Bill Shorten has his lowest personal support since becoming Labor leader in October.

Page2: Bill Shorten faces calls for policy changes as well as party reform after Labor’s disastrous vote in the Western Australian Senate election.

Page 4: The Abbott government is backing away from Kevin Rudd’s $40 billion plan to build 12 submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.

Rio Tinto will push ahead with a new plan to expand the Warkworth coalmine in NSW despite losing its appeal against the Land and Environment Court’s decision to halt expansion at the operation.

Page 6: The Abbott government will unveil proposals today that could trigger a dramatic scaling back of restrictions on access to Australia’s coastal routes for cheaper foreign vessels.

Page 19: Former Leighton chief executive Wal King will be interviewed by the Australian Federal Police in the coming weeks over the Iraq bribery scandal as speculation mounts that the AFP is moving to finalise its investigation into the affair.

Page 21: Woodside Petroleum chairman Michael Chaney says the use of floating liquefied natural gas technology will help the energy industry tackle the crisis of rising costs and inadequate productivity in Australia.

The government has been given further ammunition to explore reviving a levy on the banks to pay for the guarantee on deposits, with the Australian Industry Group arguing small businesses don’t get any similar free kicks and the banks are profitable enough to cope.

The West Australian

Page 3: Safety ratings should be displayed on every car sold in WA to save lives and improve overall vehicle safety, according to the RAC.

Page 6: Clive Palmer was able to exploit the goods and services tax as a Senate campaign issue because the major parties avoided it, according to Colin Barnett.

Under siege Labor powerbroker Joe Bullock remains hopeful that his running mate Louise Pratt will hang on to her Senate seat as the blame game over the party’s dismal result intensifies.

Page 7: Hopes are high that Australian vessel Ocean Shield has located the black boxes from Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared on March 8.

Page 10: Resources and agriculture will be on the agenda when Colin Barnett makes his third visit in 10 months to China.

Page 11: Labor and the Greens fear new plans for Rottnest will threaten the island’s pristine environment and do nothing to make holidays more affordable.

Business: Wesfarmers has left an expectant market in the dark about its next move after yesterday pocketing more cash with the $1 billion sale of its last insurance operations.

The head of the State Government department responsible for administering billions of dollars under the Royalties for Regions scheme will stand down following a performance review meeting with WA Nationals leader Terry Redman.

Sandfire Resources has spread its wings to Papua New Guinea in the hope of finding its next DeGrussa, courtesy of a $5.9 million investment into Toronto-listed WCB Resources.

Norilsk Nickel, the Russian nickel and palladium miner whose foray into WA was disastrous, has reported a 64 per cent slide in profit for last year courtesy of lacklustre prices and assets value downgrades.

The battle between Gorgon LNG developer Chevron and arch enemy the Maritime Union of Australia has got personal.

WA’s peak farm lobby group will push for the power of veto on oil and gas exploration amid growing anxiety over the potential impact of fracking and coal seam gas extraction.

Gold miner St Barbara placed its shares in a trading halt yesterday as it assesses damage at its troubled Gold Ridge operations after widespread flooding in the Solomon Islands.