Miner pins turnaround hopes on lithium boost
A rebound in lithium prices has not been enough to save Pilbara Minerals from reporting another full-year loss, but the company remains bullish about future demand from car and battery makers. The Fin
Future Fund cuts China assets
Future Fund chairman Peter Costello says the near $200 billion sovereign wealth fund has pared back its investments in China in light of rising tensions between Australia and its largest trade partner. The Fin
State health system hits rock bottom
The overstretched WA health system is on the verge of another grim ambulance- ramping record - more than 6000 hours in August - as an explosive report reveals the toll the crisis has taken on doctors, nurses and midwives. The West
Mandatory jab ‘would not help’ skills crisis
Ramelius Resources boss Mark Zeptner says a mandatory COVID vaccination policy would make it even more difficult to attract and retain workers to the gold miner amid the prevailing skills crunch in WA. The West
Joyce warns WA on travel plan
Qantas boss Alan Joyce’s call for states that are behind in their vaccine rollout to step up their efforts has angered West Australian Premier Mark McGowan, who says the airline ought to be grateful for what the state has done. The Fin
Mineral testing facility helps reduce global backlog
One of the world’s biggest minerals testing facilities has opened in Perth to combat the major backlog of samples which has had WA miners waiting months for drilling results. The West
APRA calls for end to payments
The prudential regulator has revealed it expects industry superannuation funds to stop payments worth tens of millions to an obscure union-owned website of questionable relevance to fund members. The Fin
Fishery slumps as Forrest clouds deal
Huon Aquaculture has sunk to a full-year loss of $128 million as Andrew Forrest tries to torpedo a takeover offer from Brazilian meat processor JBS and end fish farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour. The Fin
Libs signing up for branches 100km away
At least five West Australian Liberal Party branches have been taken over by members living more than 100km away, in what party insiders believe are clear cases of branch stacking. The Aus
McGowan says he’s ready to send nurses to NSW
WA doctors, nurses and ventilators would be placed on standby to provide emergency relief to swamped Sydney hospitals under an “urgent national plan” Mark McGowan will today propose to National Cabinet. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Qantas boss Alan Joyce’s call for states that are behind in their vaccine rollout to step up their efforts has angered West Australian Premier Mark McGowan, who says the airline ought to be grateful for what the state has done.
Page 3: Future Fund chairman Peter Costello says the near $200 billion sovereign wealth fund has pared back its investments in China in light of rising tensions between Australia and its largest trade partner.
The prudential regulator has revealed it expects industry superannuation funds to stop payments worth tens of millions to an obscure union-owned website of questionable relevance to fund members.
Page 4: The states will be urged to stick with the national plan to reopen the economy after modelling of three new Doherty Institute scenarios forecast only ‘‘slight’’ increases in cases and deaths if reopening began with high numbers of community infections.
Page 6: The Department of Health has spent at least $36 million on outsourcing as part of the Morrison government’s COVID-19 response and vaccine rollout, including a $14.2 million payment to consulting giant Accenture to build and maintain a vaccination tracking system.
Page 12: The corporate watchdog has dumped its ‘‘why not litigate’’ mantra after Treasurer Josh Frydenberg made clear he would like a more supportive regulator focused on economic recovery.
Page 15: Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci said 2022 was set to be more challenging than 2021 as Australia’s largest food retailer battled to keep stores open and shelves fully stocked amid the fast-spreading delta strain.
China’s falling birth rate is weighing heavily on The a2 Milk Company as women delay their pregnancies to get vaccinated, adding to the woes of the infant formula company and triggering and a big profit slump and a 12 per cent plunge in its share price.
Page 17: Flight Centre is banking on a rebound in Australia by the year’s end after the latest local lockdowns added to a $30 million monthly cash burn for the travel agency giant.
Page 20: Like plus-sized women’s clothing group City Chic, Best & Less chief executive Rodney Orrock is building up inventory levels to avoid any supply chain issues that may occur because of the pandemic-related delays.
Page 21: Huon Aquaculture has sunk to a full-year loss of $128 million as Andrew Forrest tries to torpedo a takeover offer from Brazilian meat processor JBS and end fish farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour.
The Australian
Page 1: Reopening Australia with thousands of Covid-19 cases active in the community will not lead to more deaths over six months than waiting for virus numbers to be contained at low numbers, updated modelling by the Doherty Institute is expected to find.
Page 2: A historic agreement signed by more than 60 environmental groups calling for an end to native logging on public lands has been snubbed by the Labor-aligned The Wilderness Society, amid accusations the organisation is missing in action after being been “captured by the union movement”.
Page 4: Taxation Commissioner Chris Jordan and Josh Frydenberg are pushing back against the Senate’s demand to provide a list of major companies that reaped JobKeeper payments, saying the move would undermine the entire tax system.
Page 6: At least five West Australian Liberal Party branches have been taken over by members living more than 100km away, in what party insiders believe are clear cases of branch stacking.
Page 9: President Xi Jinping’s envoy in Geneva has demanded the World Health Organisation investigate America’s Fort Detrick military lab in the next phase of the study of the origins of Covid-19.
Page 13: Qantas is banking on the resumption of international flights and a restriction-free domestic market to help lift the airline out of the red after another huge annual loss.
Page 14: With Ziggy Switkowski now in line to take the top boardroom job at Crown Resorts, the question is whether suitors are still circling the casino operator and how the seasoned director may respond.
Page 15: Australians are drinking less alcohol, but when they do reach for a wine, beer or spirit they are increasingly grabbing a bottle from the more expensive shelf at Dan Murphy’s or BWS to consume at home as a treat to cope with lockdowns, Endeavour CEO Steve Donohue says.
Page 17: International holiday travel to Singapore, the UK and the US could resume by early November, according to optimistic forecasts by the country’s leading travel agent on Thursday.
The West Australian
Page 4: WA doctors, nurses and ventilators would be placed on standby to provide emergency relief to swamped Sydney hospitals under an “urgent national plan” Mark McGowan will today propose to National Cabinet.
The overstretched WA health system is on the verge of another grim ambulance- ramping record - more than 6000 hours in August - as an explosive report reveals the toll the crisis has taken on doctors, nurses and midwives.
Page 9: WA’s top judge has publicly berated himself for being “wilfully blind” and failing to call out “countless examples” of sexual harassment or discrimination against women.
Page 15: WA Police are on the hunt for a robot dog to join the force’s bomb squad.
Business: Ramelius Resources boss Mark Zeptner says a mandatory COVID vaccination policy would make it even more difficult to attract and retain workers to the gold miner amid the prevailing skills crunch in WA.
All-male boards have been banished from the ASX 200 after two WA miners — the last two boards without female representation — appointed women as directors.
Northern Star Resources has unveiled an industry-leading parental leave policy across its WA operations in what has been described as a “proud moment” for the gold miner.
A brisk tailwind has given WA residential developers Cedar Woods Properties and Peet plenty of momentum as they aim to repeat strong profit rises last financial year.
One of the world’s biggest minerals testing facilities has opened in Perth to combat the major backlog of samples which has had WA miners waiting months for drilling results.
Perseus Mining has declared a maiden return to shareholders after posting a 48 per cent surge in annual profit to $139.4 million.
