Morning Headlines

Fuel crisis threat to supply chain

Thousands of freight trucks and cars could be forced off the roads within weeks over shortages of an anti-pollution additive for diesel vehicles that threatens to smash the nation’s supply chain. The Aus

CBH to close grain sites to unvaxxed farmers

WA’s bulk grain handler CBH has told its 3700 grower members they will not be allowed to enter its sites to deliver grain after December 31, unless they have had their first COVID-19 vaccination. The West

Disability plan to tackle job shortages

A new jobs program will directly link Australians with disabilities to industries suffering worker shortages and autistic children will receive more help with the first year of school under a landmark national scheme. The Aus

MP gets bail after child sex charges

WA Nationals MP James Hayward — who is accused of sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl — could face up to 10 years in jail if he is convicted of the crimes. The West

Chemists guild joins API fight

The Pharmacy Guild, one of Australia’s most powerful lobbies, has threatened a political campaign against Woolworths after the supermarket giant made an $872 million offer for Australian Pharmaceutical Industries that eclipsed the $1.55-a-share offer of rival suitor Wesfarmers.

Depreciation laws promise $170m tax cut

Businesses will be able to self-assess the depreciable life of intangible assets such as software, licences and patents under new laws being released by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg today. The Fin

Macquarie taps ex-RBA boss as chairman

The market has welcomed the appointment of former Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens as chairman of Macquarie, one of the most prestigious roles in the country. The Fin

Albanese will raise heat with climate agenda

Anthony Albanese is expected to release Labor’s long-awaited climate change policy on Friday, ahead of a major pre-election speech setting out his vision for Australia and an ALP blitz on marginal seats across the country. The Aus

It’s the price of success for food in remote areas

A national strategy will be created to try to drive down extortionate food costs in remote Indigenous communities, after an inquiry found First Nations people were suffering ill-health because of unstable supply. The West

Bold claim for carbon target

Environment Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has revealed “ambitious” 2030 emissions reductions targets will be set for State Government agencies as part of the “acceleration” of WA’s transition to a low carbon economy. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: The Pharmacy Guild, one of Australia’s most powerful lobbies, has threatened a political campaign against Woolworths after the supermarket giant made an $872 million offer for Australian Pharmaceutical Industries that eclipsed the $1.55-a-share offer of rival suitor Wesfarmers.

Biotech giant CSL is in talks to buy Swiss-based Vifor Pharma Group in a $10 billion-plus deal that would be its largest acquisition since it listed on the Australian Securities Exchange nearly three decades ago.

Page 4: Businesses will be able to self-assess the depreciable life of intangible assets such as software, licences and patents under new laws being released by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg today.

Page 8: Interest payments on $1.3 trillion in state and federal government debt will grow to $34 billion a year by 2024-25, as Australia’s strong economic bounce back reduces debt but pushes interest rates higher.

Page 9: Coles has been hit with legal action for allegedly underpaying thousands of employees more than $115 million in just three years, dramatically more than the estimated $15 million the retailer had admitted to.

The head of the wharfies union says there will be no further industrial action at ports in the lead-up to Christmas.

Page 14: The market has welcomed the appointment of former Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens as chairman of Macquarie, one of the most prestigious roles in the country.

Page 15: Solomon Lew has thrown the Prime Minister a bouquet, saying he is ‘‘very happy’’ with the government of Scott Morrison in an economy with virtually no unemployment, low interest rates and a vaccination rate that is ‘‘the envy of the Western world’’.

The Australian

Page 1: A new jobs program will directly link Australians with disabilities to industries suffering worker shortages and autistic children will receive more help with the first year of school under a landmark national scheme.

Thousands of freight trucks and cars could be forced off the roads within weeks over shortages of an anti-pollution additive for diesel vehicles that threatens to smash the nation’s supply chain.

Page 4: Anthony Albanese is expected to release Labor’s long-awaited climate change policy on Friday, ahead of a major pre-election speech setting out his vision for Australia and an ALP blitz on marginal seats across the country.

Page 16: David Teoh was selling a $335m stake in TPG Telecom after market on Thursday night, nine months after he resigned from the telecommunications company as its chairman.

Page 17: The BHP board has approved the collapse of the company’s dual structure, with the mining giant to become one entity listed on the ASX in 2022.

Page 18: Soaring fertiliser and chemical prices, supply chain issues and an industry-wide scramble for labour are expected to cut into the profits margins of horticulture growers as peak summer production ramps up.

Page 19: Westpac is overhauling its superannuation division and axing as many as 50 roles as it accelerates cost cutting and gears up to sell the $45.4bn business in coming months.

The West Australian

Page 3: A palliative care patient in Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has died after being infected with legionnaires’ disease bacteria believed to be from contaminated water at the hospital — after health officials flatly denied there was any contamination.

Page 4: WA Nationals MP James Hayward — who is accused of sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl — could face up to 10 years in jail if he is convicted of the crimes.

Page 18: A national strategy will be created to try to drive down extortionate food costs in remote Indigenous communities, after an inquiry found First Nations people were suffering ill-health because of unstable supply.

Page 30: It is hoped the Esperance shark barrier, being built in response to two fatal attacks last year, will be completed in time for Christmas.

Page 81: WA has been chosen as the location of two new “hydrogen clusters” as part of an initiative run by the Federal Government.

Page 83: Ramping up Australia’s space capabilities will benefit all citizens, especially in rural and regional areas, a parliamentary inquiry has found.

Page 86: A one-time millionaire tomato farmer — who is claiming up to $50m in damages after an illegal worker prosecution against him spectacularly collapsed — has been dealt another legal hammer blow.

Page 90: Elite girls’ school Presbyterian Ladies’ College has joined the rapidly growing number of WA schools installing vape detectors to tackle the rise of e-cigarettes use in schools.

Business: Environment Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has revealed “ambitious” 2030 emissions reductions targets will be set for State Government agencies as part of the “acceleration” of WA’s transition to a low carbon economy.

WA’s bulk grain handler CBH has told its 3700 grower members they will not be allowed to enter its sites to deliver grain after December 31, unless they have had their first COVID-19 vaccination.

Chalice Mining’s monster polymetallic find near Toodyay looks like getting bigger after the company announced a new zone of shallow high-grade mineralisation to the west of its initial Gonneville find.