Morning Headlines

Premier shuts down hopes of WA reopening

Mark McGowan last night indefinitely delayed the reopening of WA’s hard border, just 16 days before the State was due to reconnect with the world. The West

Hospital on brink as stocks run out

The main hospital in Western Australia’s Kimberley region has narrowly avoided running out of dozens of basic and essential medical supplies, raising fresh questions about the readiness of the state’s hospitals some two years into the pandemic. The Aus

Port squeeze worsens as bottlenecks hit WA

Major bottlenecks at container ports have blown out cargo delivery times by as much as a fortnight, with a shortage of skilled workers sparking calls for the West Australian government to speed up preparations to reopen the border. The Fin

Qantas joins rush to bust union deals

Major employers are rushing to rip up union workplace controls before the next election, with Qantas’ push for flight attendants to return to the industry minimum the latest in a string of companies challenging legacy conditions. The Fin

Jobless fall fuels rate rise push

The unemployment rate fell to a 13-year low of 4.2 per cent last month before omicron hit, pressuring the Reserve Bank of Australia to consider raising interest rates sooner than planned, possibly this year. The Fin

Woodside and Santos make a killing on gas

Woodside Petroleum and Santos have cleaned up from soaring international gas prices, posting record combined sales revenues for the December quarter of more than $6 billion and achieving LNG prices some investors describe as ‘‘extraordinary’’. The Fin

Industry irate at no-change isolation ruling

A decision by national cabinet to leave Australia’s Covid-19 isolation requirements unchanged has angered leading industry bodies, which have warned of widespread business closures and a further crippling of supply chains if “untenable” workplace short - ages are not addressed. The Aus

Holiday brakes on rat race

Shipments of rapid antigen tests, critical building supplies and commodities will be disrupted for several weeks as manufacturing and port activity halts for Chinese New Year. The West

WA could resist the carnage of Omicron

Perth’s relative wealth and cheaper commercial rents should stand it in good stead to weather business pressures likely to emerge when the effects of widespread coronavirus transmission emerge in the State. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: The unemployment rate fell to a 13-year low of 4.2 per cent last month before omicron hit, pressuring the Reserve Bank of Australia to consider raising interest rates sooner than planned, possibly this year.

Major employers are rushing to rip up union workplace controls before the next election, with Qantas’ push for flight attendants to return to the industry minimum the latest in a string of companies challenging legacy conditions.

History will be made next week when Australia ships the world’s first cargo of liquid hydrogen, an event that will mark a milestone in a looming transformation of exports with one of the country’s most important partners amid the energy transition.

Page 4: The federal government will fund half the cost of COVID-19 surveillance testing of children to ensure childcare centres and schools stay open and to reassure parents, even though the medical advice says it is not necessary.

Page 5: Major bottlenecks at container ports have blown out cargo delivery times by as much as a fortnight, with a shortage of skilled workers sparking calls for the West Australian government to speed up preparations to reopen the border.

Page 6: Vulnerable Australians diagnosed with COVID-19 will have access to two new anti-viral treatments after the medical regulator approved the oral drugs for mild cases.

Page 13: Woodside Petroleum and Santos have cleaned up from soaring international gas prices, posting record combined sales revenues for the December quarter of more than $6 billion and achieving LNG prices some investors describe as ‘‘extraordinary’’.

Page 15: Australian investors have overwhelmingly backed BHP’s plan to unify its corporate structure, in a major boost for the company’s plan to divest its oil and gas business later this year.

Page 17: Mining giant Northern Star is confident Western Australia will fall into line with other states by cutting isolation periods for close contacts of people with COVID-19, warning the existing 14-day period would be problematic for the industry that provides most of the state’s wealth.

Page 19: Prices for Australian coking coal have reached record highs this week, as miners such as Coronado Global Resources say China’s ban on Australian coal will persist through this year.

The Australian

Page 1: The main hospital in Western Australia’s Kimberley region has narrowly avoided running out of dozens of basic and essential medical supplies, raising fresh questions about the readiness of the state’s hospitals some two years into the pandemic.

Page 2: Australia and Britain have agreed to a cyber and critical technology partnership following high-level ministerial meetings on Thursday, as the countries seek to strengthen ties and work together to tackle “malign” actors in the IndoPacific region.

Page 4: A decision by national cabinet to leave Australia’s Covid-19 isolation requirements unchanged has angered leading industry bodies, which have warned of widespread business closures and a further crippling of supply chains if “untenable” workplace short - ages are not addressed.

Page 15: Buy now, pay later player Zip Co says it is prepared for an outbreak of inflation, having locked in new, cheaper funding as it prepares to consolidate its rapid expansion.

Page 16: The retailer behind Katies, Rockmans and Noni B has recorded a surge of online sales and says it is on track to report higher-than-expected first-half earnings.

The West Australian

Page 6: Mark McGowan last night indefinitely delayed the reopening of WA’s hard border, just 16 days before the State was due to reconnect with the world.

Page 14: The WA Department of Communities had initially planned to create a senior working group to respond to a scathing report which exposed “wide scale and endemic” racism within the organisation, but never followed through on the plans.

Business: The corporate watchdog is considering a liquidation push against investor Michael Dunjey’s flagship company amid suspicions it is running an unlawful managed investment scheme.

Shipments of rapid antigen tests, critical building supplies and commodities will be disrupted for several weeks as manufacturing and port activity halts for Chinese New Year.

Perth’s relative wealth and cheaper commercial rents should stand it in good stead to weather business pressures likely to emerge when the effects of widespread coronavirus transmission emerge in the State.