Morning Headlines

$7b extra for gas & oil giants

Australia’s homegrown energy producers, Woodside Petroleum and Santos, are tipped to pocket an extra $7 billion of profit this year as they ride rising oil and gas prices and growing demand for LNG on the back of the war in Ukraine. The West

‘Opportunistic’ price rises not on: Frydenberg

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg warned businesses against forcing through opportunistic price rises as a leading retail analyst said shoppers faced increases of 10 per cent-plus on a range of goods in coming weeks. The Fin

Rio in $3.7b bid to take control of Oyu Tolgoi

Rio Tinto has moved to take control of the Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia, making a $US2.7 billion ($3.7 billion) bid for the company behind the troubled copper-gold mine, as chief executive Jakob Stausholm continues his push to tidy up problem issues of the past. The Fin

China virus puts lid on supply hubs

China has imposed partial lockdowns in the major commercial hubs of Shanghai and Shenzhen as it grapples with a surge in COVID-19 cases, raising concerns of new global supply chain disruptions and threatening the country’s economic growth target. The Fin

AWU to get $200,000 payment from govt forestry fund

The State Government is paying $200,000 to the Australian Workers Union for “providing advice and support” to workers who will lose their jobs following the planned ban of native forest logging from 2024. The West

PM heads west to shore up vital battleground seats

West Australian Liberals say Scott Morrison needs to home in on the economic benefits of voting for the Coalition during his visit to Perth this week, with concerns about cost of living front of mind for  the people in the state.

Jobs switch appeals to public servants

Fatigue from a succession of emergencies, a desire to work close to family, and increasing opportunities in the private sector are causing nearly 40 per cent of public sector employees to consider quitting their government job, according to a new survey. The Fin

Facebook steps up ‘fake news’ fight

Facebook parent company Meta is deploying new tools it says will avoid the missteps of the 2019 Australian and  2016 US elections, expanding its fact-checking program to combat misinformation and forcing more transparency from political advertisers.  The Aus

Net-zero Hostplus in energy venture

The $76bn superannuation fund Hostplus is the latest industry fund to commit to carbon neutrality by 2050, as it becomes an anchor investor in a Victorian renewable energy park to help offset closure of the state's giant Yallourn coal-fired power station in 2028. The Aus

More free RATs for households as Government issues peak warning

WA’s free rapid antigen test scheme trebles in size from Tuesday, amid warnings the Omicron wave is yet to peak despite three consecutive days with fewer than 5000 COVID cases. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: China has imposed partial lockdowns in the major commercial hubs of Shanghai and Shenzhen as it grapples with a surge in COVID-19 cases, raising concerns of new global supply chain disruptions and threatening the country’s economic growth target.

Broader tax relief and a freezing or cutting of petrol excise are options being considered by the federal government in this month’s budget to defuse voter anger over the rising cost of living.

Page 3: Fatigue from a succession of emergencies, a desire to work close to family, and increasing opportunities in the private sector are causing nearly 40 per cent of public sector employees to consider quitting their government job, according to a new survey.

A small French-flagged expedition ship could be in Australian waters by April 28 to cruise from Darwin to the Kimberley region, if federal Health Minister Greg Hunt formally overturns the biosecurity ban on foreign cruise liners entering Australian waters.

Page 4: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg warned businesses against forcing through opportunistic price rises as a leading retail analyst said shoppers faced increases of 10 per cent-plus on a range of goods in coming weeks.

Page 5: Fuel taxes are a ‘‘necessary evil’’ and should not be slashed to ease the cost of living because the money they raise is desperately needed to fix roads, the boss of the nation’s peak motoring body says.

Page 11: The US warned Russia it would face NATO’s ‘‘full force’’ if attacks on Ukraine strayed beyond the border after Vladimir Putin brought his war to within 25 kilometres of Poland with a missile strike on foreign fighters.

Page 13: Rio Tinto has moved to take control of the Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia, making a $US2.7 billion ($3.7 billion) bid for the company behind the troubled copper-gold mine, as chief executive Jakob Stausholm continues his push to tidy up problem issues of the past.

Page 15: IPO hopefuls around the world are scrapping their floats and companies are icing secondary raisings as the prospect of central banks tightening policy and Russia’s war in Ukraine creates volatility on global capital markets.

Page 16: Agribusiness group Elders is expanding its market share across most of the segments in which it operates at a time when cattle and sheep prices remain robust and demand for fertiliser and farm chemicals is on the rise.

Page 18: Shares in Global Lithium Resources jumped after the junior explorer said it had the backing of Chris Ellison’s Mineral Resources as part of a $30 million capital raising to advance its key project in the Pilbara.

Page 19: The Australian blockchain expert who led the OECD’s blockchain policy centre has warned Russian cyber warfare groups are poised to ramp up crypto ransomware attacks to fund the war, while Australians are rushing to donate millions in digital currencies to help Ukraine’s defence.

The Australian

Page 1: Scott Morrison remains the least trusted prime minister in more than a decade but Anthony Albanese’s rating is close behind, with overall confidence in national political leadership on a down-ward decline.

Page 3: Violence, burnout and “brutal’’ workloads will push school principals to quit in record numbers this year, a study shows.

Page 4: Facebook parent company Meta is deploying new tools it says will avoid the missteps of the 2019 Australian and  2016 US elections, expanding its fact-checking program to combat misinformation and forcing more transparency from political advertisers.

Page 5: West Australian Liberals say Scott Morrison needs to home in on the economic benefits of voting for the Coalition during his visit to Perth this week, with concerns about cost of living front of mind for the people in the state.

Page 13: The $76bn superannuation fund Hostplus is the latest industry fund to commit to carbon neutrality by 2050, as it becomes an anchor investor in a Victorian renewable energy park to help offset closure of the state's giant Yallourn coal-fired power station in 2028.

The West Australian

Page 3: Baristas are being offered an extraordinary $92,000 a year to make coffees at a takeaway restaurant in Broome — a sign staffing woes in the famous tourist town have reached desperation levels.

Page 4: WA’s free rapid antigen test scheme trebles in size from Tuesday, amid warnings the Omicron wave is yet to peak despite three consecutive days with fewer than 5000 COVID cases.

Perth’s hotel quarantine system will start to wind down within weeks, with only about 50 unvaccinated travellers staying across six hotels after the recent border reopening.

Page 7: Child protection workers are expected to walk off the job on Tuesday in protest at what they say are “unsafe workloads” at the Department of Communities.

Business: Australia’s homegrown energy producers, Woodside Petroleum and Santos, are tipped to pocket an extra $7 billion of profit this year as they ride rising oil and gas prices and growing demand for LNG on the back of the war in Ukraine.

Projects planned for the Pilbara and Wheatbelt will enjoy a smoother development path under a $128.5 million Federal Budget reform package aimed at cutting green tape.

The State Government is paying $200,000 to the Australian Workers Union for “providing advice and support” to workers who will lose their jobs following the planned ban of native forest logging from 2024.