Strike Energy blasts LNG export concessions of takeover rival
Strike Energy boss Stuart Nicholls suggests the West Australian government has anointed Kerry Stokes-backed Beach Energy king of the state’s onshore gas jungle by granting it unique export powers that put Beach in a stronger position to prey on less favoured players in the Perth Basin. The Fin
ATAR is off the radar for UWA
Students will be able to skip exams and enter WA’s most prestigious university under a new “experiencebased” program that assigns points for volunteering, or other activities outside school, as well as prior studies. The West
Rare earths gateway to next boom
Jim Chalmers has outlined his vision for a foreign investment boom in critical mineral industries to seize the “opportunity of the century” and prevent Beijing from controlling the global tech supply chains of the future. The Aus
Banks force ALP rethink on $1m fines
Banks have forced the Albanese government to put off the vote on a bill to lift accountability in financial services, with Labor rethinking a last-minute deal with the Greens that would have added million-dollar fines for lawbreaking financial services executives. The Fin
Qantas crews threaten strikes over Christmas
Qantas domestic flight attendants have demanded the airline lift a two-year staff wage freeze or face the threat of Christmas industrial action, saying the airline can afford to pay higher wages. The Fin
New laws to amend Rio blast ‘inequality’
New laws will be introduced to better protect Indigenous heritage sites, with the Albanese Government saying an inquiry into Rio Tinto’s destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters had made it clear the existing system was broken. The West
Territory euthanasia ban set to be overturned
A rearguard action by conservative Liberals to prevent the ACT and Northern Territory parliaments considering assisted dying laws has failed in the Senate, meaning a Howard-era ban is set to be overturned within days. The Fin
Clough engineering group carrying $103m in losses
Troubled construction group Clough is struggling with losses of $103 million and would have needed to have been put into administration along with its South African parent if a deal had not been struck to sell it to Italian contractor Webuild. The Fin
Westpac closer to Tyro deal as second suitor turns up
Westpac is believed to be closing in on Tyro Payments, but it is not the only group still looking at the eftpos payments terminal provider, sources say. The Aus
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Banks have forced the Albanese government to put off the vote on a bill to lift accountability in financial services, with Labor rethinking a last-minute deal with the Greens that would have added million-dollar fines for lawbreaking financial services executives.
Page 3: Qantas domestic flight attendants have demanded the airline lift a two-year staff wage freeze or face the threat of Christmas industrial action, saying the airline can afford to pay higher wages.
Rex deputy chairman John Sharpe has accused Qantas of gouging customers and lifting prices on domestic flights, as the regional airline intent on cracking the capital city market says its flights are now 85 per cent full.
Page 4: Key crossbench senator David Pocock is demanding extra safeguards for small business, and the removal of a provision enabling a single union to veto multi-employer agreements, as conditions of his support for the government’s industrial relations reform agenda.
Page 5: Experts reviewing the Reserve Bank of Australia have canvassed the central bank having two specialist boards – one that sets interest rates and another that oversees the bank’s operational governance.
Page 7: Only one clean energy project reached financial close in the third quarter of this year, with the past year being the worst on record for new approved capacity, according to a new report.
Page 8: A rearguard action by conservative Liberals to prevent the ACT and Northern Territory parliaments considering assisted dying laws has failed in the Senate, meaning a Howard-era ban is set to be overturned within days.
Page 11: Foxconn Technology Group has begun offering 10,000 yuan ($2000) to any workers who choose to leave, an unusual decision intended to appease disgruntled new hires who played a central role in violent protests at the world’s largest iPhone factory.
Page 14: South Australian households and businesses will foot a $20 million bill to prevent AGL Energy from closing part of the state’s biggest power station next year, and instead run it for another three years to stave off electricity shortages.
Page 15: Strike Energy boss Stuart Nicholls suggests the West Australian government has anointed Kerry Stokes-backed Beach Energy king of the state’s onshore gas jungle by granting it unique export powers that put Beach in a stronger position to prey on less favoured players in the Perth Basin.
Page 17: Gerry Harvey, executive chairman of retailer Harvey Norman, says recent wet weather has resulted in fewer sales of outdoor furniture and air conditioner units, but he still expects to have a good Christmas, while next year is more opaque.
Troubled construction group Clough is struggling with losses of $103 million and would have needed to have been put into administration along with its South African parent if a deal had not been struck to sell it to Italian contractor Webuild.
The Australian
Page 1: Jim Chalmers has outlined his vision for a foreign investment boom in critical mineral industries to seize the “opportunity of the century” and prevent Beijing from controlling the global tech supply chains of the future.
Intensive care units across the country were unable to admit hundreds of referred patients because of inadequate resources during the Covid-19 pandemic, with doctors and nurses forced to care for some patients who needed critical care on wards.
Page 4: Australians want faster action on rising electricity prices and the transition to renewables, with more than 70 per cent of voters backing government intervention via price caps, triggers limiting exported LNG and a code of conduct that will force producers to keep gas in the domestic market.
Page 5: University students are demanding the right to know which degrees will be delivered online or on campus next year.
Page 15: The industry group representing Australia’s largest bookmakers is in disarray after key managers including the chief executive quit and its members seized control, instigating a significant review.
Page 16: Westpac is believed to be closing in on Tyro Payments, but it is not the only group still looking at the eftpos payments terminal provider, sources say.
Page 18: Ratings house Morningstar has downgraded a suite of Magellan Financial’s funds, warning that the move to sideline co-founder Chris Mackay from the global equity funds and the exit of key members of the investment team could reduce performance.
The West Australian
Page 5: Students will be able to skip exams and enter WA’s most prestigious university under a new “experience based” program that assigns points for volunteering, or other activities outside school, as well as prior studies.
Page 6: Operations remain shut at an underground mine in the Goldfields after an earthquake cut off communication with miners at BHP’s Nickel West site near Leinster on Wednesday.
Page 9: Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group will replace Gina Rinehart as the principal sponsor of the West Coast Fever netball team over the next four years.
Page 14: The number of international students living in Australia is heading towards pre-pandemic levels with more than 20,000 arriving in WA so far this year.
Business: New laws will be introduced to better protect Indigenous heritage sites, with the Albanese Government saying an inquiry into Rio Tinto’s destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters had made it clear the existing system was broken.
US regulators have approved CSL’s haemophilia B gene therapy, a one-off infusion that frees patients from regular treatments but costs $US3.5 million ($5.2m) a dose, making it the most expensive medicine in the world.
WA companies must embrace a leadership style centred on inclusion if they are to attract and retain highly trained women.
Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting is pushing for the Supreme Court battle over her Hope Downs billions to be deferred for another year so she can resolve her family blues.
