Morning Headlines

Court ruling could delay NW project

Woodside Energy is concerned its huge Scarborough gas project could be delayed by the regulatory fallout from a court ruling that stalled Santos’ Barossa development in the Northern Territory. The West

Telstra ditches NDAs in sexual harassment cases

Telstra will no longer ask employees affected by sexual harassment in the workplace to sign non-disclosure agreements that ban them from talking about the incident, the company’s chief people officer has announced. The Fin

NBN writes off $31b build costs

NBN Co will not recover at least $31 billion the government invested to build the national broadband network in a move designed to allow it to cut wholesale internet prices in the future. The Fin

Bankman-Fried: I never tried to commit fraud

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) made his first public appearance since his business empire imploded last month, insisting he ‘‘did not ever try to commit fraud’’ and that he did not know the extent of what was going on. The Fin

Gas price cap scheme a black mark: Woodside

Woodside Energy chief executive Meg O’Neill has doubled down her attack on potential gas price caps on the east coast, describing the proposal – even if only proposed temporarily – as a ‘‘black mark’’ on government because of the changes in the rules. The Fin

ACCC warns higher health premiums on way

Australia’s competition watchdog has warned, in a report to the Senate, of higher health insurance premiums in coming years, citing labour shortages and rising wage costs across the healthcare industry. The Aus

Employers warn wage bargaining law will cost jobs

Contentious multi-employer bargaining bitterly opposed by WA’s mining industry is on the verge of becoming law after the Government passed its legislation through the Senate. The West

WA capex slides as expenses increase

Capital expenditure in WA has slumped the most of all States as higher costs and economic uncertainty weigh on firms. The West

Fresh ideas needed to keep tech talent

Miners must band together and present a new vision of the sector as they compete for digital talent with the “cool kids” like Google and Amazon, says BHP’s chief technical officer. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: NBN Co will not recover at least $31 billion the government invested to build the national broadband network in a move designed to allow it to cut wholesale internet prices in the future.

Telstra is putting the launch of its retail energy business on the backburner until at least the middle of next year.

Shares and the Australian dollar rallied after US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell conceded the central bank could scale down the pace of interest rate increases at its next meeting in a nod to easing inflation pressures.

Page 4: A new test for multi-employer bargaining that purports to limit the scope of the Albanese government’s laws has been described as ‘‘a major gift for unions’’ and a heavy cost burden for business after the amendments were tabled in the Senate.

Page 5: Telstra will no longer ask employees affected by sexual harassment in the workplace to sign non-disclosure agreements that ban them from talking about the incident, the company’s chief people officer has announced.

Page 9: Europe’s new envoy to Australia has hailed a breakthrough over the vexed issue of geographical indicators in free trade talks, giving momentum to the prospect of finalising the deal in the first half of 2023.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted neighbouring countries to look for new partners, Finland’s trade minister says, as he and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin embark on a historic trade mission to Australia.

Page 12: Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) made his first public appearance since his business empire imploded last month, insisting he ‘‘did not ever try to commit fraud’’ and that he did not know the extent of what was going on.

Page 14: Woodside Energy chief executive Meg O’Neill has doubled down her attack on potential gas price caps on the east coast, describing the proposal – even if only proposed temporarily – as a ‘‘black mark’’ on government because of the changes in the rules.

Page 15: Shipping hydrogen long distances is potentially worse for the climate than burning natural gas, prompting Rio Tinto’s chief scientist to say the mining giant will only ‘‘produce hydrogen where we consume it’’.

Page 17: Downer EDI plans to take advantage of the ‘‘reindustrialisation of Australia’’ and bid for more renewable energy and water security projects, says Peter Tompkins, the services group’s next chief executive.

The Australian

Page 1: Anthony Albanese is considering new regulations targeting the profits of domestic gas and coal sales, effectively capping prices under a floating mechanism that takes into account the cost of production and rates of return.

Page 2: Health Minister Mark Butler has invoked a claim of public interest immunity to block the release of researchers’ names and institutions associated with 17 commonwealth-funded gain-of-function research projects that increase the virulence of viruses in a laboratory.

Page 6: Australia’s competition watchdog has warned, in a report to the Senate, of higher health insurance premiums in coming years, citing labour shortages and rising wage costs across the healthcare industry.

Page 13: Woodside Energy has conceded its $16.5bn Scarborough gas development off the West Australian coast faces delays as the fallout from a court ruling against Santos in the Northern Territory ripples across the industry.

Page 14: Australian listed iron ore company Magnetite Mines has launched a sale process, with suitors currently in a data room assessing the business.

Page 15: Domino’s Pizza has pushed the button on a $165m capital raising to buy out the joint-venture partner in its German business.

The West Australian

Page 5: International tourists are flocking to WA at the highest rate in Australia due to being locked out from seeing their loved ones for almost two years.

The City of Subiaco council has been advised to demolish and rebuild its fire-damaged headquarters on Rokeby Road, which could cost the local government up to $20 million.

Page 12: Contentious multi-employer bargaining bitterly opposed by WA’s mining industry is on the verge of becoming law after the Government passed its legislation through the Senate.

Page 27: Rockingham General Hospital have confirmed the staffing shortages which led to its intensive care unit to operate at reduced capacity was caused in part by COVID infections.

Page 63: WA Labor stalwart Alannah Mac-Tiernan has ended her 26-year career in Parliament with one final promise she says is set in stone — her third farewell speech will definitely be her last.

Business: Woodside Energy is concerned its huge Scarborough gas project could be delayed by the regulatory fallout from a court ruling that stalled Santos’ Barossa development in the Northern Territory.

Australia’s information commissioner has begun an investigation into Medibank’s datahandling practices as the hackers behind the breach dumped the last customer information they stole on the dark web.

Capital expenditure in WA has slumped the most of all States as higher costs and economic uncertainty weigh on firms.

Miners must band together and present a new vision of the sector as they compete for digital talent with the “cool kids” like Google and Amazon, says BHP’s chief technical officer.