China moves to wind back beef, timber bans
China is preparing to wind back restrictions on Australian beef and timber under the latest phase of what insiders are calling a gradual removal of political sanctions imposed by Xi Jinping’s government on $20 billion worth of exports after relations soured under the Morrison government. The Fin
Beach Energy doubles dividend but cautious on outlook
Beach Energy, 30 per cent owned by billionaire Kerry Stokes, has doubled dividend payments to shareholders despite a 3 per cent fall in half-year profits. But the company omitted guidance for the 2024 financial year due to uncertainty over its Waitsia project. The Fin
Not a lot of satisfaction when hard work pays off
Some of the hardest university courses to get accepted into have among the lowest satisfaction levels despite graduates pulling high salaries, a national survey reveals. The Fin
Australian Venue Co sale to BGH said to be close
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts is understood to have progressed in its negotiations to sell Australian Venue Co to BGH Capital, with sources suggesting a deal is expected to be signed by the end of the week. The Aus
Higher rates hit spending
Financial markets have ramped up expectations the Reserve Bank will raise its cash rate at least three more times to above 4 per cent this year to combat inflation as some of the country’s biggest retailers warn that consumer spending has started to slow. The Fin
Forrests’ Tattarang invests big in start-up accelerator
Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Tattarang investment company has become one of the largest backers of start-up accelerator Startmate, nominating its efforts in increasing the participation of women in the sector, as the reason for its investment. The Fin
Imdex drills into exploration surge
A big early jump in equity raisings by mining companies has drilling technology company Imdex poised to capitalise in 2023 as robust mineral commodity prices boost exploration. The West
Search for new blood in jail jobs
Permanent replacements are being sought in two of the four most senior Corrective Services positions under commissioner Mike Reynolds at a tumultuous time in WA’s prisons system. The West
Clinical MDMA secured
Perth-based biotech company Emyria has secured clinicalgrade MDMA for patients ahead of regulatory changes for the supply of the drug. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Financial markets have ramped up expectations the Reserve Bank will raise its cash rate at least three more times to above 4 per cent this year to combat inflation as some of the country’s biggest retailers warn that consumer spending has started to slow.
Page 2: Some of the hardest university courses to get accepted into have among the lowest satisfaction levels despite graduates pulling high salaries, a national survey reveals.
Page 3: Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka had been told in advance that Labor’s move to put refugees living in Australia on to a new pathway to permanent residency would not weaken hardline border protection rules, despite the Coalition predicting ‘‘an armada’’ of boat arrivals.
Page 4: The federal government faces pressure to restructure its off-budget, $10 billion social housing fund following demands by the Greens that the fund hand out fixed cash grants each year, rather than depend on the volatile proceeds from investments.
Page 6: A coalition of Greens, activists critical of the use and credibility of carbon credits, and linchpin senator David Pocock, are squaring up for a bruising fight over Labor’s cornerstone heavy industrial emissions reduction policy.
Page 9: The regulator for tax accountants will be given its own budget while loopholes that allow deregistered tax agents to continue operating will be closed, in the federal government’s first response to the PwC leaks scandal.
Page 11: China is preparing to wind back restrictions on Australian beef and timber under the latest phase of what insiders are calling a gradual removal of political sanctions imposed by Xi Jinping’s government on $20 billion worth of exports after relations soured under the Morrison government.
Page 12: Coal miners have accelerated debt repayments at a NSW port joint venture in a bid to protect the asset against stricter fossil fuel lending policies and early closure of some Hunter Valley coal mines.
‘‘Sociability’’ is recession-proof, and trading at pubs and liquor retailer Endeavour Group’s 349 hotels has not slipped in the first five weeks of 2023 even in mortgage-belt suburbs, according to its chief executive.
Page 13: The first signs of a pullback in consumer spending have emerged at one of Australia’s largest retailers, JB Hi-Fi, which says sales have slowed since the start of calendar 2023 as the economy enters an ‘‘uncertain’’ period after nine successive interest rate rises.
Page 14: Newcrest Mining’s taking the slow route to assessing its $24.4 billion bid, delaying formal talks with institutional shareholders until after the company’s first-half results on Thursday.
Page 15: Lynas Rare Earths appears to have failed in its attempts to secure some breathing space from Malaysian authorities, raising the prospect of a disruption in its downstream processing operations.
Page 17: Solar tech pioneer Vast Solar is targeting climate tech venture capital firms among potential investors in its proposed $203 million project in South Australia, after securing a $65 million government grant for a project that aims to provide solar power after dark.
Beach Energy, 30 per cent owned by billionaire Kerry Stokes, has doubled dividend payments to shareholders despite a 3 per cent fall in half-year profits.
Page 22: Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Tattarang investment company has become one of the largest backers of start-up accelerator Startmate, nominating its efforts in increasing the participation of women in the sector, as the reason for its investment.
The Australian
Page 1: An alliance of the nation’s most senior spiritual leaders is warning the future of religious education is under threat and that their schools will not be allowed to choose teachers who share the same faith under proposed anti-discrimination reforms.
Page 2: Industry Minister Ed Husic has warned the Coalition that scuttling the $15bn National Reconstruction Fund will put Australia’s national security at risk and restrict investment in quantum and critical technologies pledged under the AUKUS agreement.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has put Chinese government-run Confucius Institutes on notice that their activities are being closely monitored, and has also warned Australian universities against any new partnerships with the centrally-run organisation that supports Beijing’s global propaganda strategy.
Forty-two suspect Chinese-made cameras have been stripped out of Defence sites across Australia, including from highly sensitive locations such as the submarine base at HMAS Stirling, the Air Warfare Centre at RAAF Base Edinburgh, and the home of Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment, the Campbell Barracks.
Page 5: Anthony Albanese’s chief of staff Tim Gartrell instructed senior ministers to meet with former Labor staffer Ben Hubbard and seek his counsel on the establishment of their offices, months before the strategic adviser won key government contracts.
Page 9: Australia’s new ambassador for gender equality has hit back at “offensive” comments about gender diversity and her appearance after a video she tweeted promoting her job went viral in the US.
Page 16: Kohlberg Kravis Roberts is understood to have progressed in its negotiations to sell Australian Venue Co to BGH Capital, with sources suggesting a deal is expected to be signed by the end of the week.
The West Australian
Page 4: The WA Government will not reveal whether it has Chinese-made security cameras installed in any of its offices but is taking cybersecurity advice from the Commonwealth on the issue.
Page 5: More homeowners in WA are struggling to pay their mortgage than anywhere else in Australia, with almost 40 per cent struggling to meet repayments.
Page 14: Permanent replacements are being sought in two of the four most senior Corrective Services positions under commissioner Mike Reynolds at a tumultuous time in WA’s prisons system.
Perth-based biotech company Emyria has secured clinical-grade MDMA for patients ahead of regulatory changes for the supply of the drug.
A big early jump in equity raisings by mining companies has drilling technology company Imdex poised to capitalise in 2023 as robust mineral commodity prices boost exploration.
