Morning Headlines

China to be cut from critical minerals deals 

Resources Minister Madeleine King says ‘‘like-minded’’ foreign investors will be welcome to invest in Australian critical minerals projects, as those developing the next generation of mines warn against excluding China. The Fin 

Wesfarmers sells out of Coles via $688m block, Barrenjoey on ticket 

Wesfarmers has finally sold out of Coles almost five years after the Perth-headquartered conglomerate spun off the supermarket chain, selling a $688 million stake in an after-market trade via Barrenjoey. 

Call for dedicated tech union 

Concern is growing in Australia’s tech sector about the lack of a dedicated union for workers, who are grappling with lay-offs and disputes over outsourcing, pay and conditions. The Aus 

AVZ suspended by ASX for listing rules violation 

The Australian Securities Exchange has sin-binned lithium explorer AVZ Minerals for non-compliance with its listing rules after it told the market operator it cannot disclose all material information related to its fight to control the Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Fin 

Watchdog boss says M&A laws in need of an overhaul 

The head of Australia’s competition watchdog has pitched a major overhaul to merger laws, after years of concerns the current regime may not be fit for purpose. The West 

‘Make insurers fund home care’ 

Australia’s largest non-government provider of health and aged care services is calling for an overhaul to the private health insurance model to force funds to pay for home health services in a bid to reduce pressures on the nation’s hospitals. The Fin 

WA tech leads the way into a deep frontier 

WA is poised to lead the way on the development of underwater technology, which is growing increasingly important as the world looks to understand the effects of climate change. The West 

Rate rise risk to retail stocks 

Several retailers could be at risk of a slump in earnings from an emerging “two-speed” consumption pattern fuelled by the higher cost of living, analysts warn. The West 

Woodside taken to task over CEO pay 

Influential proxy adviser CGI Glass Lewis has dealt Woodside Energy a blow ahead of its annual meeting, recommending shareholders vote against the company’s pay report and backing a climate activist campaign targeting former federal resources minister Ian Macfarlane. The Aus 

The Australian Financial Review 

Page 1: Resources Minister Madeleine King says ‘‘like-minded’’ foreign investors will be welcome to invest in Australian critical minerals projects, as those developing the next generation of mines warn against excluding China. 

Page 2: Labor is considering tougher anti-money laundering laws, and could revisit stalled plans for the real estate, accounting and legal professions to be covered by protections against dirty cash. 

Page 4: Australia’s top diplomat has raised China’s trade sanctions, the plight of detained Australians and strategic tensions during the first visit by a senior Chinese government official in six years. 

Page 8: A major union has called on the government to bolster privacy protections for workers in response to employers’ increasing collection of workers’ sensitive data and the rise of cyberattacks. 

Page 13: UBS has little appetite for Credit Suisse’s most senior local deal makers, but is hoping to pick up some mid-tier investment bankers ahead of the 3 billion Swiss franc ($5 billion) takeover of its long-time rival. 

Page 14: Wesfarmers has finally sold out of Coles almost five years after the Perth-headquartered conglomerate spun off the supermarket chain, selling a $688 million stake in an after-market trade via Barrenjoey. 

Page 15: The Australian Securities Exchange has sin-binned lithium explorer AVZ Minerals for non-compliance with its listing rules after it told the market operator it cannot disclose all material information related to its fight to control the Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Page 19: The head of the Australian Space Agency says the infrastructure already in space is a role model for an electrified future on Earth. 

The Australian 

Page 1: Controversial CFMEU boss John Setka will push for greater rights for workers to walk off the job on safety grounds as the union seeks to capitalise on policy changes by the Albanese government and reinstate employment conditions the Coalition banned nationally. 

Page 2: Escalating mortgage repayments raise the risk of Australian home loan defaults, the International Monetary Fund has warned, as global frailties are set to shave $10bn off the value of the local economy this year. 

The federal government will give employers more support to modify workplaces to improve accessibility and to pay for Auslan interpreters for existing and potential staff as it looks to reignite the stalled employment prospects of people with disability 

Page 5: Australia’s largest non-government provider of health and aged care services is calling for an overhaul to the private health insurance model to force funds to pay for home health services in a bid to reduce pressures on the nation’s hospitals. 

Page 6: Anthony Albanese is under pressure to attend the upcoming NATO summit in Lithuania amid signs of European reluctance to take a firm stand against China’s growing assertiveness and disregard for international norms. 

Page 13: The competition regulator’s chair, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, has urged sweeping changes to the nation’s merger authorisation processes, warning acquirers are often “pushing the boundaries” on informal competition reviews of transactions. 

Influential proxy adviser CGI Glass Lewis has dealt Woodside Energy a blow ahead of its annual meeting, recommending shareholders vote against the company’s pay report and backing a climate activist campaign targeting former federal resources minister Ian Macfarlane. 

Page 15: Concerns about housing supply shortages and affordability have worsened within the property industry, which is pushing for greater government action. 

Page 18: Concern is growing in Australia’s tech sector about the lack of a dedicated union for workers, who are grappling with lay-offs and disputes over outsourcing, pay and conditions. 

The West Australian 

Page 5: Reserve Bank of Australia board members have admitted the bank did a “terrible job” in the wake of the COVID pandemic. 

Page 8: Senior moderate Liberal Simon Birmingham doesn’t intend to campaign for a No vote in the coming referendum but nor will he quit the shadow ministry over his party’s opposition to the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. 

Business: Australian exporters need to be less reliant on Chinese exporters, Foreign Minister Penny Wong says, as the two nations work to repair trade relations. 

St John of God Health Care has confirmed the appointment of interim incumbent Bryan Pyne as its new chief executive. 

The head of Australia’s competition watchdog has pitched a major overhaul to merger laws, after years of concerns the current regime may not be fit for purpose. 

WA is poised to lead the way on the development of underwater technology, which is growing increasingly important as the world looks to understand the effects of climate change. 

Several retailers could be at risk of a slump in earnings from an emerging “two-speed” consumption pattern fuelled by the higher cost of living, analysts warn.