Morning Headlines

Australia targets ‘full battery manufacturing’ capability 

Resources Minister Madeleine King says the Australian manufacturing sector should aim to assemble batteries here rather than settling for exporting raw materials and components, as is suggested by industry experts. The Fin 

Time running out for St Barbara-Genesis deal 

The bold plan to unify the Leonora gold district has turned into a mess, with a merger of St Barbara and Genesis Minerals now likely to look more like an asset sale. The Aus 

OZ nod to $9.6b bid from BHP 

BHP is set to become the new owner of South Australian copper and nickel producer OZ Minerals after shareholders backed the mining giant’s $9.6 billion takeover offer. The West 

Stokes-backed Seven West Media in the picture for tie-up with Foxtel 

The $650m Seven West Media is back up for discussion when it comes to mergers and acquisitions, but the latest talk is in the context of whether the group combines with Foxtel. The Aus 

BCA slams Labor’s new work rules 

Big business has accused the Albanese government of pursuing ideological restrictions on casual employees and labour hire that would entrench ‘‘outdated’’ work practices and undermine its supposed support of enterprise bargaining. The Fin 

Top diplomat in Japan seeks to allay gas fears 

Australia’s top diplomat in Japan says he has assured Japanese investors and the government that Australia will remain a reliable source of energy, after one of the country’s biggest LNG investors raised concerns about the Albanese government’s emissions reductions policies. The Fin 

Analysts warn of more pain for lithium prices 

Analysts are warning that the correction in lithium prices has further to run as soft demand for electric vehicles in China coincides with robust supply growth, heaping more pressure on the sharemarket’s hottest growth stocks. The Fin 

NRMA calls out gouging on price of diesel 

The NRMA has accused service stations of price gouging as the gap between wholesale and retail prices for diesel reaches new heights in capital cities across the country, increasing pressure on the supply chain and exacerbating the cost of living crisis. The Aus 

Aged-care staff crisis 

New government-imposed staffing requirements are being blamed for the closures of three aged-care centres in Perth, as the industry battles a staffing crisis. The West 

The Australian Financial Review 

Page 1: Big business has accused the Albanese government of pursuing ideological restrictions on casual employees and labour hire that would entrench ‘‘outdated’’ work practices and undermine its supposed support of enterprise bargaining. 

Fortescue Future Industries chief executive Mark Hutchinson says his clean energy division will eventually need more cash to fund a swath of green projects, and he would not hesitate to ask the board for a bigger slice of profits from Fortescue’s iron ore mines to achieve his goals. 

Resources Minister Madeleine King says the Australian manufacturing sector should aim to assemble batteries here rather than settling for exporting raw materials and components, as is suggested by industry experts. 

Page 4: A major review of the country’s struggling visa system has been handed to the government, setting up what is likely to be the biggest overhaul of Australia’s migration settings in decades. 

Page 5: Business has told an inquiry into the cost-of-living pain that the government’s safeguard mechanism deal with the Greens will push energy bills higher and weigh on investor confidence related to new projects. 

Australia should expand consumption taxes such as the GST to help repair a blowout in the deficit, one of the IMF’s most senior directors urged on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), but Treasurer Jim Chalmers is not budging. 

Page 12: Australia’s top diplomat in Japan says he has assured Japanese investors and the government that Australia will remain a reliable source of energy, after one of the country’s biggest LNG investors raised concerns about the Albanese government’s emissions reductions policies. 

Page 17: Woodside Petroleum has been criticised by powerful proxy advisers over climate performance and executive pay ahead of an annual shareholder meeting where activist groups are hoping to force stronger action to cut emissions. 

Page 19: Analysts are warning that the correction in lithium prices has further to run as soft demand for electric vehicles in China coincides with robust supply growth, heaping more pressure on the sharemarket’s hottest growth stocks. 

Chinese miner Zijin Mining has increased the pressure on AVZ Minerals by claiming the latter’s $US1 million ($1.5 million) cash payment to Congo middleman Marius Mihigo is unacceptable and against the rules of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mining framework. 

The Australian 

Page 1: Big business will seek to limit Labor’s planned second wave of workplace relations reforms, warning the changes risk compromising the enterprise bargaining system and bogging the courts down in claims. 

The chief of the peak nursing professional body says it could take five to 10 years for the sector to recruit enough staff to meet Anthony Albanese’s target for 24/7 nurses in residential aged care facilities, warning there is “absolutely no way” the industry will meet Labor’s July 1 deadline. 

Page 2: The NRMA has accused service stations of price gouging as the gap between wholesale and retail prices for diesel reaches new heights in capital cities across the country, increasing pressure on the supply chain and exacerbating the cost of living crisis. 

Page 4: Australia has joined a Five Eyes push urging tech companies to take responsibility for the security of their products rather than forcing users to be accountable for ongoing software fixes. 

International students are rushing back to Australia with numbers in the peak January-to-March arrival period nearly 150 per cent higher this year compared to 2022. 

Page 13: Federal Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones has rejected as “hysterical” any suggestion the federal government might force superannuation funds to invest in nation-building projects against their will. 

The bold plan to unify the Leonora gold district has turned into a mess, with a merger of St Barbara and Genesis Minerals now likely to look more like an asset sale. 

Page 14: The $650m Seven West Media is back up for discussion when it comes to mergers and acquisitions, but the latest talk is in the context of whether the group combines with Foxtel. 

Page 15: The Albanese government’s proposed mandatory code of conduct has created investment uncertainty over new gas projects, Beach Energy has warned. 

The West Australian 

Page 5: A “rental cliff” looms for thousands of WA tenants with fixed-term leases due to end in the next few months as they are hit with rent increases by landlords trying to recoup interest rate costs incurred over the past year. 

Page 6: Coalition MPs are jockeying over frontbench positions with an expectation Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will split the roles of shadow attorney general and spokesperson on Indigenous Australians when he does a reshuffle next week. 

Page 9: Residents in nine local government areas could be stuck with jampacked wheelie bins next week after garbage collectors vowed to strike following a breakdown in talks with their employer. 

Page 17: New government-imposed staffing requirements are being blamed for the closures of three aged-care centres in Perth, as the industry battles a staffing crisis. 

Page 24: The Albanese Government’s decision to sign up to US President Joe Biden’s pledge to slash global methane emissions was timed to avoid pressure at an international climate conference. 

Business: BHP is set to become the new owner of South Australian copper and nickel producer OZ Minerals after shareholders backed the mining giant’s $9.6 billion takeover offer. 

WA’s tightest labour market in at least 14 years shows no signs of abating, with the unemployment rate sliding to pre-Christmas lows last month. 

Deloitte has tapped audit partner Tim Richards to be the new head of its Perth office. 

Sales at luxury retail giant LVMH have soared as Chinese shoppers bounced back from the world’s strictest lockdowns and splashed out on luxury items.