Morning Headlines

Banks’ crisis deal for cash

The big banks and some of the country’s largest retailers have extended a last-minute lifeline to Armaguard in a bid to keep the Lindsay Fox-owned cash transport firm alive. The Fin

Utes win big reprieve on emissions

The Albanese government has made key concessions to the manufacturers of utes by agreeing to soften the emission reduction targets that will apply to the popular vehicles in return for the adoption of environmentally beneficial technology. The Fin

ACTU’s 5pc wage push sets up showdown

Unions will push for a 5 per cent increase to the minimum wage for more than 2.9 million workers, while employers will demand a major pay slowdown to offset record increases that ‘‘overcompensated’’ for inflation. The Fin

ATO blasted over robo-tax debt pursuit

The independent tax ombudsman has slammed the Australian Taxation Office for its handling of an estimated $15 billion in debts from small businesses and individuals, warning that government agencies must be transparent in chasing unpaid money and not cause unnecessary distress. The Fin

EV does it, Bowen: PM grabs wheel

Anthony Albanese has stepped in to overhaul Labor’s fuel-efficiency standards plan amid concerns stakeholders are being carved out of policy negotiations across government portfolios and forced to sign nondisclosure agreements banning them from speaking publicly. The Aus

Abuse fears over Facebook privacy

Child abuse investigators are bracing for expanded encryption on Facebook and Messenger to have crushing impacts that may be disguised by a rise in meaningless tips that leads nowhere. The Aus

Warning on AI use in Indigenous education

Teachers have been instructed to consult Indigenous communities before using artificial intelligence to teach Aboriginal and Islander history and culture, due to bias and inaccuracy. The Aus

Nullarbor pain hits shoppers

Shoppers are facing the prospect of some empty supermarket shelves in the lead-up to the long weekend after floods hit the Nullarbor. The West

Resources Minister hits out at Greens in gas Bill battle

Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King has vowed to end the “lawyers’ picnic” over gas project approvals amid a bitter row with the Greens. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 3: Poor school attendance and academic underachievement are the strongest predictors of a student dropping out before the end of Year 12, more so than their family’s financial circumstances, gender or where they live, new research shows.

Page 4: Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ hopes of reversing a long-term forecast slump in Australia’s economic growth could be undermined by companies falling behind global peers in critical technology investment.

Page 4: Senior politicians fear timid foreign affairs bureaucrats could stymie an invitation for them to visit Ukraine on a fact-finding mission to swap intelligence and show solidarity with the war-torn nation.

Page 12: G8 Education has settled a class action lawsuit for $46.5 million just weeks before a trial was due to start over the childcare giant having allegedly botched earnings forecasts.

Page 13: The CEO of struggling NZ supplies company Fletcher Building, that is in a dispute with BGC over burst pipes in WA, will step down at the end of the week, after shareholders pushed for a board spill last month.

Page 14: Home-grown tech giant Canva, valued at about $40.5 billion, has acquired a UK-based graphic design software business, just as it beds down a $2.28 billion secondary share sale.

Page 17: Zimmermann, the luxury women’s fashion brand acquired in August by private equity firm Advent International, swung to a loss last year despite a surge in sales.

The Australian

Page 3: Campers attempting to use a car battery to charge their phones are thought to have accidentally started a bushfire that destroyed three homes and five short-stay chalets near Waroona on Monday.

Page 4: Immigration experts and the Coalition have warned Australia is not on track to cut the net overseas migration number by June 30 under current policy conditions.

Page 4: There are early signs of an uplift in medical registrars signing up to be GPs, as doctors lobby the federal government to widely roll out incentives for young medics to take up training places.

Page 7: The federal government will act on a proposal from a landmark review of the university sector to establish a tertiary education commission, amid warnings from international providers.

Page 15: The head of Senex Energy, half-owned by Gina Rinehart, has blamed the government for the looming gas shortfall that threatens to derail the country’s energy transition.

Page 19: Two years after WA became the last part of the country to reopen borders, the state is enjoying a huge tourism revival thanks to a slew of new direct flights.

Page 23: Australia’s booming population and moves to dump risky borrowers has left the country’s lenders well prepared for any mortgage mayhem, but Fitch Ratings has warned the commercial property sector presents a weak point.

The West Australian

Page 8: The state is set for a kitchen boom that will dwarf the rush experienced during the COVID pandemic, according to the Housing Industry Association.

Page 11: ASIO director-general Mike Burgess has warned against watering down secrecy laws for journalists, arguing they are targets for foreign spies.

Page 18: The impasse over a looming gas shortage in WA could be headed for a major breakthrough, with Woodside Energy to pledge a major boost in local supply.

Page 19: Regenerative medicine company Orthocell says it has successfully completed the first stage of a pivotal US market authorisation study for its nerve repair product, paving the way for global expansion.