Easy entry for skilled foreigners
Companies would be allowed to bring employees to Australia for up to a year without applying for 457 skilled worker visas under a migration-rule revamp being considered by the government. The Fin
Liberal push to expand GST
Momentum is building within the Liberal Party for the Goods and Services Tax to cover fresh food, education and other items excluded to make the tax more politically palatable. The Fin
Miners pay price of export record
Iron exports from Port Hedland surged almost 30 per cent in the second half of 2014, underscoring the flood of Pilbara tonnes that have undermined global pricing of the steel ingredient over the past year. The West
TPG vows to push fibre-to-basement
TPG Telecom has promised to bring back its high-speed broadband service that competes with NBN Co, despite tough new rules introduced by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull that help protect the government owned monopoly. The Fin
Big brokers go bullish on Medibank
Medibank Private has won support from two more large stockbrokers, with Merrill Lynch going out on a limb and backing the newly floated stock to hit $3 a share. The Aus
Tensions boil over as spud prices smashed
Spudshed owner Tony Galati and WA’s potato industry regulator look set for another showdown as rival growers call for strong action over a glut in supply which has prices plunging. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Companies would be allowed to bring employees to Australia for up to a year without applying for 457 skilled worker visas under a migration-rule revamp being considered by the government.
Page 3: On Tuesday petrol prices fell below $1 for the first time since 2009. Metro Petroleum stations in Hurstville South, Tempe and Revesby in Sydney’s south and south-west were selling E10 petrol for 99.9¢.
Page 5: Momentum is building within the Liberal Party for the Goods and Services Tax to cover fresh food, education and other items excluded to make the tax more politically palatable.
Page 7: SingTel-Optus wants more resources and powers for the competition regulator to improve its control over Telstra and the rest of the industry.
Page 9: TPG Telecom has promised to bring back its high-speed broadband service that competes with NBN Co, despite tough new rules introduced by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull that help protect the government owned monopoly.
Page 11: Call it the discounts that saved Christmas. Discounting is estimated to have added $800 million to retail sales over the festive season.
Page 13: The latest 6 per cent drop in global crude oil prices has re-ignited worries about Santos’s ability to fund its large liquefied natural gas project under construction in Queensland at the same time as retaining an investment-grade credit rating.
Karoon Gas Australia is on track for a commercial oil project off the coast of Brazil despite the plummeting oil price, after reporting strong flows from testing at its Kangaroo discovery off the coast of Brazil.
The Australian
Page 1: Hundreds of military veterans denied compensation for injury or illness could take legal action against the federal government, after it quietly stopped using a private research company to investigate veterans’ cases.
Page 15: Sliding international oil prices have stopped a late 2014 Australian energy sector revival in its tracks, wiping out more than $11 billion of value yesterday as investors who had been punting on a price rebound hit the sell button.
The Australian sharemarket fell the most in four weeks yesterday as energy producers led steep declines in global markets amid a slump in crude oil prices and political uncertainty in Europe.
Australian-listed rare earths miner Lynas has been hit with another setback after China scrapped decade-old restrictions on its exports of the minerals.
Page 16: National Australia Bank is on the hunt for a new chief of its British operations ahead of a potential float of the business, after David Thorburn decided he could not commit to a further five years at the helm.
Page 17: Medibank Private has won support from two more large stockbrokers, with Merrill Lynch going out on a limb and backing the newly floated stock to hit $3 a share.
While the continual weakening of oil prices has sent investors hurtling for the exits of global bourses, Qantas looks set to benefit significantly, with the national carrier’s share price hitting a four-year high.
The West Australian
Page 1: Education Minister Peter Collier is seeking to bring the era of corporal punishment in schools to a close.
Page 3: The parlous state of WA’s finances could jeopardise funding for critical road projects identified by Main Roads as priorities.
Another international retailer is moving into Perth, with US homewares heavyweight Pottery Barn eyeing space on St Georges Terrace.
Business: Spudshed owner Tony Galati and WA’s potato industry regulator look set for another showdown as rival growers call for strong action over a glut in supply which has prices plunging.
Iron exports from Port Hedland surged almost 30 per cent in the second half of 2014, underscoring the flood of Pilbara tonnes that have undermined global pricing of the steel ingredient over the past year.
Poor investor sentiment for gold and silver investments has sparked a sharp fall in sales of gold and silver coins and minted bars from the Perth Mint.
Deloitte Perth office managing partner Michael McNulty has joined the John Langoulant-chaired board of Leadership WA as a director.
Mining’s boardroom brawlers have opened 2015 with a bang, after Echo Resources yesterday said it would call a shareholders meeting to fend off a tilt by Metaliko Resources chairman Michael Ruane to spill its board.
Two Melbourne men have been charged over an alleged $110 million fraud involving fake home loan applications.
Small cars and big trucks have continued to prove popular with Australian motorists despite vehicles sales shifting into reverse in 2014.
