Roy Hill boss dodges date
Roy Hill Holdings chief executive Barry Fitzgerald has backed away from giving a new date for the $10 billion Roy Hill project’s first shipment of iron ore, saying the timing will be ‘‘subject to operational difficulties’’ during the commissioning process. The Fin
Don’t sell Utah ore terminal
Atlas Iron managing director David Flanagan has called on the State Government to axe a plan to sell the Utah Point terminal at Port Hedland, saying the facility will generate better returns if left in public hands. The West
Botten unfazed by overtures from Woodside
Oil Search chief executive Peter Botten says the oil and gas player is under no pressure to engage with unwanted suitor Woodside Petroleum on its $11.6 billion takeover approach, even if oil prices remain depressed for some time yet, as he expects. The Fin
Repaying HECS debts at death mulled
Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham has put a suite of policy options on the table for higher education reform, even controversial changes such as taking unpaid HECS loans from deceased estates. The Fin
John Holland to build development arm
Chinese-backed construction major John Holland Group is set to launch a residential and commercial development business. The Aus
Rivals crush NAB business bank margins
National Australia Bank has been forced to fight back against rivals poaching its business customers by cutting interest rates on company loans, a move that crunched profit margins and pushed shares down sharply on Wednesday. The Fin
Cheap gas lifts pressure on BHP
US gas prices at near historical lows are increasing the chances of more BHP Billiton write-downs and delays to its US shale operations becoming cash-flow positive, as well as potentially extending the time BHP’s net profit remains below that of smaller rival Rio Tinto. The Aus
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is supporting the creation of a nuclear fuel industry that experts say could be worth up to $35 billion for South Australia.
Page 4: The weakest run of inflation in 16 years has reignited talk that the Reserve Bank of Australia will cut the official cash rate soon, possibly as early as next week, to buttress an economy struggling to shake off weak wages, and falling commodity prices and investment.
Page 11: Wolf Blass is highly annoyed at competition regulators and politicians for allowing Woolworths and Coles to dominate the liquor retailing market.
Page 13: Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham has put a suite of policy options on the table for higher education reform, even controversial changes such as taking unpaid HECS loans from deceased estates.
Page 21: National Australia Bank has been forced to fight back against rivals poaching its business customers by cutting interest rates on company loans, a move that crunched profit margins and pushed shares down sharply on Wednesday.
Page 23: Oil Search chief executive Peter Botten says the oil and gas player is under no pressure to engage with unwanted suitor Woodside Petroleum on its $11.6 billion takeover approach, even if oil prices remain depressed for some time yet, as he expects.
The Nine Network is set to launch a new lifestyle-focused free-to-air television channel next month called 9Life.
Page 26: Roy Hill Holdings chief executive Barry Fitzgerald has backed away from giving a new date for the $10 billion Roy Hill project’s first shipment of iron ore, saying the timing will be ‘‘subject to operational difficulties’’ during the commissioning process.
The Australian
Page 1: Taxpayers are set to spend more than $1 billion this year on government loans to students who drop out of costly training courses.
Page 2: Unions are pouring cash into staging “fake debates” in which Liberal MPs are falsely portrayed as agreeing to battle union leaders over the China free-trade deal, sparking accusations of “unethical” calls to voters in marginal seats.
Page 8: The federal government is putting a priority on tax breaks for middle-income Australians in a looming overhaul of superannuation, as it maps out new “integrity” measures to stop the system being used for tax minimisation.
Page 19: Transfield Services has no intention of abandoning its operations at the contentious Manus Island and Nauru detention centres it operates for the federal government.
Page 20: US gas prices at near historical lows are increasing the chances of more BHP Billiton write-downs and delays to its US shale operations becoming cash-flow positive, as well as potentially extending the time BHP’s net profit remains below that of smaller rival Rio Tinto.
Page 21: The Australian Taxation Office collected $336.8 billion in taxes this past financial year, but despite being $15bn up on the previous year the take was $9bn short of the government’s budget projections.
Page 27: Chinese-backed construction major John Holland Group is set to launch a residential and commercial development business.
The West Australian
Page 3: Liberal MPs are getting complaints from property investors about land tax as the first wave of bills hits WA mailboxes.
Page 4: Malcolm Turnbull has opened the door to a nuclear fuel industry that could involve burying spent radioactive rods from foreign reactors in remote deserts.
Page 6: In a positive sign for local retailers ahead of Christmas, the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s measure of consumer sentiment enjoyed its first increase through the three months to September 30.
Page 13: The WA TAB has weathered the “perfect storm” to record a third straight $2 billion betting bonanza ahead of its biggest annual day of wagering next Tuesday.
Page 16: Perth’s annual international swim meet, the Aquatic Super Series, has been dealt a body blow with BHP Billiton’s decision not to continue as its naming sponsor.
Page 18: About 100 workers with solar water heater provider Solahart will lose their jobs in an overhaul of the iconic WA company.
Business: Atlas Iron managing director David Flanagan has called on the State Government to axe a plan to sell the Utah Point terminal at Port Hedland, saying the facility will generate better returns if left in public hands.
Two decades after plans for Ken Wilkes to lead DrillCorp into the public arena fell flat, the veteran WA driller is set to re-emerge through the backdoor listing of his operation into a failed beauty and health products company.
Electronics retailer Dick Smith has slashed up to $8 million from its profit forecast as it braces for a not so merry Christmas.