Morning Headlines

Government losing appetite for GST hike

Nationals deputy leader Barnaby Joyce has played down any prospect of a GST increase as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull opened the door to leaving the tax rate untouched should the economics and politics not stack up. The Fin

Costs won’t ‘derail’ Downer trial

A class action against Downer EDI has avoided being derailed after the court ordered lawyers for shareholders to stump up a portion of the security for the costs incurred by the engineering firm’s defence. The Fin

Visa opens its doors to disrupters

Visa will open its technology platform to outside developers for the first time, a move the global payments giant says will help it win transactions by devices connected to the ‘‘internet of things’’. The Fin

Suitor to sweeten offer for Asciano

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners has all but confirmed it is considering bringing in other partners to fund a potential revised bid for Asciano as it awaits decisions from the target’s board and the competition regulator. The Aus

Millionaire factory in for record

Macquarie Group chief Nicholas Moore yesterday shrugged off recent financial turmoil to remind the world that his company remained on track for a record full-year profit of more than $2 billion. The West

OMD turns things around despite tough market

OMD WA reported more than $30 million in business wins last year, marking a big turnaround for the media agency. The West

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: Macquarie Group chief executive Nicholas Moore has warned that the volatility that has rocked global markets this year could start to affect boardroom decisions about corporate deals.

Page 3: The historic tide towards private schooling has turned with public schools boosting the proportion of Australian children they enrol for the first time since 1977.

Nationals deputy leader Barnaby Joyce has played down any prospect of a GST increase as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull opened the door to leaving the tax rate untouched should the economics and politics not stack up.

Page 4: The property lobby has warned marginal-seat MPs on both sides of politics they will be targeted at this year’s federal election if they don’t leave negative gearing alone.

Page 9: Employers have hit out at a Fair Work ruling granting unpaid entitlements to retrenched fly-in fly-out workers, warning the decision will have significant ramifications for resource companies.

Page 10: A class action against Downer EDI has avoided being derailed after the court ordered lawyers for shareholders to stump up a portion of the security for the costs incurred by the engineering firm’s defence.

Page 17: Tabcorp will risk the wrath of the racing and clubs industries and operate in-play betting on live sports should it be legalised, despite slamming rival international bookmakers who already offer the service to punters.

Page 19: Visa will open its technology platform to outside developers for the first time, a move the global payments giant says will help it win transactions by devices connected to the ‘‘internet of things’’.

Page 20: Brookfield Infrastructure has signalled it is prepared to consider an all-cash offer for Asciano to try to secure a $9 billion takeover of the ports and rail group.

Page 26: The corporate regulator is looking into Dick Smith’s prospectus and continuous disclosure while awaiting reports from administrators on whether the collapsed retailer’s directors breached corporations law.

Page 28: Australian shares recovered nearly all their losses from Wednesday’s disastrous session, after a sharp drop in the US dollar on Wednesday night sparked a powerful rally in commodity prices and sent major mining stocks soaring.

The Australian

Page 1: The federal government is preparing to scrap an expensive rise in compulsory superannuation in a move that is certain to trigger political fury over a totemic Labor policy that has been damned by employers for adding $20 billion a year to their wage bills.

Page 2: Malcolm Turnbull has unleashed a blistering assault on the Greens’ positions on refugee issues, accusing the minor party yesterday of pretending to have a “monopoly” on empathy and morality.

Page 4: Malcolm Turnbull has declared tax reform must drive growth and jobs, be fair and lift productivity, as he confronted backbench unrest over discussions around raising the GST.

Page 19: Gender diversity and the future of coal have merged as key determinants in the looming decision on who will take over the chairmanship of the mining industry’s powerful lobby group, the Minerals Council of Australia.

Page 20: Brookfield Infrastructure Partners has all but confirmed it is considering bringing in other partners to fund a potential revised bid for Asciano as it awaits decisions from the target’s board and the competition regulator.

The West Australian

Page 1: A national policing report card has found WA gets the worst “bang” for its law enforcement “bucks”, spending more per capita than other States while suffering the highest crime rates.

Page 3: Thousands of fly-in, fly-out workers who lost their jobs at resource projects over the past six years are in line for a cash windfall after a landmark ruling in the Fair Work Commission.

Page 7: Annual corporate plans that the Auditor-General sees as “an important governance and accountability mechanism” have not been tabled in a timely way by more than half of 21 Government-owned corporations and authorities that are obliged to by law.

Page 15: The Turnbull Government is moving away from a GST rise as part of its tax reform package amid backbench concerns that it would be political suicide.

Page 21: The Causeway bridge should be raised to allow bigger craft further up the Swan River to the new Perth Stadium and Crown complex, according to South Perth Liberal John McGrath.

Page 23: The number of WA high schools where less than half of Year 12 students studied difficult academic subjects has increased.

Page 28: Concerns about WA councillors behaving badly could lead to the rules of conduct being tightened to target abusive behaviour and bad language at meetings and public events.

Business: Macquarie Group chief Nicholas Moore yesterday shrugged off recent financial turmoil to remind the world that his company remained on track for a record full-year profit of more than $2 billion.

Media experts have welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to amend the ASIO Act but warned that reporters could still face jail terms for legitimate public interest journalism.

Block Branding has created a bright new campaign for property developer Match’s latest development M/27 in Fremantle.

OMD WA reported more than $30 million in business wins last year, marking a big turnaround for the media agency.

A revitalised Elders has the capacity to grow but is finding it hard to find businesses worthy of acquisition, according to chief executive Mark Allison.

Acting Treasurer John Day says the State Government will stand by its Future Fund, despite the $1 billion fund being set to hold a growing proportion of the Government’s own debt.