Morning Headlines

Woodside to let PNG ambitions lie

Woodside Petroleum chief executive Peter Coleman has signalled the rationale for the company’s unsuccessful $11.6 billion takeover tilt at Oil Search in 2015 is as strong as ever but says the company doesn’t ‘‘see any basis’’ to try again after being brushed off last time. The Fin

Nahan fights for new GST carve-up system

State Treasurer Mike Nahan has launched a stinging attack on the Commonwealth Grants Commission while advocating a new way of carving up the GST that would deliver WA billions of extra dollars. The West

Iron ore rally could mean budget windfall

Treasurer Scott Morrison is facing a potential multibillion-dollar revenue windfall as he prepares his first budget, with a surprising rally in the price of iron ore coming at just the right time for the government. The Fin

Alcoa wants Wagerup option

Alcoa is keeping alive the dream of a billion-dollar expansion of its Wagerup alumina refinery in the South West after asking the State Government for more time to hold on to the all-important environmental approval. The West

BHP Billiton dividend about to face reality

Pressure is mounting on BHP Billiton’s board and chief Andrew Mackenzie to restore investors’ faith that the miner can continue to expand, amid plunging commodity prices and predicted dividend cuts. The Fin

Foxtel plots rival to Apple, Telstra TV

Foxtel is plotting to launch an Apple TV-style streaming device as it battles multiple new competitors led by Netflix. The Fin

Iron ore rally lifts Fortescue

The value of chairman Andrew Forrest’s one-third stake in Fortescue Metals has climbed back to more than $2 billion after briefly dipping to as low as $1.5bn a month ago. The Aus

The Australian Financial Review

Page 1: The government’s financial system adviser, David Murray, has conceded that letting the most poorly paid opt out of compulsory superannuation might be the fairest fix unless more radical changes are made to the system.

Japanese and Australian defence experts say buying new submarines from Japan would lock in what has become a quasi-military alliance between the two countries, illustrating how one of the biggest defence contracts in Australian history could have profound diplomatic implications.

Page 4: Treasury will accept more external advice after a review identified economic forecasting flaws that led successive governments to spend big under the misapprehension of relentlessly strong resources-led growth.

Page 5: The Australian Industry Group is urging prudent spending cuts to deliver a handful of key priorities across infrastructure, STEM training and a company tax cut.

Page 7: Treasurer Scott Morrison is facing a potential multibillion-dollar revenue windfall as he prepares his first budget, with a surprising rally in the price of iron ore coming at just the right time for the government.

Page 11: UNSW Press has come out against Australia’s universities and opposed sweeping changes to copyright which would benefit new digital technology industries at the expense of old.

Page 13: Pressure is mounting on BHP Billiton’s board and chief Andrew Mackenzie to restore investors’ faith that the miner can continue to expand, amid plunging commodity prices and predicted dividend cuts.

Page 15: Woodside Petroleum chief executive Peter Coleman has signalled the rationale for the company’s unsuccessful $11.6 billion takeover tilt at Oil Search in 2015 is as strong as ever but says the company doesn’t ‘‘see any basis’’ to try again after being brushed off last time.

Page 18: Australian ports and transport networks will remain a target for Chinese investment as China pushes ahead with a maritime silk road stretching from the south Pacific to Europe, an international shipping lawyer has forecast.

Page 29: Foxtel is plotting to launch an Apple TV-style streaming device as it battles multiple new competitors led by Netflix.

The Australian

Page 1: The Coalition and Labor are deadlocked in the latest Newspoll as support for the government tumbles in the face of policy confusion and the political honeymoon ends for Malcolm Turnbull, with his personal ratings falling to a four-month low.

Page 2: The 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership remains very much alive, despite being attacked from all sides of the American presidential election campaign, Trade and Investment Minister Steve Ciobo said from the US yesterday, after speaking with President Barack Obama’s trade representative, Michael Froman.

Page 4: Barnaby Joyce has leveraged his new authority as Deputy Prime Minister to push for the inclusion of a contentious “effects test” in competition law to provide fairer outcomes to small-business owners.

Page 17: Corporate activity is tipped to heat up after the slowest start for mergers and acquisitions in three years, dampened by market ructions and global uncertainties that are reverberating through board rooms.

Page 18: The value of chairman Andrew Forrest’s one-third stake in Fortescue Metals has climbed back to more than $2 billion after briefly dipping to as low as $1.5bn a month ago.

Page 23: The Turnbull government’s historic media reform package is expected to be put to cabinet today, which would mark the first step in paving the way for several mergers and acquisitions.

Network Ten is launching a high definition simulcast of its primary channel to showcase live sport and reality shows, and shore up higher ratings and advertising revenue at the main channel.

The West Australian

Page 3: The Turnbull Government could force foreign multinationals to sell their Australian investments under a new assault against tax-dodging companies.

Page 6: State Treasurer Mike Nahan has launched a stinging attack on the Commonwealth Grants Commission while advocating a new way of carving up the GST that would deliver WA billions of extra dollars.

Page 8: The Department of Water has flagged further cuts to water allocations from the Gnangara groundwater system — Perth’s most important drinking water source — because of falling levels.

Page 13: Specialist science laboratories would be rolled out in primary schools under a Labor State government, Opposition Leader Mark McGowan has pledged.

Business: Alcoa is keeping alive the dream of a billion-dollar expansion of its Wagerup alumina refinery in the South West after asking the State Government for more time to hold on to the all-important environmental approval.

Macmahon Holdings has returned to profit and even cheered investors with the forecast that full-year revenue may exceed expectations.

Kibaran Resources has been flying under the radar of the graphite storm whipped up by investors, masking progress it hopes will make it one of the first to move into production.