Barnett takes Tourism in shuffle
Colin Barnett will give up his prized State Development portfolio and take on Tourism in a Cabinet reshuffle he hopes will place his Government on an election footing but stops short of a radical overhaul. The West
BHP risks union fight over cost-cutting
BHP Billiton wants to slash labour costs across its coal mining workforce, setting up a confrontation with unions opposed to the company’s bid to cut the conditions and entitlements of 2000 employees. The Fin
GRDC in new blow to grains research centre plan
Australia’s biggest investor in grains research has cast doubt on State Government plans to shift almost 200 public servants into a not-for-profit company based in Northam. The West
PM seeks deal to avoid DD election
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is prepared to consider anti-corruption measures for industries beyond construction in return for a Senate deal to crack down on union misbehaviour and avoid a July 2 double dissolution election. The Fin
Call to recoup student debt
A report by the Grattan Institute says the government’s higher education loans programs are far too generous and the income threshold at which students start to repay their loans should be reduced from $54,186 to $42,000. The Aus
Legal threat over mine failure
A Greek trading company linked to one of the world’s biggest shipping enterprises is taking a Perth minnow to court over a collapsed deal to mine kaolin, a clay commonly used in porcelain, in WA’s Wheatbelt. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is prepared to consider anti-corruption measures for industries beyond construction in return for a Senate deal to crack down on union misbehaviour and avoid a July 2 double dissolution election.
Treasurer Scott Morrison is refusing to consult the opposition over a raft of top economic appointments in the lead-up to a likely election in July, including the promotion to governor of Reserve Bank of Australia deputy Philip Lowe, who has won Labor’s backing.
Page 3: BHP Billiton wants to slash labour costs across its coal mining workforce, setting up a confrontation with unions opposed to the company’s bid to cut the conditions and entitlements of 2000 employees.
Page 4: Private health insurance will cost even more and the public health system will be pushed past breaking point unless some of the $57 billion in cuts to public hospitals inflicted on the states in the 2014 federal budget are reversed, South Australia has warned.
The mining industry has joined the push for a lower company tax rate in the May federal budget, citing an international study recommending that cutting the rate over time from 30 per cent to 20 per cent would benefit workers and consumers as well as businesses.
Page 13: Woolies is culling Homebrand in favour of Essentials to fight perceptions customers can get better quality at Aldi.
Online retail pioneer Ruslan Kogan said he was confident of quickly turning DickSmith.com.au into a profitable business by selling cheaper TVs, laptops, tablets and smart phones.
Page 15: Questions are being asked about whether floating LNG technology will live up to its hype after last week’s decision by Woodside Petroleum’s Browse gas venture to freeze work was followed by the axing of a floating design for the Abadi gas field in Indonesia.
Page 17: Private equity giant TPG’s new Australian boss, Joel Thickins – the latest of a new generation of rising stars who are taking control of the industry’s biggest players – says the sector is ‘‘consolidating and changing’’.
The Australian
Page 1: Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison are preparing to ditch Tony Abbott’s massive cuts to state hospital funding at a crucial meeting on Friday after the Prime Minister and Treasurer held a two-hour strategy discussion at Mr Turnbull’s harbourside mansion yesterday, countering talk of a rift at the top of the federal government.
Page 2: Departing ABC managing director Mark Scott says the public broadcaster must continue to challenge itself to ensure editorial coverage is not “too narrow” as he warns that budget cuts could gut 10 per cent of its news funding.
Page 5: A report by the Grattan Institute says the government’s higher education loans programs are far too generous and the income threshold at which students start to repay their loans should be reduced from $54,186 to $42,000.
Page 17: The Minerals Council has joined the Business Council of Australia in throwing its weight behind the push for a cut in company tax, releasing research showing workers stand to benefit the most, and that Australia’s corporate tax burden is now among the highest in the developed world.
Page 18: Senior executives at Woolworths’ troubled hardware chain Masters are being offered retention bonuses if they remain at the business for 12 months to stave off fears of a mass exodus as it stares down the barrel of a potential liquidation.
Page 19: Telstra’s horror run of network outages has done lasting damage to its reputation and the worst may not be over, say analysts and consumer advocacy groups.
Page 20: Analysts have pared back earnings forecasts for Australia’s big banks after a surprise blowout in bad debt charges at ANZ sparked concerns over the level of exposure to the mining sector among major lenders.
Page 21: Shopping centres across Australia are expected to have better trading conditions this year, driven by the record low fuel prices, according to a survey by real estate services firm JLL.
The West Australian
Page 1: Colin Barnett will give up his prized State Development portfolio and take on Tourism in a Cabinet reshuffle he hopes will place his Government on an election footing but stops short of a radical overhaul.
Page 3: The State Government could be forced into an eleventh-hour backdown over its plan to rip money from the pockets of disabled war veterans.
Page 4: Doctors say Perth’s emergency departments are under unprecedented pressure and need an urgent funding boost, with a new analysis revealing almost 25,000 more patients last year than in the previous 12 months.
Page 6: Malcolm Turnbull has given Family First senator Bob Day the job of finding the votes to bring back the building watchdog and possibly avoid a double dissolution election.
Business: A Greek trading company linked to one of the world’s biggest shipping enterprises is taking a Perth minnow to court over a collapsed deal to mine kaolin, a clay commonly used in porcelain, in WA’s Wheatbelt.
The humble cooked chook is defying WA’s economic downturn — and there is no shortage of people taking notice.
Australia’s biggest investor in grains research has cast doubt on State Government plans to shift almost 200 public servants into a not-for-profit company based in Northam.