Gorgon restarts plant, LNG cargo set to sail
Chevron is starting up its Gorgon LNG plant again, almost two months since production ground to a halt at Australia’s biggest resources project. The West
More jobs go as BP slims down
Oil giant BP has slashed up to 1000 Australian jobs in the past year, mainly in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, as it slims down to focus on fuel retailing in the face of competition from global trading giants. The Aus
WA Liberal chips away at Barnett’s leadership
The State Government’s Whip in the Upper House has become the first of Colin Barnett’s backbenchers to declare publicly that the Premier’s position should be reviewed after the Federal election. The West
Super limit to hit retirees, Costello says
Former treasurer Peter Costello has questioned the Coalition government’s claim that its proposed $1.6 million limit on tax-free superannuation savings is enough to generate four times the age pension for retirees. The Fin
Labor plan for domestic gas quota
Labor has raised the spectre of imposing a domestic gas quota on large LNG projects, saying it will introduce a national interest test for future – or significantly expanded – gas projects that would be assessed by a FIRB-style independent board. The Fin
Eight out of 10 universities clipping free speech
The Institute of Public Affairs’ inaugural Free Speech on Campus Audit examined the policies and actions of Australia’s 42 universities, finding that 33 had policies which substantially limited free speech or had acted censoriously. The Aus
Momentous hotel rises from ashes
The historic Guildford Hotel, gutted and all but destroyed by fire nearly eight years ago, will officially reopen its doors next Thursday. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Former treasurer Peter Costello has questioned the Coalition government’s claim that its proposed $1.6 million limit on tax-free superannuation savings is enough to generate four times the age pension for retirees.
The Labor opposition has raised the spectre of imposing export restrictions on gas to help companies and individuals hit by rising prices.
Page 3: ANZ’s traders joked about how they were ‘‘good blokes’’ and how ‘‘legit’’ the Australian financial system was, in conversations that the corporate watchdog claims illustrate how the bank’s traders at various desks worked together to allegedly move the bank bill swap rate in their favour.
Page 4: The federal government’s decision to shelve its controversial backpackers tax for six months pending another review has failed to quell concerns from rural groups and others who say it does nothing to end the uncertainty the impost has created.
Page 7: Regulatory uncertainty in China has seen a courier company suspend Australian infant formula deliveries from Wednesday in a worrying sign for one of the country’s fastest growing exports.
Page 8: Labor has raised the spectre of imposing a domestic gas quota on large LNG projects, saying it will introduce a national interest test for future – or significantly expanded – gas projects that would be assessed by a FIRB-style independent board.
Page 15: International credit rating agency Fitch has voiced its concern about rising risks in the housing market, fuelled by a flood of foreign buyers and an oversupply of apartments.
Page 17: Farmers have met a decision by Coles to create a milk brand that will deliver funding for the struggling industry with cynical laughter.
Page 18: DuluxGroup chief executive Patrick Houlihan said his team will improve returns in underperforming Alesco businesses after the star Australian paints operation underpinned a 3.7 per cent rise in interim profit to $63.7 million.
BHP Billiton’s plan to continue to push down production costs across its biggest businesses could lift its dividend by more than 10 per cent this year.
Page 29: The slowdown in China’s economy has prompted a shake-out in the resources sector, particularly among smaller miners and explorers as metal prices have been trashed. The exception is lithium where optimism for the outlook for electric vehicles has encouraged booming share prices among the lengthening line of sector hopefuls.
The Australian
Page 1: Labor is considering restoring the controversial Safe Schools program after the Greens promised to roll it out fully and strip churches of exemptions in discrimination laws.
Page 2: Unions bankrolled so-called “independent’’ council candidates in this year’s Queensland local government elections, which already face investigation over Liberal National Party funding and allegations of secret group tickets.
Page 4: The Institute of Public Affairs’ inaugural Free Speech on Campus Audit examined the policies and actions of Australia’s 42 universities, finding that 33 had policies which substantially limited free speech or had acted censoriously.
Page 19: Oil giant BP has slashed up to 1000 Australian jobs in the past year, mainly in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, as it slims down to focus on fuel retailing in the face of competition from global trading giants.
Page 21: Agribusiness Ruralco is optimistic about the rest of the year given forecasts of above average rainfall for the winter cropping season and high prices for cattle and sheep.
Page 22: South32 started trading on the ASX a year ago today, instantly becoming one of the nation’s most widely held stocks after BHP gifted its shareholders one share in South32 for every one they owned in BHP.
Page 23: ANZ Bank’s job-culling shows no sign of letting up, with 200 more positions to be shed as chief Shayne Elliott hunts for savings.
The West Australian
Page 1: The IOC says 31 athletes in six sports have tested positive in reanalysis of their doping samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Page 4: The State Government’s Whip in the Upper House has become the first of Colin Barnett’s backbenchers to declare publicly that the Premier’s position should be reviewed after the Federal election.
WA Treasurer Mike Nahan has attacked the Commonwealth for scuttling State laws that seized almost $1.8 billion from the collapse of Alan Bond’s Bell Group.
Page 15: The historic Guildford Hotel, gutted and all but destroyed by fire nearly eight years ago, will officially reopen its doors next Thursday.
Page 16: Simmering tensions at Perth Council bubbled over into open hostility last night as deputy mayor James Limnios faced a surprise no-confidence motion from colleagues.
Business: Chevron is starting up its Gorgon LNG plant again, almost two months since production ground to a halt at Australia’s biggest resources project.
Perth-developed mapping company Spookfish has signed what its managing director describes as a “transformational deal” with US a company to help launch its high-resolution imagery technology.
Gina Rinehart-controlled Roy Hill has launched legal action against Alinta Energy, claiming the power supplier substantially overcharged the massive iron ore project last year.
Ruralco is expanding its footprint in the cattle industry after a jump in revenue and growth in live exports.
Australian anti-counterfeiting technology firm YPB Group is hoping its biggest deal to date will open up new opportunities in the growing global business of ferreting out fake products.
Boart Longyear, the world’s biggest supplier of drill rigs to the mining industry, says the worst of a price downturn is over after posting a first-quarter loss of $US61 million ($83 million).
