ATO blitz on foreign investors raises infrastructure fears
Major companies and their advisers are shocked by a Tax Office crackdown on a trust structure that they say will double the tax on $10 billion in foreign investment in infrastructure. The Fin
Australia will be lucky to qualify for the ‘G30’ by 2050: PwC report
Australia’s relative importance in the global economy is set to dwindle rapidly over the next three decades, according to a global ranking by PwC that drives home the need for renewed focus on trade with all of Asia, not just China. The Fin
Primary Health recruits Phelps
The departure of Primary Health Care chief Peter Gregg has not derailed progress of his pet project, the private billing medical centre arm Health & Co, which has brought high-profile general practitioner Kerryn Phelps into the fold. The Fin
Split Libs
Dissident senator Cory Bernardi faces being in a party of one if he abandons the Liberal Party and moves to the crossbench, with fellow conservatives declaring they will not follow him. The West
Port politics hits Mid West
One of WA’s longest-serving public utility chairmen has accused the State Government of disloyalty for sacking him to install a Liberal appointee in the hours before the caretaker period kicked in. The West
‘Misleading data’ used to debunk warming hiatus: top scientist
A landmark scientific paper that claimed to debunk a two-decade “pause” or “hiatus” in global temperatures had used misleading data and was rushed to publication ahead of the Paris climate conference, a former top scientist turned whistleblower at the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration has said. The Aus
Katter set to swing behind Hanson
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and influential Queensland crossbenchers the Katter’s Australian Party are close to signing a preference deal aimed at weakening the power of the major parties in the state. The Aus
Solar sale secures $225m project
EnergyAustralia has signed the nation’s biggest solar power purchase agreement to date in a deal that will underpin development of the $225 million Ross River solar farm near Townsville. The Aus
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Major companies and their advisers are shocked by a Tax Office crackdown on a trust structure that they say will double the tax on $10 billion in foreign investment in infrastructure.
The beleaguered Turnbull government faces increased destabilisation as the expected defection of dissident senator Cory Bernardi sparked warnings from disgruntled conservatives that the Prime Minister needs to lurch further to the right.
Page 3: James Packer’s Crown Resorts’ online wagering business CrownBet is set to sign a groundbreaking partnership with Clubs NSW, to allow punters in pubs and clubs to place bets online and end the TAB’s monopoly on in-venue betting.
Page 4: Recipients of family welfare payments may get to keep their full benefits under a compromise being considered by the government in order to secure the passage of its childcare reforms.
Page 6: Small Business Ombudsman Kate Carnell has again put banks on notice, this time over their ‘‘unimpressive’’ response to a new ban on unfair contract terms.
Australia’s relative importance in the global economy is set to dwindle rapidly over the next three decades, according to a global ranking by PwC that drives home the need for renewed focus on trade with all of Asia, not just China.
Page 7: Australia ranks third in the world for government and university researchers as a share of population and eighth for top academic citations, but in the bottom half for business researchers and patent applications – and last for high-growth firms.
Page 8: The Palaszczuk Labor government says it has no plans to back any new coal-fired power stations in Queensland, despite the Turnbull government planning to use the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund to help bankroll new base-load power in the state’s far north.
Page 13: National Australia Bank has doubled down on its commitment to keep slashing costs, with a jump in expenses during the December quarter highlighting the sector’s growth challenge.
Page 18: The departure of Primary Health Care chief Peter Gregg has not derailed progress of his pet project, the private billing medical centre arm Health & Co, which has brought high-profile general practitioner Kerryn Phelps into the fold.
The Australian
Page 1: A conservative backlash threatens to weaken Malcolm Turnbull’s hold on power as renegade Liberal senator Cory Bernardi quits the party today to form his own movement with a vow to regain “lost” voters who have given up on the government.
Page 2: Allegations of criminal misconduct against Cardinal George Pell have been sent to Victoria’s Office of Public Prosecutions for a second time, The Australian can reveal.
Page 3: A landmark scientific paper that claimed to debunk a two-decade “pause” or “hiatus” in global temperatures had used misleading data and was rushed to publication ahead of the Paris climate conference, a former top scientist turned whistleblower at the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration has said.
Page 4: A sharp drop in spending on hardware, building and garden supplies in the lead-up to Christmas has raised doubts about the strength of household consumption — increasing the chance of a further interest rate cut.
Page 7: Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and influential Queensland crossbenchers the Katter’s Australian Party are close to signing a preference deal aimed at weakening the power of the major parties in the state.
Opposition Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen has urged Labor to use the coming year to outline new policies, identify budget savings and make growth its principal focus to continue to build economic credibility.
Page 19: National Australia Bank is under pressure from investors to push through more out-of-cycle mortgage rate increases as the lender battles sluggish revenue growth and a squeeze in margins.
Page 21: EnergyAustralia has signed the nation’s biggest solar power purchase agreement to date in a deal that will underpin development of the $225 million Ross River solar farm near Townsville.
The rising threat of unlicensed taxi operators such as Uber has forced Cabcharge to write down the value of its 500 taxi plates for the second time in 18 months.
The West Australian
Page 1: Dissident senator Cory Bernardi faces being in a party of one if he abandons the Liberal Party and moves to the crossbench, with fellow conservatives declaring they will not follow him.
Page 3: The AFL is bracing for a lockout at this Sunday’s inaugural women’s match in Perth, with predictions 10,000 people will fill Fremantle Oval.
Page 6: Metronet is back and Labor has promised to build stage one of the interconnecting rail system and rolling stock for $2.95 billion and create more than 10,000 jobs along the way.
Page 9: An Australian researcher believes parents who refuse to vaccinate their children should be penalised more harshly if vaccination rates fall.
Page 15: They are some of the biggest names to have worn the colours of a club that represents English soccer royalty — and they are coming to play in Perth.
Page 47: Travellers from the seven predominantly Muslim countries targeted by President Donald Trump have enjoyed tearful reunions with loved ones after a Federal judge swept Trump’s travel ban aside.
Page 48: One of WA’s longest-serving public utility chairmen has accused the State Government of disloyalty for sacking him to install a Liberal appointee in the hours before the caretaker period kicked in.
Indonesian miners are looking to swing mothballed nickel mines back into production in the wake of a Government decision to relax export bans, and after the Philippines threw a spoke into the wheel of its own industry.
Page 49: Corporate activity in the lithium space is accelerating, as Lithium Australia launches a hostile bid for rival Lepidico and Galaxy Resources looks to price a raising that could top $100 million.
Oil and gas producer Santos has been underwhelmed by retail shareholders’ response to an offer of new stock.
Whoever wins the State election next month will have to deal with the least-confident business sector in the nation.