Crean seeks state deal on regions – The Fin; iiNet boss plans network expansion – The Fin; I'm exempt from bond: Palmer – The West; Hospital workers take action as pay row grows – The West; Peak Oil in $55m float – The West
Crean seeks state deal on regions
The Gillard government will seek a deal with the states to overhaul spending on regional Australia as a result of a ministerial reshuffle that creates a new ministry with the power to alter billions of dollars in annual outlays. The Fin
iiNet boss plans network expansion
Perth-based internet service provider iiNet will accelerate the expansion of its network to take advantage of the Labor government's pledge to prioritise building the $43 billion national broadband network in difficult to service areas. The Fin
I'm exempt from bond: Palmer
Mining billionaire Clive Palmer has declared he does not believe he will have to pay any environmental performance bond on his Balmoral South iron ore project after his company successfully lobbied the state government to overturn a $45.5 million up-front bond imposed by the Environmental Protection Authority. The West
Hospital workers take action as pay row grows
Thousands of public hospital workers, including orderlies and cleaners, will launch industrial action around the state today in a move their union says is likely to disrupt elective surgery and essential services for patients. The West
Peak Oil in $55m float
The WA oil and gas float shaping up as the year's biggest, Peak Oil and Gas, is poised to launch its $55 million initial public offering as early as this week. The West
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: Thousands of public hospital workers, including orderlies and cleaners, will launch industrial action around the state today in a move their union says is likely to disrupt elective surgery and essential services for patients.
Page 4: Toodyay bushfire victims are outraged they have not been contacted by Western Power's insurers to negotiate a compensation settlement as the deadline imposed by the Premier expired at the weekend.
Page 5: A retiree has lost a Karrinyup investment property and fears he is facing a hefty tax bill after scammers managed to sell the house without his permission while he was living in South Africa.
Page 6: WA's main parent group says it was astonished when Peter Garret was named Schools Minister, despite being demoted while environment minister because of bungling the $2.45 billion home insulation scheme.
Page 7: The suicide of a key Corruption and Crime Commission witness has prompted former high profile targets of the agency to denounce its practice of holding "show trial" public hearings.
Page 10: Mining billionaire Clive Palmer has declared he does not believe he will have to pay any environmental performance bond on his Balmoral South iron ore project after his company successfully lobbied the state government to overturn a $45.5 million up-front bond imposed by the Environmental Protection Authority.
Page 13: A family thrown off their isolated Kimberley home of 30 years believe they are victims of Premier Colin Barnett's plans for compulsory acquisition of land for Woodside's $30 billion liquefied natural gas processing hub.
Anti-gas campaigners took their fight to the high seas yesterday in a flotilla of kayaks that surrounded a Woodside rig 3km from James Price Point, 60km north of Broome.
Page 17: The WA Water Department is abandoning its role as an environmental regulator to focus on developing new water sources, in a move critics say will be a disaster for the State's dwindling supplies.
Business: Australia's biggest grain handler could become a commercial, taxpaying entity with transferable shares under the latest restructure proposals being considered by CBH Group.
The WA oil and gas float shaping up as the year's biggest, Peak Oil and Gas, is poised to launch its $55 million initial public offering as early as this week.
The ship that will carry the first tonne of iron ore from Port Hedland's new multi-user berth has arrived at Utah Point.
A report commissioned by Woolworths for the national rollout of its big-box hardware chain says the supermarket giant could generate $30 million a year in sales from a standard hardware outlet, and could also reduce revenue at nearby competitors such as Bunnings and Mitre 10 by as much as 16 per cent.
THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW:
Page 1: The Future Fund has expressed deep concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding Telstra's $11 billion non-binding deal with the NBN Co over the national broadband network.
Universities have significantly lifted student numbers over this year, and some over-enrolled without full funding for new places, as they compete to meet new federal government targets for stronger participation in higher education.
The Gillard government will seek a deal with the states to overhaul spending on regional Australia as a result of a ministerial reshuffle that creates a new ministry with the power to alter billions of dollars in annual outlays.
Page 3: Corporate collapses remain at record highs as the insolvency industry braces for a radical shakeup.
Page 4: The last time unemployment dipped below 5 per cent it took the Reserve Bank of Australia less than two months before it raised interest rates.
More than half the top 50 companies reported a fall in profits from six months ago, which meant the problems of a two-speed economy were getting worse, accountants said.
Taxpayers in breach of superannuation contribution caps should not expect the Australian Taxation Authority to exercise its discretion to waive the penalty tax.
Page 6: The Australian Taxation Office has deployed its powerful investigative resources to examine nearly 80,000 Australians who control $5 million to $30 million in assets.
Page 7: Large private companies are highly unlikely to be exempted from lodging financial reports even if it would put them at a competitive disadvantage.
Page 10: The Gillard government's new frontbench should expedite key infrastructure and transport projects and move quickly to clarify its policies on tax and climate change, business groups have urged.
Page 11: Bill Shorten's promotion to the Superannuation Ministry, which was dropped from cabinet, has received a mixed response from the $1.2 trillion sector that has spent the past three years devising and debating a complex set of reforms.
Page 12: Prime Minister Julia Gillard appears to have changed the emphasis is her own former role as minister for education, sparking serious concerns from the tertiary sector.
Page 17: Virgin Blue's chief executive officer John Borghetti and major shareholder Richard Branson have warned that the airline will have to change its newly formed strategy if the company cannot persuade regulators about the merits of two international alliances that were rejected last week.
Page 18: Copper producer OZ Minerals is still considering whether to lift its strategic stake in Western Australia's Sandfire Resources but has made clear it is not intereste in being a "portfolio investment fund".
Jack Cowin, Hungry Jack's founder and major shareholder of Ross Human Directions, has emerge as a possible bidder for the recruitment group as he looks to thwart a rival bid by Malaysia's Peoplebank Holdings.
Page 20: The Foster's Group board will progress plans for its demerger this week as it seeks to secure regulatory approvals and finalise management teams for the separate wine and beer divisions ahead of continuing speculation that corporate activity could scupper the entire process.
Page 21: Signs that the Chinese economy may have stabilised and corrected a sliding trend from previous months could put Australian shares in a sweet spot over coming months.
Page 49: National Australia Bank said yesterday it needed to balance the concerns of the competition regulator with the integrity of its $13.3 billion deal with AXA Asia Pacific Holdings in deciding on its next move.
Page 53: Perth-based internet service provider iiNet will accelerate the expansion of its network to take advantage of the Labor government's pledge to prioritise building the $43 billion national broadband network in difficult to service areas.
