Today's Business Headlines

Raise mining tax to stop inflation blowout: OECD
The Gillard government is under renewed pressure to overhaul its mining tax after the world's leading economic forum claimed the tax should be higher and apply to all major minerals. The West

Doubts over savings from WA payroll plan
Western Australia's Auditor-General Colin Murphy says he is sceptical that the state government's controversial $210 million plan to automate its payroll and billing systems can deliver promised savings, amid doubts about the project's timing and cost. The Fin

Gavilon lures CBH traders
US grains giant Gavilon has raided the trading arm of Australia's largest grains handler, CBH Group, poaching the majority of the co-operative's senior traders as it looks to establish a strong presence in Perth. The Fin

IOH points to other rail options in Pilbara
Kerry Stokes-backed Iron Ore Holdings will look beyond Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton for infrastructure access as it seeks to develop its projects in the Pilbara. The Fin

Pluto nears finish
Woodside Petroleum has all but completed the last of the five gas production wells which underpin its $13 billion Pluto LNG project. The West

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN:

Page 1: The Gillard government is under renewed pressure to overhaul its mining tax after the world's leading economic forum claimed the tax should be higher and apply to all major minerals.

Page 4: The federal government's pledge to crack down on the big four banks will be put to the test this week as both the Greens and the Opposition push ahead with their schemes to boot the banks into line.

The number of accuse people smugglers coming to WA for prosecution will be capped under a deal struck by the state and federal governments.

Page 5: Asia-Pacific leaders including Julia Gillard have set themselves the task of creating a region-wide free trade deal to rival the European Union.

Julia Gillard has warned that further delays on dealing with greenhouse gases will leave Australia at the financial mercy of other nations that slash their carbon footprint.

Page 9: Gamblers would be able to play keno at 300 community, sporting and recreation clubs under a renewed push for an expansion in electronic gaming machines by WA's main clubs group.

Racing and Wagering WA and Perth Racing are considering legal action against Telstra after a technical breakdown cost them bets worth an estimated $500,000 on Saturday.

Page 10: European plane manufacturer Airbus is chartering a cargo jet to ship a batch of the latest version of the Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines to Qantas so the airline can get its fleet of A380s back in the air.

Page 16: The WA Symphony Orchestra could soon have a new $40 million home in a basement-level building in front of the Perth Concert Hall on St Georges Terrace.

Page 17: Conservationists claim the deepest permanent wetland left on the Swan Coastal Plain will be destroyed if a proposed quarry and concrete batching plant at Lake Nowergup are given the go ahead.

Business: PotashCorp and Woodside Petroleum are likely to be a focus of shareholder questions tomorrow as the Australian leg of BHP Billiton's annual meeting returns to Perth for the first time in five years.

Woodside Petroleum has all but completed the last of the five gas production wells which underpin its $13 billion Pluto LNG project.

The team that built Warwick Resources into a $65 million takeover target have returned to the WA mining scene as the force behind a new $11 million mineral sands, talc and iron ore float.

Dwindling interest in this year's Ashes series could have a major impact on the finances of the sport.

Aditya Birla Minerals, owner of WA's Nifty copper mine, is looking to its Indian backer to fund the acquisition of a new project worth up to $300 million that will allow it to cash in on a rising copper price.

THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW:

Page 1: Labor is under renewed pressure over its inability to persuade the banks tp curb their home loan rate rises, as the Coalition and Greens seek to gazump the government by pursuing their own banking reforms in Parliament's final session for the year.

The federal government will try to encourage more hotel and resort developments by intervening in state planning processes as the centrepiece of its long-awaited fix for the struggling $93 billion tourism sector to be unveiled today.

Fresh fears that Europe may have moved closer to another debt crisis will keep financial markets on edge this week, as European Union officials urge Ireland to opt for an EU bailout.

Page 3: Retailers are getting increasingly vocal about the inroads overseas stores are making on sales, warning that the lack of tax and duties on many online purchases could cripple some local businesses.

The Gillard government is considering a crackdown on sham contracting and is planning consultations with business and unions on allegations of widespread misuse of Australian business numbers to avoid tax and superannuation obligations.

Page 4: The federal government's plans for a national broadband network could face delays if it does not secure the passage of key legislation that allows Telstra to separate its retail and wholesale arms in the next fortnight.

Page 5: The Gillard government insisted its global advocacy had spared Australian banks from onerous rules that would have pushed up their lending costs, in a riposte to domestic banks that played down the importance of the change.

Page 7: Australia risks squandering the benefits of the commodities boom and should increase and broaden its proposed mining tax and set up a reserve fund to resist the temptation to spend the proceeds, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has urged.

Wages growth probably remained under the Reserve Bank of Australia's tolerance threshold in the September quarter, giving the central bank more time before it needs to raise interest rates again.

Page 12: Western Australia's Auditor-General Colin Murphy says he is sceptical that the state government's controversial $210 million plan to automate its payroll and billing systems can deliver promised savings, amid doubts about the project's timing and cost.

Page 16: US grains giant Gavilon has raided the trading arm of Australia's largest grains handler, CBH Group, poaching the majority of the co-operative's senior traders as it looks to establish a strong presence in Perth.

Page 17: Australia's many liquefied natural gas ventures should not become too China-focused and overlook the "huge prospect" of the emerging Middle East market, global oil and gas expert Fereidun Fesharaki says.

Kerry Stokes-backed Iron Ore Holdings will look beyond Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton for infrastructure access as it seeks to develop its projects in the Pilbara.

Page 39: Seven Media Group's television network will add more than 20 new programs next year, including two big budget local drama series.

Page 42: Westpac chief Gail Kelly has predicted the crackdown on mortgage exit fees will lead banks to reintroduce upfront establishment fees.

Page 49: More than $1.3 billion worth of defence construction jobs are out for tender, which presents a lucrative opportunity for builders.

THE AUSTRALIAN:

Page 1: The OECD has urged the Gillard government to slow down the rollout of its $43 billion high-speed broadband network, warning that the project is installing a public monopoly that could choke off the development of better internet technologies.

Page 2: Reforms including increasing the GST, slashing company tax and addressing welfare tax traps for low-income earners should be top of the government's agenda.

The states should, as a matter of urgency, scrap their mining royalties and the federal government should extend its mining tax to all commodities, according to the OECD.

The government's push for a price on carbon has received a boost from the OECD, with its economic survey of Australia calling setting a price ''sooner rather than later'' the ''best option for cutting CO emissions''.

Page 3: Governments waste millions of dollars in education on expensive and ineffectual programs to reduce class sizes, with a new report advocating the money instead be spent improving the standard of teaching.

About half the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines powering Airbus A380s -- including 14 Qantas engines -- will need to be taken off the planes and dismantled to fix components involved in a potentially dangerous oil leak.

Page 4: Labor's hopes of countering last week's High Court decision granting asylum-seekers greater appeal rights look doomed, with the Coalition almost certain to oppose any legislation proposed by the Gillard government.

Kevin Rudd yesterday warned China that its association with ''obnoxious regimes'' such as Burma risked damaging its global standing.

The Nauruan government has declared last week's High Court decision sets ''no precedent'' for asylum processing on the island state, as the Coalition continues its call for the reopening of the nation's detention facility.

Page 5: World leaders at the APEC summit have adopted plans to create an Asia-Pacific free-trade zone -- most likely via the US-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership -- and vowed to fight protectionism.

Julia Gillard is playing down expectations about international advances on setting a price on carbon as she tries to restore faith in the government's climate change policies.

Page 6: Non-bank lenders are disputing Canberra's crackdown on unfair mortgage exit fees, arguing that they cannot be bound by the same rules as the big four banks.

It isn't just the high dollar that is turning off international students, but also visa conditions requiring applicants wanting to study for degrees to have about $144,000 in the bank -- more than three times the amount needed by students aiming for the US, Britain and Canada.

Business: Bob Browning is leading a new investment business.

A proposal to create a uniform regulatory regime for Asia's $2.7 trillion fund management industry has won widespread industry support amid claims that it will drive economic growth and head off a pension funding crisis.

The federal government should consider relaxing foreign direct investment regulations, which have discouraged overseas investors from investing in Australia, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says.

The de-merger of Foster's wine and beer divisions could see the maker of famous labels, including Penfolds Grange, managed from the US.

Australian banks are awaiting further details regarding alternatives for meeting international industry regulations, after being granted a waiver from demands to boost the levels of government bonds held on their balance sheets.

Gold futures plummeted at the weekend as potential moves by China to curb inflation prompted investors to cash in recent gains.

The Group of 20 industrial and emerging economies has endorsed a timetable for a drastic overhaul of the framework for dealing with big and important global banks, to ensure the taxpayer is never again left to foot the bill if they get into trouble.

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:

Page 1: OECD attacks Australia's tax policy on mining along with goods and services.

Aung San Suu Kyi calls for national unity in Burma.

Julia Gillard says she will not change policy on carbon following Barack Obama's decision to shelve emissions trading scheme.

Page 2: John Prigge becomes first Australian convicted of child sex tourism offences while in Nepal.

Page 3: NSW would have been better off if the state government had borrowed to fund tollways and tunnels built in the city, a study has found.

World: Military chief General Sir David Richards says West cannot defeat militant Islam.

Business: NSW power industry generated nearly as much money for the state's taxpayers over 15 years as Victoria raised from the sale of its power industry.

BHP Billiton's boss Marius Kloppers faces pressure to reveal whether he is planning a share buy-back.

Sport: Australia contracts former RAAF pilots to improve teamwork for the Ashes.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH:

Page 1, 2 and 3: Foreign investors are snapping up tens of billions of dollars of Australia's prime agricultural land and rural enterprises, a special investigation reveals. Government considers tracking every farm sale to foreign investors.

Page 5: Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to help NSW with its rapidly rising electricity prices.

World: Dame Helen Mirren attacks Britain as an "angry" and "cruel" society.

Business: Bluescope Steel boss Graham Kraehe says he hopes for positive news after the strong Australian dollar made business difficult.

Rio Tinto group becomes the latest resources company to plough money into Gladstone by fast-tracking a $1.8 billion expansion of its Yarwin refinery.

Sport: Stuart Appleby stars at 2010 JBWere Masters.

THE AGE:

Page 1: The Liberals will direct preferences to Labor ahead of the Greens at the state election, virtually destroying the minor party's chances of winning seats in the lower house and seizing the balance of power in Victoria.

Attitudes towards gays and lesbians have become significantly more liberal at a national level but anti-gay sentiment remains strongly entrenched in politically sensitive areas, such as pockets of Melbourne's south-east, Sydney's west and regional Queensland.

Page 2: Prime Minister Julia Gillard has pledged to hold firm in pursuing a carbon price for Australia, despite fresh indications that the Cancun climate summit held within weeks will have modest ambitions.

Page 3: Australia's mining tax is too low, its GST should be increased and extended to food, and its approach to building the National Broadband Network conflicts with "multiple" international studies.

World: Aung San Suu Kyi left her home a free woman for the first time in seven years shortly before 11am on Sunday.

Business: President Barack Obama on Sunday called together Julia Gillard and leaders of other APEC countries that are members or prospective members of the free trade Trans-Pacific Partnership to accelerate getting a broader agreement.

Sport: For a player with such a great international reputation and whose commitment to his home tour was so strong, Stuart Appleby had a middling record in Australia. Until yesterday, that is.

THE HERALD SUN:

Page 1: Black widow Margaret Uttley, who confessed to killing her husband with a shotgun blast to the head, is poised to share the spoils of a massive real estate windfall after her release from jail.

Page 3: Junior MasterChef has turned into a children's battle of the sexes, and Monday night's final pits Jack against Isabella.

Page 5: Ted Baillieu pledged almost $60 million of Victorian taxpayers money a minute during a big-spending official campaign launch on Sunday.

World: Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi reached out to Burma's splintered opposition forces as she addressed thousands of exuberant supporters on Sunday.

Business: He may be the man behind Australia's biggest mining project, but Rio Tinto's Sam Walsh says size isn't everything.

Sport: The fireworks came late, but there were plenty of them as Stuart Appleby swept to a JBWere Masters victory on Sunday.

THE ADELAIDE ADVERTISER:

Page 1: Backbench MPs are earning up to $50,000 extra a year for sitting on committees that meet for as little as 13 hours a year.

Page 3: Smaller classes are a waste of money, an education expert says.

World: Thousands of wildly cheering supporters greeted Aung San Suu Kyi as she arrived at the headquarters of her political party a day after her release from house arrest.

Finance: The OECD has warned the Gillard government not to spend the revenue from its proposed mining tax because it could lead to problems in future years.

Business: SA's Adam Bland is within one shot of gate-crashing the JBWere Masters party at Victoria Golf Club.