States seek wider tax reform – The Fin; Retailers push to abolish tariffs – The Aus; West's plan takes $250m off two states – The Aus; Ministers blamed for blowouts – The West; Tiger talk on Trafigura moves – The West
States seek wider tax reform
The state treasurers will push for a wider reform agenda at the federal tax forum tomorrow and urge the Gillard government to commit to providing a replacement revenue stream as a trade-off for scrapping inefficient state taxes. The Fin
Retailers push to abolish tariffs
Australia's biggest retailers will demand the abolition of tariffs on clothing and footwear at tomorrow’s tax forum, putting them on a collision course with manufacturing in the wake of high-profile job losses across both industries. The Aus
West's plan takes $250m off two states
NSW would lose at least $150 million and Victoria more than $100m over two years under a West Australian proposal to top up its dwindling share of federal GST revenue. The Aus
Ministers blamed for blowouts
The opposition has accused the Barnett government of waste after revelations the average cost of a ministerial office has blown out by a third in three years. The West
Tiger talk on Trafigura moves
Tiger Resources has tried to hose down takeover speculation after its biggest shareholder, secretive commodities trading giant Trafigura, orchestrated last week's $1.3 billion takeover of copper neighbour Anvil Mining by Minmetals. The West
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN:
Page 6: Australia's main manufacturing unions will call for tax breaks for mining and construction firms that use local products to stimulate the ailing sector and keep the economy on an even keel.
The first images of the proposed redevelopment of Perth's Old Treasury building have emerged, showing a 35-storey glass tower soaring between heritage-listed former government offices.
Page 7: The opposition has accused the Barnett government of waste after revelations the average cost of a ministerial office has blown out by a third in three years.
Fire crews spent hours yesterday battling a blaze at a pipeline factory in Spearwood.
Page 10: No Afghan asylum seekers have been forcibly deported since a deal hailed as a deterrent to boat people was signed in January between Canberra and Kabul.
Page 12: Almost one in four country police officers will head to Perth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting but senior police say no regional stations will close and the community can expect business as usual during the international event.
Page 15: Families took advantage of fine weather and free entry for under 12s to register the biggest opening weekend crowds in the history of the Perth Royal Show.
Page 19: Perth's 2000th taxi has hit the streets amid controversy over plans to issue another 300 full-time taxi lease plates.
Business: Tiger Resources has tried to hose down takeover speculation after its biggest shareholder, secretive commodities trading giant Trafigura, orchestrated last week's $1.3 billion takeover of copper neighbour Anvil Mining by Minmetals.
Insurance companies face an overhaul in the way they handle flood risk after an independent review considered sweeping changes designed to lift insurance cover against natural disasters.
THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW:
Page 1: The state treasurers will push for a wider reform agenda at the federal tax forum tomorrow and urge the Gillard government to commit to providing a replacement revenue stream as a trade-off for scrapping inefficient state taxes.
Page 4: Federal Treasury's tax adviser, the Board of Taxation, should have responsibility for evaluating proposals from this week's Tax Forum, experts say.
Page 6: Economists don't believe the Reserve Bank of Australia board will cut interest rates when it meets tomorrow, but data out this week will prompt discussion about the direction of the economy and monetary policy.
Hundreds of fast food workers in Perth have been spared the axe after a one-month truce in hostilities between burger king Jack Cowin and Yum International, the owner of the KFC brand.
Many professional bodies don't want more competition from foreign workers, but the UK-based Institution of Civil Engineers is seeking Australian government help to make it easier for overseas engineering graduates to work on resources projects in Australia.
Page 14: Wesfarmers has secured 1.5 million tonnes of annual port capacity at stage one of the Wiggins Island Coal Terminal to help underpin a further expansion of its flagship Curragh coking coalmine in Queensland.
Global energy giant Royal Dutch Shell is set to trample on the ambitions of a James Packer-backed Australian energy minnow developing a controversial Papua New Guinea liquefied natural gas project as political tensions simmer over development of the country's gas deposits.
Page 15: Explosives and chemicals company Orica says it is taking its environmental responsibilities “very seriously” despite a spate of recent incidents at its NSW operations.
Page 17: Dozens of Australian companies are switching into the fast lane of the country's two-speed economy.
THE AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: Wayne Swan faces a stoush with the conservative states at this week’s tax forum, amid growing calls for the federal government to give the states a share of income tax or other compensation if they dump stamp duties and other inefficient levies.
Page 2: Australia's biggest retailers will demand the abolition of tariffs on clothing and footwear at tomorrow’s tax forum, putting them on a collision course with manufacturing in the wake of high-profile job losses across both industries.
NSW would lose at least $150 million and Victoria more than $100m over two years under a West Australian proposal to top up its dwindling share of federal GST revenue.
Desperate major steelmakers are urging the government to offer tax breaks to resources companies that favour local manufacturers in tenders for multi-billion-dollar construction projects.
Venture capitalist Mark Carnegie is calling for higher taxes to be levied on Australia’s richest people to bankroll a sovereign wealth fund to invest for the nation’s future.
Page 3: Credit card companies have accused retailers of profiteering by charging shoppers to pay with credit cards.
Page 5: Unions at Labor’s national conference will push Julia Gillard to change the Fair Work Act to give greater entitlements to casual and short-term workers.
Page 6: The federal government has been forced to suspend its digital television satellite rollout scheme after ‘‘inadequate’’ procedures left some sites with potential asbestos exposure.
The Coalition will go to a double dissolution election if it wins government and Labor baulks at repealing the carbon tax and its associated compensation, opposition climate change spokesman Greg Hunt says.
Business: The Australian Taxation Office would face new curbs and a requirement to recruit more people from business under a radical overhaul proposed by finance executives from the country’s biggest companies.
The Australian sharemarket is set to start the week in negative territory following a sharp fall on Wall Street on Friday night and growing concerns the European financial system has no escape from Greek debt contagion.
Telstra shareholders are expected to approve an $11 billion deal with the government and the National Broadband Network Co, despite the agreement not yet having received crucial regulatory approvals that will allow it to proceed.
The pipeline of potential initial public offerings has been severely drained following a spike in trade sales and continuing market volatility.
Activity at the country’s ports dwindled over the weekend as waterfront union workers on the east and west coasts continued their dispute with Patrick stevedores.
Order books for the biggest iron ore producers in Australia and Brazil remain full and the companies say they aren’t experiencing delays to shipments, but this could change if the current slump in steel prices continues amid lingering global growth concerns.
THE COURIER MAIL:
Page 1: Councils want the Queensland chief debt collecting service to collect millions in unpaid fines which are driving up rates.
Page 3: Families of three commandos killed in a chopper crash last year are outraged the Government has stalled for four months to release the findings.
Page 5: Deep vein thrombosis may contributed to the death of Australian backpacker Madelaine Crawley in the Italy.
World: Trying to obtain peace with Taliban insurgents is pointless, says Afghan president Hamid Karazi.
Business: Australia's stock market is expected to to stand strong in the wake of declining markets and interest rates should remain steady.
Sport: Manly rookie Dale Cherry-Evans displayed maturity beyond his years to help lift the Sea Eagles to a 24-10 Grand Final win.
THE CANBERRA TIMES
Page 1: Brothers heroes of boat tragedy. Unions fear taxing times.
Page 2: Corbell scathing on Greens' housing plan.
Page 3: Witness put in jail van with accused.
World: 700 arrested in New York bridge impasse.
Business: Women's groups call for relief from taxing child care expenses.
Sport: AFL Cats face battle to hold on to veteran players.
THE ADELAIDE ADVERTISER:
Page 1: Giant triple trailer trucks will be allowed on South Australia's major highways in a plan that is being championed by the National Transport Commission.
Page 2: The federal opposition claims to have found a $4.1 billion spending black hole in the Gillard government's finances after its first full year, with billions of dollars wasted on bungled policies or cost blowouts.
Page 3: One of Australia's largest plumbing groups is on the brink of collapse as the tax office seeks to recover about $2 million in unpaid taxes.
World: More than 700 anti-Wall Street protesters were arrested yesterday after they swarmed the Brooklyn bridge and shut down a lane of traffic for several hours.
Business: The latest accounts embattled junior explorer Marathon Resources do not comply with legal requirements as they ignore a $16.2 million write-off, its auditors say.
Sport: Chris Scott has been blessed by destiny. Scott's second chance to be an AFL coach was Geelong now he is the 13th man to win a AFL/VFL premiership in his rookie season.
