Today's Business Headlines

Umpire ends Qantas dispute

The industrial umpire last night backed the Gillard government's action to get Qantas back in the air by terminating all industrial action and ending the crippling stand-off. The West

Canada blunts carbon tax case

Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has cast doubt on the fundamental analysis underpinning Australia's carbon tax policy, saying neither his nation nor the US would ever introduce an emissions trading scheme. The Aus

Proxy firms up ante on remuneration

The executive pay practices of two of Australia's largest corporations, Leighton Holdings and the Seven Group, have been queried by proxy firms and major super funds. The Fin

India to invest billions in Australia

India's soaring energy needs and fast-growing population will spark a rush of multi-billion-dollar investments by Indian companies in Australia’s resources sector, according to one of the subcontinent’s top bankers. The Aus

Amec chief's visit restarts Clough acquisition talk

UK energy and mining services specialist Amec has reignited speculation it may launch a bid for local contractor Clough. The Fin

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN:

Page 1: The industrial umpire last night backed the Gillard government's action to get Qantas back in the air by terminating all industrial action and ending the crippling standoff.

Page 3: WA's Auditor-General has launched a fresh inquiry into the Health Department's purchase of pharmaceuticals amid revelations it bought medical supplies worth $160 million over 18 months from companies that gave employees gifts and travel.

Page 7: WA's mining industry faced major disruptions as a result of the Qantas fleet grounding, with thousands of workers and contractors set to be affected.

Page 10: The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting ended in Perth yesterday with leaders accused of dodging the issue of human rights and failing to agree on a blueprint for reform.

Page 13: The main carpark opposite the Cottesloe Beach Hotel would be closed to make way for a public square offering prime views over the Indian Ocean as part of a new proposal to overhaul the Cottesloe foreshore.

Page 16: The Gillard government's push for a mining tax has been boosted by figures showing a record surge in industry investment led by those sectors that will be hit hardest.

Page 18: Perth is on its way to becoming an urban sprawl that would make it two-thirds the size of greater New York but with just a sliver of the Big Apple's population.

Australia will struggle to feed the world's rapidly growing population without major changes to the way we farm.

Business: Big institutional investors have rallied behind Qantas management following the dramatic escalation in its industrial dispute, despite expectations its share price will come under pressure today.

A cut in official interest rates by the Reserve Bank would make Melbourne Cup even more exciting for Australia's biggest retailers.

Veteran investor George Soros has attacked the lack of leadership at the top of the eurozone and said that the new Brussels “deal” to solve the debt crisis will only last between “one day and three months”.

Focus Minerals has paid a price for its $59 million scrip takeover of struggler Crescent Gold after admitting it had diverted funds earmarked to improve its mainstay Coolgardie mines to “securing” the acquisition.

THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW:

Page 1: Business has backed Qantas in the biggest corporate face-off with unions in more than a decade, as the Federal government's push to get the airline flying again bogged down before Fair Work Australia.

Page 3: Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has been putting pressure on bank chief executives behind the scenes to pass on in full any reduction in official interest rates by the Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday.

Brokers signed up to stockmarket operator Chi-X, which opens for business at 10am AEDT on Monday, will be able to trade if there is any repeat of last week's computer outage at the ASX.

Page 10: Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson has admitted it could be decades before Australia develops an economically viable alternative to coal.

Page 11: Overseas economic and debt woes have not dented confidence in extractive industries in Australia, and plenty of major projects are underway or being planned.

Page 15: The executive pay practices of two of Australia's largest corporations, Leighton Holdings and the Seven Group, have been queried by proxy firms and major super funds.

Page 17: The new chief of Woolworths is planning to boost sales and earnings, and to tackle perceptions that the retailer has dropped the ball on grocery advertising.

UK energy and mining services specialist Amec has reignited speculation it may launch a bid for local contractor Clough.

Page 40: Kerry Stokes's Seven West Media has stepped up its succession planning, sending TV director Tim Worner on a management course in the United States.

THE AUSTRALIAN:

Page 1: Tens of thousands of passengers remained stranded across Australia and the world last night as the bitter dispute between Qantas and its unions dragged on at a cost to the national economy of more than $250 million a day.

Page 5: The grounding of the Qantas fleet has already had a chilling effect on tourism and economic activity across the states.

As travellers were stranded across the nation, Australia’s parliamentarians were being ferried to Canberra last night by the Royal Australian Air Force on special charter flights.

Page 6: Tony Abbott has accused Julia Gillard of a failure of leadership on Qantas, insisting the Prime Minister should have used her legislative powers to order unions back to work rather than leaving the dispute to Fair Work Australia.

Page 10: BHP Billiton’s chief executive, Marius Kloppers, will fly into Adelaide today to meet new South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill to discuss the expansion of its Olympic Dam mine, including the importance of passing the indenture agreement before Christmas.

Page 11: Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has cast doubt on the fundamental analysis underpinning Australia's carbon tax policy, saying neither his nation nor the US would ever introduce an emissions trading scheme.

Commonwealth nations have given guarded support for an Australian push to reignite the stalled Doha Round of global trade liberalisation talks and a freeze on introducing new protectionist measures.

Commonwealth leaders have accepted only one-third of the recommendations of a committee they appointed to advise them on reforms to make the body more relevant in the 21st century

Business: Qantas Airways chief executive Alan Joyce is staring down criticism that his militant strategy of grounding the airline’s entire fleet could damage the brand and alienate corporate customers.

The grounding of the Qantas fleet could undermine the share prices of a swathe of companies, particularly travel companies and those in mining services, when the market opens today.

India's soaring energy needs and fast-growing population will spark a rush of multi-billion-dollar investments by Indian companies in Australia’s resources sector, according to one of the subcontinent’s top bankers.

The chief executive of one of the world’s leading engineering and project management companies believes Australia needs to double the price of its proposed carbon tax if it hopes to drive investment in clean power technologies.

As Super Retail’s $610 million acquisition of sports retailer Rebel Group is completed, it is already considering its next expansion, chief executive Peter Birtles says.

Macquarie Group needs to conduct a full review of its investment bank to ‘‘right-size’’ the division and may face delays launching a potential $800 million share buyback unveiled in its ‘‘weak’’ first-half result, analysts say.

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:

Page 1: The federal government is considering taking matters into its own hands if the industrial watchdog fails to bring the Qantas dispute to a swift end.

Page 2: The union movement will show its disgust at Qantas for locking out workers and grounding its fleet with a snap rally on Monday at Sydney Airport.

Page 3: The sinking share price of Qantas leaves the carrier ripe for a takeover.

World: At least 17 people, including 12 Americans, were killed when a Taliban suicide car bomber attacked an armoured bus in Kabul.

Business: Qantas shares are set to plummet at the market open on Monday.

Sport: After three failed attempts at winning the Melbourne Cup, Scottish trainer Mark Johnston says that it is the money rather than the prestige or mystique associated with the race that has brought him back to Australia this year.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH:

Page 1: The Gillard government has sanctioned the possible use of foreign airlines to fly Qantas domestic routes in an aggressive counter-attack against the airline.

Page 2: Qantas editorial continued.

Page 3: Qantas editorial continued.

World: The lawyer for Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, made an argument in court that the singer caused his own death.

Business: The grounding of the Qantas fleet will have a ripple effect on the rest of the economy.

Sport: Outspoken UK trainer Mark Johnston has delivered a brutal assessment of the Melbourne Cup, claiming he is only here for the $6 million prize money and not the glory.

THE CANBERRA TIMES:

Page 1: Qantas passengers remain in limbo. Deadly attack on Australian diggers in Afghanistan the work of "lone wolf".

Page 2: Grounding of Qantas aircraft continued.

Page 3: Some of Australia's top architects say Northbourne Avenue can be fabulous.

World: Deadly winter storm hits US East Coast.

Business: The grounding of Qantas flights could have a substantial dampening effect on the economy, analysts warn.

Sport: Dunaden could be a favourite in this year's Melbourne Cup, or it could drift to double-figure odds.

THE COURIER MAIL:

Page 1: Airports around the country remain in chaos, with Qantas to continue its grounding until at least noon.

Page 2: Thousands of Qantas passengers booked to fly on Monday will be stranded.

Page 3: Qantas boss Alan Joyce was waiting for Prime Minister Julia Gillard to return his call up until five minutes before his decision to ground the fleet.

World: A rare October snowstorm has set a snowfall record in New York City, delayed flights and knocked out power to nearly two million homes.

Business: The corporate travel industry has reacted with shock to the Qantas grounding.

Sport: Dunaden's Qatari owners are sticking with history- chasing Melbourne Cup jokey Craig Williams to the bitter end, hoping he can get a stay of proceedings that will allow him to ride at Flemington, and become the first jockey to win the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in the same year.

THE ADELAIDE ADVERTISER:

Page 1: The Gillard government is considering using foreign airlines to fly on Qantas domestic routes.

Page 3: Upstream states' allocation of Murray Darling water grew to 5000 extra gigalitres a year in the three decades after SA capped its take from the river.

World: A Taliban suicide bomber has killed 17 people in a NATO convoy.

Business: The Australian Retailers Association has urged the RBA to cut interest rates on Tuesday.

Sport: Craig Williams is desperate to make Melbourne Cup history.