Challenge to business on IR flaws – The Fin; WA to benefit from BHP's $20bn project – The Aus; Fear at China's hold on WA coal – The Fin; Miners split over resources tax – The Fin; Brownes seeking to make splash with milk in Asia – The West
Challenge to business on IR flaws
Workplace Relations Minister Chris Evans says Labor is open to changing the Fair Work Act, but businesses will need to demonstrate how the new industrial relations regime is adversely affecting them. The Fin
WA to benefit from BHP's $20bn project
BHP Billiton and Exxonmobil are set to make a decision on the long-awaited Scarborough liquefied natural gas project next year, in a move that could mean another massive gas export project in Western Australia or underwrite expansion of an existing one. The Aus
Fear at China's hold on WA coal
The West Australian Premier is so worried that a Chinese coal company could pull the pin on the state's power supply that he has asked for Canberra's help. The Fin
Miners split over resources tax
A fierce dividing line has formed between miners over the mineral resources rent tax, as the industry's main lobby group confirms its support for the impost that will hit its members hardest. The Fin
Brownes seeking to make splash with milk in Asia
A revamped Brownes is seeking to tap into a growing demand for fresh WA milk from Asian markets, signalling a return to its export-focused heritage under a private equity ownership. The
West
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN:
Page 6: Pakistan's top diplomat to Australia insists the Gillard government must be willing to sell uranium to his country if it gives the green light to uranium sales to India.
Opposition Leader Eric Ripper has ruled out compensating uranium miners for torpedoing their projects should he win the next elections, despite predictions the first mine would be under construction by the March 2013 poll.
Page 7: The Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame in Kalgoorlie will be closed to the public in less than three weeks as the board takes stock of the centre's financial problems.
Page 12: The state government has earmarked funds to investigate whether shark nets would be effective off Perth beaches and for a raft of measures to try to counter WA's shark menace.
Page 14: A leading WA architect and urban designer has described Perth's modern architecture as conventional and boring, flagging the need for artistic, bold designs to make the city more attractive.
Page 16: A tower up to 40 storeys, an inlet with a beach and a public boating facility are key features of a $1 billion riverside redevelopment for the eastern gateway to Perth.
Page 19: Qatar Airways, one of the world's fastest growing airlines, will launch services to Perth from Doha within two months.
Page 21: Homeowners could miss out on pre-Christmas cheer from the Reserve Bank, with economists tipping interest rates will be left on hold next month.
Page 28: The fate of Perth's most contentious road project is in the hands of the state's environmental watchdog after more than 10 years of tug-of-war between community groups and government.
The state government has been accused of appointing too many doctors and not enough other health workers set up under federal health reforms.
Page 30: About one-third of homes being listed on the market are failing to sell, according to a leading real estate agency.
Business liftout:
Page 1: Australia's biggest pure-play residential developer has warned it may miss its first dividend payment since listing in 2004.
Page 2: The champagne was flowing for Mineral Resources last night – figuratively and literally –as the maiden shipment of iron ore from its Carina mine was loaded at the Kwinana bulk handling port south of Perth.
The power struggle at scooter maker Vmoto went into overdrive at yesterday's annual meeting as the board failed to gain the confidence of shareholders.
Page 3: Lower-than-forecast grades at Newmont Mining's Boddington operation have prompted the miner to seek more space to store waste at Australia's biggest gold mine, 120km south-east of Perth.
Higher funding costs and subdued credit growth are beginning to take their toll on the Commonwealth Bank's bottom line, despite a fall in bad debts helping to boost its first-quarter profits to $1.75 billion.
Fortescue Metals Group chief executive Nev Power has accused Julia Gillard of supporting uranium exports to India as payback for big miners' backing the mining tax.
Page 5: A revamped Brownes is seeking to tap into a growing demand for fresh WA milk from Asian markets, signalling a return to its export-focused heritage under a private equity ownership.
Page 23: WA's infrastructure, in particular port facilities and transport networks, have failed to keep pace with economic growth and increasing demand for big industrial spaces is being felt in land values, demand and rents across the Perth metropolitan area, according to research from Colliers International.
Page 24: Perth's CBD will be transformed over the next few years with the Waterfront and City Link projects pushing out the boundaries for new developments to meet the city's demand for office space.
THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW:
Page 1: India has welcomed Prime Minister Julia Gillard's bid to overturn a long-standing ban on uranium sales, in a deal that clears the way for stronger economic and trade ties between the two countries.
Workplace Relations Minister Chris Evans says Labor is open to changing the Fair Work Act, but businesses will need to demonstrate how the new industrial relations regime is adversely affecting them.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has made it clear that it has no plans for the interest rate cut that Julia Gillard clearly wants unless economic circumstances change.
Page 5: Deep cuts to federal government spending could compound concerns about Europe's sovereign debt crisis and cement the case for lower interest rates.
Page 6: Three aviation unions say they are making little headway with Qantas Airways, as the countdown continues towards possible arbitration by the industrial umpire of new enterprise agreements.
Page 7: The West Australian Premier is so worried that a Chinese coal company could pull the pin on the state's power supply that he has asked for Canberra's help.
The federal government has started talks with the states over a new national energy efficiency scheme as signs already emerge that some may refuse to participate.
A fierce dividing line has formed between miners over the mineral resources rent tax, as the industry's main lobby group confirms its support for the impost that will hit its members hardest.
Page 11: Australia's uranium industry has said the sale of uranium to India may add $100 million in annual sales and is likely to attract greater foreign investment in the sector in the long term.
Page 16: The 2011 television ratings season does not end until November 26, but that has not stopped the TV division of Kerry Stokes's Seven West Media from claiming No.1 spot for the year.
Page 45: BHP Billiton is bidding for more shale gas acreage in Texas even as investors query the returns from the mining giant's $US20 billion of acquisitions in the depressed US gas market.
Rio Tinto may need to decide within a week whether to raise its $C578 million ($555 million) offer for Hathor Exploration by at least 8.4 per cent or walk away after Canadian uranium giant Cameco yesterday topped its bid for the Saskatchewan uranium developer.
Page 46: Tiger Airways' new chief executive officer has echoed comments made by modern Singapore founder Lee Kuan Yew that the city state is an open aviation market, as its rival Qantas fights to establish a new premium carrier in the Asian hub.
Heavy equipment rental firm Emeco Holdings has become the latest company to register a strike under new legislation on executive pay.
Page 52: Western Australia-based developer Peet suffered a savage sell-down yesterday as forecast profits were halved and concerns were raised over its balance sheet.
Lend Lease has bolstered its pipeline of work in Western Australia, winning the right to redevelop a $1 billion site in East Perth.
THE AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: Julia Gillard’s decision to open the door to uranium exports to India came after talks with the Obama administration, which viewed the ban as a roadblock to greater engagement between Washington and New Delhi.
A satellite ground station in the West Australian desert is being used by the Chinese military to help locate Australian and US navy warships in the region.
The nation’s business leaders have declared minority government their No 1 economic challenge, with almost 90 per cent of company directors blaming Labor’s performance for hurting consumer confidence.
Page 3: The Reserve Bank board was split over the decision to cut rates two weeks ago, with some members arguing that the mining boom still represented an inflation threat.
With West Australians nervous after three fatal shark attacks in less than two months, the Barnett government has announced a wide-ranging investigation to find out what may be attracting the predators.
Page 4: The Minerals Council of Australia has warned that Australian businesses will be hit with double the carbon liability of their European competitors as international carbon markets continue to slump.
International students contributed nearly $3.8 billion to Australian universities last year, effectively propping up the higher education system.
Page 6: Julia Gillard’s push to allow uranium exports to India will not only boost domestic mine plans and the economy, but also open new funding options for emerging producers of the energy source.
Page 7: Security analysts on both sides of the India-Pakistan border have warned that the decision to sell Australian uranium to India could trigger an arms race between the two nuclear-armed rivals.
Business: BHP Billiton and Exxonmobil have started talks to sell Bass Strait gas to Gladstone’s coal seam gas export plants in Queensland, in a move that is expected to tighten domestic gas markets, accelerating price rises as international demand soaks up supply.
The outgoing Commonwealth Bank chief executive, Ralph Norris, has revealed the first glimmers of growth could be emerging in Australia’s residential mortgage market, prompted by the Reserve Bank’s interest rate cut this month.
West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says China will play ‘‘hardball’’ over saving the $5.9 billion Oakajee port and rail project in the state’s Mid-west iron ore region, but he remains hopeful the troubled development will proceed.
Labor's election promise to return the budget to surplus in the next financial year is under threat, with fresh forecasts that the nation’s tax revenue will be hit by the global market meltdown.
Australia's top 50 mid-tier miners are well positioned to survive any significant downturn, with balance sheets boosted by a year of strong demand and high prices.
BHP Billiton and Exxonmobil are set to make a decision on the long-awaited Scarborough liquefied natural gas project next year, in a move that could mean another massive gas export project in Western Australia or underwrite expansion of an existing one.
Company directors are unwilling to accept new boardroom seats and could quit their existing positions in the wake of the landmark case against the board of beleaguered property group Centro and other legal rulings that have increased director liability, a new survey has found.
Europe's fragile economy showed deepening distress as industrial production dropped across the eurozone, dimming hopes the region’s leaders will be able to resolve a debt crisis that German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday called Europe’s ‘‘most difficult hours since World War II’’.
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:
Page 1: Prime Minister Julia Gillard's decision to push Labor to lift its ban on uranium sales to India will be given the green light but has split her party.
Page 2: The family of the late Peter Roebuck has spoken of the devastation of losing him and the pride they feel in his legacy.
Page 3: Billionaire Anthony Pratt has called on Australia to quadruple its food production to help meet the global food security challenge.
World: There is evidence that at least 28 employees at Rupert Murdoch's News International had been involved in phone hacking, an inquiry into British press standards has been told.
Finance: Businesses are to bear the brunt of the higher funding costs faced by the country's leading banks.
Sport: The independent commission is finally set to take over control of rugby league.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH:
Page 1: Top-secret details of US President Barack Obama's itinerary for his Canberra visit were left in clear view on the seat of a van at a hotel car park.
Page 2: Sydney's proposed North West Rail Link is not value for money, Infrastructure NSW chairman Nick Greiner says.
Page 3: Former Labor minister Ian Macdonald will face an ICAC hearing into claims he corruptly received favours.
World: Muhammad Ali has paid tribute to the former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier.
Sport: Rugby league is close to having an independent commission.
THE AGE:
Page 1: Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd angry he was not consulted on Prime Minister Julia Gillard's move to sell uranium to India. Boyhood toy tool turns out to be rare 14th century timepiece. Gillard has a fight on her hands with Labor left over gay marriage conscience vote.
Page 2: Members vote to split up Health Services Union in spiteful annual conference in Sydney. Study shows children of a happy marriage turn out best.
Page 3: Plan to give land instead of money if homes compulsorily acquired by the state. 16-year-old models over the hill as agencies demand younger girls. Evidence shows at least 28 News International journalists involved in UK phone hacking. Beaches face closures this summer due to expected heavy rain causing pollution.
World: UK knocks back German call for political union in Europe staying the crisis is an opportunity to return to nation states.
Business: Higher funding costs and slow credit growth impact the Commonwealth Bank's bottom line.
Sport: Greg Norman says for the Presidents Cup to remain relevant the international team has to put up a show.
THE HERALD SUN:
Page 1: Government axes giant air crane and two water planes as fire season in Victoria looms.
Page 2: US Secret Service time sheets for Obama visit deposited in a van parked at a Canberra hotel.
Page 3: Adam Scott reunites with old flame Ana Ivanovic at President's Cup gala dinner. Students given wrong book to read for VCE.
World: Police clear Occupy Oakland camp in the US.
Business: CBA chief Ralph Norris says Reserve Bank will have to cut interest rates again if mortgage lending is to gather momentum.
Sport: Pie star Scott Pendlebury faces 12 months of speculation as GWS hover over him.
