Growth to beat targets: OECD – The Aus; Labor claims sham surplus – The West; Grange wins fight over gas pipeline – The West; HSU scandal emboldens Abbott on IR – The Fin; Firms buy Barnett's ear for $25,000 a year – The West
Growth to beat targets: OECD
The Australian economy is tipped to beat the government’s budget targets — and grow at one of the fastest rates in the OECD — provided it avoids delivering fresh subsidies to troubled industries stuck in the economic slow lane. The Aus
Labor claims sham surplus
Labor has accused Treasurer Christian Porter of using slippery accounting to deliver a sham budget surplus, with a one-off change responsible for more than 85 per cent of the $196 million figure. The West
Grange wins fight over gas pipeline
Iron ore producer Grange Resources has won its battle to use coalfired power for its planned $2.9 billion mine near Albany, with the state government backing down on demands it underpin and extension of WA's main gas pipeline to the Great Southern. The West
HSU scandal emboldens Abbott on IR
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott told his MPs yesterday that a Coalition government's industrial relations policy would “reflect a return of the pendulum back to the middle”, suggesting the opposition has been emboldened on workplace reform by the Health Services Union scandal. The Fin
Firms buy Barnett's ear for $25,000 a year
Millionaire businessmen, property developers and some of the world's biggest firms are paying $25,000 a year for exclusive access to Premier Colin Barnett and his ministers through a secretive Liberal Party fundraising group called the Leaders' Forum. The West
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: Millionaire businessmen, property developers and some of the world's biggest firms are paying $25,000 a year for exclusive access to Premier Colin Barnett and his ministers through a secretive Liberal Party fundraising group called the Leaders' Forum.
Page 3: A multi million-dollar Supreme Court stoush between property mogul Stan Perron and the family companies of Gina Rinehart, the late Michael Wright and Angela Bennett over iron ore royalties has been settled out of court.
Page 5: Labor has accused Treasurer Christian Porter of using slippery accounting to deliver a sham budget surplus, with a one-off change responsible for more than 85 per cent of the $196 million figure.
Mines Minister Norman Moore has warned the company hoping to develop WA's first uranium mine that it should do everything possible to avoid sending yellowcake through Kalgoorlie.
Page 6: Federal MP Craig Thomson was last night referred to the powerful privileges committee to answer Opposition claims he deliberately misled Parliament in his blanket denials of rorting union money.
Page 7: Perth's chronic shortage of hotel rooms has pushed rates to more than three times the national average, with Tourism Minister Kim Hames confirming reports of some hotels charging more than $1000 a night for a standard room.
Page 10: Colin Barnett faces a second dose of backbench dissent in as many weeks with Eyre Liberal Graham Jacobs accusing the Nationals of undermining his re-election bid.
Port Hedland mayor Kelly Howlett is preparing for a David and Goliath battle against Nationals leader Brendon Grylls after Labor endorsed her for the seat of Pilbara at next year's state election.
Page 12: Qantas will strip more costs from its operations, including likely cuts to administration jobs, when it splits its core flying operations into separate international and domestic businesses from July.
Page 14: WA is at increased risk of killer bushfires because of the state government's reduction in prescribed burns this autumn, a lobby group claims.
Business liftout:
Page 1: Iron ore producer Grange Resources has won its battle to use coalfired power for its planned $2.9 billion mine near Albany, with the state government backing down on demands it underpin and extension of WA's main gas pipeline to the Great Southern.
The establishment of a WA-based drilling company has been hailed as a significant step towards addressing the shortage of rigs available to the fledgling onshore gas industry.
Page 3: The peak mining body has called for union restraint as the movement finally regains a foothold in BHP Billiton's Pilbara mines.
Chinese buyers have begun deferring iron ore cargoes as the growing uncertainty over China's demand for the steelmaking ingredient tightens pressure on prices.
Goldfields Money, the former Goldfields Credit Union, yesterday made its debut on the Australian Securities Exchange, to become the only WA deposit-taking institution listed on the national bourse.
One of Yara International's top executives has stepped down from overseeing key parts of the Norwegian fertiliser giant's global operations, including its Burrup plant near Karratha, while he fights to clear his name from corruption allegations.
Page 5: The embattled board of Leighton Holdings yesterday apologised to angry shareholders incensed by a recent profit downgrade and a collapse in the contractor's share price.
Page 8: The head of Retravision Western says the Perth-run region would only take on the healthiest stores caught up in the collapse of the electronics retail franchise's Melbourne operations.
Page 13: Aurora Oil & Gas's $107 million hostile bid for Eureka Energy is gaining limited traction, with the group believed to have lifted its stake in the target to nearly 4 per cent in recent days.
Page 24: Overseas investors are likely to be key players in the mix to develop a new hotel on a site in the city centre announced yesterday by the State Government.
THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW:
Page 1: Opposition Leader Tony Abbott told his MPs yesterday that a Coalition government's industrial relations policy would “reflect a return of the pendulum back to the middle”, suggesting the opposition has been emboldened on workplace reform by the Health Services Union scandal.
Parliament voted last night to refer embattled MP Craig Thomson to its powerful Privileges Committee to consider whether he misled Parliament in his hour-long defence on Monday.
Qantas has split its international and domestic operations as it seeks to stem losses from the struggling overseas arm by installing a dedicated management team charged with cutting costs and finding airline partners.
Page 3: Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says tech giants such as Google will be hit by tax laws designed to stop them transferring profits out of Australia, a step he compared with the government's policy on wealthy mining entrepreneurs.
Page 4: The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has upgraded its forecast for economic growth in Australia next year but warns the negative effects of the mining boom may hurt the property market.
Page 10: Business leaders are concerned Labor's image problem and anti-rich language is damaging consumer and business confidence.
Page 11: Business Council of Australia president and Transfield Services chairman Tony Sheperd has called for a return to a less confrontational approach to industrial relations by unions and employers.
Page 13: Australian companies will be given a greater opportunity to participate in projects that win funding from the federal government's $10 billion clean energy fund.
Page 15: Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest person, will cede tens of millions of dollars in iron ore royalty income to Perth billionaire Stan Perron after settling an extraordinary dispute days before a Supreme Court trial was due to start.
Page 19: GrainCorp will use part of its swelling profits to invest in its infrastructure and improve efficiencies as it looks to harness the benefits from a consecutive year of record earnings.
Page 21: Australia might be a long way from the turmoil engulfing Europe, but fears that Greece will exit the euro and default on its debts are set to be felt directly by Australian home owners in the form of higher interest rates.
Page 53: Western Australia-based Entrust Funds Management is expected to take the Powercor building in Melbourne to market once it wins approval from investors at a meeting next month.
THE AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: The Australian economy is tipped to beat the government’s budget targets — and grow at one of the fastest rates in the OECD — provided it avoids delivering fresh subsidies to troubled industries stuck in the economic slow lane.
Contempt of parliament allegations against Craig Thomson have been put before the powerful privileges committee, amid opposition claims he deliberately misled the House of Representatives on Monday when he denied he rorted union funds, including using his union credit card to hire prostitutes.
Page 2: Pressure has intensified on Labor to liberalise the industrial relations system, after the head of the government’s infrastructure advisory body said the system had ‘‘gone backwards’’ in some respects and made it more expensive to do business.
Federal regulators will turn their sights on controversial plans for the nation’s next uranium mine as a political fight begins in Canberra to delay or scrap the $280 million project.
Succulent plants may become a thorn in the side of Western Australia’s fledgling uranium industry, as the potential discovery of new species threatens to delay the opening of the state’s first mine, while the Barnett government vows to ban uranium exports from ports near any of the state’s towns.
Councils have been granted a 12-month reprieve from paying the carbon tax on emissions from their landfills as 104 councils examine whether they will be subject to the liability for the carbon pricing scheme that starts on July 1.
Business: Jetstar will put new joint ventures on hold and Qantas will intensify its push to return international flights to profitability as part of a surprise restructure that will see mainline operations split in two.
Global mining giant Xstrata Copper is pushing ahead with its plans to increase copper output by 60 per over the next three years, shrugging off warnings by its rivals of slowing growth projects.
Labor has been urged to revise its legislation for tightening the cabotage rules to provide greater protection for industries that use cheap foreign ships on Australia’s coastline.
Grain handler Graincorp is still reaping the benefits of a previous good wheat season in Australia’s eastern states, but has realigned its business to project even higher growth in future.
The corporate regulator is claiming success with its crackdown on the insolvency profession and says it will continue to be a key area of focus.
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:
Page 1: Schapelle Corby's sentence has been reduced by five years, but she will have to remain in Indonesia to serve her parole period.
Page 2: NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell interviews Blues captain Paul Gallen ahead of Wednesday night's first State of Origin clash in Melbourne.
Page 3: The four sisters refusing to return to their father in Italy will launch a court challenge against orders which could force them to go back, meaning they could remain in Australia until August.
World: Facebook's value has dropped more than $19 billion, and founder Mike Zuckerberg's personal fortune has fallen by $2 billion.
Business: A new music distribution service, Spotify, has been launched in Australia, saying it will help stop music piracy and will give users who agree to listen to ads access to 16 million songs.
Sport: Queensland legend Darren Lockyer says the NSW Blues must move the ball around the park early and attack Queensland if they want to win the initial State of Origin encounter.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH:
Page 1: Schapelle Corby's sentence has been reduced by five years, but she will have to remain in Indonesia to serve her parole period.
Page 2: NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell interviews Blues captain Paul Gallen ahead of Wednesday night's first State of Origin clash in Melbourne.
Page 3: The four sisters refusing to return to their father in Italy will launch a court challenge against orders which could force them to go back, meaning they could remain in Australia until August.
World: Facebook's value has dropped more than $19 billion, and founder Mike Zuckerberg's personal fortune has fallen by $2 billion.
Business: A new music distribution service, Spotify, has been launched in Australia, saying it will help stop music piracy and will give users who agree to listen to ads access to 16 million songs.
Sport: Queensland legend Darren Lockyer says the NSW Blues must move the ball around the park early and attack Queensland if they want to win the initial State of Origin encounter.
THE AGE:
Page 1: Privileges committee will examine if beleaguered MP Craig Thomson misled parliament saying he did not rort nearly $500,000 of Health Services Union funds.
Page 2: Girlfriend of barricaded gunman walks from siege house. Geoscience body in turmoil as key staff quit and projects dumped following a restructure. Labor attacks government on the alleged misuse of a parliamentary car by backbencher Geoff Shaw.
Page 3: C. Tafe budget cuts put an end to the only course teaching sign language. Miles Franklin Literary Award will carry $50,000 for the winner.
World: China Maoists rally behind their fallen political hero Bo Xilai, accusing authorities of fabricating a case against him.
Business: Qantas halts Jetstar Asia expansion to focus on division of its domestic and international businesses.
Sport: Out-of-contract Port Adelaide midfielder Travis Boak will consider his future when he returns to Victorian the club's break for the bye weekend.
THE HERALD SUN:
Page 1: Schapelle Corby has had five years cut off her jail term and her mother is confident her daughter will be back in Australia by August.
Page 2: Monarchist Jim Frecklington wants $5 million from taxpayers for the luxury state coach built for the Queen's 80th birthday - six years ago. Melbourne newlywed's bridal dance goes viral.
Page 3: Policewoman caught talking on her mobile phone while driving. Craig Thomson's half brother refuses to back his claim that he was set up with prostitutes. Despite the nappy changes, lack of sleep and cleaning up vomits, parents with young children are happier than couples with no kids - report.
World: Obama snubs Pakistan at NATO meeting over the war in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Business: Qantas to split its domestic and global businesses in a major strategic shake-up.
Sport: GWS among five clubs chasing Carlton ruckman Robert Warnock.
