Porter to resign – The West; Stop war or lose $1bn gas deal, Barnett warns – The Aus; China gears up for splurge in projects – The Fin; Western Power faces big compo claim bill – The West; QR shrugs off Atlas dalliance – The West
Porter to resign
Attorney-General and Treasurer Christian Porter is expected to announce he will resign from State Parliament to pursue a career in federal politics. The West
Stop war or lose $1bn gas deal, Barnett warns
West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has threatened to cancel more than $1 billion in benefits to Kimberley Aborigines unless they stop battling over the James Price Point gas hub. The Aus
China gears up for splurge in projects
China is preparing for a surge in infrastructure investment in the second half of the year after iron ore imports jumped almost 20 per cent in May, ahead of the government restarting stalled rail, steel and road projects. The Fin
Western Power faces big compo claim bill
Western Power faces a payout bill that could run into tens of millions of dollars after a record number of customers were left without power for extended periods in the wake of Sunday's storm. The West
QR shrugs off Atlas dalliance
QR National says it remains committed to exploring a major rail project in the Pilbara with Atlas Iron despite the miner holding separate talks with Hancock Prospecting over a different railway tie-up. The West
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: Attorney-General and Treasurer Christian Porter is expected to announce he will resign from State Parliament to pursue a career in federal politics.
Page 3: The state government has taken legal action against 22 councils after an audit found they had illegally levied more than $27 million in rates on 10,000 properties this year.
Page 4: Western Power faces a payout bill that could run into tens of millions of dollars after a record number of customers were left without power for extended periods in the wake of Sunday's storm.
Emergency service crews are bracing for a third wild storm to hit WA in less than a week as they wage a desperate race against time to clear debris that could become deadly projectiles.
Page 10: Julia Gillard has criticised Colin Barnett for snubbing her economic forum, saying WA may be going gangbusters but it is still feeling the pain of the patchwork economy.
Page 11: The state government has warned Kimberley Aboriginal groups they risk losing a $1.5 billion compensation package because of their plan to pull out of a native title deal covering the site of the planned James Price Point gas hub.
Page 14: Perth retailers have been urged to start preparing for citywide Sunday trading, which is likely to be introduced as soon as August.
Page 16: The state government is budgeting about $140 million for a new Belmont Park train station to ferry up to 40,000 people an hour away from the planned 60,000 seat major stadium at Burswood.
About 100,000 WA workers will get an extra $20 a week after a decision by the WA Industrial Relations Commission in the state wage case yesterday.
Page 18: Perth's worst road merger spot will disappear when the Graham Farmer Freeway is reconfigured next year to make way for extra lanes in the Northbridge tunnel.
Business: QR National says it remains committed to exploring a major rail project in the Pilbara with Atlas Iron despite the miner holding separate talks with Hancock Prospecting over a different railway tie-up.
Richard Cottee, who turned Queensland Gas Company into a $5.7 billion takeover target, has spoken of a dream to turn his next challenge, the embattled Central Petroleum, into an Australian household name alongside Santos, Origin Energy and Woodside Petroleum.
The decade-long battle between Gina Rinehart and the Wright family over the multi-billion-dollar Rhodes Ridge iron ore deposit resumes today, for a four-day hearing in the state's Court of Appeal.
An “unconditional” $125 billion Spanish bank bailout was met with relief by Asian markets that gained between one and 2 per cent yesterday, although sketchy details and investor bailout fatigue saw limited gains beyond opening bounces.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has made it clear the airline will not rush into selling more assets, because shareholders do not want the airline “overreacting to the situation and making wrong decisions”.
Woolworths has again topped the list of Australia's most valuable brands but it is WA-owned Coles that holds the bragging rights.
Australia could have its first lithium carbonate plant in WA within three years, with Talison Lithium to make a final investment decision on the multi-million-dollar project by the end of the year
THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW:
Page 1: A 100 billion euro bailout of Spanish banks triggered a relief rally across global markets as investors calculated that the dramatic intervention could stave off a financial meltdown in Europe's fourth-largest economy.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard's economic summit was billed as a high-powered gathering of business leaders, trade unionists and cabinet ministers to address some of the toughest issues today; the rise of the dollar, engagement with Asia, and infrastructure and skills shortages.
Qantas Airways chef Alan Joyce has appointed Macquarie Group and recalled an internal taskforce to lead the defence against a potential hostile takeover after the flailing airline's share price sank to a record low.
China is preparing for a surge in infrastructure investment in the second half of the year after iron ore imports jumped almost 20 per cent in May, ahead of the government restarting stalled rail, steel and road projects.
Page 3: Tens of thousands of West Australian homes and businesses could remain without power for up to a week after a once-in-a-decade weather event caused havoc across the state, with another severe storm forecast for today.
Page 4: Business leaders including Reserve Bank of Australia board member Heather Ridout want Prime Minister Julia Gillard's economic summit in Brisbane today to focus on key reforms, such as making the industrial relations system less hostile and easing the tax burden on companies.
Page 5: The centrepiece of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's compromise over the plan to import guest workers for big resources projects, the online jobs board, has been slammed by recruiters, who say that it duplicates existing services.
Page 8: Mining and energy companies could face new measures to encourage them to use Australian suppliers and contractors for big projects.
Page 10: Zones off the Australian coast are set to be declared off limits to petroleum exploration and fishing under a controversial proposal by Environment Minister Tony Burke that would lead to the creation of the world's biggest protected marine area.
THE AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: Almost 1.5 million Australians would get access to publicly funded dental care under a means-tested scheme being negotiated between federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek and the Greens.
Companies that integrate with Asia would deserve more industry assistance than others under sweeping policy proposals that will kick-start Julia Gillard’s economic forum in Brisbane tonight.
Popular support for Julia Gillard and the Labor government remains above record low levels but has not improved in the past six weeks as the Prime Minister furiously promotes billions of dollars being paid in household compensation ahead of the carbon tax.
Page 2: Bob Hawke has backed ambitious plans for a massive network of new marine parks around Australia and strongly urged federal cabinet to back Environment Minister Tony Burke on the issue.
The government has distanced itself from comments by Trade Minister Craig Emerson that a national register of foreign-owned agricultural purchases would allay community concerns and better inform public debate.
Page 4: Stricken tourism operators have attacked Labor for skewing taxpayer bailouts in favour of car-makers, with the head of a peak tourism group saying he turned down Julia Gillard’s economic forum because he did not want to ‘‘attend and sing Kumbaya’’.
Julia Gillard has vowed poor opinion polls will not deter her from the ‘‘heavy lifting’’ of tackling tough policies such as pricing carbon and taxing mining profits.
Australians are working smarter, but not necessarily harder, while reports manufacturing is dying are ‘‘greatly exaggerated’’, a new study shows.
Key Liberal moderates have condemned the divisive political debate on Labor’s carbon tax, saying consensus on a lower carbon price would serve the nation better.
Page 5: Cyclonic weather conditions will continue to lash Perth and much of Western Australia today as emergency services scramble to repair the damage from Sunday’s once-in-a-decade storms.
Page 6: Today's NSW budget will up the ante in the revenue war between Canberra and the states as it defies pressure to abandon plans to recoup carbon tax losses through a hike in mining royalties.
The Barnett government was last night rocked by revelations political hotshot and premier designate Christian Porter is pushing to get endorsement for the federal Liberal seat of Pearce.
West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has threatened to cancel more than $1 billion in benefits to Kimberley Aborigines unless they stop battling over the James Price Point gas hub.
Business: Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce says the airline’s major shareholders are continuing to support it, despite moves by hedge funds to aggressively short-sell the stock to record lows on the mistaken belief an equity raising was imminent.
Investors are hoping for a strong week on the Australian sharemarket after Europe’s move to halt the spread of its debt crisis with a 100 billion euro ($125bn) loan to Spain’s banking system.
The investor revolt sweeping Britain, which has already cost a number of chief executives their jobs, could claim an even bigger casualty: the proposed $US66 billion ($66bn) merger of commodities giant Glencore International and miner Xstrata.
Australia's next offshore gas production region — the West Australian Browse Basin — has one $34 billion project under construction and another, costlier and more controversial, one set for an investment decision in the next 12 months.
Grocery manufacturers have hit back at supermarket giant Coles, which has promised to limit any price increases as a result of the carbon tax by upping its due diligence on suppliers and trying to force them to keep prices low.
More than a month after Dulux group launched its aggressive $188 million play for Alesco, the building products and garage door maker is today expected to tell shareholders to turn down the offer as it spruiks more growth from its turnaround program.
Atlas Iron has added Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill joint venture project to the list of Pilbara players it is in talks with to secure a long-term infrastructure solution for its aggressive expansion plans.
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:
Page 1: Matt Barrie, who sat on the taskforce that worked on the NSW Digital Economy Industry Action Plan, has slammed the state government blueprint as "fluff", saying it will deliver little benefit to the economy in terms of technology. Proposed residential towers on the Balmain Leagues Club are so high they would pose a danger to passing aircraft, the NSW government has been warned. Treasurer Mike Baird says NSW may need a stimulus package to protect it from financial ripples caused by the eurozone debt crisis.
Page 2: In evidence the remote Cocos Islands are being targeted as an asylum destination, Sri Lanka's top envoy has confirmed his government stopped a boat that was trying to depart with 113 people on board.
Page 3: The Australian lawyer detained in Libya, Melinda Taylor, is suspected by Libyan authorities of trying to pass a coded note to the son of slain former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
World: Burmese President Thein Sein has declared a state of emergency, warning that sectarian violence in the country's west could threaten its transition to democracy.
Business: Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce says his company won't rush into selling more assets following a shock profit downgrade.
Sport: The Blues' Jarry Hayne is hungrier than ever for an Origin victory.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH:
Page 1: Blues wingers Jarryd Hayne and Akuila Uate will be under huge pressure to secure a win for NSW in the second Origin match on Wednesday.
Page 2: Two Sydney clerics might preach different religions but when it comes to another matter of faith - the State of Origin - they are both firmly on the side of the Blues.
Page 3: A bedazzled bra worn on Dancing With the Stars may have saved television personality Kerri-Anne Kennerley's life as it alerted her to a cancerous lump in her right breast.
World: Australian authorities are working to free an Australian lawyer detained in Libya on suspicion of spying.
Business: Australians are working harder than ever, according to a new productivity report from Pricewaterhouse Coopers, but we lag behind Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic and Taiwan.
Sport: Michael Jennings will be the man who wins the State of Origin for NSW, Penrith players say.
THE AGE:
Page 1: Asylum seekers heading for remote Cocos Islands creating a nightmare for Australian border surveillance authorities. Track cyclists in high-tech test at the AIS in search of Olympic gold. Report shows that more than 1800 disabled people were drugged to control their behaviour last year. Prime Minister Julia Gillard calls on Libya to release Australian lawyer Melinda Taylor.
Page 2: Light plane pilot lands on highway after fog blocks his return to airport. Mistake found in study that claimed last 50 years in Australasia were the warmest in a millennium.
Page 3: Fishermen say proposed network of marine reserves will harm their industry. Ambulance Victoria investigating claims that an ambulance drove around boom gates 500 metres from Monash Hospital. Retirement village operator Stockland to change the way it pays back people who leave its establishments. US gospel group caught throwing barley seeds in a biosecurity breach while on walk in Antarctica. Healthcare experts worried about increasing reliance by people on apps for "Google Diagnosis".
World: Sectarian violence threatens Burma's transition to democracy.
Business: Qantas chief Alan Joyce says the airline won't be rushed into selling off more assets, such as its air-freight stakes.
Sport: Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt likely to be rested for Greater Western Sydney game on Saturday.
THE HERALD SUN:
Page 1: The dying former CFA whistleblower of the Fiskville contamination scandal has been denied compensation for his years of illness. Super granny cheated death to climb Mt Everest.
Page 2: Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton arrives in Darwin for Azaria court ruling.
Page 3: Favourite Lakyn Heperi eliminated from The Voice. Walter Mikac, whose family was wiped out in the Port Arthur massacre, deplores Olympians posing with guns.
World: Seoul newspaper victim of cyber attack just a week after North Korea warned the paper about its reporting.
Business: Investors looking for a bounce in the market after Spain euro bailout.
Sport: Magpies could be without Alan Didak for weeks after the star forward reinjured an adductor muscle.
