ALP eyes clamp on right to strike – The Aus; Pipe down, EC chief tells Gillard – The Aus; Perth petrol prices head for year lows – The West; Rinehart stalks ailing Fairfax – The West; Weld Range wins approval of environment watchdog – The West
ALP eyes clamp on right to strike
Labor has left open the prospect of further changes to the Fair Work Act, telling employers it will examine proposed amendments designed to reduce the capacity of workers to take strike action where employers refuse to negotiate. The Aus
Pipe down, EC chief tells Gillard
The head of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has defended Europe’s actions to ‘‘protect the integrity and stability of the eurozone’’ after Julia Gillard continued to deliver economic advice to the EU to follow ‘‘the Australian way’’ on economic growth. The Aus
Perth petrol prices head for year lows
Perth petrol prices will drop to their lowest for the year in coming days as the strengthening dollar and falling oil prices combine to ease the pressure on motorists. The West
Rinehart stalks ailing Fairfax
Gina Rinehart has increased her stake in Fairfax Media to almost 19 per cent and is demanding three board seats and the power to hire and fire editors. The West
Weld Range wins approval of environment watchdog
The nod from WA's environmental watchdog yesterday will not be enough for Sinosteel Midwest Corp to take its $2 billion Weld Range project off ice, although the Chinese group has welcomed the decision as an “important step”. The West
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: The number of WA motorists not wearing seatbelts has increased, according to research that shows about 60,000 drivers are playing Russian roulette on the state's roads.
Page 3: Gina Rinehart has increased her stake in Fairfax Media to almost 19 per cent and is demanding three board seats and the power to hire and fire editors.
Page 4: While investors gave their tick of support yesterday, concerns remain that despite the success of the conservative New Democracy party at the weekend Greek elections there are still issues that could bring the country and Europe to its knees.
Julia Gillard has warned world leaders of the “human cost” of not taking action to shore up the European banking system and allowing the region's major economies to drive growth and investment.
Page 5: Perth petrol prices will drop to their lowest for the year in coming days as the strengthening dollar and falling oil prices combine to ease the pressure on motorists.
Page 14: There's money in booze, especially for the founders of Little Creatures who yesterday agreed to sell the Fremantle-based brewery, which has been valued at $381.6 million.
Page 16: The WA Labor Party has reopened nominations for the state electorate of Swan Hills to allow the brother of former MP Jaye Radisich to run for the seat.
Page 17: The Water Corporation is warning householders to switch off their sprinklers after a dramatic rise in the number of fines compared with the start of last winter.
Business: Investors have applauded Fairfax Media's overhaul as brave and decisive if overdue, but warned it would be years before the changes translate into meaningful profit growth.
Chevron has all but completed its equity sell-down for the $29 billion Wheatstone LNG development near Onslow amid heightened industry talk the US giant is starting to prepare for a delay in completion of its other flagship, Gorgon.
Japanese-owned food and beverage giant Lion is vowing to preserve the local brewing and culture of Little Creatures after striking a $220 million deal to buy the WA icon.
Resources stocks led the Australian sharemarket almost 2 per cent higher yesterday as the threat of another financial crisis receded after Greek voters shifted support towards parties favouring continued participation in the euro.
The nod from WA's environmental watchdog yesterday will not be enough for Sinosteel Midwest Corp to take its $2 billion Weld Range project off ice, although the Chinese group has welcomed the decision as an “important step”.
Empire Oil & Gas is still waiting on final sign-off on its land-buy in Gingin, after settlement was delayed by negotiations with Image Resources over access to an easement on an adjoining property.
The value of Nicholas Curtis' stake in Lynas Corp, the rare earths miner he heads, briefly topped $16 million yesterday as the group's shares soared on the news it was a step closer to switching on its controversial Malaysian processing plant.
THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW:
Page 1: European governments, including Germany, signalled they may relax the austerity measures imposed on Greece following the weekend election, which is likely to lead to a coalition government that will accept the tough international action taken against the indebted country.
Gina Rinehart, the largest shareholder in Fairfax Media, has asked for three board seats and the right to make editorial decisions in a move that is expected to be opposed by the company's existing directors.
Fairfax Media has kicked off a long-awaited radical restructuring of the newspaper industry, with the loss of one in five staff over the next three years and a plan to switch to a digital-only model if necessary.
Page 3: Perth entrepreneur Nic Trimboli and marketing executive Howard Cearns will collect about $30 million each from the sale of West Australian brewer Little World Beverages, one of the most successful brewers to tap into Australia's love of boutique beer.
Page 4: Australia's top treasury official said the nation's next 20 years would be as prosperous as the past two decades if it tackled tough reforms before the population became too old to accept them.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has put fiscal, monetary and banking policies at the centre of her argument to Group of 20 leaders to commit to specific plans to spur economic growth, saying fiscal consolidation and austerity will not be enough to revive collapsing economies.
Page 5: The federal government is facing last-minute pressure from the Greens and key independents to provide more assistance to the tourism industry or risk the failure of legislation to increase the charge on passengers leaving Australia.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has accused the Coalition of running a scare campaign against new marine reserves after it prevented him travelling to a global environment conference.
Page 6: The federal government will publish the review of its Fair Work Act next week and consult with employers and unions before acting on any recommendations to change the industrial relations laws, sources said.
The Greens will push for changes to workplace and immigration laws that will impose tighter regulation on the controversial enterprise migration agreements, such as Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill agreement.
Page 8: The boom in rooftop solar power and delays in bringing on coal-seam gas have dampened wholesale electricity prices, locking in coal-fired electricity generation over gas, Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson says.
The consumer watchdog has advised business not to raise prices until they have seen the effects of the carbon tax after it is introduced on July 1.
Page 11: The federal government and opposition yesterday warned mining magnate Gina Rinehart against interfering with the editorial direction of Fairfax Media newspapers, after she confirmed her increased stake in the company.
Page 26: Stricken Japanese nuclear operator Tokyo Electric Power Co has joined with three partners to buy a multi billion-dollar stake in Chevron's Wheatstone liquefied natural gas project and lock in extra gas supplies for energy-starved Japan.
THE AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: The nation’s oldest newspaper business, Fairfax Media, has foreshadowed the end of its printed mastheads with plans to turn its iconic broadsheet papers into tabloids, erect paywalls around its websites and axe 1900 jobs, including one in four journalists.
A switch from coal-fired electricity generation to gas will take longer than the Gillard government expects, delivering a blow to one of the key assumptions behind the carbon pricing package.
Labor has left open the prospect of further changes to the Fair Work Act, telling employers it will examine proposed amendments designed to reduce the capacity of workers to take strike action where employers refuse to negotiate.
Page 2: The head of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has defended Europe’s actions to ‘‘protect the integrity and stability of the eurozone’’ after Julia Gillard continued to deliver economic advice to the EU to follow ‘‘the Australian way’’ on economic growth.
Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson says Greece remains a threat to economic stability despite the election victory by pro-European forces, but he believes Australia will be able to ride out any deterioration in the European crisis.
Page 3: The nation’s biggest employer of teachers, the NSW government, is challenging the quality of training provided by universities amid concerns about the low entrance scores for education degrees and the lack of opportunities to practise in real classrooms.
Page 4: State treasurers are opening a new front in their stoush with Canberra over the GST ahead of a meeting next week to review the tax, amid fears more than $1 billion has been lost through loopholes in the law.
Tony Abbott will today sharpen his attack on Labor’s 2012-13 budget by accusing Wayne Swan of hiding or ‘‘fiddling’’ up to $14 billion in spending to manufacture the government’s promised $1.5bn budget surplus.
Page 6: Greying workers are having to work longer and cut spending as they reel from a global crisis that has eaten into nest eggs, raising concerns about tax changes that could discourage savings .The Newstart Allowance, known as the dole, has fallen from 27 per cent of the average wage to 24 per cent in the past decade for a single unemployed person, while the level of Newstart Allowance as a proportion of the national minimum wage has declined from 44 per cent to 41 per cent.
Page 9: Negotiations between Fairfax Media and Gina Rinehart for the mining magnate to secure board representation are at a stalemate, despite her Hancock Prospecting revealing yesterday it had increased its stake to 18.7 per cent.
Business: Fairfax Media has headed off a potential move against the board by a group of disgruntled shareholders after announcing plans to slash almost one-fifth of its workforce and take out $235 million in costs over the next three years.
Japan has bought a $4 billion-plus equity stake in the Wheatstone liquefied natural gas project in Western Australia, confirming the Asian nation’s increased reliance on gas imports after its 50 nuclear reactors were shut following the Fukushima disaster.
Fresh doubts have emerged over the future of Western Australia’s $5.9 billion Oakajee port and rail project.
China-backed Sinosteel Midwest has ticked off another approval for its Western Australian iron ore operation but the project remains parked pending progression of the Oakajee port and rail development.
Lynas is hoping to finally be issued an operating licence for its controversial Malaysian processing plant after saying it can meet new conditions added to the licence by the Malaysian government last week.
Ampella Mining’s test of its appeal as a takeover candidate has fallen flat, even though it became 40 per cent ‘‘cheaper’’ since it announced it would test the waters for corporate buyers in early April.
Bankwest has defended its lending practices in the aftermath of the global financial crisis amid claims it unfairly toughened credit standards to ensure its own survival.
Greek voters broke months of political stalemate by narrowly endorsing pro-bailout forces in a momentous election, easing fears of an imminent rupture with the eurozone — for the moment.
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:
Page 1: The success of pro-austerity parties in the Greek elections buoys share markets. Fairfax Media to axe 1900 jobs and close two printing presses in Sydney and Melbourne.
Page 2: The High Court told a Tamil refugee spent three years in immigration detention because no other country would have him.
Page 3: Gay marriage advocates accept that parliament will defeat two equality bills.
World: The Muslim Brotherhood claims victory in the Egyptian presidential elections despite the military declaring it has power over the nation's future.
Business: Fears of the eurozone breaking up ease following a narrow victory for Greece's conservative New Democracy Party.
Sport: The immediate playing futures of Sam Perrett and Anthony Mitchell with the Sydney Roosters are
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH:
Page 1: Readers of the people's gazette want cheaper power bills.
Page 3: A male staffer accusing Speaker Peter Slipper of sexual harassment showed lewd text messages to a female colleague.
Page 5: Viewers loved Nine Network's The Voice.
World: Facebook to donate $10 million to charity to settle a lawsuit over ads.
Business: Mining magnate Gina Rinehart increases her stake in Fairfax Media.
Sport: Sam Kasiano's expected defection to Queensland is set to destroy State of Origin's integrity.
THE AGE:
Page 1: Fairfax Media to axe 1900 jobs, close printing presses in Melbourne and Sydney, and convert The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald into tabloid newspaper formats. The father-daughter combination of David and Hayley Chapman creates an Olympic first as they team up in the shooting team. AFL to investigate alleged sexual slur by Bulldog Will Minson about the mother of Port Adelaide opponent Danyle Pearce.
Page 2: High Court told little prospect of another country accepting a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee who has spent almost three years in detention.
Page 3: Government slaps Metro with a record fine for too many late trains and skipping stations to make up time. Crown Casino security staff in court over the death of a patron who had been held face down on the ground.
Scientists claim overweight people are a threat to food security. Six-year-old autistic boy rejected by autism school because his language disorder was not severe enough to qualify for funding. Accused says he found the murdered body of a close friend whom he owed $180,000 but didn't tell anyone about it.
World: UN withdrawal will trigger a bloodbath in Homs, say Syrian rebels.
Business: Greeks vote for conservatives, quelling fears of a damaging break-up of the eurozone.
Sport: AFL investigator probes claims that Bulldog Will Munson slurred the mother of Port Adelaide opponent Danyle Pearce in an on-field sledge.
THE HERALD SUN:
Page 1: Melbourne Water and Victorian government in backflip over water bills and will repay households for overcharging and scrap planned water hikes. Bulldog Will Minson investigated after alleged on-field sledge of an opponent's mother.
Page 2: Task force established to hunt down thugs who bashed taxi drivers and smashed their cars.
Page 3: Father and daughter team of David and Hayley Chapman in the Olympic shooting team. Melbourne council planning to extend no-smoking bans to suburban footy grounds, outdoor events and near barbecues and picnic tables.
World: Rodney King, the man infamously beaten by LA police 20 years ago, found dead.
Business: Media experts say Fairfax's deteriorating outlook forced its hands on job losses and new tabloid look.
Sport: The AFL launches an investigation into alleged crude sexual references by Bulldog Will Minson to Port Adelaide's Danyle Pearce about his mother.
THE CANBERRA TIMES:
Page 1: Fairfax will cut 1900 staff and plans to downsize its Sydney and Melbourne broadsheets to tabloid format.
Page 2: Prime Minister Julia Gillard warns world leaders of "human cost" of not taking action to stabilise Europe's banking system.
Page 3: Canberra's water utility has been actively selling surplus water in the market since 2011.
World: Greece's pro-bailout parties win election and are poised to form a coalition government.
Business: Fairfax CEO Greg Hywood says massive job cuts are needed to ensure the company's future as a leading independent media player.
Sport: Webb Simpson wins 112th US Open - the ninth straight first-time winner in majors.
