Carbon tax hostility at record high – The Fin; Mining levy 'has already damaged the economy' – The Aus; Union action stalls one in five mining projects – The Aus; Mystery DJs bid raises eyebrows – The West; Property price falls lure buyers back to the SW – The West
Carbon tax hostility at record high
Public opposition to the Gillard government's carbon scheme hit a record high on the eve of its introduction, despite the payment of billions of dollars of household assistance and bonuses to parents of schoolchildren. The Fin
Mining levy 'has already damaged the economy'
The ‘‘highly discriminatory’’ mining tax has already damaged Australia’s international reputation and will discourage investment in the minerals industry, West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says. The Aus
Union action stalls one in five mining projects
One in five new resources projects are stalling because unions are refusing to strike workplace agreements, putting pressure on companies to accept exorbitant wage claims or risk damaging investor confidence in the $500 billion pipeline of potential projects. The Aus
Mystery DJs bid raises eyebrows
The man behind the mysterious $1.65 billion takeover offer for Australia's oldest department store David Jones has revealed himself as John Edgar, a Scotsman linked to dubious one-pound companies, including a British beverage firm that claims to sell halal vodka for $5.3 million a bottle. The West
Property price falls lure buyers back to the SW
Bargain hunters in search of the perfect beachfront “shack” in Eagle Bay and Dunsborough are re-entering the market in droves, encouraged by a fall from pre-boom prices. The West
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: The state government will introduce a new system to fast-track patients into Perth's three major adult hospitals and take pressure off swamped emergency departments.
Page 4: The check-in and dispatch of thousands of flights around the world was thrown into bedlam yesterday, after one of the world's biggest reservations and check-in systems had a major outage.
Page 5: As Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott began their fight to the death over carbon, businesses warned they would begin jacking up prices to offset their higher costs.
Page 6: Newly installed Education Minister Peter Collier wants more pastoral care in state schools to solve behavioural management problems.
Page 8: The man behind the mysterious $1.65 billion takeover offer for Australia's oldest department store David Jones has revealed himself as John Edgar, a Scotsman linked to dubious one-pound companies, including a British beverage firm that claims to sell halal vodka for $5.3 million a bottle.
Page 9: The state government appears unlikely to further deregulate retail trading hours, with Premier Colin Barnett declaring yesterday he was not inclined to make more changes to rules that govern when shops can open.
Page 10: Bargain hunters in search of the perfect beachfront “shack” in Eagle Bay and Dunsborough are re-entering the market in droves, encouraged by a fall from pre-boom prices.
WA's consumer watchdog has launched a fresh scam warning for computer users to not be fooled into believing there is something wrong with their machine.
Page 14: Coles' move to pay more for milk was too little, too late for third-generation Dardanup farmer John Giumelli who sold his 120-strong herd last week.
Page 16: WA's mining companies are seeing an influx of people who love their XXXX, rugby league and lattes on Lygon Street.
Page 17: The state government has failed to live up to plans to establish reserves in South West forests, prompting WA's environmental watchdog to warn about the ecological costs of inaction.
Business: David Jones will attempt to re-establish contact this week with its mysterious takeover suitor over the nature of its $1.65 billion takeover offer for the exclusive retailer amid growing concerns over the credibility of the surprise bid.
Scooter manufacturer Vmoto has secured a breakthrough $86 million deal to make electric scooters for the Chinese market.
THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW:
Page 1: Public opposition to the Gillard government's carbon scheme hit a record high on the eve of its introduction, despite the payment of billions of dollars of household assistance and bonuses to parents of schoolchildren.
The chairman of the obscure UK-based private equity group that has made a $1.65 billion takeover offer for department store David Jones has denied the proposal is a hoax, maintaining it is preliminary but “serious”.
A former top Department of Finance official has warned that the federal budget is exposed to a $3.5 billion hole if the carbon price falls towards international prices after the $23 carbon tax moves to an emissions trading scheme in 2015.
Page 3: Business will get the chance to argue for cuts in penalty rates in the retail and hospitality sectors, but Fair Work Australia has flagged that the corporate case will come under close scrutiny.
Page 5: Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder has warned it is only a matter of time before supermarket prices start rising due to the carbon tax, as supplier start passing on the cost impact of the scheme.
The Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to leave borrowing costs unchanged tomorrow, for the first time in three months, to gauge whether a flood of government handouts hitting households will revive confidence.
Page 6: Smaller miners have spent up to half a million dollars each preparing for the federal government's 22.5 per cent mining tax which came into effect yesterday, but remain uncertain how much they will pay due to volatile commodity prices.
Greens leader Christine Milne has claimed the introduction of the carbon price is her party's greatest achievement and said she would now push for reform of electricity markets.
Page 13: David Jones is pressing EB Private Equity for more information about its management, its $1.65 billion offer for the retailer and its funding plans, as the mysterious suitor insists its offer is “serious”.
Page 16: BHP Billiton is working on a staged construction plan for its $US10 billion-plus Jansen potash project in Canada in line with its projected cash flows as it considers the development timetable for its large mining projects.
THE AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: Julia Gillard has likened carbon pricing to ‘‘divisive’’ past reforms such as Mabo and the GST, predicting voters will ultimately accept the tax, seen as crucial to the future of her leadership and Labor’s electoral fortunes.
The defeat of the Queensland Labor government has failed to lessen anger towards the Gillard government, which would lose every single House of Representatives MP in the state — including Kevin Rudd — if an election were held now.
The government and the Greens are on a political collision course over the first major policy milestone of the new carbon pricing scheme — a review of the renewable energy target blamed by some regulators for rising power costs.
One in five new resources projects are stalling because unions are refusing to strike workplace agreements, putting pressure on companies to accept exorbitant wage claims or risk damaging investor confidence in the $500 billion pipeline of potential projects.
Page 2: The Greens plan to add the National Broadband Network to their political armoury, using it to link their inner-city supporters’ taste for fresh food with the desire among some farmers to boycott Coles and Woolworths.
The ‘‘highly discriminatory’’ mining tax has already damaged Australia’s international reputation and will discourage investment in the minerals industry, West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says.
Page 3: The offshore predator stalking David Jones has confirmed its interest in the retailer’s property assets — notably the flagship Melbourne and Sydney stores — leaving a question mark over the future of the 174-year-old department store’s operations.
A computer glitch left thousands of domestic and international airline passengers stranded yesterday after a reservations system crashed, disrupting flights around the country.
Page 4: Labor's overhaul of federal-state funding has led to a surge in red tape and financial uncertainty and created a new era of coercive rather than co-operative federalism, the Victorian Treasury says.
The federal Coalition is facing a $20 million-plus campaigning deficit due to the combined spending pull of the Left, with Labor, unions, greens and other activist groups dwarfing the conservatives’ spending ability.
Page 6: The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has taken a swipe at the consumer watchdog, accusing it of intimidating commercial operations and trying to mask the cost impact of the carbon tax on business.
Page 7: Labor has snapped into sales mode on the carbon tax, with Julia Gillard and her ministers insisting it will have little effect on consumers and attacking Tony Abbott as a scaremonger who has overstated its effects for political gain.
Councils are preparing for a big hit to their bottom lines from the carbon tax, with local government bodies across the country bracing for a backlash from residents as they receive higher rates notices.
Business: The European private equity company planning a $1.65 billion bid for David Jones claims it is a genuine operation and keen to pursue its indicative offer, despite being ‘‘taken aback’’ by the retailer’s decision to reveal the early talks to the market.
The latest eurozone deal has bolstered world markets hoping for a long-term solution to the debt crisis, but analysts are split on whether it will be another false dawn for the struggling region.
The nation’s peak mining body grudgingly acknowledged the introduction of the Gillard government’s mining tax yesterday, labelling it a workable but excessive revenue-raising exercise.
The nation’s biggest transport operators and manufacturers have vowed to pass on cost increases from the carbon tax, setting the scene for a showdown with retailers that have vowed to push their suppliers to keep prices low.
Tim Carstens reckons he is living proof that the mining tax furore of the past two years has helped divert billions of dollars worth of potential investment away from the nation to more welcoming regions such as Africa.
Perth-based Skywest Airlines expects its full-year net profit to head south this year, despite revenue growth of 25 per cent, due to its agreement to operate regional services for Virgin Australia.
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:
Page 1: The Gillard government has its back against the wall as it implements the carbon price, with the latest poll showing Labor deeply unpopular and support for its policy at its lowest level since it was announced.
Page 2: Thousands of poor and vulnerable residents of the state's boarding houses will be given stronger protection from exploitation under proposed legislation.
Page 3: Balmain Tigers fans have called on the Balmain Tigers Leagues Club to hold an extraordinary general meeting to explain revelations detailing the financial involvement of the former club great Benny Elias in the club's controversial redevelopment.
World: World leaders have agreed to push the Syrian government and opposition forces to begin negotiations towards a transitional government but failed to specify whether President Bashar al-Assad must be excluded.
Business: David Jones will attempt to re-establish contact this week with its mysterious takeover suitor, the little-known EB Private Equity and its equally enigmatic head, John Edgar, over the nature of its $1.65 billion takeover offer for the upmarket retailer amid growing concerns over the credibility of the surprise bid.
Sport: At the start of the series Ricky Stuart sat down with his enigmatic five-eighth and assured him he was part of a three-game plan to take back the Origin crown, not a one-game gamble.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH:
Page 1: Businesses are raising prices for everything from food and power to insurance and health after the carbon tax kicked in.
Page 2: The age of children seeking the help of tutors is getting younger and younger, with parents now forking out thousands of dollars to have preschoolers privately coached for school entrance assessments.
Page 3: It was a matter of a simple second, but it cost air travellers hours.
World: World powers have agreed to a plan for a transition in Syria that could include current regime members - but the West does not see any role for President Bashar al-Assad in a new unity government.
Business: Bank customers have been put in the driver's seat when it comes to switching accounts, with an increase in bank hopping expected under new reforms.
Sport: Just how big will this Origin decider be? How about the most-watched rugby league match in history.
THE AGE:
Page 1: Public support for the carbon price plunges to a record low of 33 per cent. One-pound company behind mysterious $1.65 billion takeover bid for David Jones. Transport company Toll is using private investigators to spy on staff recovering from workplace injuries.
Page 2: Voters demand the government and opposition find a compromise over asylum seekers.
Page 3: Retail struggling in CBD with 12 shops closed in the fashion precinct attached to Southern Cross Station. Census shows mining boom attracting people who love their XXXX beer, rugby league and lattes on Lygon Street. Surgeons at Monash Medical Centre using a camera to see directly inside the beating heart during surgery.
World: World powers split as they fail to come up with consensus to end the civil war in Syria.
Business: Concern grows over credibility of $1.65 billion takeover offer for David Jones from little-known EB Private Equity.
Sport: North surge into the top eight with gritty win over St Kilda.
THE HERALD SUN:
Page 1: New curriculum will teach students first aid for overdoses, how to pour standard drinks and study drug-free ways to achieve a high.
Page 2: Melbourne's CBD grows by 50 per cent to include the 240ha Fishermans Bend redevelopment site.
Page 3: Big squeeze in jails as lawyers encourage sending prisoners home early to avoid riots in the cells. Melbourne shivers through its coldest day in four years. Schoolgirl fight on a nature strip ends up on YouTube.
World: At least 13 dead as violent storms pummel eastern US.
Business: Industry vows to keep up the pressure on the federal government to water down its environment laws.
Sport: Roos down St Kilda and bounce into the top eight.
