End in sight to WA's mining boom: report – The West; Falling export prices a risk to surplus – The Fin; Bosses need to back off: Kearney – The Aus; Monopoly to blame for power cost: rival – The West; Protest over Harvey Estuary marina plan – The West
End in sight to WA's mining boom: report
WA's mining boom is about to peak, with wages growth to slow and some planned “mega mining” projects at risk of being shelved, a top economic forecaster has warned. The West
Falling export prices a risk to surplus
Eminent Labor economist Ross Garnaut has called for a wide ranging shake-up of federal-state relations, including the way GST money is shared among the states and how the system of mining royalties is undermining Canberra's resources tax. The Fin
Bosses need to back off: Kearney
Unions have signalled they will not accept employer calls for changes to the Fair Work Act, as another senior union official endorsed Julia Gillard’s leadership amid continuing speculation about the Prime Minister’s future. The Aus
Monopoly to blame for power cost: rival
A leading Perth power company, Perth Energy, has undermined claims that electricity tariffs have to jump by a further 20 per cent to cover the cost of production, saying it can make a profit selling energy at current prices. The West
Protest over Harvey Estuary marina plan
Conservationists, commercial fishers and Mandurah residents joined forces yesterday to protest against plans for a $1 billion marina and housing development on the eastern side of Harvey Estuary. The West
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: WA's mining boom is about to peak, with wages growth to slow and some planned “mega mining” projects at risk of being shelved, a top economic forecaster has warned.
Page 3: A university academic has raised concerns that schools are barring capable students from attempting difficult courses such as chemistry and advanced maths in Years 11 and 12, partly so they can boost their rankings on school league tables.
Page 4: Shadow attorney-general John Quigley has pledged Labor will not be drawn into a “phoney law and order auction” for the state election in March.
The state government says it is “happy to talk” about the construction of ocean swimming pools but they are not the solution to WA's spate of shark attacks.
Labor factional powerbroker Stephen Conroy has declared Julia Gillard will lead the party to the next election despite her and the government's abysmal approval ratings.
Page 6: Conservationists, commercial fishers and Mandurah residents joined forces yesterday to protest against plans for a $1 billion marina and housing development on the eastern side of Harvey Estuary.
Page 13: Quarantining welfare payments to some of WA's poorest communities has been championed in a landmark national food strategy that also pushes for more foreign investment in Australia's agricultural sector.
Business: Rupert Murdoch has quit as a director of a string of companies behind his embattled newspaper empire in a move that could see the octogenarian end his six-decade love affair with the print media.
A leading Perth power company has undermined claims that electricity tariffs have to jump by a further 20 per cent to cover the cost of production, saying it can make a profit selling energy at current prices.
Figures this week could show Australia's inflation rate at the lowest level this century.
THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW:
Page 1: The nation's leading non-official budget forecaster warns that Treasurer Wayne Swan will have to find further cuts to deliver his promised small surplus this year as tax receipts are hit by falling commodity export prices from slower Chinese economic growth and a weaker sharemarket.
Eminent Labor economist Ross Garnaut has called for a wide ranging shake-up of federal-state relations, including the way GST money is shared among the states and how the system of mining royalties is undermining Canberra's resources tax.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said that mining billionaire Gina Rinehart would pass the type of public interest test that cabinet would consider in coming weeks, saying a fit and proper person test would not be worth the paper it was written on.
Page 3: An Abbott government would consider fast-tracking the purchase of a fleet of small combat ships to protect offshore oil and gas fields in the north west and turn back asylum seeker boats.
Page 5: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Ged Kearney confirmed a meeting last week discussed the possibility of Kevin Rudd returning to the federal Labor leadership, but insists the movement is firmly behind Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Page 7: The dramatic rises in power prices will taper off within two years to about the average inflation rate because a fall in demand growth will allow power networks to slash investment in poles and wires, an industry planner has forecast.
New wind and gas-fired power projects are mainly displacing electricity from cleaner black-coal generators rather than more emissions-intensive brown-coal plants, a report to be released today shows.
Page 9: Global banks are still willing to finance large infrastructure projects but governments will have to take on more risk, says the chairman of Spanish construction giant Acciona.
Page 10: The Tax Office will try to secure the proceeds from any sale of two Perth residential properties owned by the socialite wife of fallen fertiliser tycoon Pankaj Oswal to recover part of a $186 million personal tax debt.
Page 14: Bluescope Steel, UGL and Watpac are among dozens of companies overhauling executive salary packages by more closely linking pay with performance and ditching excessive bonuses in a bid to avoid a potential board spill when the annual meeting season begins later this year.
Page 15: The Wesfarmers-owned Coles is expected to outperform Woolworths for the 12th consecutive quarter when the major food and liquor retailers release full year sales this week.
Page 28: Australian sharemarkets will battle further uncertainty and vulnerability this week after fresh worries about European bailout measures and Spain's borrowing costs climbed higher.
THE AUSTRALIAN:
Page 1: The federal government is going ahead with sweeping reforms to the school funding system, planning to release its blueprint next month with the ambitious goal of increasing spending on schools by about $6.5 billion.
Labor strategists in NSW and Victoria have formed a ‘‘consensus’’ that the Greens must be attacked as a ‘‘rival’’ party, in the wake of the ALP’s victory in the Melbourne state by-election and an outpouring of support for NSW general secretary Sam Dastyari’s tough preference line against the Greens.
Page 2: Investment in new power stations has stalled amid continued uncertainty over Australia’s energy policy and stricken black-coal generators are being squeezed out of the electricity market by falling demand, growing renewable energy and more gas use, new research suggests.
One of Australia’s leading economic consultancies has warned the budget surplus remains under pressure because of soft tax revenues sparked by a lacklustre sharemarket and by weaker house prices.
Page 4: Unions have signalled they will not accept employer calls for changes to the Fair Work Act, as another senior union official endorsed Julia Gillard’s leadership amid continuing speculation about the Prime Minister’s future.
Gina Rinehart would pass the government’s proposed public interest test for media ownership, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says.
Page 7: The Gillard government is looking for greater investment in rural research by private companies, multinational corporations and overseas investors to help boost the country’s food production capability.
Business: The big four banks’ losses on their Hastie Group exposures are set to escalate as builders working on incomplete Hastie projects start calling on performance bonds backed by the collapsed group’s lenders.
Pressure is expected to ease on Woolworths after today’s release of its fourth-quarter sales figures, with the supermarket giant expected to show signs of improved sales momentum by comfortably exceeding market forecasts.
Concerns that Spain would not be able to meet its funding needs helped to spark a global selloff in financial markets, as the government warned the country’s economic contraction would drag into next year, and one of its most indebted regional administrations asked the central government for help refinancing its debt.
Virgin Australia chief executive John Borghetti has vowed to keep up the competitive pressure on business-class airfares.
Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder has weighed into the debate over Australia’s complacency, warning that the nation has ‘‘no God-given right’’ to strong economic growth and must start planning for the end of the resources boom.
News Corporation chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch has quit the boards of several company subsidiaries as part of preparations for the coming split of the media giant into two companies.
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:
Page 1: A brother of the man charged with the murder of Thomas Kelly in Kings Cross is facing a murder charge for stabbing a teenager.
Page 2: Health authorities are investigating a new-age community's herbal supplements.
Page 3: Schools are paying millions to use freely available internet resources because of copyright laws.
World: US President Barack Obama travelling to Colorado to visit the families of gunned down theatre viewers.
Business: Two building firms a day are going to the wall, figures show.
Sport: Ricky Stuart has agreed to coach Parramatta for three years.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH:
Page 1: An elderly man's death has been blamed on an ambulance roster that removes paramedics from night duty.
Page 2: Increasing Australia's humanitarian intake to 25,000 would wipe out the budget surplus, the government has confirmed.
Page 3: Three sobering up shelters in Kings Cross promised during the state election campaign have not materialised.
World: Clashes between Syrian troops and rebels claim 130 lives in one day.
Business: First-time home buyers should plan for interest rates to rise again.
Sport: Leading sports doctors want the NRL to ban shoulder charge tackles.
THE AGE:
Page 1: A Melbourne pedophile priest has lived out his life in the UK because the Victoria Police failed to question him about serious child sex allegations. Prime Minister Julia Gillard sighs a deep breath as Labor claims a narrow victory in the Melbourne by-election. Climate Commission report says Victoria could get all its energy needs from the sun.
Page 2: Is Rupert Murdoch's love affair with print over as he quits as a director of a string of companies behind his embattled newspaper empire. Melbourne star Liam Jurrah arrives in Alice Springs to answer assault charges after an alleged confrontation in Little Sisters town camp in March.
Page 3: Budget surplus has gone and mining boom has got just two years to run, says Deloitte Access report. Thieves make off with $25,000 worth of pig carcasses at the height of the salami season. Tour de France star Bradley Wiggins' estranged father died a broken man in the La Trobe Valley in 2008 after a vicious assault. Upskirting arrests double after legislation was introduced to counter a surge in small but powerful cameras. Girl-loses-girl as country singer Beccy Cole reveals her sexuality in ABC's Australian Story.
World: Barack Obama heads for Colorado to console victims and families after the mass shooting at Denver movie cinema.
Business: Australia's building industry facing a crisis as at least two companies are going to the wall every day.
Sport: Seven-goal haul from North Melbourne's Drew Petrie puts in peril Richmond's finals hopes.
THE HERALD SUN:
Page 1: Their mother was buried next to a stranger, rather than their father, and now the family wants answers from the Preston Cemetery. Kangaroos into top eight after narrow win over Richmond.
Page 2: Climate change report urges Victorians to make use of wind and solar power. Demons star Liam Jurrah arrives in Alice Springs for court appearance on Monday.
Page 3: Mossad protecting Israeli athletes in London after fears an Iranian terror squad is planning to attack them. Volleyballer Natalie Cook threatens sitdown protest if a woman not given the honour of carrying the Australian flag at the Olympic Games opening ceremony.
World: 130 dead in a day's fighting between rebels and government troops in Syria.
Business: Victorian slips from third to fourth in CommSec "state of the states" report as jobs crisis worsens.
Sport: Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says Tigers aren't out of the finals race yet as they go down to North by four points.