Today's headlines

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN (Business news)

Gorgon gas project in doubt as costs double to more than $23b
The future of the huge Gorgon gas project of WA's North-West coast is under a cloud amid mounting speculation the construction cost has doubled to more than $23 billion and that production is likely to be delayed by another two years to 2014.

Top GRD holder eyes more
GRD's biggest shareholder has signalled that Transfield Services will have to increase its $529 million offer to win control of the engineering and waste management company.

Russian steel baron snaps up Medusa stake
Russian steel billionaire Alisher Usmanov has grabbed a 12.3 per cent stake in emerging Perth gold producer Medusa Mining after a whirlwind two-week due diligence period.

Territory to launch tilt at ConsMin
Consolidated Minerals last night received a formal notice from Michael Kiernan-chaired iron ore miner Territory Resources confirming its desire to launch a $680 million-plus counter-offer for the struggling WA manganese and nickel producer.

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN (General news)

Aboriginal leader attacks Carpenter
A prominent Aboriginal leader has launched a scathing attack on the State Government's lover its criticism over Howard's government's latest indigenous strategy, accusing Alan Carpenter of failaing to adress chronic problems suffered by many Aboriginals in Australia

Fong inquiry flawed: Lawyer
The State's inquiry into the Burke-Fong email scandal is fundamentally flawed and could be challenged in the Supreme court on the grounds of perceived bias, a prominent Perth lawyer said yesterday.

Boutique brewery heads to the east
North Fremantle's Matilda Bay Brewing Company, home to Australia's first boutique beer Redback and a raft of ales such as Beez Neez and Rooftop, is set to close with the loss of 70 jobs after a decision by Foster's to shift local brewing to the eastern states.

We are older, richer and our way to 21 million
Australians are older, richer, less Christian, more cosmopolitan and struggling to get their teenage sons to pick up after themselves, the 2006 Census shows.

THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

Take your partner:law firms ride boom times
Australia's largest corporate law firms are cashing in one of the buoyant economy and booming mergers and acquisitions activity to expand their partnership after sevral years of freezing or even culling partner numbers.

Tax Office blitz targets executives
An ATO campaign to ensure the nation's growing class of wealthy individuals and top business people pay their tax has recouped an extra $200 million this year and uncovered discrepancies in the tax returns of 180 executives and directors of large public companies.

Telstra vistory sparks industry brwal
Telstra has secured a crucial victory in its fights against governement rules that force it to offer phone services to every australian, clearing the way for an industry brawl over a scheme the company blames for adding $1.7 billion to its annula costs.

Unions fear AWAs will survive
A senior leader has queried wether Labor will stick to its policy to abolish Australian workplace agreements after flagging a more employer-friendly stance on issues such as the federal government's building industry policing body.