Breakthrough as Turnbull agrees to pay for Freight Link tunnel
Malcolm Turnbull will give WA an extra $260 million towards the Perth Freight Link, with the Commonwealth and State now united in their determination to get cracking on the project despite some residual community hostility. The West
Resources over the worst: PM
Malcolm Turnbull has applied his trademark optimism to the energy and resources sector, declaring Australia is through the worst of the big fall in prices. The West
BHP is poised to pounce: chief
BHP Billiton chief executive Andrew Mackenzie says that the February decision to abandon what had become a $US6.5 billion ($8.6bn) annual dividend commitment means BHP can now pounce on any “deal of the century’’. The Aus
Wesfarmers takes hit from ‘stupid’ Target
Wesfarmers boss Richard Goyder has conceded the proud 102-year old conglomerate has taken a knock to its most prized possession — its reputation — after what he called a “mind- blowingly stupid’’ decision by a clique of Target executives to hide sliding profitability using $21 million in improper payments from suppliers. The Aus
AAA credit rating at risk from rising public debt
Public-sector debt is rising to a level where Australia’s AAA credit rating will be in jeopardy unless next month’s budget delivers further significant savings. The Aus
Weak LNG prices to speed up move away from coal
The current weakness in liquefied natural gas prices will accelerate the evolution of a new global LNG spot market and will speed up China’s efforts to replace its coal-fired power generation with cleaner-burning gas, according to Origin Energy chief executive Grant King. The Aus
Grylls urges inquiry into Rio
Nationals MLA Brendon Grylls wants an inquiry into Rio Tinto doubling payment periods for contractors and suppliers, amid claims small businesses will fail because of the mining giant’s shock measure. The West
The Australian Financial Review
China has cracked down on imported food and consumer goods at airports and free-trade zones and has pulled products from Australian dairy producer Murray Goulburn from China’s biggest e-commerce site.
Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett, whose state is home to some of the biggest gas projects in the world, will slam the energy industry for hiding behind politicians and losing public battles against the global anti-fossil fuel movement.
Iron ore will probably snap back to $US45 a tonne as a nascent real-estate rebound in China won't bolster construction demand in the world's biggest user and supplies remain plentiful, according to McKinsey & Co.
Due to site error, the AFR was unavailable at time of publication.
The Australian
Page 1: Labor proceeded with its controversial policy of limiting negative gearing to new homes despite opposition Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen being warned last July that such a move would push down house prices and hit economic growth.
Page 2: Public-sector debt is rising to a level where Australia’s AAA credit rating will be in jeopardy unless next month’s budget delivers further significant savings.
Living standards stood still last year and have risen by a total of barely 1 per cent over the past five years, creating a political vulnerability for the federal government on the high cost of living.
Page 3: Creditors of Clive Palmer’s Queensland Nickel refinery will be urged today to plunge the cash-strapped business into liquidation, as former workers call on the federal government to expedite the payment of their redundancy entitlements.
An intensely hot and unseasonally dry wet season in the Kimberley has led to coral bleaching on inshore reefs and even outcrops along the famed tourist mecca of Cable Beach.
Page 6: Japan has launched a last minute public argument for Australia to select its submarine bid on technical and strategic grounds, ahead of Malcolm Turnbull’s visit to China.
Page 19: Wesfarmers boss Richard Goyder has conceded the proud 102-year old conglomerate has taken a knock to its most prized possession — its reputation — after what he called a “mind- blowingly stupid’’ decision by a clique of Target executives to hide sliding profitability using $21 million in improper payments from suppliers.
Blackmores has recorded its biggest ever one-day market fall on the back of Chinese regulatory concerns but chief Christine Holgate remains confident of the vitamin giant’s push into the economic powerhouse.
BHP Billiton chief executive Andrew Mackenzie says that the February decision to abandon what had become a $US6.5 billion ($8.6bn) annual dividend commitment means BHP can now pounce on any “deal of the century’’.
Page 20: The current weakness in liquefied natural gas prices will accelerate the evolution of a new global LNG spot market and will speed up China’s efforts to replace its coal-fired power generation with cleaner-burning gas, according to Origin Energy chief executive Grant King.
Page 23: Australia’s largest co-operative, the Western Australian CBH grain group, has released an economic impact study highlighting its financial benefits for grower shareholders and the importance of its overall contribution to the state’s economy.
The West Australian
Page 1: Malcolm Turnbull will give WA an extra $260 million towards the Perth Freight Link, with the Commonwealth and State now united in their determination to get cracking on the project despite some residual community hostility.
Page 4: Malcolm Turnbull has applied his trademark optimism to the energy and resources sector, declaring Australia is through the worst of the big fall in prices.
Page 5: Nationals MLA Brendon Grylls wants an inquiry into Rio Tinto doubling payment periods for contractors and suppliers, amid claims small businesses will fail because of the mining giant’s shock measure.
Page 16: The sluggish Perth property market has been held up in part by the biggest splurge of foreign money into homes and apartments on record.
Business: Royal Dutch Shell’s floating LNG prototype is thought to be two years behind its original schedule, demonstrating the complexity of a new processing module the energy sector hopes will deliver the next generation of liquefaction production.
World Rugby has penned a 10-year deal with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd to spark playing numbers and bring major events to the world’s most populous country.
Perth Airport has chosen the head of North Queensland Airports to replace Brad Geatches as chief executive.
CBH has used a report from independent adviser Deloitte Access Economics to highlight the significance of the grains industry to the WA economy.