Regulation

The competition watchdog said today it planned to deny authorisation to a proposed partnership between Virgin Australia Holdings and Alliance Aviation Services because it would lessen competition in the West Australian market.

The 12-year old scandal over the Australian Wheat Board’s payments to the government of Iraq has moved closer to final resolution, with its former chairman Trevor Flugge convicted today of breaching his duties as a director but cleared of more serious charges concerning his knowledge of the payments.

The Federal Court has approved multi-million dollar fines slapped on ANZ Banking Group and Macquarie Bank for attempted fixing of the benchmark rate for the Malaysian ringgit, reaching the decision only "with some hesitation".

A former Get Approved Finance broker has had his appeal denied after a tribunal backed an earlier decision to permanently ban him from the industry.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has permanently banned a former Perth-based finance broker after finding he had engaged in misleading conduct.

Senior executives have created a poor compliance culture at the four major banks and should be named and shamed over mistreatment of customers, a parliamentary inquiry has found.

Interior design firm Habitat1 has secured a Supreme Court injunction against its founder, Christian Formby, after he sought to transfer its domain name to a new company and set up a business called Habitat Interiors.

The auditor general says former transport minister Dean Nalder’s decision to withhold information from parliament about his proposed Max Light Rail project was unreasonable, as the details were already in the public domain.

A 39-year-old man killed when he was crushed on an oil rig support vessel in waters off the Pilbara coast last year was standing in a dangerous spot in treacherous weather, the transport safety watchdog has found.

The Environmental Protection Authority has recommended approval of Fortescue Metals Group’s proposed extension plans at its Solomon iron ore operations near Tom Price, subject to a number of strict conditions.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has launched civil proceedings against Perth-based State One Stockbroking, and in a separate matter has accepted undertakings from two liquidators employed by Melsom Robson.

Aspiring gold miner Gold Road Resources has received the Environmental Protection Authority’s nod of approval for its proposed development of its $507 million Gruyere project near Laverton.

The recently appointed Australian small business and family enterprise ombudsman has launched an inquiry into the payment practices of big businesses and governments across Australia.

Macmahon Holdings has unveiled the remuneration package for new chief executive Michael Finnegan, adding to a trend in the contracting sector for lower base salaries but greater potential for bonuses.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has permanently banned a Perth man from providing financial services after finding he had redirected $254,000 worth of clients’ funds into his own accounts.

Perth-based Cash Converters International has agreed to refund $10.8 million to customers and pay a $1.3 million fine after enforceable undertakings were accepted by the corporate watchdog.

The competition watchdog has raised concerns about the way Aldi, Coles and Woolworths treat suppliers when dumping products from their supermarket shelves.

The Australian Securities Exchange has softened the changes to its listing requirements for companies wishing to trade on the stock market, with the new rules to take effect from next month.

A former York real estate agent has lost his licence and his son is facing further penalties after the State Administrative Tribunal upheld allegations they pocketed $6 million from deceitful and misleading land deals.

The supervisor of Dianella-based building company Frayson has been fined $15,000 for failing in his duties as a manager and supervisor on work carried out at 20 Perth properties over a 10-year period.

The state government has failed to hit any of the targets in its own waste management strategy, and part of the reason is a lack of coordination among its two key agencies, a review by the auditor general has found.

The co-founders of a successful property developer Nicheliving are mired in a legal dispute after plans to buy out key executive Danne Forte were halted when other directors questioned his financial projections.

Grain handling cooperative CBH Group has opened itself up to increased competition in the provision of grain transport services, following a review by the competition watchdog.

The Environmental Protection Authority has recommended approval of BC Iron’s extension plans at its Iron Valley mine near Newman.

The corporate watchdog is looking at how the ASX, brokers and investors operate on the share market following the exchange's September crash.

Veronica Macpherson’s Macro Realty Developments has had its Australian financial services licence torn up by the corporate regulator.

Advisers to mining and exploration companies have tentatively welcomed new guidance from the corporate regulator on forward-looking statements but believe more clarity is needed.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management has been appointed by the corporate watchdog to sell a portion of shares in Sovereign Gold Company held by former Applabs Technologies directors which were found to have been acquired invalidly.

Telstra has defended the quality of its network after a series of major disruptions this year while also warning against the possible regulation of mobile roaming charges.

A lack of clear information in Australian broadband advertising is contributing toward unrealistic expectations of internet speed, the chairman of the consumer watchdog says.

Former footballer and insurance broker Andrew Donnelly has failed to overturn freezing orders that were imposed in January in relation to the alleged misuse of $5.1 million of trust funds from his old business.

The competition regulator has initiated Federal Court proceedings against Perth-based franchise chain Pastacup and its co-founder Stuart Bernstein for alleged breaches of the Franchising Code of Conduct.