It’s not easy to get inside the mind of a High Court judge, but when Justice Gummow used the word “Orwellian” last week in the latest instalment of ASIC v Andrew Forrest a bell tinkled in my mind.
Fortescue Metals Group has hit back at Treasurer Wayne Swan, calling his attack on company founder Andrew Forrest “extreme”, “irrational” and “very disappointing”.
There is no law against providing lousy financial advice, but there ought to be, and the first person investigated should be the man in charge of Australia’s finances, Wayne Swan.
Andrew Forrest has a habit of causing controversy, but his latest assault on the establishment could go much further than a headline grabbing declaration about Fortescue Metals skipping any mining tax
ASX puts heat on resource stocks - The Fin; Wesfarmers to lower performance hurdle – The Aus; Swan urged to act on tax talk - The Aus; Barnett walks into firestorm - The Fin; Vics told to follow SA on mining - The Advertiser
Treasurer Wayne Swan has warned of "very substantial headwinds" facing the global economy but said people should be confident about the strength in Australia's economic fundamentals.
TREASURER Wayne Swan came out in defence of the proposed carbon tax this week, saying it won’t lead to job losses; but farmers across Western Australia have hit out at the tax, saying it will compromise profitability.
West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says the government decided to lift royalty rates fully aware it could lose in GST revenue, while Treasurer Wayne Swan has conceded he knew of Mr Barnett's plan as early as last year.
The federal government has warned Western Australia will get lower GST grants and lower infrastructure funding after the state announced an increase in iron ore royalties in today's budget.
"Doomed from the day it was conceived, and rightly so". They were the opening words used in this column five months ago about the proposed merger of the Australian and Singapore stock exchange - and they're worth repeating today.
The federal government's own consultation group has thrown up a barrier to the hotly contested Minerals Resource Rent Tax, saying all state royalties should be credited to mining companies, in direct opposition to the goverment's stated position.
QR National to be last big sale for Qld - The Fin; Housing still weak link for WA economy - The West; Swan's bid to boost small banks - The Aus; Carbon price 'no peril to economy' - The Fin; New front opens in push by low-paid - The Fin
