Super union ‘too big’ for the courts
Employers are pleading with the Fair Work Commission to block the merger of the militant construction and maritime unions over fears about its combined financial clout of almost $150 million a year, which would be able to withstand fines for unlawful industrial conduct. The Fin
Health fund rise ‘lowest in 15 years’
Financially strained families will be hit with a health premium rise this year of double the rate of inflation, despite insurers brokering the lowest hike in 15 years. The West
Uni places at risk as cuts kick in
Up to 10,000 prospective students could miss out on places at Australian universities this year if the sector is unable to absorb $2.2 billion in Federal Budget cuts, new modelling shows. The West
Taiwan: China should stay out of companies’ business
Taiwan has hit back at companies bowing to pressure from China to stop referring to the self-ruling island state as a country and says political measures not be used to influence business operations. The Fin
Canada wine war launched
Australia has launched formal action with the World Trade Organisation targeting Canada over a trade dispute involving Australian wine products, two months after Justin Trudeau snubbed Malcolm Turnbull and world leaders during crucial negotiations on a new Trans-Pacific Partnership deal. The Aus
Stadium win for St John
St John Ambulance has won a major contract to supply emergency medical treatment and first aid at Optus Stadium for the next three years. The West
Glut fears take shine off Galaxy
Galaxy Resources has announced record quarterly production and sales of lithium concentrate from its Mt Cattlin mine near Ravensthorpe. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Employers are pleading with the Fair Work Commission to block the merger of the militant construction and maritime unions over fears about its combined financial clout of almost $150 million a year, which would be able to withstand fines for unlawful industrial conduct.
Page 3: A leading employer group has cautioned against Malcolm Turnbull’s expectations that workers will soon get a pay rise, saying some business sectors were still struggling despite more positive overall economic signs.
Page 4: Taiwan has hit back at companies bowing to pressure from China to stop referring to the self-ruling island state as a country and says political measures not be used to influence business operations.
Page 6: Aldi is leading a case in the Fair Work Commission to give employers greater capacity to trade away penalty rates for other workplace benefits and still pass the ‘‘better off overall test’’.
Page 7: Telstra is investing heavily in its fault resolution services, identifying its new Get Help service as a priority for the business in 2018, as telcos continue to battle increasing complaints about national broadband network services.
Page 13: Surging commodity prices look set to drive upgrades to Rio Tinto profit forecasts, amid growing expectations the miner will pay its biggest dividend next month.
Page 15: One of the biggest foreign investors in Australia believes Japan will find it hard to source 20 per cent of its energy needs from nuclear power by 2030, creating an opportunity for Australian gas and coal exporters.
The Australian
Page 1: Australia has launched formal action with the World Trade Organisation targeting Canada over a trade dispute involving Australian wine products, two months after Justin Trudeau snubbed Malcolm Turnbull and world leaders during crucial negotiations on a new Trans-Pacific Partnership deal.
Page 3: A revised set of explicit warnings detailing the increased risk of bloods clots for those taking popular acne drug Diane-35 ED as an “off-label” contraceptive have been added to its production information statement following increased concern about its use.
Page 15: Confidential documents reveal Commonwealth Bank stressed to the anti-money-laundering regulator it was making a “significant investment” in its compliance systems and reporting breaches “in a timely manner”, just months before it was hit with legal action alleging huge reporting failures.
Kerr Neilson, the billionaire founder and CEO of Platinum Asset Management, has been gradually increasing the cyclical tilt of his international portfolios to benefit from synchronised global economic growth, while reducing exposure to some of the high-flying Chinese growth stocks, notably the internet plays like Badiu, Tencent and 58.com.
Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci is in New York hearing pitches from technology startups that could help to bulk up WooliesX, the supermarket’s new tech hub, as he pinpoints IT as a force about to transform retailing.
Page 16: The A2 Milk Company is set to make one of the biggest strategic moves in its 18-year history, expanding into the most populous region of North America as the centrepiece of plans to double the size of its business in the US.
The West Australian
Page 1: Colin Barnett — the man responsible for selecting Burswood as the site for Perth’s new stadium — has ridiculed plans to cap crowd numbers for its first major weeknight event as a “silly idea” that would embarrass the State.
Page 3: Financially strained families will be hit with a health premium rise this year of double the rate of inflation, despite insurers brokering the lowest hike in 15 years.
Page 13: Two of WA Labor’s most respected financial stewards have urged the McGowan Government to keep trimming the Budget in the face of community backlash, declaring painful cuts were never easy.
Page 16: Up to 10,000 prospective students could miss out on places at Australian universities this year if the sector is unable to absorb $2.2 billion in Federal Budget cuts, new modelling shows.
Page 24: St John Ambulance has won a major contract to supply emergency medical treatment and first aid at Optus Stadium for the next three years.
Page 25: Household waste charges could increase and Perth’s low recycling rates plummet further after China banned the importation of recycled products such as paper and plastics.
Business: Euroz is looking to investors’ improved appetite for resources stocks and stronger commodity prices to restore earnings growth in the second half.
Afterpay Touch shares are at a record high after the-buy-now-pay-later service revealed its underlying annual sales were on track to reach more than $2 billion and flagged a potential foray into the US.
Galaxy Resources has announced record quarterly production and sales of lithium concentrate from its Mt Cattlin mine near Ravensthorpe.
