WA insurer tempers price hikes
The head of WA’s top health insurer, HBF’s John Ven Der Wielen, says the local fund is on track to meet the Federal Government’s push for lower price hikes, with premium submissions due today. The West
Loans double at non-banks as majors slide
The major banks lost market share to non-bank, fintech and neobanks in commercial lending in 2019, according to analysis of broker loan books. The Fin
AWU accused of firing official after harassment complaint
The Australian Workers Union has been accused of firing a senior official and Labor candidate because she made sexual harassment allegations against officials to the union watchdog. The Fin
It’s time to fail school reports
School report cards across the country should be scrapped and “real time” reporting implemented, with the current mandated Federal system acting like a “straitjacket”, experts say. The West
Shield needed for Tax Office whistleblowers
Tax Office whistleblowers should be given tougher legal projection when disclosing confidential information to the independent watchdog, the new Inspector-General of Taxation says. The Fin
Power reform plan sparks fury
The electricity industry is in revolt against plans by one of the peak regulators to radically alter the way generators are paid for supplying power, based on their location. The Aus
Trade hopes lift Aussie blue chips
Investors are piling into Australia’s blue chip companies as an apparent easing of global trade tensions unleashes a rotation of money into stocks regarded as relatively inexpensive, driving the ASX toward its record high. The Fin
Priceline can now track customers in real time
Australia’s Priceline Pharmacy network has changed the way its managers track what products people are buying and when they shop the most with a new app that collects and displays near real-time data. The Fin
Optus calls for healthy 5G message
Optus is asking the Morrison government to rewrite the rule book on 5G, warning that a concerted effort will be required from the industry to stomp out the misinformation about the health threat posed by the technology. The Aus
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Investors are piling into Australia’s blue chip companies as an apparent easing of global trade tensions unleashes a rotation of money into stocks regarded as relatively inexpensive, driving the ASX toward its record high.
NSW emergency services have urged mass evacuations and the closure of more than 350 schools ahead of a ‘‘catastrophic’’ bushfire threat today, as local firefighters are joined by interstate personnel and defence forces to minimise the damage.
The Australian Workers Union has been accused of firing a senior official and Labor candidate because she made sexual harassment allegations against officials to the union watchdog.
Page 7: First home buyers are streaming back into the housing market and the Morrison government’s first home loan deposit scheme due to start in January will put further upward pressure on prices, according to property industry professionals.
Page 8: Tax Office whistleblowers should be given tougher legal projection when disclosing confidential information to the independent watchdog, the new Inspector-General of Taxation says.
Page 12: A Spanish far-right party doubled its standing in a national election on Sunday that made clear just how polarised Spanish politics has become and did little to help end the government’s long deadlock.
Page 17: Bunnings’ acquisition of a family-run power tools retailer in Adelaide is under a cloud after the competition regulator launched a review into whether the deal will reduce competition.
Page 18: The major banks lost market share to non-bank, fintech and neobanks in commercial lending in 2019, according to analysis of broker loan books.
Page 19: West Australian police have sent homicide squad detectives to a mine site to investigate what is being called a suspicious death.
Page 23: IT services and consulting giant Accenture will dramatically slash its local leadership team, with up to a quarter of managing director level executives being shown the door after a second consecutive year of missing internal sales targets.
Page 26: Australia’s Priceline Pharmacy network has changed the way its managers track what products people are buying and when they shop the most with a new app that collects and displays near real-time data.
The Australian
Page 1: Former diplomat Alexander Downer is believed to have told US investigators looking into the origins of the Russia investigation that he was not part of any conspiracy to undermine Donald Trump’s election campaign.
Page 4: Owners of medium-sized businesses have grown markedly more pessimistic about the economy in recent months, with nearly three in five advocating further government stimulus over achieving a budget surplus.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has declared the Nationals are “no longer the party of the bush”, after the junior Coalition partner rejected her push to introduce a minimum price for milk.
Page 17: The electricity industry is in revolt against plans by one of the peak regulators to radically alter the way generators are paid for supplying power, based on their location.
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, which on Monday hosted the world’s biggest online shopping day, is supporting a new form of retail in China, according to Alastair Symington, the newly appointed chief executive of vitamin manufacturer Blackmores.
Page 19: Optus is asking the Morrison government to rewrite the rule book on 5G, warning that a concerted effort will be required from the industry to stomp out the misinformation about the health threat posed by the technology.
Page 25: Google’s harvesting of Australians’ location data represents the tip of the iceberg, according to the Consumer Policy Research Centre chief executive Lauren Solomon, who is calling for urgent reform of the Privacy Act to better protect consumers against the murky and vague data practices of the tech giants.
The West Australian
Page 3: School report cards across the country should be scrapped and “real time” reporting implemented, with the current mandated Federal system acting like a “straitjacket”, experts say.
Page 7: GPs will become a one-stop shop for patients seeking medicinal cannabis under law changes designed to improve access to the drug for therapeutic purposes.
Page 8: Restrictions that require a specialist to sign off on any voluntary assisted dying case have made the laws “virtually unworkable” in Victoria, where people are dying in agony before they can cut through the red tape.
Page 14: Stemming youth unemployment starts in childhood by addressing academic issues earlier to avoid kids being jobless in later life, according to a new report.
Page 18: A teacher at an elite Perth school has appeared in court accused of using social media to communicate inappropriately with an under-age girl over a four-year period from 2010.
Business: Many Australians are gloomy about their prospects in future workplaces and most see employers valuing them less in the years to come, according to a new survey by Rio Tinto.
The head of WA’s top health insurer, HBF’s John Ven Der Wielen, says the local fund is on track to meet the Federal Government’s push for lower price hikes, with premium submissions due today.
Qantas has vowed to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 in a major expansion of its commitment to a more sustainable aviation industry.
Australian mining contractor Perenti Global says helicopters are being used to evacuate its local workers from a West African gold mine after a deadly militia attack that killed dozens.
China is set to replace Japan as the highest-value destination for Australian beef, according to the latest research from Rural Bank.
The Australian boss of multinational ride sharing giant Ola says the slowdown in WA’s economy has hit the ridesharing market.
