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Soft jobs may mean Reserve Bank holds off
A stumbling labour market sent the jobless rate rising to a 13-month high of 5.9 per cent last month, complicating Reserve Bank of Australia plans to follow the US Federal Reserve’s official interest rate hikes to cool a resurgent property market. The Fin
Union backs ACTU boss on law-breaking
The construction union has enthusiastically backed new ACTU secretary Sally McManus’ view that it is ethical to break ‘‘unfair’’ laws while business says she has given a green light for union abuse and even violence towards the business community. The Fin
Vinci and Seymour Whyte: let’s talk
French construction group Vinci has edged out Watpac in a bidding competition for engineering group Seymour Whyte, making an indicative takeover proposal worth up to $126 million. The Fin
Praise and punch-up over Snowy plan
Malcolm Turnbull’s pitch for a nation-building expansion of the Snowy Hydro-electric Scheme has won praise from industry but has sparked a fresh fight with South Australia over national energy policy. The Aus
‘No union influence on cabinet portfolios’
Incoming West Australian premier Mark McGowan has denied trade unions played a role in allocating cabinet portfolios after he unveiled a 17-member ministry that includes Ben Wyatt, the nephew of federal Liberal MP Ken Wyatt, as treasurer and energy minister. The Aus
Telstra warning on black spot towers program
Telstra boss Andy Penn has warned that the telco could not guarantee its continued participation in the federal government’s mobile black spots program until the spectre of mandated domestic roaming was out of the picture. The Aus
WA hostage to east coast house prices
The Perth property market could be collateral damage as bank regulators try to cool investor mania in Sydney and Melbourne. The West
McGowan to demand fair share of GST
Mark McGowan has vowed to speak to every Labor premier to demand an overhaul of the GST system to deliver more cash to WA. The West
Scaffidi bars councillors speaking to The West
Perth’s Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has taken the unprecedented step of demanding that councillors sign a legal document declaring they had not spoken to a journalist from The West Australian. The West
Biggest lithium mine doubles
The Chinese and American owners of Talison Lithium have green-lit an expansion of its mine in the South West, the world’s biggest, which will more than double capacity. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: A stumbling labour market sent the jobless rate rising to a 13-month high of 5.9 per cent last month, complicating Reserve Bank of Australia plans to follow the US Federal Reserve’s official interest rate hikes to cool a resurgent property market.
East coast gas producers have given only vague assurances on making more gas available for local users after Wednesday’s CEO meeting in Canberra with the Prime Minister, confirming fears among manufacturers that they can expect little relief from high prices or any increase in short-term supplies.
Australian consumers are paying an average $130 a year more on their private health insurance premiums to cover a government-sponsored price regime for medical technology that delivers so much profit to multinational health companies that Australia is known as ‘‘Treasure Island’’, the not-for-profit health insurance sector claims.
Page 4: Major banks will shake up their relationships with mortgage brokers in anticipation that lucrative bonuses will be outlawed after sweeping recommendations for the $1.5 trillion mortgage sector, according to industry sources.
Page 5: The construction union has enthusiastically backed new ACTU secretary Sally McManus’ view that it is ethical to break ‘‘unfair’’ laws while business says she has given a green light for union abuse and even violence towards the business community.
Page 7: AGL chief executive Andy Vesey runs a $17 billion energy company and is no shrinking violet.
Page 9: ‘‘This stupid anxiety’’ between the states and the federal government is holding back energy policy and investment, says the head of one of the nation’s largest power companies.
Page 14: Incoming West Australian premier Mark McGowan has made a captain’s pick and thrown former federal MP Alannah MacTiernan in to his 17-member cabinet, dominated by union-affiliated members.
Page 19: A Hong Kong-based jewellery retailer and luxury yacht dealer prepared to pay more than professional investors for Western Australian retailer Alinta Energy has snapped up what would have been this year’s biggest initial public offering candidate.
Page 21: French construction group Vinci has edged out Watpac in a bidding competition for engineering group Seymour Whyte, making an indicative takeover proposal worth up to $126 million.
The Australian
Page 1: Malcolm Turnbull is staring down business chiefs who are pushing to legislate for same-sex marriage, amid a split in corporate Australia over an attempt to sabotage the federal government’s plebiscite plan.
New ACTU secretary Sally McManus has declared that she would always choose the union movement over the ALP, as Bill Shorten distanced himself from her after she endorsed the breaking of “unjust” laws.
Page 2: Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has urged The Philippines to remain inside the US “security umbrella” as it seeks closer alignment with China.
Page 4: The jobless rate has ticked up to its highest level in 13 months, to 5.9 per cent, led by a drop in part-time work and softer than expected jobs growth.
Page 6: Malcolm Turnbull’s pitch for a nation-building expansion of the Snowy Hydro-electric Scheme has won praise from industry but has sparked a fresh fight with South Australia over national energy policy.
Page 7: Malcolm Turnbull has tried to inject much-needed energy into his political agenda, declaring himself a “nation-building prime minister” as he unveiled plans to create 500 jobs and deliver “Snowy Mountains 2.0”.
Page 8: Incoming West Australian premier Mark McGowan has denied trade unions played a role in allocating cabinet portfolios after he unveiled a 17-member ministry that includes Ben Wyatt, the nephew of federal Liberal MP Ken Wyatt, as treasurer and energy minister.
Australia could be home to the next Tesla factory as the electric vehicle maker seeks to expand its production base beyond California, an independent industry consultant in Britain said.
Page 19: The Hong Kong family behind the world’s biggest jewellery business has pounced on utility Alinta Energy in a $4 billion-plus deal, shrugging off the current tumult in east coast energy markets.
The Victorian gambling regulator is poised to begin a review of Crown Resorts’ flagship Melbourne casino as its NSW counterpart conducts “ongoing inquiries” into James Packer’s fitness to run a gambling operation in Sydney.
Page 21: Telstra boss Andy Penn has warned that the telco could not guarantee its continued participation in the federal government’s mobile black spots program until the spectre of mandated domestic roaming was out of the picture.
The West Australian
Page 3: The Perth property market could be collateral damage as bank regulators try to cool investor mania in Sydney and Melbourne.
Page 5: Premier-elect Mark McGowan outlined his top five priorities as he settled into his new Parliament House office yesterday.
Page 6: Premier-elect Mark McGowan has been delivered a major boost as he seeks to rebuild the State economy, with the jobless rate falling and more West Australians finding full-time work.
Page 9: Mark McGowan has vowed to speak to every Labor premier to demand an overhaul of the GST system to deliver more cash to WA.
Former treasurer Mike Nahan is likely to be the next Liberal Party leader after deputy leader Liza Harvey last night ruled out contesting the position.
Page 10: Labor’s Left faction is the biggest winner from premier-elect Mark McGowan’s first Cabinet, with members rewarded for playing a crucial role in the party’s emphatic victory.
Page 11: New AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder can’t envisage a situation where West Coast and Fremantle home games are not played at Perth Stadium next year.
Page 12: Perth’s Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has taken the unprecedented step of demanding that councillors sign a legal document declaring they had not spoken to a journalist from The West Australian.
Page 14: Alinta Energy’s Chinese buyer has reassured Mark McGowan it is a long-term investor seeking to create jobs, as the premier-elect renewed his opposition to foreign ownership of major State infrastructure assets.
Page 22: New ACTU boss Sally McManus has stood by her claim trade unionists are entitled to break “unjust” laws despite condemnation from the Government, business and Labor leader Bill Shorten.
Page 24: Attracting more businesses to the central business district — and as a result more jobs and more residents — would make Perth a more prosperous and vibrant city.
Page 65: The Chinese and American owners of Talison Lithium have green-lit an expansion of its mine in the South West, the world’s biggest, which will more than double capacity.
Kleenheat isn’t going to miss the opportunity to exploit the change of ownership at its bigger gas rival.
Page 66: Myer chief Richard Umbers says shoppers are suffering “discount fatigue” as the department store chain moves away from sales and focuses on building excitement around events to win over customers.
Alan Bond’s dodgy dealings with Bell Group offshoots are set to be reprised in the WA Supreme Court as creditors and liquidators wrangle over $1.8 billion of litigation proceeds.
Page 67: Shares in West Perth’s Creso Pharma jumped 50 per cent yesterday after the marijuana company’s subsidiary, Hemp Industries, got a tick from Czech authorities to sell its range of therapies using hemp extracts.