States’ debt risks on the rise: Moody’s
State and territory debt has ballooned since the COVID-19 pandemic as premiers stepped up infrastructure spending, expanded the public sector and rolled out cost-of-living handouts. The Fin
Banks seek tax data access to fight fraud
The big banks warn that a flood of fraudulent loan applications across the sector will get worse unless they can securely access tax data to verify a borrower’s income instead of relying on documents that can be easily faked using artificial intelligence. The Fin
Labor moves to keep details of Woodside meetings out of court
Woodside and the federal government will face off against environmentalists and Indigenous heritage campaigners in the Federal Court on Tuesday over the Albanese government’s controversial extension of the North West Shelf gas project in Western Australia’s remote Pilbara. The Fin
Grease giant warns of lubricant supply crunch
Julie Harrison, chief executive of Harrison Manufacturing says a supply crunch of base oils from the Middle East conflict could slowdown heavy industry and mining operations as global stocks dwindle and unreliable shipments hamper vehicle and machinery maintenance. The Fin
Union calls on Labor to clip Qantas’s wings
Union leaders will push at the ALP national conference for Labor to back the creation of an independent aviation body to oversee the conduct of the major airlines and airports, with a focus on fixing the “broken” aviation industry and reining in the “disproportionate influence” of Qantas. The Aus
Former minister’s mine tax warning
Former federal resources minister Martin Ferguson has warned the Albanese government against increasing taxes on the resources sector, saying any proposal to do so risked harming Australia’s long-term national interest. The Aus
Draft ALP platform loses ‘free TAFE’ vow
Anthony Albanese will be urged to adopt a big skills agenda across the economy at Labor’s 50th national conference – especially in housing, energy and the care sector – amid revelations at least two in three people haven’t finished their free TAFE courses in the three years since the $3.1bn program began. The Aus
Demands for public inquiry
The Defence department has been accused of trying to bury details of a high-level probe into a senior naval figure, and their handling of lucrative defence contracts, by keeping the case within the military justice system. The West
The MPs, the kingpin and the secret audio
Federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie was among the cast of characters in court, one of seven defendants in the civil case brought by top WA businessman and major political donor Greg Poland. The West
Primary school in heart of Secret Harbour picked for early learning trial
Five more primary schools will take part in a trial of full-time kindergarten from next year but the WA Government has been forced to defend the inclusion of one from an electorate in the midst of a by-election. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 8: Perth Glory owner and developer Ross Pelligra is planning a$300 million residential, hotel and sports precinct around the women’s team’s training ground in Perth’s north-east, hoping to tap into the real estate returns to help fund the soccer club.
Page 13: Rest Super chief investment officer Michael Clancy says the best outcome of a full review of controversial rules outlining the costs that pension funds must disclose to their members would be allowing funds to smooth out the cost of stamp duty over several years
Page 14: The data centre boom powering ASX listed companies such as Southern Cross Electrical Engineering and SKS Technologies is also worming its way into mid-market private equity firms’ portfolios.
Page 15: Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has taken a$190 million stake in little known Australian tungsten miner EQ Resources, one of the world’s biggest producers of the critical mineral outside China.
Page 15: Acclaimed Swedish chef Björn Frantzén will open two new restaurants at Crown Resorts venues, as the Blackstone-owned casino giant pursues long-term investments designed to attract culinary enthusiasts.
The Australian
Page 13: China’s extreme measures to protect its dominance in rare earths supply chains have undermined efforts by the Albanese government to force non-compliant investors off the register of Australia’s Northern Minerals on national security grounds.
Page 13: Qantas long-haul pilots will vote on industrial action for the first time in 15 years, just as the airline prepares to welcome its first A350-1000ULR to Australia on a non-stop test flight from France.
Page 14: Wiluna Mining is on track to lodge a prospectus for its planned initial public offering as early as next week, say sources, and the gold producer should list on the ASX with a value of up to $400m.
Page 15: Analysts expect Woolworths to retain the upper hand over Coles on sales growth momentum through the second half of 2026, but both supermarket giants have been downgraded to neutral as brokers predict stronger value elsewhere.
The West Australian
Page 4: Australia’s lobby group for private schools is launching a campaign targeting Federal electorates to highlight the growing shift towards independent schooling and argue against cuts to government funding.
Page 5: Karl Thomas Arden Arthur pleaded guilty to 28 charges of gaining benefit by fraud in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Page 17: Debt manager Pioneer Credit is raising $17 million from new and existing institutional investors, but its founder has hinted at disappointment with the hefty discount on the raising.
Page 31: South32 has ended the financial year on a high, beating guidance and capitalising on strong market demand for its diversified range of commodities.
Page 32: Insurance Australia Group’s second bid to win regulatory approval for a purchase of WA’s biggest general insurer has been given little chance of success, increasing the likelihood of an appeal to the nation’s top competition body.
