Dutton ignites power bill war
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has fired a salvo on energy prices ahead of today’s announcement about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of a May 3 election, with a promise to force more export gas into the domestic market to drive down power bills. The Fin
Seven in 10 NDIS joiners are children
Seven in 10 new National Disability Insurance Scheme participants are under the age of 15, and the number of children covered is now almost double the original forecasts, prompting warnings that efforts to rein in the program’s growth are not ambitious enough. The Fin
Economists slam Coalition’s petrol excise plan
Economists warn that Peter Dutton’s pledge to halve the fuel excise is nothing more than a populist sugar hit that will disproportionately favour the wealthy and do little to address the problems plaguing the budget. The Fin
Car parts makers plead for Trump tariff relief
Local car parts are pushing the Albanese government to seek an exemption after the automobile sector became the latest target of Donald Trump’s tariffs, which put at risk $200 million of sales to the US. The Fin
Australia should hold Facebook to account
Australia should take note of Papua New Guinea’s ban on Facebook and give local regulators greater powers to rein in US tech giants as scams and misinformation run rife on their platforms, former competition watchdog boss Rod Sims says. The Aus
16,000 SMH, Age and Fin readers ‘exposed’
The Nine Network had no choice but to contact 16,000 subscribers from three of its major mastheads after their data was left exposed online. The Aus
Bowser boost risks inflation rise
The Coalition’s proposal to slash costs at the bowser risks rekindling inflation and delaying further interest rate cuts, just as price pressures have finally returned to the Reserve Bank’s target band, economists say. The Aus
Nine 6PR overhaul
Nine’s 6PR radio has suffered its biggest breakfast slot ratings slump in more than a decade, after a schedule overhaul led to listeners switching off. The West
Mining boss fears for future of WA projects
The boss of Australia’s peak mining body has sounded the alarm over a “Hunger Games” scenario where WA projects are pitted against each other if Labor relies on the Greens and teals to form minority government. The West
North West Shelf decision could be pushed back again
A decision on the future of the North West Shelf project could be deferred for a third time officials have conceded after it was revealed on Thursday that last-minute interventions by activists were to blame for the latest delay. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 9: Labor has quietly walked back a key plank of its plans to decarbonise Australia’s road freight industry, emptying an $80 million fund it set up three years ago to turbocharge the take-up of hydrogen-powered trucks.
Page 10: The gas industry fears Labor’s deferral of a decision on extending the North West Shelf gas plant until after the federal election could have a chilling effect on key approvals for other major projects, including Santos’ $5.8 billion Barossa venture.
Page 10: Mining unions have launched legal action to force Rio Tinto into bargaining for the first union deal in Western Australia’s Pilbara region for three decades.
Page 14: The chief executive of US real estate giant CoStar flew out of Australia hours before his company raised its bid to buy property listings platform Domain, offering $4.43 a share and declaring this as its best and final price.
Page 22: The sharemarket snapped a five-day winning streak yesterday as renewed angst about US President Donald Trump’s trade policies sent investors fleeing technology stocks.
Page 23: A top Mineral Resources investor has rejected suggestions that the highly indebted miner will be forced into an equity raising, saying the 40 per cent collapse in the share price over the past month was “excessive”.
Page 25: Vector Property, a new real estate investment and development platform, has launched with $350 million in assets under management and a secured development pipeline.
Page 25: Woods Bagot, Australia’s largest design firm, will reorganise its corporate structure to put the firm under a new holding company – to be called 7C – along with sister companies Era Co, a place-making consultancy, sustainability consultancy Impact Future and luxury design business Customs Bureau.
The Australian
Page 6: Labor has vowed to make a fresh attempt to shake up national environmental laws, including a new federal environment protection agency, but is promising more consultation with states and with stakeholders.
Page 6: Education Minister Jason Clare says Labor’s election pledge to cut student debt by 20 per cent will benefit it in hotly contested independent and Greens seats, during the final question time of the parliamentary term before an election is called.
Page 15: Canadian discount chain Dollarama, a $44bn retail behemoth that has built a network of highly profitable stores from Quebec to Peru, is planning an assault on the Australian discount department market after buying The Reject Shop.
Page 17: Buyers piled into pathology company Healius on Thursday after the company announced it would pay out about $300m in a special dividend worth almost a third of the value of the shares, following the sale of its Lumus division.
Page 17: Bunnings boss Mike Schneider has sent a chilling message to auto brands refusing to supply the hardware giant for fear of upsetting existing relationships with chains such as Supercheap Auto, Autobarn and Burson.
The West Australian
Page 8: Roger Cook will stamp his authority on the State Government in a major departmental overhaul, tearing up some of his predecessor Mark McGowan’s mergers.
Page 9: Labor has fired another salvo in its war against Victoria Park, with Rita Saffioti seeking to take control of the delayed Lathlain Park redevelopment by putting tenant club Perth Demons in charge of the project.
Page 46: Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable yesterday delivered a blistering criticism of the Federal Government and its decision not to renew a $200 million scheme for exploration companies as part of Tuesday’s Federal Budget.
Page 46: Pioneer Credit’s $30 million negligence lawsuit against PwC is finally before a judge, more than five years after an audit about-face that threatened the former share market darling’s survival.
Page 47: Fortescue wants to build a big new solar farm at Turner River in the Pilbara in a bid to cut emissions from its iron ore mines.
