Health union pushes Labor on public jobs
CANBERRA, AAP – The Health Workers Union has threatened legal action after its push to force a future Labor government to rule out funding private health providers was crushed. The right-faction union attempted to derail the ALP’s special platform conference with a last-minute injunction following complaints its numbers should be increased. HWU secretary Diana Asmar…
Vic government rejects Crib Point gas plan
MELBOURNE, AAP – The Victorian government has rejected a proposal from energy giant AGL to build a gas import terminal at Crib point in Western Port. The government said marine discharges from the gas hub would have had “unacceptable effects” on the local environment, including a nearby wetland listed in the Ramsar convention as having…
Easter petrol price hike. Used car prices lift.
Easter petrol price hike; Used car prices lift Record resources & energy exports Petrol Prices; Used vehicle market; Resources & energy exports Fuel prices: Last week the national average price of unleaded petrol fell by 0.6 cents a litre to 137.9 cents per litre (c/l) according to the Australian Institute of Petroleum. But retail unleaded…
Banking watchdog keeping eye on housing
CANBERRA, AAP – The banking watchdog isn’t about to slam new restrictions on lending in the face of rising house prices, a parliamentary hearing has been told. House prices were rising at their fastest pace in almost 18 years in February and at the same time mortgage lending was at a record level. Chair of…
Asian stocks set to rise on vaccine hopes
WASHINGTON, D. C., RAW – Asian markets are set to open higher on Friday after US equities rose as investors weighed the outlook for economic growth and inflation and welcomed progress on COVID vaccination rollouts. “Market sentiment remains fairly bullish, and volatility, by post-pandemic standards, is remarkable low,” said IG Markets analyst, Kyle Rodda. “At…
Crown under investigation for wage theft
CANBERRA, AAP – Casino giant Crown has admitted it could have underpaid more than 200 workers around $2 million as part of an ongoing wage theft investigation. The Fair Work Ombudsman on Wednesday confirmed at Senate estimates it started investigating the company about one year ago after Crown self-reported. The ombudsman’s enforcement director Stephen Ronson…
Bankable coal study not needed despite $4m
CANBERRA, AAP – Taxpayers might not get anything in return for $4 million granted to a company who want to see if it is a good idea for a new coal-fired power station to be built in north Queensland. Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources senior official Rachel Parry conceded it was okay if…
Victoria’s Crown royal commission to begin
MELBOURNE, AAP – A royal commission into Crown casino’s operations in Victoria is set to begin. The inquiry, to be chaired by former Federal Court judge Raymond Finkelstein QC, will hold an opening hearing on Wednesday at 10am. It is expected to run for an hour and will be live-streamed. The inquiry will look at…
Post tweaks its company credit card rules
CANBERRA, AAP – Australia Post has lowered the limits on its corporate credit cards following its luxury watch scandal that resulted in its former boss resigning. Christine Holgate quit as chief executive officer in November last year after it was revealed she spent almost $20,000 on Cartier watches to reward senior executives at the government-owned…
ASIC chair Shipton awaits replacement hunt
CANBERRA, AAP – Australia’s corporate regulator is pleased to be back in the chair but has remained mum on who might replace him. Australian Securities and Investments Commission chairman James Shipton was in January cleared of misconduct after an expenses investigation, but will still resign. An investigation made no adverse findings against him over $118,557…
