National

  • China backs long-term iron prices

    China wants to keep the system of setting long-term iron ore prices, Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian told a regular news conference on Tuesday.

  • Rural boom to follow flood heartache

    Recent floods may ultimately deliver a billion-dollar boost to regional Queensland's economy, the state's Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin says.

  • China's social security fund grows 38pc

    China's social security fund's total assets rose 38 per cent to 776.5 billion yuan ($124.6 billion) in 2009, with a return on investment of 16.1 per cent.

  • Rann denies misleading SA over water

    Premier Mike Rann has denied misleading South Australia over a torrent of water heading for the state.

  • Xenophon bill targets squabbling over water

    Independent Senator Nick Xenophon wants to put an end to state governments fighting for a share of Murray-Darling floodwaters.

  • Qld plan to focus development on transport corridors

    The Queensland government wants to focus high-density development along major public transport corridors in the state's crowded southeast corner.

  • Supermarket regulator needed to tackle competition issues

    Australia needs an ombudsman to protect consumers and food producers from being ripped-off by big supermarkets, consumer group Choice has said.

  • Keating slams Abbott, Joyce

    Former Labor prime minister Paul Keating has launched a scathing attack on Tony Abbott accusing the Opposition Leader of being an "intellectual nobody" without policy ambition.

  • Rio Tinto more compelling than BHP: Merrill

    BHP might have to hike its payment to to Rio regarding the miners' mammoth iron ore JV..

  • Alesco Corp has had a shocking week.

    The stock has fallen by a third in less than seven days after revealing a shock downgrade.

  • Future Fund part of General Growth tussle

    The Future Fund's stake in a Brookfield Asset Management gives it an interest in a US property battle.

  • Cotton crop takes hit from Queensland floods

    Queensland's cotton crop has taken a big hit from recent floods, with one community alone facing losses of $8 million.

  • TPG Telecom may offer more upside

    TPG Telecom has risen by about 50 per cent since its takeover of PIPE Networks was originally proposed, but there could be more upside.

  • Siemens halts hearing aid sale

    Reports suggest bids by a consortium involving Cochlear and others were not high enough.

  • Increase compulsory super to 12pc - Keating

    Labor should go to the next federal election promising to make it compulsory for workers to contribute an additional three per cent of their income to superannuation, former prime minister Paul Keating has said.

  • OrotonGroup looks fully priced

    A licence agreement with Polo Ralph Lauren and a strong first-half result have pushed OrotonGroup's share price to levels it might find hard to justify.

  • Toho makes another try for CBH

    The Japanese group is understood to be the party behind an approach that has led to a trading halt.

  • RBA explains thinking behind rate rise

    The Reserve Bank of Australia has fleshed out the thinking behind its latest rate rise with the minutes of its March 2 board meeting published on Tuesday.

  • Read the RBA minutes in full

    Minutes of the March 2 Monetary Policy Meeting of the Reserve Bank Board.

  • GSJBW hikes domestic ad market forecasts

    When it comes to the advertising market, it's all about consumer sentiment and consumption.

  • Sailing away towards insolvency

    There is a certain glamour in having one of the top boats in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, but some executives might be thinking twice before they sign on for a sponsorship of a maxi yacht in the future.

  • NITV still waits for future funding

    The National Indigenous Television network is coming to the end of a four-year, $48 million start-up funding scheme and is pressing for a fresh commitment from the federal budget.

  • Qld Rail brings old foes closer

    Its heartening to see the spirit of co-operation that the looming privatisation of Queensland Rail has engendered among miners and unions.

  • Bidding war to attract analysts

    Maybe it's the return of the big bonus, or just the cheques have had time to clear, but there's set to be some big changes among investment analysts in coming months.

  • Malone reveals impressive talent

    Michael Malone, managing director of Perth-based internet service provider iiNet, has a new string to his bow - and a fresh batch of business cards to prove it.

  • Preston the magician

    Some Preston Campbell magic saved the Gold Coast from an upset NRL opening round loss to the Warriors at Skilled Park.

  • The importance of work/life balance

    It is not so long ago that women could vote and get equal pay in tennis but not be seen in the foyer of the Australian cricket team's hotel, but the role and profile of women in men's sport has evolved.

  • Insulation for education revolution

    As undue haste, untrained practitioners and a premature deadline were the main causes of the insulation debacle, Australian teachers are understandably concerned lest a similar fate overtake the syllabus component of the "education revolution".

  • ASIC must nose around Myer float

    Chanticleer is absolutely right in ``How Myer float sprang a leak'' (March 12) when he suggests that it is time for the regulators to take a look at how ``book build'' tenders are undertaken for the issue of new securities.

  • Retail objectivity

    Frank Zumbo (`Letters, March 11) doubts my objectivity on the subject of a retail leasing ombudsman because of who pays my salary. While Zumbo's position as a lecturer in law, with a salary paid by the taxpayer, should require objectivity, you will search in vain among his public utterances for any recognition that retail landlords have rights too. Surely if a landlord believes it has done nothing wrong in a dispute with a tenant, and that dispute cannot be successfully resolved at mediation, it is entitled to seek justice from the appropriate tribunal or court? Perhaps the last word should be left to the truly objective Productivity Commission in its 2008 inquiry into the market for retail tenancy leases. It found: "The number of retail tenancy disputes lodged with state or territory authorities is very low relative to the size of the market. The vast majority of disputes, once registered, are settled before escalation to a tribunal or a court.'' What is the justification for a retail leasing ombudsman?

  • Industry super funds back Cooper

    The latest public criticism of the Cooper review of the superannuation system exposes the self-interest of the retail fund sector ("Super funds lash out at Labor reform agenda'', March 11).

  • Paid maternity leave cuts jobs

    Paid maternity leave results in less employment opportunity for women: The inevitable outcome is that employers are going to make employment decisions based upon continuity of having a position filled.

  • Quiggin's strange claim

    Economist John Quiggin complains that, despite their crucial role, science and scientific institutions have come under increasingly vociferous attack over their veracity.

  • Debt industry group has much to learn

    The story on March 4 on the government's review of debt agreements featured some of the more nonsensical comments made by an industry group that this consumer advocate has seen in a very long time.

  • Time for Telstra to be proactive

    Even if Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy manages to convince independents in the Senate to pass his radical Telstra legislation this week, it is time for Telstra to reconsider its options.

  • NOTEBOOK

    The financial innovation that drove velocity to new highs is no longer part of the equation. If the money supply hadn't risen significantly to offset that slowdown in velocity, the economy would have been in a much deeper recession, if not a depression.

  • A failure to negotiate

    Government complaints about the Senate are the clearest sign that Australia's upper house is doing its job.

  • No cause yet for dissolution

    There are plenty of bills that have been blocked by the Senate after having been considered twice by both Houses with an interval of three months between the first rejection by the Senate and the second passage by the House. More may be on the way.

  • Takeovers Panel can be improved

    The Takeovers Panel has won the market's respect, but it is clear important changes are required so it delivers more consistent and certain outcomes.

  • US reform will prove a bitter pill to swallow

    One job of presidents is to educate Americans about crucial national problems. On health care, Barack Obama has failed. Great simplicities have been peddled in the name of achieving "universal health coverage".

  • Overseas voting neglected

    Top 100 companies that received more than a 20 per cent no vote on their executive pay plans, increased from 12 to 17 per cent last year, new research reveals.

  • Coal industry seeking to derail Queensland Rail float

    The Queensland treasurer doubts coal companies can unite to buy Queensland Rail's coal tracks and are trying to undermine the $3 billion-plus QR public float this year.

  • States in a huddle on health

    The federal government is increasingly confident it can win state backing for its health reform plans after a round of shuttle diplomacy by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

  • Henry review before budget

    The federal government will release the Henry tax review before the May 11 budget and plans to put tax reform at the centre of its ­election campaign.

  • Obama trip to promote trade ties

    US President Barack Obama will promote stronger business and investment ties between the US and Australia and push the merits of an Asia-Pacific free trade zone as part of his abbreviated visit to Indonesia and Australia.

  • NSW knocks back $1.4bn of development

    The NSW government has quietly knocked back $1.4 billion worth of projects in the past eight months.

  • Confidence soars, but so does saving

    Subdued business borrowing and consumer caution about taking on debt will help constrain the pace of growth and maintain the scope for a gradual tightening in monetary policy.

  • Gas row increases pressure on Alinta

    A multimilliondollar dispute involving WA gas distributor Alinta has escalated, as power price increases threaten development in the resource-rich state.

  • Thales in Combet sights

    Defence Materiel Minister Greg Combet has ordered a review of all ''poor value for money'' long-term Defence contracts with industry as part of a $20 billion drive to cut wasteful spending.

  • Projects' timing a windfall for Rudd

    The Rudd government's extra $220 million for small community projects might have been allocated last June, but it is being deployed now and should see hundreds of new projects completed and ready for opening before the end of the year.

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