The ABS, Australian Property Monitors and RP Data are all indicating that Australian residential property prices are nearing or exceeding record levels, spurred by continued use of debt by many buyers to fund the great Australian dream.
Articles by Adam Schwab 
ASIC takes a serious swing at MFS
Perhaps stung by public criticism that it hasn’t done enough to prevent and prosecute corporate fraud, ASIC has launched a second action in as many weeks, announcing a civil claim against various directors of collapsed fund manager MFS.
What do the Chinese know about investing in property?
Apparently, the Chinese, not always known for their investing expertise have been “single-handedly been responsible” for Melbourne’s recent home price inflation — at least according to one real estate agent.
Shareholders strike again at Transurban execs
Australian shareholders are revolting as company directors (and their hired help) design long-term incentive packages that continue to unjustly enrich executives.
Kiernan empire continues to bemuse
The intrigue around the empire of mining entrepreneur Michael Kiernan continues to bemuse, with the cornucopia of companies with which Kiernan associates appearing to spend more time in administration than US-based airlines.
United in fat cat pay anger
Last week, shareholders in contractor United Group vented their anger at the company’s generous pay practices (including a 30% pay rise for the CEO!) with the majority of shares being voted against the company.
Why directors and liabilities are like lightning strikes
Company directors are six times more likely to be hit by lightning than to be prosecuted under our liability laws, writes Adam Schwab.
Qantas report stands like a beacon of poor corporate governance
The Qantas 2009 Remuneration Report stands out like a beacon of poor corporate governance. That a majority of institutional shareholders could actually vote in favour of the resolution makes you wonder: exactly who is watching the watchers?
Kiernan: from security guard to larger-than-life mining character
Michael Kiernan, former boss of Consolidated Minerals, remains one of the Australian mining industry’s most colourful figures, having developed for himself a “black widow” reputation in the sector.
Centro charges put heat on Directors Club
ASIC announced today that it was bringing civil charges against the former executive and non-executive directors of collapsed property group Centro, alleging they failed to correctly classify $1.54 billion of interest-bearing liabilities.
The real estate spinners who are artificially inflating prices
Despite its ubiquity, residential property remains one of the least transparent asset classes in Australia. Most buyers spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on an asset which they know very little about.
Spending borrowed monies leads to false bravado
If you were to believe world stock markets, the recession is drawing to a close, with the wisdom of government spending and global monetary easing spurring the world to another economic recovery. But the markets have long proven to be an unfaithful talisman.
Shareholders revolt on fat cat pay
As lobbyists mull over the Productivity Commission’s draft reforms to executive remuneration rules, the first non-binding Remuneration Report of 2009 has been voted down by shareholders.
Experts get it very wrong on rentals
The rental market is fairly uncomplicated, but business journalists are commonly thinking of reasons as to why rents go up or down. This is only one reason: the number of vacant rental properties.
Exec pay: two strikes, too soft
The “two-strike” rule for executive remuneration should be rejected not because it is too hard on directors, but rather, because it is too soft, and targets the wrong people.
White knight Jenman gets short shrift
Consumer advocate Neil Jenman has joined a rare group who have been sued for endeavoring to help consumers, after an organisation called the “Investors Club” launched legal action against him for making accusations against them on his website.
Stimulus isn’t money for nothing. Time to wind it back
Calls are mounting for the Federal Government to reduce its wide-ranging fiscal stimulus package as economists continue to upgrade the prospects for the Australian economy.
Ping! sends a shake-up message to nervous telcos
An application released last week for Apple’s iPhone, which gives users the ability to circumvent the carriers to send SMSs, will be making our large phone companies a little bit nervous,
Triguboff, Keane talking fiction on house prices
Billionaire Harry Triguboff’s pleas for the RBA not to raise interest rates today are informed by a massive conflict of interest: the longer Australia’s housing bubble continues, the more Triguboff can sell his apartments for.
Why we’re nowhere near out of the woods yet
Global share markets and federal banks are hailing the end of the recession — but they make a living out of telling people what they want to hear. Some other commentators are singing a very different tune.
PC pay report a very mixed bag
The Productivity Commission has released the long-awaited draft version of its review into the regulation of executive remuneration. It’s a small step, but no great leap forward, for corporate governance.
Leighton CEO King of the heap on vulgar pay rich list
As the final annual reports trickle in, the truly horrific picture of just how much Australia’s richest CEOs were paid last year is being fully revealed.
Wayne Swan rings hollow on executive pay
Treasurer Wayne Swan and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd certainly know how to make the right noises about excessive executive pay. But will we see more than talk on the issue?
Does Dixon’s $10.7m Qantas payout add up?
Earlier this week Qantas confessed to shareholders it paid former CEO Geoff Dixon $10.7 million for five months work. Not only were the payments extremely high, they were also largely unwarranted.
Macquarie Airports’ mid-air collision
Looking at the gruesome scene evolving at Macquarie Airports Group is not altogether different from driving past a multi-car pile up, with the unit holders playing the crash victim roles.
