The battle for the Fairfax Media just became even more interesting with today’s revelation that the industry regulator, ACMA, is conducting a review of independent director David Evans.
Business
British banking break-up provides options to NAB
The plan for the partial break-up of Britain’s two state-owned banking behemoths is public, providing a few investment options for NAB, writes Ian Rogers, editor of banking e-zine The Sheet.
Tough new restrictions on visits to detention centres
Serco — the company behind troubled UK immigration detention centres and prisons and now the contractor in Australia — has introduced a tough new regime to inhibit visitors to Australian detention centres, writes Trish and John Highfield.
Where do economists go from here?
Even with all the great economic minds of the world, we didn’t avoid the global financial crisis. Stephanie Flanders speaks to some major economists about the way forward for world economies and the focus we need on behavioural economics.
Gittins: Have a flutter on the economy
If we can afford to gamble A$137 million on the Melbourne Cup, then we can afford to raise interest rates 0.25 percentage points, says Ross Gittins. Especially since we probably won’t see another rise until February.
Kelly: How next year will unfold for Wayne and Kevin
Avoiding a recession has become both a gift and a burden to the Rudd government, writes Paul Kelly. Expect a battle between managing the economy recovery and spending on big ticket election issues — climate change, health and households. Can Swan reign in spending?
Gottliebsen: The Australian dream is over
Yesterday’s rate rise, coupled with recent changed to Australia’s superannuation policy, locks us into a nation-changing situation: we will soon be a nation of renters, says Robert Gottliebsen.
RBA lifts rates, declares GFC dead
The Reserve Bank has lifted interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.50%. Get set for a slew of increases as Glenn Stevens lets the good times roll.
Why China hates the iPhone
The rest of the world may be experiencing iPhone fever, but public reaction to the phone’s release in China has been decidedly tepid. And it’s not just the high price that is turning consumers off — it’s the government’s continued stranglehold on the Net.
Reform the food industry — for the sake of the planet
The food industry’s solution of more choice increases profits, but does nothing for obesity. The more on offer, the more we buy, the more we waist and the more we waste, writes Dr Rosemary Stanton.
An inconvenient truth sobers thinking on weak state of US banking
Markets are not known for their consistency. Last night, the US market went up 148 points very quickly, then slid back into the red, only to close up 76 points.
Aussies, it seems, under Mr Market’s intoxicating spell
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.
Qantas 767 aborts 700 feet above tarmac and wheels up
Last week, just 700 feet from landing, Qantas pilots were forced to abort a landing when it was realised that the wheels had not been lowered. It was a close call for a Qantas and the Boeing 767 is to be investigated,.
Thoughts after an Association of Superannuation Funds Australia lunch
If the Government raise compulsory super contributions from 9% to 12%, it will simply subsidise higher income earners’ retirement by foregoing taxes at a ridiculously high level and overtaxing those on lower incomes.
Safety screwed over wrong washer
The aircraft engineers union is pursuing claims that Qantas avoided a detailed safety investigation of a 747 last year, which could have caused some of its engines to fall off in flight.
Which bank? Definitely not a big one.
US investors lost confidence in large banks getting bailed out by the government. Community banks are cashing in and cleaning up, advertising directly to local customers angry about large CEO payouts and irresponsible investing.
Hartcher: Is Swan the anti-Keating?
Wayne Swan is acting a lot more modest over the Australian economy’s GFC rebound than Paul “the recession we had to have” Keating, writes Peter Hartcher. But it’s thanks to Keating and Peter Costello that we avoided further trouble
Has British Airways lost its number 1 UK spot?
The classic British aviation brand British Airways may soon lose its title as the UK’s most popular airline as budget airline Ryanair grows its flights and passengers. But will Ryanair be able to continue its double digit growth?
What business can learn from the battlefield
Two US Marine infantry officers say the leadership and management lessons they learned on the battlefield in Iraq have a lot to offer businesses and their employees. Semper fi!
CIT becomes one of the largest corporate failures in history
US lender CIT has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. With $71 billion in assets and $65 billion in liabilities, it’s one of the largest corporate bankruptcies on record. Can a speedy court process save its skin?
The failed partnership of work and families
Gaby Hinsliff was political editor of the Observer, the Sunday sister paper of The Guardian, until she finally gave up MP interviews to be a full time mother. An honest look at the work/life balance mess that parents — even those in exciting, fulfilling careers — are struggling to cope with.
We’ve passed Wall St, next stop Hang Seng
Australian investors need to stop believing that Wall Street is god of the Australian economy, writes Michael Pascoe. We’ve survived the GFC, even if the US didn’t, and our focus should be on Asia.
Don’t say “good choice!”: 50 things a waiter should never do
Working in hospitality is tiring enough, but Bruce Buschel has written 50 rules that a restaurant staffer should never do. Don’t compliment the customers. Don’t treat reading the specials like an acting audition. Nothing about flies in soup though.
Throwing the switch to recovery
Today’s new economic forecast means the Federal Government will finally have to stop saying things like we’re “not out of the woods yet” or have “a long way to go” and shift its rhetoric into recovery mode.
Ask the economists: tomorrow’s RBA announcement
We asked the economists for their punt on the RBA’s interest rate announcement tomorrow, just ahead of the race that stops a nation. They say that the numbers will just keep going up…
