POLITICS & POLICY

AngloGold gains EPA approval for its Tropicana gold project

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) said on Monday that it has given its approval for gold miner AngloGold Ashanti Ltd’s (ASX: AGG) proposed gold exploration site, which is about 330 kilometre northeast of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

Tanner says Abbot is still supportive of Work Choices

Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said on Monday that Australians should not put their trust on opposition leader Tony Abbot even if the latter manifested his disapproval for Work Choices by resting his initials on a symbolic death certificate for the controversial legislation.

Health ministry scores Coles’ cheap tobacco imports

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has expressed frustrations that Coles supermarkets are circumventing the government’s policy on restricting access on cigarettes and actually offer cheaper prices for the product.
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Hopes for Gold Coast waterways get scuttled

Hopes for a new and strong Gold Coast waterways board would be assembled to handle botched Broadwater have been ruined when the Bligh administration has introduced a weaker committee instead, which is limited only to making dredging location decisions.

Abbott promoting ‘extremist views’ – Swan

Wayne Swan, Treasurer of the Australian federal government, has accused Opposition leader Tony Abbott of holding and promoting “extremist views” that incite disunity, as he talked about the Australia’s economic credentials.

Fresh Treasury data justify miners’ aggressive anti-RSPT campaign

The updated revenue estimates, which show resource super-profits tax would have raised a massive $24 billion in its first two years, proved the industry was justified in campaigning so aggressively against the impost, according to Business Council of Australia president Graham Bradley.

Former broker sentenced to jail for market manipulation

Former Macquarie Equities Limited client advisor, Mr Newton Chan was today sentenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria to a term of 20 months imprisonment following an investigation by ASIC into the manipulation of the share price of Bill Express Limited (BXP) (now in liquidation).

Henry still mum on tax details

Treasury secretary Ken Henry declined to give any detail about the tax assumptions when quizzed on a Senate hearing Tuesday.

ARA warns retailers about speeding up award wages

The ARA (Australian Retailers Association) has given out a warning to retailers to speed up the new award salary payments, as the Fair Work Ombudsman starts its rounds on randomly picked stores across Australia.

Opposition calls for inquiry on Green Loans

The Opposition has called for an official inquiry regarding the administration’s dumped Green Loans plan, which was intended to make Australian homes more energy efficient.

ASIC says Sonray executives submit to travel restrictions

The legal and financial woes of executives from collapsed Sonray Capital Markets Pty Ltd appeared to be piling up and this time they were being restricted from going out of the country. Several inquiries on their finances are being lined up too.

AGL head bats for carbon emission cap

AGL Energy Ltd chief executive Michael Fraser said on Friday that paying attention on carbon emission is a must in order to secure Australia’s energy future and since the country leans much on resource and energy intensive economic activities, business and political leaders need to closely consider the impact of climate change.

Steady cash rates set to banish higher savings interests

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) recent decision to leave the cash rate untouched this July could finally put an end to the unusually high interest rates on savings accounts and analysts are in turn advising borrowers to use the opportunity to settle debts.

Rio Tinto set to expand after tax revamp

Rio Tinto is looking to ramp up projects again after the Gillard government's switch from the resource super-profits tax (RSPT) to the minerals resource rent tax (MRRT).

Gillard set to meet WA’s junior mining companies

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is set to meet with junior miners this Friday on her first stop to Western Australia as head of the government, in an apparent attempt to soothe their reservations on the new mining tax, which was forged with talks attended only by giant mining companies and senior ministers last week.

BHP quiet on MRRT impact

BHP Billiton Ltd has declined to reveal the total effective tax it will pay under the Gillard government's mineral resource rent tax, according to The Australian.

Abbott battles for small business vote

The fight for the small business vote has started in earnest, with Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott pledging a minister for small business in the federal cabinet and the introduction of an ombudsman if duly elected.

Swan says IMF report affirms Australian leadership in global economic recovery

Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan lauded the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) decision to upgrade the country’s growth forecast for both 2010 and 2011, declaring that the world financial institution’s thumb of approval is a testament to Australia’s position as a world leader in global economic recovery.

Coal Ltd wants govt bonds to buy foreign coal assets

Coal India Ltd., the world's largest producer, is now more keen in using a proposed sovereign fund to buy mines abroad that can supply the equivalent of 8 percent of domestic output as energy demand rises, a government official said.

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