POLITICS & POLICY

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.
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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.

ACCC delays new ruling on BHP-Rio Tinto merger operation in Pilbara

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on Wednesday that its anticipated findings on the proposed merger of the country’s two giant mining companies would be further delayed, as it announced that the suspension was made “at the request of the joint venture parties to allow them to make additional submissions to the ACCC.”

New tax cost budget $35bn, report says

The Gillard government's decision to pacify mining companies by revamping the resource tax could cost the budget $35 billion in revenue this decade, a report says.

Defence chief Faulkner likely to relinquish post

Australian Defence Minister John Faulkner will announce that he will quit his job in the ministry after the next national elections, which Prime Minister Julia Gillard would likely call by year's end.

NAB chief approves Cooper review of superannuation system

The National Australia Bank (NAB) is welcome to most of the recommendations of the Cooper review of the superannuation industry and declared that the reforms being suggested by the reports were fundamentally good for the country’s retirement system.

RBA leaves cash rate untouched for July

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has decided to provide reprieve to Australian homeowners as it left the official cash rate untouched at 4.5 percent this July, in a move that is largely anticipated by most economists due to concerns on major inflation data that would be known by the end of the month.

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