Politics
Barnett lauds ‘historic’ WA future fund
WA Premier Colin Barnett has labelled the state’s new $1 billion future fund “historic” and says it is the first time a state budget has looked to secure benefits for the next generation and beyond.
Boat carrying 68 people intercepted
Authorities have picked up another boatload of suspected asylum seekers inside Australian waters.
Indonesian abattoir now meets standards: Elders
Rural services company Elders said an abattoir it used in Indonesia would now comply with animal welfare standards even though it was identified by a departmental report as having breached the rules.
Ashby accused of Slipper ambush
James Ashby has been accused of ambushing parliamentary speaker Peter Slipper in a “character assassination” attempt. The parties were in the Federal Court in Sydney on Friday morning.
Afghan govt with Taliban ‘desirable’: Carr
Afghanistan's prospects of stability will be boosted if the Taliban are part of the government, Foreign Minister Bob Carr says.
Abbott rejects Combet's climate ‘egging’
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has rejected claims he's "over-egged the pudding" with his warnings on the climate tax.
Threats sent to Aust embassy in Pakistan
Australia's embassy in Islamabad has received a threatening letter containing suspicious powder in what appears to be a coordinated campaign across Pakistan's capital.
The Slipper confusion
Rear Window is getting a little confused about what the standing down of Peter Slipper as Speaker of the House of Representatives actually means.
Howes gets hump up
For all the noise he’s been making about cleaning up standards of behaviour in the trade union movement in the wake of the Craig Thomson and Michael Williamson affairs, the AWU’s national secretary Paul Howes is prone to the odd risque moment himself.
Life’s full of conflicts
Rear Window was delighted to hear that the Future Fund’s new chairman, David Gonski, had moved quickly to introduce corporate governance processes similar to a listed company.
Costello puts party interests before own
Mark Hansford’s “Costello’s legacy short on fight” (Letters, May 17), is very unfair on Peter Costello in claiming he “never had the ticker for the top job”. Costello, in fact, came very close to challenging John Howard for the Liberal leadership – and thus the prime ministership – in the middle of 2006, but declined to do so because of the enormous damage a fight between prime minister Howard and treasurer Costello would have caused to the Coalition government and the Liberal Party.
ATO deficiencies cripple business
Lowering a marginal tax rate for small business does nothing to simplify the system for the majority of small business owners, a point well made by Emile Rochman (“Labor perpetuates Howard handouts”, Letters, May 17).
Cromwell rebels against tax
Cromwell Property Group chief executive Paul Weightman has urged the property industry to reject a surprise federal government tax hit on foreign real estate investors or risk lower property values.
ADF bases to get tighter security
Following terrorist plots to attack Australian Defence Force bases, the Commonwealth is embarking on a $107 million program to upgrade security at 16 defence installations around the country over the next three years.
Ordinary vision in extraordinary times
Barrett | There was once a serious secessionist movement in WA – now the only thing the state is seceding from is good public debate.
Royalties for Regions cash splash
WA has cut or delayed nearly $2 billion from capital works, but has been forced to find a new home to house $1 billion in Royalties for Regions funding.
SMEs want payroll reform
The West Australian government has given small businesses a one-off break from payroll tax next year, but many business owners and industry groups would rather see a long-term cut to the 5.5 per cent tax rate.
Flat housing stamps out duty cash
Western Australia’s predicted stamp duty revenue has been slashed by $836 million over the next four years thanks to the state’s flat housing market.
Iron ore income to hit $4.26bn
Increasing production volumes should more than offset a weakening in the iron ore price and drive another jump in mining royalties in Western Australia over the next two years, according to budget forecasts.
Two states, two economies
Mitchell | They are the two extremes of Australia’s “two-speed” economy, and the budgets of Western Australia and Tasmania tell the story.
Show us plans for second airport: Abbott
The federal Coalition will engage with the Gillard government on plans for a second airport in the Sydney basin when a detailed plan is produced.
Economists prop up Gillard’s higher debt ceiling
Economists have defended the government’s decision to lift the debt ceiling by $50 billion, saying a financial buffer is important to preserve the status of Australia’s bond market as a safe haven during tough times.
Ashby targets Carr, Joyce in human rights complaint
The political staffer who claims Speaker Peter Slipper sexually harassed him has officially accused Foreign Minister Bob Carr and Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce of victimising and demeaning him.
Labor prefers death to party reform
Senior Labor Party members have ruled out any chance of major internal reforms until after Labor loses office at the next election.
Union or business: one law fits all
Dodson | The HSU scandal has focused attention on how unions operate, the IR system, and the relationship between the ALP and unions.
Union show of defiance targets BHP
Coalminers are preparing to declare a mass, seven-day strike across BHP Billiton’s Queensland coalmines from next week in a show of defiance against the company’s call to reduce the power of unions.
Labor should heed Nasser’s wise words
Editorial | BHP Billiton chairman Jac Nasser is to be congratulated for hitting the federal government hard for creating a high-cost business environment with declining competitiveness.
WA sets up $4.7bn fund
Western Australia expects to have locked away $4.7 billion in a new sovereign wealth fund by 2032, detailed with yesterday’s budget, thanks to the mining boom.
Has Labor lost Gen Y?
Bejamin Law says Labor’s poor media performance and conservatism have alienated younger voters, but there’s still time for the disaffected to make a difference.
WA budget | At a glance
The key points of the 2012 West Australian budget.
