South Australian Politics

Decision time for BHP

23 May 2012 | Peter Roberts

PRINT: 23 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | SA making up some lost ground

As South Australians await BHP Billiton’s decision later this year on whether to spend $30 billion expanding the Olympic Dam copper, gold and uranium mine it is also awaiting proof of a decades-long experiment in providing timely infrastructure.

Costello puts party interests before own

18 May 2012 | Nick Minchin

PRINT: 18 May 2012 | PAGE 47 | 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.

Olympic Dam ‘ready to go’: Weatherill

17 May 2012 | Ayesha de Kretser

PRINT: 18 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Weatherill confident on Olympic Dam

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says he has no reason to believe BHP Billiton will not approve spending on the $US30 billion expansion of the Olympic Dam copper, uranium and gold mine by the end of the year.

Shrinking tax take opens up $2.8bn hole in SA finances

09 May 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 10 May 2012 | PAGE 26 | Shrinking tax take opens up $2.8bn hole in finances

The South Australian government is staring at a $2.8 billion hole in its budget on the back of GST revenue write-downs and a dive in the state’s property market.

How the states and territories fared

09 May 2012 |

Total federal payments to South Australia will fall from $8.46 billion to $7.64 billion in 2012-13. As specific purpose payments shrink by 25 per cent GST receipts will increase by 6 per cent.

Company briefs

09 May 2012 |

The NSW government would make Forests NSW a state-owned corporation, Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson said.

Weatherill aligns with miners on diesel rebate

07 May 2012 | Ayesha de Kretser

PRINT: 07 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Weatherill aligns with miners

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has joined the throng of miners petitioning federal Treasurer Wayne Swan not to scrap the 32¢ a litre diesel fuel rebate ahead of Tuesday’s budget.

Opening: SA chief justice retires

04 May 2012 | Rachel Nickless

PRINT: 04 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Opening as SA chief justice retires

Favourites are emerging to replace John Doyle after he announced his surprise retirement this week as Chief Justice of South Australia.

Don’t rush to judgement

03 May 2012 | Kevin Staunton

PRINT: 03 May 2012 | PAGE 67 |

It appears that Christopher Pyne met with Peter Slipper’s former staffer James Ashby and may somehow have been involved in fermenting the subsequent claims against the Speaker.

Towns in need of a country practice

03 May 2012 | Emma Connors

PRINT: 03 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Rural towns in need of a country practice

Connors | The small town of Bulahdelah on the NSW mid-north coast is a favoured stop for holiday makers. Just don’t get sick there.

Reputation wins over false claims

02 May 2012 | David Gazard

PRINT: 02 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Reputation wins over false claims

Despite recent history being littered with examples of parliamentary careers unravelling due to overclaiming, there are still those silly enough to risk the embarrassment and political damage associated with undeserved perks.

Switch on power reform

02 May 2012 | Alan Mitchell

PRINT: 02 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | Switch on power reform

Mitchell | With infrastructure upgrading pushing up power bills, an obvious strategy to deal with the rises would be for states to sell old electricity assets.

Fun police drunk on over-regulation

01 May 2012 | Jamie Briggs

PRINT: 01 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Fun police drunk on over-regulation

There is a great deal of hidden red tape that ties down our society, not just small business, at all levels.

GST review: Infrastructure

26 April 2012 | Geoff Winestock

PRINT: 26 April 2012 | PAGE 69 | INFRASTRUCTURE

WA wants a bigger allowance for the costs of hosting a mining boom, such as building new roads and ports.

Mine states’ GST win

24 April 2012 | Laura Tingle

PRINT: 24 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | Mine states’

A review into how GST is shared between states has opened the door to carving out mining revenues from the ­calculation – a key demand of ­WA – but rebuffed claims that the resources states are being ripped off.

Housing pulling down Qld economy: report

23 April 2012 |

Queensland's struggling housing sector has dragged the state’s economy down to fourth place in the nation, according to CommSec’s latest State of the States quarterly report.

Investec wins SA Lotteries sale mandate

21 April 2012 | Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald

The South Australian government hopes to sell its SA Lotteries in the second half of 2012 after appointing an adviser to run the sales process.

Miners urged to have say on Woomera

20 April 2012 |

Australia's resources industry must play a role in setting the rules for access to mining in the Woomera Prohibited Area in South Australia's north, the federal government says.

Mining royalties not a tax

20 April 2012 | Vic Carroll

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 47 | Mining royalties not a tax

One of the mining industry’s great cons is to treat royalties as taxes.

South Australia’s DPP replaced by deputy

19 April 2012 | Lucille Keen

South Australia’s Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Pallaras has been replaced by his deputy, Adam Kimber SC, despite reapplying for his job.

Murray plan plumbs depth of feeling

19 April 2012 | Sophie Morris

PRINT: 19 April 2012 | PAGE 61 | Murray plan plumbs depth of feeling

Opinion remains divided over the best approach to protecting the river. The only area of agreement seems to be that drought will return – as nature intended.

Murray-Darling basing plan on the skids: Joyce

18 April 2012 | Sophie Morris

PRINT: 18 April 2012 | PAGE 9 | Murray plan on the skids: Joyce

The Coalition’s water spokesman, Barnaby Joyce, said the Murray-Darling basin reforms appeared to be doomed after three states rejected proposals to shift 2750 gigalitres of water to the environment.

COAG could turn the tide

18 April 2012 | Alan Mitchell

PRINT: 18 April 2012 | PAGE 54 | COAG could turn the tide

It is only a matter of time before the premiers start coming under pressure to reform their public sectors, their taxes and their economies.

Coagulating federation

17 April 2012 | Luke Malpass

PRINT: 17 April 2012 | PAGE 62 | Coagulating federation

Amid the excitement of Bob Brown’s retirement, it has been forgotten that last Friday’s Council of Australian Government meeting marked the organisation’s 20th year of existence.

COAG still lacking clear priorities

17 April 2012 | The Australian Financial Review

PRINT: 17 April 2012 | PAGE 62 | COAG is still lacking clear priorities

Editorial | Julia Gillard has made a renewed push to cut through the red tape that binds business but she has yet to articulate a clear vision or a goal in this or any other area of federal-state relations.

Regulatory snags start at statutes

17 April 2012 | M Schilling

PRINT: 17 April 2012 | PAGE 57 | Regulatory snags start at statutes

The resolution of government to cut green tape is commendable but it has to be viewed with some scepticism (“When red tape is green”, April 13). the complexity of our regulatory framework goes back to the laws parliaments pass in ever increasing numbers. Hardly anything is ever consolidated or removed from the statute books.

BHP has Olympic hurdles to overcome

17 April 2012 | Jamie Freed

PRINT: 17 April 2012 | PAGE 5 | BHP has Olympic hurdles to overcome

The South Australian government says it is not inclined to grant BHP Billiton an extension on an approvals expiring in December that cover the $US20 billion expansion of the Olympic Dam mine at this stage.

BHP’s Olympic dam decision

16 April 2012 | Brigitte Dwyer

PRINT: 16 April 2012 | PAGE 51 | BHP’s Olympic dam

BHP’s proposed expansion of Olympic Dam will provide employment and a future for generations of South Australians (“BHP hits a hard road”, April 14-15). Instead, the company is facing pressure from investors to halt the mega-project and distribute profits.

Haggling persists on Murray-Darling water quotas

16 April 2012 | Sophie Morris

PRINT: 16 April 2012 | PAGE 6 | Haggling persists on Murray quotas

Victoria and NSW are resisting calls for more water for the Murray-Darling Basin and South Australia claims the upstream states will try to flout the rules.

COAG agrees to $9bn for vocational education system

14 April 2012 | Louise Dodson

PRINT: 14 April 2012 | PAGE 6 |

Prime Minister Julia Gillard was able to persuade the states to agree to a landmark vocational education system but disagreement remains over a national approach to occupational health and safety laws.

COAG signs skills agreement

14 April 2012 | Pip Freebairn

PRINT: 14 April 2012 | PAGE 6 | States sign up to skills agreement

Minister for Skills Chris Evans has applauded the states’ and territories’ decision to sign an agreement on skills training to address the skills shortage.

National briefs

14 April 2012 |

PRINT: 14 April 2012 | PAGE 4 |

Victoria’s house prices have remained flat over the last quarter, according to the latest figures from the state’s real estate institute.

Premiers, state your case

13 April 2012 | John Roskam

PRINT: 13 April 2012 | PAGE 50 | Premiers, state your case

Campbell Newman seems unafraid to take on the PM; not so the three other Coalition premiers.

When red tape is green

13 April 2012 | Jennifer Hewett

PRINT: 13 April 2012 | PAGE 2 | When red tape is green

Hewett | The idea of governments cutting red tape always sounds so alluring to business. It’s doing it that is the hard part.

Latham offensive

12 April 2012 | Andrew Dettmer

PRINT: 12 April 2012 | PAGE 59 | Latham offensive

Mark Latham’s “ALP must cut ties with the unions” (Opinion, April 11) is truly offensive. Latham had no objections that I’m aware of to the union role and relationship when he was an MP or leader. It’s now clear that he never understood that relationship. Now, he demands from the sidelines that affiliated unions and the party sever all ties. Not one to let the facts get in the way, he bases this on the suggestion that all unions oppose party reform.

Boom town rewards are not for locals

10 April 2012 | Jonathan Barrett

PRINT: 10 April 2012 | PAGE 9 | Boom town rewards not for locals

Overseas engineering firms are winning lucrative work on major energy and resources projects at the expense of Australian practitioners, local-content advocates have claimed.

States call for funding certainty

10 April 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 10 April 2012 | PAGE 3 | States call for funding certainty

State premiers will make a last-ditch plea to Prime Minister Julia Gillard this week not to cut off $1.5 billion of federal funding that is tied to more than 20 programs.

Carbon tax cattle prod

10 April 2012 | Jennifer Hewett

PRINT: 10 April 2012 | PAGE 2 | Carbon tax cattle prod

The IPAs John Roskam has an unsettling message for state governments and big businesses lining up to oppose to the carbon tax.

SA mining sector angered by federal cuts

05 April 2012 |

Federal government changes to fuel tax credits and cuts to exploration assistance will act like a "sledgehammer" on South Australia's mining sector, the state's chamber of mines and energy said.

National briefs

05 April 2012 |

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 10 |

The Victorian government will use the looming meeting of the Council of Australian Governments to renew its push for a Productivity Commission inquiry into the construction industry..

Olympic Dam could transform SA: BIS

04 April 2012 |

BHP Billiton's proposed Olympic Dam expansion could transform South Australia, BIS Shrapnel said, with civil construction activity to peak nationally in 2014 thanks to the resources boom.

States attack GST ‘disrepair’

04 April 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 04 April 2012 | PAGE 6 | States fear for core funding

Updated | Liberal state treasurers have delivered a strong complaint to the Gillard government about changes to GST sharing arrangements, saying they are unhappy about the lack of consultation.

SA leader farewelled

04 April 2012 |

PRINT: 04 April 2012 | PAGE 52 | SA leader farewelled

The former South Australian Liberal Leader Dale Baker was farewelled at a memorial service in Adelaide on Monday after he lost his long battle with motor neurone disease, aged 73.

States line up against Gillard

04 April 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 04 April 2012 | PAGE 4 | States line up against Gillard

One of only two remaining Labor state treasurers – Jack Snelling from South Australia – has accused the ­federal Labor government of bleeding already strained state budgets to guarantee its own surplus.

Crowd numbers sink at last Murray Darling meeting

03 April 2012 | Lucille Keen

PRINT: 03 April 2012 | PAGE 10 | Canberra expects river writs

Crowd numbers were down at Tuesday’s Murray Darling Basin Authority meeting in Adelaide – the last public gathering to discuss how much water to return to the river system.

Saga of Sub John B

03 April 2012 |

PRINT: 03 April 2012 | PAGE 60 | Saga of Sub John B

South Australia’s recently retired premier, Mike Rann, delivered an address at Flinders University in Adelaide last night in which he bemoaned the role of Rupert Murdoch and his News Ltd newspapers. No surprises there.

National briefs

03 April 2012 |

PRINT: 03 April 2012 | PAGE 12 |

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill called on all MPs to improve their behaviour in state Parliament after a gaffe-prone Liberal suggested a minister “should be put down”.

Last chance for word on Murray Darling

03 April 2012 | Lucille Keen

PRINT: 03 April 2012 | PAGE 7 | Last chance for word on Murray Darling

Hundreds of people are expected to fill the Adelaide Convention Centre on Tuesday for the last Murray Darling Basin Authority draft plan public meeting before submissions close on April 16.

Rann slates journalism standards

03 April 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 03 April 2012 | PAGE 13 | Rann slates journalism standards

The standards of political journalism particularly in newspapers and on commercial television are diving as commercial pressures bite, says former South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Big ideas, little progress

03 April 2012 | Jennifer Hewett

PRINT: 03 April 2012 | PAGE 2 | Big ideas, little progress

Hewett | National standards inevitably mean more onerous layers of regulation. Less is never more in bureaucracy.

Secession leads to a state of bliss

31 March 2012 | Alan Stokes

PRINT: 31 March 2012 | PAGE 54 | Secession leads to a state of bliss

Stokes | I just hate it when I get an idea – it happens every leap year – only to find some other smartypants has already thought of it.

Power play not so down to earth

30 March 2012 | Laura Tingle

PRINT: 30 March 2012 | PAGE 51 | States’ power play not so down to earth

When people talk about “cost of living” as a political issue, they mean electricity prices, which have risen about 40 per cent since 2007.

Power price rise sparks blame game

29 March 2012 | Cameron O’Reilly

PRINT: 29 March 2012 | PAGE 63 | Power price rise sparks

The Liberal National Party’s victory in Queensland is the most recent example of a political party campaigning on voter concerns about the increased cost of living. Foremost among those concerns is the price of electricity.

Public service money flow needs reform

29 March 2012 | Nick Truelove

PRINT: 29 March 2012 | PAGE 59 | Public service money flow needs reform

It was refreshing to read Gary Sturgess’s “On the front line ‘ (Review, March 23) discussing new thinking on how to reduce cost and better deliver public services. The devolved model giving greater autonomy to service unit managers provides some scope for efficiency gains. But I fear this will be less than anticipated unless a parallel reform is made, which is to look at the flow of money through public organisations.

National briefs

29 March 2012 |

PRINT: 29 March 2012 | PAGE 17 |

The full Federal Court ruled yesterday that Noza Holdings subsidiary Illinois Tool Works could make a $171 million deduction relating to an almost decade-old tax return.

Car rescue won’t save suppliers

29 March 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 29 March 2012 | PAGE 3 | Car rescue won’t save suppliers

The $275 million publicly funded rescue package for car maker GM Holden will not halt the decline for the struggling local car component makers, official documents reveal.

Qld impact may slow COAG progress

28 March 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 28 March 2012 | PAGE 10 | Qld impact may hold up COAG

The election of a conservative government in Queensland could slow the introduction of policies designed to reduce barriers to interstate commerce.

Victoria last cab at the Holden rank

27 March 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 27 March 2012 | PAGE 11 | Victoria last cab at the Holden rank

Victoria signed up to the $275 million GM Holden rescue package only the night before it was announced, South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has revealed.

Liberals seize COAG reforms

26 March 2012 | Michaela Whitbourn

PRINT: 27 March 2012 | PAGE 1 | Liberals seize COAG reforms

Conservative premiers are working to seize control of the federal-state agenda to overcome logjams in the Gillard government’s process and pursue new reforms following the ­election of Campbell Newman.

Outside chance

26 March 2012 |

PRINT: 26 March 2012 | PAGE 52 | Outside chance

After the stunning successs of Campbell Newman in the Queensland poll,. talk in the South Australian division of the Liberal Party has turned to what kind of outsider might allow them to replicate the LNP’s triumph.

National briefs

26 March 2012 |

PRINT: 26 March 2012 | PAGE 10 |

The Queensland Greens failed to secure a single seat in the Queensland Parliament despite an increase in the level of community concern surrounding coal and coal-seam gas development in the state.

Hockey breaks ranks on Holden handout

24 March 2012 | Laura Tingle

PRINT: 24 March 2012 | PAGE 2 | Hockey breaks ranks on Holden handout

The shadow treasurer questions the millions committed to the car maker but the Opposition Leader has taken a more conciliatory line.

Car parts makers take global road

24 March 2012 | Peter Roberts

PRINT: 24 March 2012 | PAGE 4 | Parts makers take global road

Finding global opportunities is tough for car components makers, but once they gain credibility with GM or Ford, they are well placed to bid for international orders.

Labor’s great car industry betrayal

24 March 2012 | The Australian Financial Review

PRINT: 24 March 2012 | PAGE 62 | Labor’s great car industry betrayal

Editorial | The Gillard government’s plan to throw away $275 million on propping up GM Holden’s Australian operations is a betrayal of the Australian people.

SA premier wants mining benefits for all

23 March 2012 |

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has urged the development of the state's mining services sector to ensure the riches flowing from the emerging mining boom are shared across the community.

Chance missed for change on work floor

23 March 2012 | Peter Roberts

PRINT: 23 March 2012 | PAGE 7 | Chance lost for change on work floor

Yesterday’s $1.3 billion public-private investment in GM Holden marks a new and worrying stage in the long-running battle between those who believe the sector deserves special support and those who do not.

Models are the mission when you’re making the marque

23 March 2012 | Peter Roberts

PRINT: 23 March 2012 | PAGE 57 | The models are the mission when you’re making the marque

Mike Devereux has driven strategy set during the global financial crisis and General Motors own bankruptcy to deliver an extraordinary guarantee that GM Holden will be making cars in Adelaide until at least 2022.

Football, meat pies, kangaroos and subsidies

23 March 2012 | Peter Roberts

PRINT: 23 March 2012 | PAGE 57 | Football, meat pies, kangaroos and subsidies

It has been a long journey from 1984 when Australia first began to “transition” its car industry from the era of high tariff protection in confidence there would be a day when it could stand on its own two feet.

No job guarantees in Holden handout

22 March 2012 | Mark Skulley

PRINT: 23 March 2012 | PAGE 1 | No job guarantees in Holden handout

Federal Labor faces intense scrutiny over the flow-on benefits in local ­innovation and technology from the $275 million deal to lock in GM Holden as a car maker until 2022.

Commodore to go in Holden deal

22 March 2012 | Mark Skulley

PRINT: 22 March 2012 | PAGE 3 | Commodore to go in Holden deal

Updated | The federal government will detail on Thursday how it will lock in the manufacturing operations of GM Holden for at least a decade in a deal that will include about $200 million in extra taxpayer funding.

Fears for our food security are overfed

21 March 2012 | Jamie Briggs

PRINT: 21 March 2012 | PAGE 63 | Fears for our food security are overfed

Modest Member | This year has been nominated the Australian “year of the farmer”, a brilliantly timed moniker given the rapidly developing opportunities presented to our agricultural sector.

States with spines hold tax deal line

21 March 2012 | Graham Bornholt

PRINT: 21 March 2012 | PAGE 59 | States with spines hold tax deal line

John Freebairn’s opinion “Tax reform is wanting” (March 19) about business tax reform generally supports the Commonwealth Treasury’s Henry review.

SA set to reap gains from timber sale

20 March 2012 | Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald

PRINT: 20 March 2012 | PAGE 18 | SA to reap gains from timber sale

Eight bidders are about to receive an information memorandum as the privatisation of South Australian Timber Corp gets back in the swing.

News briefs

20 March 2012 |

PRINT: 20 March 2012 | PAGE 12 |

Law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s chief executive John Denton has been appointed co-chairman of the Commonwealth Business Council.

Go south, young man

15 March 2012 |

PRINT: 15 March 2012 | PAGE 68 | Go south, young man

Members of the South Australian Parliament probably weren’t laughing on Wednesday when they debated a motion bemoaning the flow of young talent leaving the state.

Mad March – pitch perfect . . . or theatre of the absurd?

15 March 2012 | Brook Turner

PRINT: 15 March 2012 | PAGE 63 | Or theatre of the absurd?

“There’s so much happening you can’t really focus on anything in particular, but that’s what makes it great,” South Australian Arts Minister John Hill says of what locals refer to as “mad March” – and none madder than this year.

Claims of inertia in SA planning

15 March 2012 | Rebecca Thistleton

PRINT: 15 March 2012 | PAGE 58 | Claims of inertia

South Australia’s potential for urban renewal projects is being inhibited by “reform inertia” and resistance from local government, the Property Council has said as part of the 2012 Development Assessment Report Card.

Mixed results with reforms

15 March 2012 | Ainslie Chandler

PRINT: 15 March 2012 | PAGE 56 | Mixed results with reforms

Western Australia and the Northern Territory have taken great strides in development assessment reform in recent years but other jurisdictions have had mixed results in formulating and implementing change.

National Briefs

13 March 2012 |

PRINT: 13 March 2012 | PAGE 4 |

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has restated the government’s commitment to Afghanistan after a rogue US soldier went on a pre-dawn shooting spree in a village in the southern Kandahar province.

1000 pack Murray meeting in SA

09 March 2012 |

More than 1000 people have packed a public meeting in the South Australian Riverland over the future management of the Murray-Darling Basin.

Generators admit to market power

09 March 2012 | David Headberry,

PRINT: 08 March 2012 | PAGE 47 | Generators admit to market power

Your readers should be informed that the warning from Macquarie Generation’s Russell Skelton to increase generator profitability by reducing output to increase the price to offset the carbon tax is not an empty threat (“Carbon tax hit threatens price blowout”, February 29).

Slow lending, high tax not a winning formula

07 March 2012 | Rebecca Thistleton

PRINT: 07 March 2012 | PAGE 53 | Slow lending, high tax not a winning formula

Cautious lending and high land tax has tightened land supply in South Australia, despite the state recording lower population growth than other states.

Former treasurer sees no conflict in his new career

03 March 2012 | Lucille Keen

PRINT: 03 March 2012 | PAGE 10 | Former treasurer sees no conflict in his new career

Subtlety has never been Kevin Foley’s strong suit, but the former South Australian treasurer will be using it to gain access into his former colleagues’ offices in his new role as a business advisor.

South Australia laws to ban Arkaroola mining

29 February 2012 |

Traditional owners of the Arkaroola Sanctuary in South Australia's Flinders Ranges will have a say in managing the land under a new law banning miners from the environmentally sensitive region.

No need for nuclear power: SA minister

28 February 2012 |

Australia has no need and no social licence to develop nuclear power, South Australian Mineral Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis says.

Row intensifies over GST carve-up

25 February 2012 | Peter Kerr, Mathew Dunckley, Mark Ludlow

PRINT: 25 February 2012 | PAGE 11 | Row intensifies over GST carve-up

Calls to fix the system of distributing the goods and services tax have intensified after the Commonwealth Grants Commission recommended Western Australia be stripped of $598 million in GST next year.

PM rejects Barnett’s attack on schools reforms

23 February 2012 | Pip Freebairn

PRINT: 23 February 2012 | PAGE 15 | PM rejects Barnett attack

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has dismissed West Australian Premier Colin Barnett’s claims the Gonski review of school funding is a federal attempt to take over state-run schools.

Victorian DAs take the longest

18 February 2012 | Lucille Keen

PRINT: 18 February 2012 | PAGE 6 | Victorian approvals take longest

Victorian councils take twice as long to process development applications as those in Queensland and 70 per cent longer than New South Wales.

Row erupts over GST carve-up

18 February 2012 | Mark Ludlow

PRINT: 18 February 2012 | PAGE 2 | Row erupts

A record $500 million cut in payments to the West Australian government by Canberra has reignited a political row over the carve-up of the goods and services tax and how to distribute the financial benefits of the mining boom.

Labor claims victory in SA by-elections

14 February 2012 |

Labor has formally claimed victory in the Port Adelaide by-election.

SA compensates Marathon Resources

13 February 2012 |

Marathon Resources has accepted $5 million compensation after its hopes of one day mining uranium at Mt Gee were dashed by a proposed mining ban at South Australia's environmentally sensitive Arkaroola.

SA writ large

13 February 2012 | Peter Gayen

PRINT: 13 February 2012 | PAGE 51 | SA writ large

In response to Bob Day’s “SA is far from irrelevant” (February 7), the fact is the establishment sold out at the first possible opportunity, retired to the vineyard in the Barossa, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale or Coonawarra (delete which is inapplicable) so as to never be sober mid-afternoon ever again. Taken together with a 20-year run of state governments focused on social policy, South Australia experienced below-average growth.

Australia can use manufacturing strengths

10 February 2012 |

PRINT: 10 February 2012 | PAGE 55 | Australia can use manufacturing strengths

I have consulted in manufacturing to more than 400 companies in 15 countries for over 30 years and previously headed research and development divisions in large manufacturing companies.

National briefs

10 February 2012 |

PRINT: 10 February 2012 | PAGE 15 |

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has urged the country’s top 200 companies to redouble their efforts to comply with national consumer laws on the first anniversary of the regime.

A way of keeping politicians honest

07 February 2012 | Kris Kempson

PRINT: 07 February 2012 | PAGE 49 | A way of keeping politicians honest

Many voters are appalled at the lack of consistency displayed by the Federal Labor party in sticking to policies they created in order to win government.

SA is far from irrelevant

07 February 2012 | Bob Day

PRINT: 07 February 2012 | PAGE 49 | SA is far from irrelevant

So Greg Craven thinks the only three certainties in life are death, taxes and the irrelevance of South Australia (“Opinion, February 6). Very funny.

Leave RET alone

06 February 2012 | Richard Mackie

PRINT: 06 February 2012 | PAGE 51 | Leave RET alone

The renewable energy target is self-correcting for the impending carbon tax given that it is a market-based mechanism and specifically does not pick winners.

Jaguar Jac

04 February 2012 |

PRINT: 04 February 2012 | PAGE 57 | Jaguar Jac

It is well known that BHP Billiton chairman and former Ford boss Jac Nasser is a car enthusiast.

Debate flares over SA small business role

04 February 2012 | Jessica Gardner

PRINT: 04 February 2012 | PAGE 22 | Debate flares over SA small business role

The appointment of associate professor Frank Zumbo to the part-time role of South Australian deputy small business commissioner has sparked furious debate in the franchise community.

Dumping Julia

03 February 2012 | Bob Muirhead

PRINT: 03 February 2012 | PAGE 55 | Dumping Julia

It beggars belief that the Labor Party is seriously considering dumping Julia Gillard for a more electorally-appealing prime minister.

Seamless economy idea unravelling

03 February 2012 | The Australian Financial Review

PRINT: 03 February 2012 | PAGE 58 | Seamless economy

Editorial | COAG is fast running out of time to deliver the seamless national economy promised by former prime minister Kevin Rudd less than four years ago.

NSW and Vic question projected cost increases

02 February 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 02 February 2012 | PAGE 8 | NSW and Vic question projected cost increases

Cash-strapped state governments are demanding federal financial assistance as they weigh the financial impact of Fair Work Australia’s landmark equal pay decision.

Holden couldn’t continue without govt support: MD

01 February 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 02 February 2012 | PAGE 10 | Holden ends shift

Updated | GM Holden MD Mike Devereux said the company would not be able to continue in Australia without government support as he confirmed it would cut around 100 jobs at its Adelaide manufacturing plant.

Libs say northern defence plan faces funds risk

01 February 2012 | John Kerin

PRINT: 01 February 2012 | PAGE 10 | Libs say northern defence plan faces funds risk

A Labor government could not be trusted to stump up the funds to boost protection for Australia’s mineral and resource assets, the Opposition has warned.

National briefs

01 February 2012 |

PRINT: 01 February 2012 | PAGE 8 |

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has rejected a plan by the Victorian government to graze 400 cattle in the Alpine National Park as part of an investigation of fuel and bushfire risk management.

Dam on the menu

31 January 2012 |

PRINT: 31 January 2012 | PAGE 44 | Dam on the menu

Oh to be disguised as a lampshade at the South Australian Museum last night when BHP Billiton’s board of directors broke bread with new Premier Jay Weatherill and opposition frontbencher Mitch Williams.

BHP digs in for deep liaison

31 January 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 31 January 2012 | PAGE 15 | BHP digs in for deep liaison

The unusual sight of the BHP Billiton board sitting down for dinner at the South Australian Museum last night has only reinforced the market’s view that the company will push the button on the $US20 billion plus expansion of the Olympic Dam mine this year.

Weatherill seeks unity of states

30 January 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 30 January 2012 | PAGE 45 | Call for unity

Businesses need to more aggressively champion the removal of cross-border red tape if they want to see a truly seamless national economy, says South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill..

Dollar not the key to Holden’s future

30 January 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 30 January 2012 | PAGE 45 | Dollar not the key to Holden’s future

South Australia’s Premier argues that manufacturing matters more than currency fluctuations.

SA committed to its money trees

30 January 2012 | Sarah Thompson, Christine Lacy and Stephen Shore

PRINT: 30 January 2012 | PAGE 18 | SA committed to its money trees

It is crunch time in South Australia’s $600 million forestry privatisation.

BHP dines out on $20bn Olympic Dam expansion

30 January 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 27 January 2012 | PAGE 1 | BHP dines out on $20bn Olympic Dam expansion

Exclusive | The future of the massive Olympic Dam project will be the No. 1 item on the menu when the board of BHP Billiton descends on Adelaide for a private dinner with South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill.

Treasurer defends car handouts

28 January 2012 | Laura Tingle

PRINT: 28 January 2012 | PAGE 1 | Treasurer

Treasurer Wayne Swan is rejecting arguments that the government is using the high dollar as a scapegoat for car industry job losses and low productivity.

Oh, what a feeling!

25 January 2012 |

PRINT: 25 January 2012 | PAGE 52 | Oh, what a feeling!

South Australian Employment Minister Tom Kenyon should have known just how fraught and parochial the debate about automotive manufacturing is. All local ministers are issued with Holdens – but not Kenyon.

Toyota shrinks for the economic good

24 January 2012 | Alan Mitchell

PRINT: 24 January 2012 | PAGE 8 | Company shrinks for the economic good

Toyota’s job cuts are bad news for the workers affected but, if the politicians can leave well enough alone, they’ll help strengthen the economy.

Unions shatter harmony

24 January 2012 | Peter Roberts

PRINT: 24 January 2012 | PAGE 1 | Unions shatter harmony

Toyota ultimately achieves profits through a unique commitment to harmony and predictability – two things in short supply locally.

Carr confident on manufacturing’s future

23 January 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 24 January 2012 | PAGE 1 | Toyota warns of permanent decline

Updated | Manufacturing Minister Kim Carr is confident manufacturing will survive the high $A despite Toyota laying off 350 workers and painting a grim picture of the company’s local prospects.

Tax system needs constant reform

23 January 2012 |

PRINT: 23 January 2012 | PAGE 46 | Tax system needs new reform push

Editorial | Australian governments have a long tradition of ignoring suggestions for reforming the tax system.

In brief

21 January 2012 |

PRINT: 21 January 2012 | PAGE 10 |

Dr Brendan Nelson has been named Australia’s first ambassador to NATO.

Fixed terms will end poll speculation

20 January 2012 | Mark Ludlow

PRINT: 20 January 2012 | PAGE 47 | Fixed terms will end poll speculation

The endless speculation about the timing of the Queensland election is another reason to have fixed parliamentary terms across Australia.

Record field for SA by-election

20 January 2012 | Lucille Keen

PRINT: 20 January 2012 | PAGE 14 | Nine chase Foley’s seat

Nine candidates will contest the by-election for Port Adelaide, the seat formerly held by South Australia’s long-serving treasurer, Kevin Foley.

Nine candidates vie for Foley's seat

19 January 2012 |

A record nine candidates will contest the by-election for Port Adelaide, the seat formerly held by South Australia's long-serving treasurer Kevin Foley.

Abbott locks in $500m car cuts

18 January 2012 | John Kerin

PRINT: 19 January 2012 | PAGE 1 | Abbott locks in $500m car cuts

Updated | Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has vowed to stick with plans to axe $500 million in car industry ­subsidies, staring down a fierce internal Coalition revolt and heavy lobbying from the automotive sector.

Buyers want different cars

18 January 2012 | Margaret Beardow

PRINT: 18 January 2012 | PAGE 51 | Buyers want different cars

Economists may be right about the car industry subsidies if the issue was cost competitiveness. But buyers do not want cheaper cars, they want different cars.

Minchin backs car handouts

18 January 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 18 January 2012 | PAGE 1 | Minchin backs car handouts

Former Howard government industry and finance minister Nick Minchin has strongly urged the Coalition not to proceed with a $500 million cut to Labor’s car assistance program.

Car reform needs to go through the gears

18 January 2012 | Tim Harcourt

PRINT: 18 January 2012 | PAGE 55 | Car reform needs to go through the gears

When Steve Bracks embarked on the 2008 car industry review he was under intense pressure to stop tariff cuts.

Hospital funding costs go under microscope

18 January 2012 | Emma Connors

PRINT: 18 January 2012 | PAGE 4 | Hospital funding costs go under microscope

State governments have had their first glimpse of how the commonwealth will cut their share of the $34 billion public hospital funding pie in July.

Car subsidies: meet back-seat drivers

17 January 2012 | Aaron Patrick

PRINT: 17 January 2012 | PAGE 45 | Car subsidies: meet the back-seat drivers

Demoted and angry, Kim Carr arrived in Detroit on a mission to portray himself as the saviour of Australia car manufacturing.

SA woos aerospace manufacturers

16 January 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

Adelaide will host the manufacturing of a key component in the troubled Joint Strike Fighter, following a successful pitch from the South Australian government.

Baillieu backs away from anti-COAG rhetoric

16 January 2012 | Pip Freebairn, Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 17 January 2012 | PAGE 3 | Ballieu softens

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu has backed away from his government’s claim that COAG was a “bureaucratic quagmire”, as state governments prepare for a key report on their performance on economic reform.

Car policy on the run short-sighted

13 January 2012 | Dean Logan

PRINT: 13 January 2012 | PAGE 41 | Car policy on the run short-sighted

The decision to inject another projected $100 million plus – on top of $6.2 billion of direct industry assistance over the past two decades is short-sighted.

Rann calls a halt to a long run in politics

13 January 2012 | Lucille Keen

PRINT: 13 January 2012 | PAGE 11 | Rann walks away after a long run in politics

The man dubbed “media Mike”, former South Australian premier Mike Rann, will slip away from the spotlight today, celebrating only with “a few beers with mates”.

Hockey fights car handouts

13 January 2012 | David Crowe

PRINT: 13 January 2012 | PAGE 1 | Hockey fights car handouts

Updated | Kim Carr has called on the coalition to support Australia’s automotive industry, following reports opposition Treasury spokesman Joe Hockey will fight to keep a $500 million cut to car industry subsidies as Coalition policy.

Canberra earmarks $3.4bn for automotive sector

12 January 2012 | Peter Roberts

PRINT: 12 January 2012 | PAGE 9 | Canberra earmarks $3.4bn for sector

Some $3.4 billion in federal funding will be channelled to the automotive sector up to 2020 through environmental subsidies and the Automotive Transformation Scheme.

Car handouts split Libs

12 January 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 12 January 2012 | PAGE 1 | Car handouts split Libs

Job-saving handouts to car makers have prompted Coalition backbenchers and influential conservative businessmen to ramp up pressure on Tony Abbott to reject subsidies for vulnerable manufacturers.

Funding cut and dried for GM deal

12 January 2012 | Mark Skulley, Peter Roberts

PRINT: 12 January 2012 | PAGE 9 | Funding cut and dried for GM plan

Manufacturing Minister Kim Carr says funding has already been allowed for. for any assistance package he is negotiating with GM Holden parent General Motors.

Labor’s Holden jobs rescue

10 January 2012 | Mark Skulley

PRINT: 10 January 2012 | PAGE 1 | Labor’s Holden jobs rescue

The federal government expects to lock in Holden’s Australian car manufacturing operations for the next few years with an estimated $100 million taxpayer subsidy in return for job and local content guarantees.

National briefs

10 January 2012 |

PRINT: 10 January 2012 | PAGE 6 |

Boeing will back a CSIRO-led study that will test growing feed stocks in northern Australia for conversion into sustainable aviation fuel.

Mines tax poses additional risk

10 January 2012 |

PRINT: 10 January 2012 | PAGE 46 | Mines tax poses

Editorial | A real tax-reforming treasurer would put the GST on the table and take the case to the states, the opposition and the public for a serious overhaul.

Mike Rann to quit politics this week

09 January 2012 |

Former South Australian Premier Mike Rann, who was replaced as premier by Jay Weatherill in October last year, will quit politics on Friday.

SA government welcomes waterfront deal

09 January 2012 |

South Australian Industrial Relations Minister Russell Wortley has said calmer heads have prevailed in the waterfront dispute which threatened to close down ports in Melbourne on Monday.

Car funds wasted

09 January 2012 | David Williams

PRINT: 09 January 2012 | PAGE 41 | Car handouts a waste

In all likelihood the government will give in to GM-Holden, Ford and Toyota by providing a new lifeline for “metal bashing” which does not serve Australia well.

Moment of truth for lottery sale

07 January 2012 | Stephen Shore and Anthony Macdonald

PRINT: 07 January 2012 | PAGE 40 | Moment of truth for lottery sale

Friday marked the deadline for bids to run the sale of South Australia’s state lottery. Bidders will be wondering how much longer it will take to close the deal.

In brief

07 January 2012 |

PRINT: 07 January 2012 | PAGE 8 |

Westpac subsidiary BT said a software coding problem on Thursday night led to about 1100 of its BT Super For Life accounts being credited with extra cash.

National briefs

05 January 2012 |

PRINT: 05 January 2012 | PAGE 8 |

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is blaming federal government dysfunction for a change in Indonesian immigration policy that could boost the number of asylum seeker boats heading to Australia.

Writ issued for Port Adelaide by-election

04 January 2012 |

A writ has been issued to officially kick-start the by-election for the South Australian parliamentary seat of Port Adelaide, formerly held by long-serving treasurer Kevin Foley.

Premiers make run for funds

04 January 2012 | Matthew Cranston

PRINT: 04 January 2012 | PAGE 1 | Premiers make run for funds

The budget for infrastructure projects may be tight but the Gillard government has been generous in one area, pledging at least $116 million for sports stadium upgrades.

Smaller is better

03 January 2012 | Peter Strachan

PRINT: 03 January 2012 | PAGE 40 | Smaller is better

The Property Council of Australia fails to connect the dots when it labels South Australia “the state with no staying power” (December 22-27).

Revenue fall prompts debt spike

03 January 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: PAGE 7 | Revenue fall prompts debt spike

The Victorian and South Australian governments will add $1.5 billion more in debt this financial year than planned when they crafted their budgets six months ago.

SA, the state with no staying power

22 December 2011 | Lucille Keen

PRINT: 21 December 2011 | PAGE 9 | SA, the state with no staying power

More people leave the state than arrive and some South Australian companies are luring staff with offers of flexible working hours and conditions.

Stop the revolving doors at The Lodge

21 December 2011 | Michael Schilling

PRINT: 19 December 2011 | PAGE 43 | Stop the revolving doors at The Lodge

Are we heading towards a situation where prime ministers are changed like socks? If one goes by the latest newspaper opinions it seems that way.