This Month
Home values on track to be 8 times the average Australian’s income
The dwelling value-to-income ratio of some major hubs is predicted to hit record levels by the end of 2026, widening the wealth gap even further.
May
Chinese envoy slams ‘ethically questionable’ takeover of Darwin Port
Beijing’s ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian says Chinese port owner Landbridge shouldn’t be punished by having its lease ended on security grounds.
Hong Kong tycoon snares carbon project in outback WA
Billionaire Li Ka-Shing’s CK Group has taken over an area it describes as “three times the size of Hong Kong” to dedicate to regenerative agriculture.
Iluka CEO backs efforts to loosen China’s rare earths stranglehold
Tom O’Leary says Western governments had acknowledged ‘China’s monopoly’ by acting to secure their own sources of critical minerals.
April
Lynas blasts Labor over critical minerals stockpile plan
Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze has warned Labor’s critical minerals stockpile will be counterproductive and may damage Australia’s only rare earths producer.
Heat on premier to end uranium ban
Many expected the return of a conservative government in Queensland would lift the uranium mining ban. But Premier David Crisafulli has other ideas.
Marles won’t say if US pressure led to Port of Darwin U-turn
Defence Minister Richard Marles declined on four occasions to say what had occurred since late 2023 to change the policy on the port’s Chinese ownership.
March
Super fund giant’s $2b caravan park play goes upmarket
G’day Group is a big player in camping and caravanning. Now it’s buying resorts in its grand ambition to be the go-to for regional holidays.
US giant quits NT cattle station amid carbon confusion
Uncertainty and delays in the release of new rules for carbon projects spur Hartree, indirectly owned by US global funds giant Brookfield, to sell
January
EDO rejects bankruptcy fears after $9m Santos court flop
The taxpayer-funded environmental law charity has secured a $6.5m interest free loan to stay afloat after costs from its case against the gas giant pushed it to the brink of collapse.
November 2024
The Aussie drama taking Netflix by storm
For four days in late October, Territory, which follows the Lawson family and its tenuous hold on Marianne cattle station, topped global Netflix viewing.
September 2024
Uranium mine shareholders try to delay Rio Tinto capital raise
The Takeovers Panel confirmed two of the uranium miner’s shareholders are trying to delay an $880 million capital raise backed by major shareholder, Rio Tinto.
August 2024
Major universities smashed in Labor about-face on overseas students
The government will cap numbers and redistribute them across the sector, one of the country’s biggest export industries, with smaller institutions to benefit.
NT wipeout should spark real ‘closing the gap’ discussion
Ideally, the prominent role Indigenous policy will play in two critical NT federal seats would prompt much-needed discussion of Noel Pearson’s responsibility agenda.
Billionaire fisherman faces barramundi wipeout
Mineral Resources boss Chris Ellison’s private company, Wild Barra Fisheries, faces uncertain future under plans to ban gill nets in the NT and Queensland.
Talks sanction more US bombers, fighter jets, spy planes in Australia
Annual defence and foreign affairs talks will see Australia deepen its role as the US’s “unsinkable aircraft carrier” in a potential conflict with China.
Future Made in Australia is already running off the rails
The Albanese government has fallen into the trap of trying to achieve political wins at high economic cost. And nobody is stopping them.
July 2024
Jabiluka was cancelled by edict from above
The decision to mine the uranium deposit or not should have been taken by the parties involved, not through the high-handed intervention of an anti-nuclear government.
States should drop ‘ridiculous’ uranium bans: Mundine
Former ALP national president Warren Mundine says state government should end their bans on mining uranium, and the Mirrar people should be able to negotiate whether the practice remains at Jabiluka.
Queensland to cop skilled migrant cut amid boost to smaller states
Queensland will be the only Australian state to suffer a reduction in the number of skilled migrant allocations this financial year.