Ex-Lib needs salary alms to survive in the Holy Land
One-time Lib rising star Tim Smith’s car-crash career has taken him to Israel as a political adviser, where apparently he’s so poorly paid he has people at home seeking top-up ‘donations’.
Margin Call
ACU drops ‘Jewish’ from centre’s name
Officials at the embattled Australian Catholic University are set to discuss a new project’s name, but they’re worried about including the word ‘Jewish’ in case of a donor backlash. Seems very narrow-minded to us.
Ute diplomacy: $500 the price of keeping peace on campaign trail
Someone within the Liberal camp hit on an ingenious solution to head off the possibility of an embarrassing confrontation at a Peter Dutton election stop in Sydney – cash.
The same old story from Labor and its lackeys
Thursday saw yet another report championing the Albanese government’s Same Job, Same Pay legislation, this time by the McKell Institute, but can we really call it ‘independent’?
Teal candidate Boele’s ‘poor attempt at humour’ excuse is pure hypocrisy
The Bradfield teal’s unwelcome remark should’ve been out of bounds, particularly when this budding politician has made such a point of speaking against sexual harassment in all its forms.
Palmer pulls Patriots roadshow after star speaker cancels
Clive Palmer’s latest election campaign has hit a snag as the magnate cancelled his Trumpet of Patriots national speaking tour due to a problem with his headline act.
Whitehaven director’s online hero worship of Trump and Musk
Whitehaven Coal director Raymond Zage’s online adoration of all things Trumpian and Musk must be grating at HQ, particularly for chair and former Australian trade minister Mark Vaile.
Carry on camping? Cranbrook caper hushed up
The jumpy parent group at elite private school Cranbrook has been in a tizzy over the scandal-prone establishment’s latest PR crisis, this one involving ‘inappropriate behaviour’ on a student excursion.
PolyNovo a little fast and loose with its ASX facts
Setting the record straight? Polynovo’s colourful entrenched chair, David Williams, should have gone and the preferred replacement turned down the role. Try finding that in its ASX statement.
Legal eagles launch a broadside at ACU
Barristers and notable figures have put their names to a 20-page letter pointing out why the Australian Catholic University may have breached the ‘standards for continued registration’.
How Whyalla steelworkers resorted to bartering bog roll for oil
Got any dunny paper? We’ve got machine oil to trade for a couple of cartons. Inside the financial chaos at Sanjeev Gupta’s Whyalla steelworks.
Labor ‘luvvies’ the life of the budget after-party
Is there such a thing as a free meal? Labor’s loyalists made the pilgrimage to Canberra to hear Jim Chalmers latest budget and mingle late into the night. Here’s who we found at the soiree.
How an NDIS housing provider blew millions
NDIS housing provider Saorsa Health spent millions of dollars of investor money on international travel, credit cards and even a Cambodian dairy farm, a liquidator’s report shows.
Ex-roads minister caught out by secret photo while driving
If you’re a former roads minister then ignorance of the law isn’t a solid defence for zooming, or more precisely using FaceTime, behind the wheel despite a history of being chauffeured.
Full court press looms for NBL
Australia’s top-flight basketball league isn’t for sale, says owner Larry Kestelman, who’s delivered an alley-oop to US interloper Jared Novelly’s putsch plans.
Gupta hands vulture fund a hook into Tassie smelter
Signs of hope, or another nail in the coffin? It’s hard to tell what Sanjeev Gupta’s latest deal means.
Hawks owner lobs an offensive play on Kestelman’s NBL
Our National Basketball League and its Aussie owner are copping some MAGA-magnitude fouls from of all people a Trump-appointed ambassador intent on a hostile takeover.
Chiodo adds his former lawyers to list of legal foes
Paul Chiodo’s legal woes now extend to a lawsuit filed by his former lawyers, who allege there are $263,000 in unpaid bills.
Independent thought an abstract concept when it comes to housing
Super Members Council has trotted out an ‘independent’ report critical of letting first-home buyers dip into their retirement savings for a deposit. But we’re dubious of its true independence.
ASIC chair lures the big spenders
ASIC’s boss took to the spotlight at a boardroom gab on Tuesday but didn’t exactly radiate, so we’re told. Nevertheless, there were plenty of movers and shakers hanging on his every word.
Ex-IOOF chief’s perfectly-timed return
Here’s a name you haven’t heard for a while: Chris Kelaher. Isn’t it funny he’s popped up as a consultant to a firm his mates have been buying up? Fox, meet henhouse.
‘Hoon’ Portelli steals the show at F1 GP
Having recovered from some dodgy oysters, Adrian Portelli revelled in the conditions at the big race, where some of Australia’s biggest corporate names – and Luke Sayers – pushed through the downpour.
Helmet won’t protect you from justifiable flak, David
PolyNovo chair David Williams hammed it up with a backwards-worn military helmet on stage but there’s no dodging the facts, sackings or, as we can share, potential conflicts of interest.
Fashion faux pas: Suddenly this anti-Israel artist is out of vogue
Was it the weird anti-Israel posts of her guest or because her sister’s electorate has a strong Jewish presence? Fashionista Bianca Spender’s in-store meet this week was hastily kiboshed.
Is Red Greg turning a shade of teal?
He was an ACTU secretary and Labor minister in the Gillard government, so what is with the teal candidate’s corflute sign on Greg Combet’s fence? Surely he hasn’t changed colours?
Former Star CFO helps Hong Kong buyers
Star’s deal to flog off its Brisbane assets for a pittance has received unflattering commentary but its former CFO working for a bank advising the Hong Kong buyers is really raising eyebrows.
Treasury gives away classified information, blames PwC
The accounting firm’s reputation for being a bona fide keeper of high-level confidences has taken another hit, with fresh secrets spilled.
PolyNovo shares dive on public mea culpa
All week this column has been regaling readers with the infighting at med tech PolyNovo and finally it’s begrudgingly confirmed at least a snippet. Shareholders didn’t take too kindly to the news.
PolyNovo made quiet cash offer to oust CEO who made bullying claims
The unedifying brouhaha among top brass at PolyNovo saw the biotech firm offer its CEO money to quietly step down after making complaints of bullying against chair David Williams.
Shambolic PolyNovo schooled on work manners
Finding a replacement for David Williams is proving tricky for PolyNovo, even after it brought in a top lawyer to provide training to directors on appropriate behaviour.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/margin-call