Australian shares lose early gains to finish down

Reuters - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Wed May 22, 2013 2:21am EDT (Updates to close) SYDNEY May 22 (Reuters) - Australian shares reversed early gains to slip 0.3 percent, weighed down by the financial sector, and as investors await a speech from the Federal Reserve chairman before Congress later on Wednesday. Ben Bernanke's testimony will be the focus for markets waiting for the first sign of a shift in attitude towards ...

4 Australian brands rank among worlds top 100 media

Global Times - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Four leading Australian companies have ranked in the top 100 most valuable brands in the world, the local media WA Today reported on Wednesday.According to the global market research leader Millward Brown and marketing giant WPP, the ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and the supermarket giant Woolworth were among the Brandz Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands list, said the report.The ...

Ships rerouted to protect Ningaloo Reef in Australia

China.org.cn - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) on Tuesday announced the establishment of a recommended area for ships to help protect the world heritage- listed Ningaloo Reef from June 1, ...

Room for A-League in April-May Gallop

Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Having conquered the season of summer, Football Federation Australia (FFA) has expanded its borders well into autumn in the battle with winter codes AFL and NRL. The 2013/14 A-League season will start on October 11 and run until May 4 - its latest finish in nine years. Allianz Stadium, home of Sydney FC and a slew of NRL teams, will host A-League matches in four of the final six rounds before ...

Aussie PGA not rushing to ban belly putter

Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

The PGA of Australia won't rush to ban anchored clubs despite the Royal & Ancient and US Golf Association opting to outlaw Adam Scott-style broomstick putters. Almost six months since proposing the rule change, golf's governing bodies confirmed a new rule 14-1b will be adopted - effective on January 1, 2016. It will prohibit players from anchoring a club directly, or by use of an ...

Joe Hockey lays into the Australian Tax Office

Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

The Coalition has signalled it may break up the Australian Taxation Office if it wins government, to ensure a "more independent" resolution of tax disputes. In an address to the National Press Club on Wednesday, shadow treasurer Joe Hockey said that the ATO had developed an "insular and inward-looking culture that has put it at odds with taxpayers". He also said the tax ...

Iluka earnings to fall

Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Iluka Resources says lower prices for its mineral sands will cause a fall in earnings in 2013. But prices have stabilised and demand is increasing, the company's managing director, David Robb, told its annual general meeting. Iluka is a major producer of zircon, used mainly in ceramics, and rutile and synthetic rutile, which are used in paints and plastics. Its key markets are China and ...

Brumbies to exact revenge against Blues

Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Brumbies lock Sam Carter says his side will unbottle lingering resentment for the Blues on Saturday night to exact payback for ending their 2012 Super Rugby campaign. The Brumbies were all but assured a finals berth last season until they were comprehensively beaten by a surprise-packet Blues outfit in the final round, and the Queensland Reds claimed a bonus-point victory to pip them for the ...

Gina tops 200 list for 3rd year

Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

It takes a special kind of wealth to lose more than $7 billion in a year and still top a list of the nation's richest people. Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has topped the BRW rich list for the third year in a row, with an estimated wealth of $22.02 billion. However the richest Australian of all time also lost more money than anyone else on the magazine's list, giving up a quarter of ...

Defeat for Australias largest goldminer

Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

In a stunning decision, a NSW court has quashed an exploration licence held by Australia's largest goldminer Newcrest. The licence application in question was made during the stewardship of disgraced mining minister Ian Macdonald in 2008 and renewal was granted in ...

Qantas frequent flyers exploit loophole

Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Savvy frequent flyers are avoiding as much as $610 in fuel surcharges on Qantas international flights by exploiting a loophole in the alliance with Emirates. Almost two months after the airlines launched their tie up, executives from the two airlines will meet within the next week to talk about resolving a major difference between their fuel surcharges. Travellers wanting to fly economy from ...

RAC chopper sent to Harvey crash

perthnow - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

THE RAC Rescue helicopter has been sent to the scene of car accident near Harvey where a motorist is injured after their car crashed into a ...

Man dies after car plunges into water in WAs south

perthnow - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

The pedestrian was killed early today when she was struck by a car near the corner of Tonkin and Great Eastern Highway, Ascot, just east of the city just before 10am. A man was found dead after his vehicle veered off a road and into a metre of water near Denmark on the south coast about 9am. Emergency services were called to Young's Siding, about 35km west of Albany on WA's south ...

Pyne predicts Rudd will challenge again

News.com.au - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

SENIOR Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne says a Labor source has told him Kevin Rudd will again challenge for the leadership in ...

NSW govt sells seven buildings for $405m

News.com.au - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

NSW Finance Minister Greg Pearce has defended the sale of seven government-owned buildings, saying it's freed up millions of dollars for new ...

Qld MP says hell be next premier

News.com.au - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Former Liberal National Party MP, turned independent, turned United Australia Party (UAP) parliamentary leader Alex Douglas says it's a realistic probability."Yes I do," he said."I think the reality is, the current overwhelming majority of LNP members will not be re-elected at the next election."The public aren't happy with their performance. They went to an ...

People-smuggling crewman acquitted in NSW

News.com.au - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

AN Indonesian crewman found guilty of a people smuggling offence has had his conviction quashed in the NSW Court of Criminal ...

Govt to dock pay of Qld Health workers

News.com.au - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

THE Queensland government is about to start automatically docking the pay of health workers to recoup overpayments arising from the Queensland Health payroll ...

Mighell new president of shooters group

News.com.au - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

FORMER union boss Dean Mighell has taken on a new role at the head of Australia's peak shooting lobby group, the 150,000 member Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia ...

Palmers party would buy back Qld assets

News.com.au - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

MINER and wannabe prime minister Clive Palmer says he would buy back any asset sold by the Queensland government if his party won power in the ...

Yells spark hope in Snowy Mountains search

News.com.au - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

YELLS have been heard high up in NSW's Snowy Mountains, offering fresh hope that a Canadian man missing for more than a week may still be ...

Palmers win in royalties battle

News.com.au - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

The state's wealthiest individual, Mineralogy chairman Clive Palmer, has secured a major Supreme Court victory in his battle with the Chinese company CITIC Pacific, the managers of his WA iron ore ...