Missiles, myGov and Medicinal Cannabis

Australian News

• Despite 65,000 job losses in December, Australia's unemployment rate remains steady at 3.9%. LINK

• A significant number of mortgage brokers are diversifying into commercial lending, with a 60% increase in brokers writing both mortgages and business loans. LINK

• Industry super funds, while advocating for more female representation in senior roles, reveal only one woman among the top 10 paid executives at the 8 most powerful funds. LINK

• Renewable energy projects in Australia face 'unmanageable' cost risks due to supply chain and labour cost volatility. LINK

• Over 25% of financial advisers in Australia risk prohibition from providing advice if they fail to complete their ASIC registration by the February deadline. LINK

• Australian billionaires and multimillionaires call for higher taxes on the super-rich, saying they would be proud to contribute more. LINK

• Australians express increasing concern about funding retirement, with only 20% feeling financially prepared, a decrease from the previous year. LINK

• Homebuyers are withdrawing from the market, with a significant drop in demand potentially indicating a decline in house prices ahead. LINK

• The myGov website achieves the top spot in a global survey of public sector sites, marking a significant improvement in government website rankings. LINK

Global News

• Japan is planning to test missiles in Australia after talks with Australia’s Defence Department. LINK

• Singapore's Transport Minister resigns amid a corruption scandal. LINK

• Maersk and DHL warn of a global trade crisis and potential inflation risks due to the Red Sea attacks doubling shipping costs. LINK

• Australia denies Ukraine's request for retired MHR-90 Taipan helicopters, stating none are in flying condition. LINK

Company News

• Mine Super, heavily invested in global tech and local miners, tops 2023's growth super funds with an 11.8% return. LINK

• Ampol is set to record high earnings in 2023, driven by robust convenience retail performance, despite a decline in refinery output. LINK

• Apple's iPhone becomes the world's best-selling smartphone, ending Samsung's 12-year dominance in the market. LINK

• BHP may part ways with nickel following a price collapse and competition from Indonesia, the world's largest nickel producer. LINK

• PGP Group avoids collapse, agreeing to a deal to repay part of its $28 million debt and owing over $4 million to employees. LINK

• Boral's CFO Belinda Shaw resigns to spend time with family, to be replaced by Stefan Camphausen from Bapcor. LINK

• Qantas names Andrew Glance as the new head of Qantas Loyalty, with promises of program improvements. LINK

• The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) will decide by April if Crown Resorts retains its casino licence in the state. LINK

• Ballarat's Federation TAFE becomes the first in Australia to offer nationally accredited training in medicinal cannabis cultivation and production. LINK

• Woolworths and Coles are being advised to take pre-emptive action to avoid stringent regulation amid government pressure to reduce food and grocery costs. LINK

• Amazon is looking to launch a paid version of Alexa. LINK

This Week’s Top Picks

• Uniqlo sues Chinese retailer Shein for allegedly copying its popular Round Mini Shoulder Bag, demanding cessation of sales and compensation. LINK

• Parents face increasing financial pressure from rising education costs, with public school expenses for a child now exceeding $92,000 from prep to year 12. LINK

• The introduction of smart ticketing on South East Queensland buses has been delayed due to global supply chain issues. LINK

• Cybersecurity analysts are in high demand in Australia, with a 57% increase in job ads, making it the most sought-after job role in the country. LINK

• The ACCC considers legal action against a major supermarket chain for breaching consumer law, with Qantas also under scrutiny. LINK

• Bali's popularity among Australian tourists has surpasses pre-pandemic levels, with November 2023 seeing more visitors than in November 2019. LINK

• Australia's ETF industry is projected to reach $220B in 2024, following a 33% growth. LINK

• Sydney commuters face delays due to daily strikes by wire-drawn ferry operators. LINK

• Vodafone increases mobile plan prices by 6-9%, attributing the hike to high operating costs and ongoing network investments. LINK

• Looking for a job is now harder with Seek reporting a 17.4% decline in job ads over the past year. LINK

• Sydney's first metropolitan e-scooter trial has commenced in Kogarah, with 60 scooters available for use on roads with 50km/h speed limits within the trial area. LINK

• Online retailer The Iconic's lack of payment verification measures exposes its 2.1M customers to potential fraud. LINK

• Hertz plans to sell a third of its US electric vehicle fleet and shift back to petrol-powered cars, citing weak demand and high repair costs for EVs. LINK

• Perth experienced the highest increase in rental prices in 2023, with some tenants facing weekly increases. LINK

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