News

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart met privately with tech billionaire and Donald Trump backer Elon Musk in the days after the US election, discussing government spending cuts, freedom of speech and the fate of internet sensation P’Nut the squirrel.

The total cost of public servant wages grew faster than it has in 15 years last financial year to $232 billion, fuelling economists’ warnings that government spending is helping to keep interest rates higher for longer.

Australia’s richest person and vocal Donald Trump supporter Gina Rinehart has been spotted rubbing shoulder’s at the incumbent president’s election day event.

One woman was weeping, people were hugging, some dancing to the periodic bursts of Trump’s trademark favourite by YMCA over the sound system; most were whooping and cheering.

A scathing letter from the NSW Finance Minister warned Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek that her decision to slap a partial ban on a proposed gold mine risked driving investment out of the state.

When the power went out in Broken Hill last month after a storm, it would have been reasonable to expect the nearby renewable energy super-array of solar, wind and big battery to come to the rescue.

The resources industry has paid more tax than all other sectors combined as ballooning corporate payments helped drive the national budget to surplus.

BHP chief executive Mike Henry expects more industrial relations disputes as new federal workplace laws start to take effect at an uncertain time for the global economy.

Grinding conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East show no signs of ending. China’s growth — for so long the driver of WA’s economic success — has slowed. Despite those challenges, the global energy transition continues at pace.

Premier Roger Cook has described native title issues as the “elephant in the room” for regional WA and called on Canberra to shelve its ‘nature positive’ reforms.

The boss of a $10 billion gold major has demanded legislative changes to stop a repeat of the now infamous McPhillamys mine snub, or risk tarnishing Australia as a mining destination.

Anthony Albanese will use a speech to mining industry workers to call for a defence of the Government’s same job, same pay laws, which have been slammed by industry, ahead of their implementation this week.