Latest
Why execs don’t trust AI with big decisions yet
A year after the launch of ChatGPT, businesses dabbling with generative AI aren’t convinced the technology would hold up under the intense scrutiny of a senate inquiry or lawsuit.
- Tess Bennett
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
PwC scandal hangs over audit quality fight, but clients aren’t waiting
While the professional services sector awaits more detail on ASIC’s new audit quality review, clients are voting with their feet.
- James Thomson
- Exclusive
- Energy
Brookfield contemplates relisting Origin in as little as five years
The Canadian giant has told potential co-investors that it could bring the energy group back to the stock exchange in a shorter timeframe than most expected.
- Anthony Macdonald
Register
Save the Date
November
Proxy firms say executives need more ‘skin in the game’
The boards of locally listed companies can do better to align executives with bonus payments, they say, and boards must be more independent on remuneration.
- Jonathan Shapiro
ASIC hopes threat of criminal sanction enough to force good audits
The regulator this year slashed the number of audits it reviews in its annual quality inspection regime from 45 to 30, even amid wider scrutiny on the sector.
- Hannah Wootton
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Energy transition penny drops on M&A, capital deals
Everything comes back to how to invest in and make money from the energy transition.
- Anthony Macdonald
Dealmakers told to ‘give up weekends’ as M&A gets stuck
Bankers and company chiefs are encountering more shareholder activism, while interested buyers do not want to get stuck in bidding wars for assets.
- Updated
- Aaron Weinman
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Remote work, red tape and AI: Top CFOs name big risks
The country’s top financial officers believe corporate Australia is heading towards a likely economic slowdown in good shape. But there are risks ahead.
- James Thomson
Work from home frays workplace connections
Endeavour CFO Kate Beattie worries that remoteness may hinder collaboration as leading chief financial officers say bringing people together drives innovation.
- Jemima Whyte
ATO warns small business to stop using tax to ‘prop up’ cash flow
Operators are increasingly using unpaid tax and superannuation liabilities to support their cash flow, attracting growing scrutiny from the Tax Office.
- Tom McIlroy
The 25 best-performing CFOs in Australia
Whitehaven Coal’s Kevin Ball has topped the ranks of the country’s best performing financial bosses, based on the increase in the miner’s market capitalisation.
- Patrick Durkin
AusSuper to use ‘disproportionate’ footprint to block Origin deal
Several super funds have backed the giant’s stance that there are insufficient opportunities to deploy their capital in the energy transition locally.
- Hannah Wootton
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Origin Energy share price tells the proxy story
The bulk of the votes for Origin Energy’s scheme meeting are in, and while everyone claims to have not seen the “final” numbers, we can see where this is headed.
- Anthony Macdonald
Banks stare down a turbulent economy
The sector has recorded growth in the face of persistent macroeconomic risks and fierce competition.
King says decision to block Qatar flights wasn’t to protect Qantas
The Transport Minister says national interest a factor in deciding whether to boost capacity from international airlines into Australia.
- Ayesha de Kretser and Mark Ludlow
- Opinion
- Energy
The power behind the takeover battle for Origin
The battle for Origin demonstrates the power of Australia’s industry funds as well as the many questions hanging over the pace of the energy transition.
- Jennifer Hewett
Canadian group highlights the trouble with Australia’s energy ambitions
OMERS Infrastructure is steering clear of the country’s renewable energy zones, and says the delays in planning and development make investments too risky.
- Jenny Wiggins
Defence welcomes infrastructure deal makers amid rising tensions
Defence might be a small player in the national infrastructure space, but it is an important one for the nation’s security.
- Andrew Tillett
- Updated
- Infrastructure Summit
Labor faces state revolt over infrastructure funding changes
NSW, Western Australia and Queensland say they are already out of pocket even before the federal government reduces the share of projects it will fund.
- Ronald Mizen and Mark Ludlow
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Infrastructure policy lost touch with economic reality
It was hard to find shovel-ready projects during the GFC, and it won’t be easy to dial down an infrastructure boom that has not been put through sufficient scrutiny.
- The AFR View
Labor to force states to pay more for infrastructure projects
The move, to be announced on Tuesday, follows a review which found some projects did “not demonstrate merit” and lacked strategic rationale.
- Ronald Mizen
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The big problem with the $120b infrastructure pipeline
The super industry’s sitting on large construction portfolios. If there is another round of asset recycling projects, governments may have to look elsewhere.
- Anthony Macdonald
Investors ‘taking a breather’ from infrastructure dealmaking
But investments with a “higher level of complexity” were still happening, Macquarie Asset Management’s Ani Satchcroft said.
- Jenny Wiggins
