The Australian

Two of Australia’s best-known infrastructure advocates, former trade minister Andrew Robb and veteran campaigner Everald Compton, have united to back an ambitious $20bn private proposal to transform Gladstone into the nation’s main container port. Colin Packham has more: https://bit.ly/3Lixgmk

Australia’s leading winemakers and vineyard owners have warned that the Chinese government’s crackdown on communist party members and civil servants attending boozy, extravagant banquets is spreading a puritanical mindset across the country – turning what was once a ‘golden child’ market for Australian wine into an export laggard. Tougher public service guidelines introduced in May – aimed at cracking down on corruption and flashiness have quickly become the norm for all Chinese workers, leaving restaurants and bars empty and liquor sales plunging. Eli Greenblat has more: https://bit.ly/3WKDL3M

Amber Electric’s stated mission is to help shift Australia to 100 per cent renewable energy. But to do so, Dan Adams and Chris Thompson are systematically rethinking every part of the energy model, from how electricity is sourced to how it is priced and sold. Jared Lynch has The List: 100 Innovators of 2025 here: https://bit.ly/46HHPI4 Brought to you by Workday.

China has opened the door to mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto forming a loose iron ore alliance to protect their interests in Western Australia, according to analysts at the Royal Bank of Canada. The RBC case is based on reports that China Mineral Resources Group (CMRG) has escalated its demands for renminbi-denominated iron ore transactions, index-linked discounts, freight equalisation, and uniform quality adjustments in long-term contracts with major suppliers. Brad Thompson has more: https://bit.ly/47oRD98

In a bid to attract more shoppers, MYER boss Olivia Wirth has overhauled the department store’s loyalty program in the biggest shake up in more than 20 years. Ms Wirth, who cut her teeth on running the highly successful Qantas frequent flyer program before joining Myer, said loyalty remains a “key pillar or plank” for retailers and particularly in the current trading environment. “It’s how you engage with customers, and it’s an invaluable way to better understand what your customers like and what they don’t like,” Ms Wirth told The Australian on Monday as she unveiled new benefits of Myer One such as being able to earn points when shopping at Myer’s newly acquired apparel brands Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Dotti, Jacqui E as well as its fashion labels Sass & Bide, Marcs, and David Lawrence. Eli Greenblat has more: https://bit.ly/4n715DD

New Rio Tinto boss Simon Trott says owning a US copper smelter is an important “strategic card” as the miner looks to expand its American footprint under the Trump administration, while also deepening ties with its biggest Chinese shareholder. Mr Trott also backed suggestions there could be a $US10bn ($15bn) windfall for Rio after it was forced to reduce the grade of its flagship iron ore product, even as it races to catch up at its Western Australian mines, which still deliver the lion’s share of its earnings. Brad Thompson has more: https://bit.ly/47hCDK8

Widespread relief over the government’s new plan for super taxes is giving way rapidly to concerns over details left swinging in the wind by Jim Chalmers. As investors digest the harsh reality that many will now face taxes twice as high as before in super, the adjusted tax plan is set to hit property investors most severely, especially those who have concentrated their holdings inside self-managed superannuation funds. The new deal also leaves questions unanswered around capital gains tax, along with highlighting new contradictions across the system with inflation indexing. James Kirby has more: https://bit.ly/3Jn0wI5.

Melbourne Airport is set to trial a new taxi booking system that will see travellers pay a fixed fare upfront in an effort to deter illegal taxi touts. Taxi and payment services company A2B is leading the trial, that involves three taxi kiosks in the Qantas domestic terminal. Passengers can enter their destination address at the kiosks to secure and pay a fixed fare upfront. Robyn Ironside has more: https://bit.ly/42P0m2L

Media Diary: Highly sensitive files exposing the scandalous allegations levelled at a host of major Nine stars have been leaked in a catastrophic clerical stuff up by the media giant’s own HR department. Diary can reveal the confidential documents, which detail serious accusations of inappropriate workplace behaviour, illicit drug use and unchecked bullying, have been inadvertently emailed to random staff members within the network who are completely unconnected with the complaints. Steve Jackson has more: https://bit.ly/4njUA0t

Australia’s biggest gateways will roll out new procedures in coming weeks to help passengers avoid being ripped off by rogue cabbies giving others in the industry a bad name. Melbourne Airport is preparing to trial a new taxi booking system that will see travellers pay a fixed fare upfront in an effort to deter illegal taxi touts. Robyn Ironside has more: https://bit.ly/42P0m2L