Australian Newspapers TODAY looks into major national news stories in the mainstream newspapers around the nation.
The Australian
Nearly 60 refugees considered to be threats to community safety - including an
alleged murderer, accused pedophiles and terrorist sympathisers - will be placed
in high-security detention on Christmas Island if they are medically evacuated
from Papua New Guinea and Nauru under new Labor-backed laws.
Michael Daley has vowed to fire some of the nation's most powerful corporate and
media figures from the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust, in a political gamble aimed
at fanning anger at the Berejiklian government's $2 billion stadium rebuilding
program.
Attorney-General Christian Porter has intervened in a High Court case, arguing
the term "parent" should be expanded to include sperm donors in certain cases
who are not married or in a de facto relationship with the mother at the time a
child is conceived.
The Financial Review
One of eastern Australia's biggest industrial gas users has accused some
suppliers of reneging on deals to supply gas at agreed prices, backing up
charges by competition czar Rod Sims that some in the industry are showing
"almost contempt" for domestic customers through their marketing practices.
Lendlease faces a key test at one of its most ambitious apartment projects in
Sydney before Easter as dozens of buyers race to leave their off-the-plan
apartment purchases before settlement at the 1500-unit Darling Square project.
Economists cut their growth forecasts following weaker than expected net exports
numbers, as the Reserve Bank held the official interest rate at 1.5 per cent for
the 28th time in a row.
The Herald Sun
Police are taking no action against a school principal who was captured on video
dragging a student along the ground. Steve Warner was immediately stood down as
executive principal of Manor Lakes P-12 College after footage of him dragging
the student by the arm was shared on social media.
Asbestos dust has been found covering children's belongings in primary school
classrooms in Melbourne's north. Two classrooms were closed and an investigation
has been launched into maintenance works at Essendon North Primary School.
The Sydney Morning Herald
NSW Labor leader Michael Daley has picked a fight with some of Sydney's most
prominent figures as he attempts to revive his signature election issue. Mr
Daley said yesterday he did not care if he made "powerful enemies" as he told
broadcaster Alan Jones that he would sack the powerful Sydney Cricket Ground
Trust's board if elected.
The national economy is facing its sharpest slowdown in two years ahead of the
federal election as cash-strapped consumers shut their wallets, with Australia
increasingly reliant on government spending to sustain growth.
The tax office has admitted it will waive penalties for hundreds of businesses
that admitted failures to pay superannuation to their staff in the wake of a
"botched" amnesty.
The West Australian
The Tourism Minister wants West Australians to abandon the slogan that we're
"the most isolated capital city on Earth". In his latest bid to get Perth out of
the east coast shadow, Paul Papalia says we're closer to major Asian cities.
"The view that Perth is the world's most isolated city is outdated," he said.
A star Liberal preselection candidate for Julie Bishop's seat of Curtin had
previously told Tony Abbott to resign as prime minister and accused him of
sexually harassing staff. The West Australian can reveal that in 2013, Erin
Watson-Lynn took aim at Mr Abbott on Twitter for describing a female Liberal
candidate as having "sex appeal".
