Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes the Federal government to pay $132.7m after settling a lawsuit over PFAS contamination, Anthony Albanese’s approval ratings increasing “quite significantly” following Labor’s second budget, and Australian gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd to backing Newmont Corp’s $26.2 billion takeover offer. Also in the news are InvoCare getting a $1.3 billion bid from TPG, and a National Anti-Scam Centre being established to counter online fraud.
Nation
Federal government to pay $132.7m after settling a lawsuit over PFAS contamination
The federal government will pay $132.7 million to thousands of Australians after settling a class action lawsuit over toxic firefighting foam, which contaminated seven sites across the country. The multimillion-dollar settlement agreement, however, requires final approval from the federal court. About 30,000 landowners in Richmond and Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, Wodonga in Victoria, Darwin in the Northern Territory, Edinburgh in South Australia, Bullsbrook in Western Australia and Townsville in Queensland will be compensated, SkyNews has reported.
Politics
Albanese’s approval rating goes up
Anthony Albanese’s approval ratings increased “quite significantly” following Labor’s second budget, Sky News contributor Joe Hildebrand said. “Even with all this criticism, even with more people than not saying they thought they’d be worse off after this budget they still gave the government a massive wrap,” Mr Hildebrand said. Anthony Albanese’s approval rating went up quite significantly, and Labor’s massive 2PP and primary were pretty much virtually unchanged.
Business
Newcrest backs Newmont’s $26.2 billion offer
Australian gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd said it would back Newmont Corp’s (NEM.N) $26.2 billion takeover offer in one of the world’s largest buyouts so far this year, Reuters has reported. The deal, subject to approval from shareholders of both companies and other regulatory hurdles, would lift Newmont’s gold output to nearly double its nearest rival, Barrick Gold Corp (ABX.TO), and catapult the miner past Freeport McMoRan (FCX.N) to become the largest U.S. gold and copper producer by market capitalisation.
Companies
InvoCare gets a $1.3 billion bid from TPG
Australia’s InvoCare Ltd (IVC.AX) shares jumped nearly 12 per cent on Monday after it revealed a higher $1.86 billion offer from global private equity firm TPG was tabled just weeks after it rejected a lower bid it said undervalued the funeral services provider. TPG tabled an all-cash $13 per share offer that was 2.7 per cent above its previous $12.65 bid, which was rejected by InvoCare’s board. TPG is InvoCare’s largest shareholder, holding about 19.2 per cent stake in the company, Reuters has reported.
Technology
National Anti-Scam Centre established to fight online fraud
Australia’s government earmarked $58 million to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to establish the National Anti-Scam Centre to fight scams and online fraud by improving data sharing across of range of government agencies and the private sector, Mobile World Live has reported. The funding for the centre will be phased in from July 1 with data-sharing technology capability to be built up over the next three years.
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