Damon Kitney
The Australian
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Past articles by Damon:
The inside stories of our richest people take patience and trust
I still remember walking into Anthony Pratts Villa Juanita mansion in Atlanta, Georgia, on a cold, wet January afternoon in 2011 and staring, transfixed, at a photograph on the mantelpiece that only a select few in the world had ever seen. → Read More
Kerry Stokes carefully planned the split between the billionaire and the diva
THE world was stunned when pictures first emerged of James Packer and Mariah Carey together. But this was no holiday fling. The two had fallen hard and fast, and were engaged to be married months after they started dating. → Read More
Tram history and tranquillity just the ticket for South Yarra home
Janet Whiting still cant believe her luck. → Read More
Federal government under fresh pressure to act on corruption
The federal government is under renewed pressure to support the creation of an independent watchdog to investigate corruption among federal politicians and officials, after a new report found Australia made no progress last year in tackling poor global perceptions of the level of corruption in the nation’s government sector. → Read More
Mining industry needs more automation, survey shows
THE mining industry needs to adopt more automation to be competitive, even if it means fewer jobs, and the resource sector is not investing enough in cutting-edge technology, according to a survey of leading industry executives. → Read More
Automation threat to struggling manufacturing sector
HEAVY manufacturing in Australia is “dead’’, its future profitability prospects are poor and more automation in the sector is inevitably the key to its future, according to some of its most senior managers. → Read More
Rising jobless rate pushes argument for IR reform
THE trend of rising unemployment provides the opportunity for the Abbott government to make the case to the community for implementing changes in industrial relations to help improve manufacturing productivity, according to two of the nation’s leading figures in the sector. → Read More
Smorgon-backed Gannet moves to block Noni B takeover bid
A BOUTIQUE investment firm backed by members of the billionaire Smorgon family and other wealthy Melbourne investors has seized a strategic stake in embattled fashion retailer Noni B in an attempt to block a takeover bid for the company by the Phil Green-backed Alceon Group. → Read More
A Jobs-less Apple has ‘lost its ad bite’
ALMOST three years after the death of Steve Jobs, his legend lives on with Ken Segall. → Read More
David Gonski backs Coalition plan to deregulate higher education fees
THE architect of the former Labor government’s education reforms has backed the Abbott government’s plan to deregulate higher education fees, claiming it will free up funds to make universities “even greater’’, but warned that hiking interest rates on student loans could be “unduly’’ harmful. → Read More
One sky, two CEOs: a tale of the age
JOHN Borghetti joked yesterday that, while he might be 59, he feels 29. Alan Joyce might be 11 years younger than his arch rival, but at times over the past year he could be forgiven for feeling just as old. → Read More
Ellerston launches new fund to target ‘fallen angels’
THE Ellerston name is returning to the ASX as one of the nation’s most private and respected investment managers, Ashok Jacob, launches a new high-conviction global equities fund. → Read More
Abbott must pick winners, says Josh Liberman
JOSH Liberman has spent his life in the business of taking risk. → Read More
Renewables backed but not at any price
AUSTRALIANS are overwhelmingly in favour of governments funding the development of renewable energy but are wary of paying more for their electricity as a result. → Read More
We’re not prepared for high energy demand
AUSTRALIA is poorly placed to handle the future demand for energy and needs to make major investments to secure its energy future, according to leading executives in the manufacturing and energy sectors. → Read More
Zhaopin seeks new platforms in China
THE Chinese online job-market business backed by Seek and gaming billionaire James Packer is working on rolling out educational services in the world’s fastest-growing economy over the next 12 months, fresh from its successful listing on the New York Stock Exchange. → Read More
Peter Costello, John Laker and Maile Carnegie boost ASIC advisory board
THE corporate regulator has added further high-powered talent to its external advisory panel with the appointment of Future Fund chairman Peter Costello, former prudential regulator John Laker and Google Australia boss Maile Carnegie. → Read More
ASIC raises heat on finance advice
THE corporate regulator plans to dramatically strengthen its surveillance of the financial advisory arms of the major banks and financial services companies, including enforcing faster reporting of misconduct by planners. → Read More
Dairy producers back Coles and Woolies on $1 milk
THE heavyweights of the Australian dairy industry have lashed the critics of Coles and Woolworths selling milk at $1 a litre — including Agricultural Minister Barnaby Joyce — claiming the practice is in line with global benchmarks. → Read More
Crown may float joint venture to help fund Las Vegas project
JAMES Packer-backed Crown Resorts is contemplating a future float of its new joint venture company, formed to build a multi-billion-dollar casino hotel in Las Vegas, to help defray the costs of the project. → Read More