The World's Biggest Iron Ore Windfall Is Fading for Australia
But behind the fanfare, a harsher truth looms: Western Range isn't about growth. It's about keeping the machine running.
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Major work from home ‘turning point' as employees return the office: ‘Worst behind us'
Australia has reached a 'turning point' as more workers return to the office and vacancy rates begin to stabilise across the country's CBD offices. The shift comes as employers and employees continue to wrestle over work-from-home rights. Australia's CBD office markets are showing signs of recovery, with some major cities recording positive rates for the first time in years as workers head back to the office. The latest Property Council of Australia data found the CBD office vacancy rate had crept up from 13.7 to 14.3 per cent over the first six months of the year, but this was largely due to a wave of new office spaces hitting the market. Despite this, Ray White head of research Vanessa Rader said the data suggested 'the worst of the office market correction may be behind us'. RELATED Work from home rights could cost 1.8 million Australians their penalty rates Little-known Centrelink perk offers Australian students free flights Hidden way Aussies are cutting $20,000 from their tax bill every year The Sydney CBD vacancy rate increased from 12.8 to 13.7 per cent, due to high levels of supply outstripping demand. However, it recorded 56,532 square metres of annual net absorption of space, which was the highest on record since 2016. 'This positive absorption represents a dramatic shift from the negative trends that characterised the market through much of the post-pandemic period and suggests that return-to-office initiatives are gaining genuine traction among Sydney businesses,' Rader said. Melbourne CBD continues to face the most significant challenges with vacancy and saw rates drop from 18 to 17.9 per cent. The market saw a positive absorption of 1,446 square metres, which Rader noted was a 'meaningful shift' for the negative absorption recorded over the past three CBD markets recorded a combined net absorption of 63,738 square metres, which was some of the strongest performance in several years. Property Council chief executive Mike Zorbas said the group had now seen a year and a half of positive demand for office space and there were 'more businesses taking up office space than leaving behind'. Rader said the recovery appeared to be driven by several factors, including businesses implementing return-to-office policies. There's also demand for more premium CBD buildings. 'While the recovery trajectory remains gradual, the consistent positive absorption across multiple CBD markets suggests a genuine turning point,' Rader said. 'The challenge now will be maintaining this momentum through continued focus on workplace experience and flexible arrangements that meet evolving occupier needs.' The overall office vacancy rate across CBDs and suburban markets increased from 14.7 to 15.2 per cent, which is still its highest in three decades. Fears WFH plan will drive workers out of CBD It comes as the Victorian government pushes to make work from home a legal right. Under the Australian-first proposal, workers who could reasonably do their job from home would have a right to do so for at least two days a week. This would be for both the public and private sector. "Working from home saves working people and families time and money, and it makes good workers more productive," Premier Jacinta Allan said. Property Council Victorian executive director Cath Evans said the work-from-home mandate risked 'undermining confidence' in the office sector and came as it was showing 'green shoots'. 'Flexibility is and will remain core to many workplaces. But decisions about working arrangements should remain a matter between employers and their teams – not mandated by government,' she said. 'The reality is that investment to drive jobs, upgrade our office assets and keep our city vibrant will be deterred from Melbourne if this latest policy comes into effect.' Recent data from CBRE found 63 per cent of Melbourne residents attended the office in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the national average of 74.7 per cent. Sydney's office attendance was 82 per cent, while Brisbane's was 79 per cent.
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Integral Diagnostics Limited's (ASX:IDX) Stock Going Strong But Fundamentals Look Weak: What Implications Could This Have On The Stock?
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The 'return' refers to a company's earnings over the last year. One way to conceptualize this is that for each A$1 of shareholders' capital it has, the company made A$0.01 in profit. See our latest analysis for Integral Diagnostics What Has ROE Got To Do With Earnings Growth? We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or "retain", we are then able to evaluate a company's future ability to generate profits. Assuming all else is equal, companies that have both a higher return on equity and higher profit retention are usually the ones that have a higher growth rate when compared to companies that don't have the same features. Integral Diagnostics' Earnings Growth And 0.8% ROE As you can see, Integral Diagnostics' ROE looks pretty weak. Even when compared to the industry average of 3.8%, the ROE figure is pretty disappointing. Therefore, it might not be wrong to say that the five year net income decline of 50% seen by Integral Diagnostics was possibly a result of it having a lower ROE. However, there could also be other factors causing the earnings to decline. For example, the business has allocated capital poorly, or that the company has a very high payout ratio. Next, when we compared with the industry, which has shrunk its earnings at a rate of 19% in the same 5-year period, we still found Integral Diagnostics' performance to be quite bleak, because the company has been shrinking its earnings faster than the industry. Earnings growth is an important metric to consider when valuing a stock. The investor should try to establish if the expected growth or decline in earnings, whichever the case may be, is priced in. Doing so will help them establish if the stock's future looks promising or ominous. Is Integral Diagnostics fairly valued compared to other companies? These 3 valuation measures might help you decide. Is Integral Diagnostics Making Efficient Use Of Its Profits? Integral Diagnostics' declining earnings is not surprising given how the company is spending most of its profits in paying dividends, judging by its three-year median payout ratio of 58% (or a retention ratio of 42%). With only a little being reinvested into the business, earnings growth would obviously be low or non-existent. You can see the 3 risks we have identified for Integral Diagnostics by visiting our risks dashboard for free on our platform here. Additionally, Integral Diagnostics has paid dividends over a period of nine years, which means that the company's management is rather focused on keeping up its dividend payments, regardless of the shrinking earnings. Upon studying the latest analysts' consensus data, we found that the company is expected to keep paying out approximately 64% of its profits over the next three years. Regardless, the future ROE for Integral Diagnostics is predicted to rise to 12% despite there being not much change expected in its payout ratio. Conclusion Overall, we would be extremely cautious before making any decision on Integral Diagnostics. The company has seen a lack of earnings growth as a result of retaining very little profits and whatever little it does retain, is being reinvested at a very low rate of return. That being so, the latest industry analyst forecasts show that the analysts are expecting to see a huge improvement in the company's earnings growth rate. To know more about the company's future earnings growth forecasts take a look at this free report on analyst forecasts for the company to find out more. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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Rio Tinto approves US$180 million Norman Creek project, securing long-term future for Amrun bauxite operations on Queensland's Cape York Peninsula
MELBOURNE, Australia, August 07, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rio Tinto has approved investment of US$180 million and commenced work on the Norman Creek access project at the world-class Amrun bauxite mine on Queensland's Cape York Peninsula. The Norman Creek access project will enable mining of the Norman Creek region of Amrun, which holds approximately half of the currently declared Amrun Ore Reserves of 978 million tonnes. [1] Construction is underway on key infrastructure, including a 19-kilometre haul road, camp accommodation and a communications tower. First production from Norman Creek is targeted for 2027, with full construction completed in 2028. Rio Tinto Pacific Operations Aluminium Managing Director Armando Torres said: "Norman Creek is another important step in securing the long-term future of our Weipa operations, and the benefits that mining brings to communities in the region, Queensland, and the nation. "It will maintain jobs in the region through to at least the middle of this century, ensuring continuity for our people and the Weipa community. "The decision to approve Norman Creek reflects the quality of Western Cape York's world-class bauxite deposits, combined with the strong operational improvements our people are making at Amrun that are bolstering our confidence to invest for the long-term." In addition to the Norman Creek project, Rio Tinto recently announced it had started early works and a final feasibility study on the Kangwinan project, which includes early works and final engineering studies to increase production capacity at the Amrun bauxite mine. If approved, Kangwinan would increase annual bauxite production capacity from Rio Tinto's Weipa Southern operations, by up to 20 million tonnes, in addition to the current 23 million tonnes, and expand export capacity through the Amrun port. The project was named Kangwinan at the request of Traditional Owners, the Wik Waya people. Production from the Kangwinan project would replace output from the Andoom mine on Cape York and the Gove mine in the Northern Territory, which are both expected to close toward the end of the current decade. First output from the Kangwinan project could be as early as 2029. The Norman Creek investment is expected to be classified as replacement capital and has been factored into the Group's capital guidance. [1] These Ore Reserves were reported in accordance with the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, 2012 Edition (JORC Code) and the ASX Listing Rules in a release to the ASX dated 19 February 2025 titled "Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves updates: supporting information and Table 1 checklists" (Table 1 release) which is available at The Amrun Ore Reserves comprise 466 Mt of Proved Ore Reserves @ 54.6% Al2O3 and 8.8% SiO2 and 512 Mt of Probable Ore Reserves @ 54.3% Al2O3 and 9.1% SiO2 for a total of 978 Mt @ 54.4% Al2O3 and 9.0% SiO2. The Competent Person responsible for the information in the Table 1 release that relates to Amrun Ore Reserves is William Saba who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM). Rio Tinto confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the Table 1 release, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the 2024 Annual Report continue to apply and have not materially changed, and that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified. Ore Reserves are reported on a 100% basis View source version on Contacts Please direct all enquiries to Media Relations,United KingdomMatthew KlarM +44 7796 630 637David OuthwaiteM +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations,AustraliaMatt ChambersM +61 433 525 739Rachel PupazzoniM +61 438 875 469Bruce TobinM +61 419 103 454 Media Relations,CanadaSimon LetendreM +1 514 796 4973Malika CherryM +1 418 592 7293Vanessa DamhaM +1 514 715 2152 Media Relations,US & Latin AmericaJesse RiseboroughM +1 202 394 9480 Investor Relations,United KingdomRachel ArellanoM: +44 7584 609 644David OvingtonM +44 7920 010 978Laura BrooksM +44 7826 942 797Weiwei HuM +44 7825 907 230 Investor Relations,AustraliaTom GallopM +61 439 353 948Phoebe LeeM +61 413 557 780 Rio Tinto plc6 St James's SquareLondon SW1Y 4ADUnited KingdomT +44 20 7781 2000Registered in EnglandNo. 719885 Rio Tinto LimitedLevel 43, 120 Collins StreetMelbourne 3000AustraliaT +61 3 9283 3333Registered in AustraliaABN 96 004 458 404 Category: General Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
