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Good morning,

The upcoming federal election is the talk of corporate Australia and CEOs are already wargaming how to survive a possible minority government result on May 3.

Business leaders say any government pact with the Greens or the teals would set the economy up for disaster and consign Australia to three years of inaction on the critical issues of productivity, housing and living standards. 

They argue sensible policies aimed at growth and arresting a decade of fiscal deficits can win votes and lift the economy out of its productivity slump.

And what’s in the election for investors? Quite a lot actually, says Wealth associate editor James Kirby, with stark differences emerging between the major parties on investment choices - from pensions to superannuation.

Vesna Poljak
Business editor
The markets


Making news this morning
1
Systemic failures in death claims handling across super: ASIC
A review of the superannuation industry’s handling of death claims has found systemic failures, with industry funds faring worse than their retail peers.
2
How Bunnings is trying to woo auto, cleaning and pets shoppers
Hardware chain Bunnings’ move into automotive, cleaning and pet care has been a bonus for consumers, but shoppers can still find bargains elsewhere.
3
Aussie’s Congo lithium hopes hinge on US envoy talks
A US special envoy is scheduled to arrive in the Democratic Republic of Congo for talks crucial to Australian minerals company AVZ’s hope of regaining control of a lithium project.
Editor's picks
MINING
Night parrot forces Rio to alter plans for ‘copper whopper’ mine
Rio Tinto has adjusted its plans for Australia’s next big copper-gold mine after the shock discovery of one of the world’s rarest birds: the night parrot.
BRAD THOMPSON
INSOLVENCY
No pot of gold at the end of this rainbow
The liquidator of Impact Gold says there appears to be no evidence held by the company indicating it had any tenure in PNG, or has any gold to show for its years of work.
By CAMERON ENGLAND
COMPETING BIDS
One-time ASIC target belonging to One.Tel founder sells
A property which the Australian Securities and Investments Commission once tried to seize after the One.Tel crash, has sold for $27m after 18 months on the market.
By JONATHAN CHANCELLOR
Commentary
Qantas upgrade of ‘dinosaur’ fleet designed to restore reputation
By ROBYN IRONSIDE
Aviation Writer
Qantas is embarking on major makeovers for many of its existing aircraft, ripping out the cabins of younger 737s.
DataRoom
Boral and Bansal in spotlight as sale of GFG’s InfraBuild looms
Any suitor interested in buying the InfraBuild steel business will need to understand the company is severely undercapitalised.
Banks preparing for TEEG sell-off
Investment banks are pitching hard on sale opportunities for private equity firms, and one of the businesses in focus is The Entertainment and Education Group.
Nine to ponder shopping list for its Domain riches
Nine Entertainment may already be considering how to spend the windfall it’s expected to get from the sale of online real estate marketplace Domain Group.

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