Blackwater joins the frontline in BHP Billiton's war on coal costs

On Wednesday, BHP management presented the coal unions with a draft of an enterprise agreement for its Blackwater coal mine workers that will court local controversy because it defines the operation as an individual in the Global Australian's fleet of Queensland coal mines, according to the Australian Financial Review.

The draft of the agreement contains a bank of initiatives that would allow a relatively seamless introduction of contractors to the mine and profoundly improve management's ability to exercise flexibility clauses that were secured in the bitterly contested 2012 enterprise agreement.

Rinehart reveals BHP miss led to warning on Roy Hill

Australia's richest person, Gina Rinehart, said she was warned by Hancock Prospecting advisors against developing the $US10 billion Roy Hill iron ore deposit after the world's largest miner, BHP Billiton, failed to find attractive deposits across the vast tenements, according to the Australian Financial Review.

Rinehart, who is on the cusp of launching the Roy Hill mine in Western Australia, said in 1992 she received written advice against investing in the development of the mine which she ignored based on a hunch the mining giant was looking in the wrong areas.

Queensland government urged to act on Clive Palmer refinery

Townsville's mayor wants the Queensland government to take action to secure the future of Clive Palmer's nickel refinery in the town, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

It comes a day after a West Australian court heard the Queensland Nickel operation at Yabulu was having financial woes and could face problems if Palmer does not win a legal bid to have one of his Chinese partners pay $48 million in coming days.