Qantas dives to $2b loss but says it will survive even if the pandemic runs into 2022

Qantas swings to a $2 billion loss, saying just the first few months of the coronavirus pandemic cost it $4 billion in lost revenue, but that it can survive even if the current travel restrictions last into 2022. 

Chief executive Alan Joyce tells ABC's Peter Ryan he's confident a vaccine is on the horizon but wants to see greater leadership from National Cabinet to deal with frozen borders.

CSL bets on emergency vaccine by mid-2021, but warns failure is a big risk

One of the local rivals in the race to kill the virus predicts a vaccine could be ready for emergency use by mid next year. 

The blood products company CSL is working with the University of Queensland and other potential partners, but warns there's a risk that no vaccine will end the pandemic. 

CSL chief executive Paul Perreault tells ABC's Peter Ryan there are complex technical and regulatory hurdles ahead.

BHP boss Mike Henry - no guarantees on destruction of 40 heritage sites in Pilbara as talks continue to traditional owners

BHP chief executive Mike Henry says the global mining giant is still weighing up the potential destruction of forty indigenous heritage sites in Western Australia's Pilbara as it consults with traditional owners.

Mike Henry has told the ABC he doesn't want a repeat of the Juukan Gorge destruction after its rival Rio Tinto blew up the 46,000 year old rock shelters earlier this year.

BHP was days away from blasting at its South Flank mine but put the plans on hold after Rio Tinto was globally slammed for going ahead with the destruction.

BHP is now under shareholder pressure to put a moratorium on the destruction of sacred sites until W-A laws are strengthened

Mike Henry spoke with the ABC's Peter Ryan.

JB Hi Fi boss Richard Murray urges facemask wearing if required but calls out abuse against staff during pandemic

JB Hi Fi's profit has surged on demand for home electronics for the stay at home office - anything from computer monitors to coffee machines to robotic vacuum cleaners. 

Chief executive Richard Murray backs mandatory facemasks for staff and customers if that's the medical advice - but he's more concerned about bad customer behaviour towards his workers. 

Mr Murray tells ABC's Peter Ryan the legislated rise in employer superannuation to 12 percent might need to be delayed rather than abandoned.

Bluescope Steels sees regional demand boom as high density lockdown lifestyles are shunned

Australia's biggest steelmaker Bluescope Steel like most companies has been rocked by the pandemic, this morning reporting a 91 percent fall in its full year profit. 

But the company's chief executive Mark Vassella sees a silver lining behind the gloomy numbers with growing demand for steel products in regional Australia as people working from home begin to shun high density apartment life in big cities like Sydney and Melbourne. 

Here's my report from The World Today.

Emergency super access creating $100 m aged pension hole decades ahead, fund manager warns

There's more evidence that the scheme allowing emergency access to superannuation at the height of the pandemic has been abused by some Australians. 

Depersonalised data from advisory firms AlphaBeta and Illion shows that some people dipping into their super didn't need the emergency cash and have been spending on discretionary items rather than necessities. 

Betashares chief executive Alex Vynokur says the current $30 billion raided by Australians translates to a $100 million budget hole decades ahead as more people are forced to rely on the aged pension system.