It's Tuesday, the twenty fifth of March twenty twenty five. Welcome to the Fast five Business News by Fear and Agreed, where we give you the top five business stories you need to know in just five minutes. I'm Michael Thompson and good morning Sean Alema, Good morning, Michael Shawn. Five stories, five minutes.

It's Tuesday, the twenty fifth of March twenty twenty five. Welcome to the Fast five Business News by Fear and Agreed, where we give you the top five business stories you need to know in just five minutes. I'm Michael Thompson and good morning Sean Alema, Good morning, Michael Shawn. Five stories, five minutes.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Story Number one, Building supplies group James Hardy will buy outdoor decking and railing company Azek in a fourteen billion dollar cash and script deal and shift headquarters off the asx onto. The New York Stock Exchange.

Story Number one, Building supplies group James Hardy will buy outdoor decking and railing company Azek in a fourteen billion dollar cash and script deal and shift headquarters off the asx onto. The New York Stock Exchange.

Chief executive Aaron Erta, who's been running James Hardy for a little over two years, said the combination of companies made sense since, in fact, he said, one plus one equals three. In this instance, it's a one stop shop, or it will be one stop shop for building contractors and home renovators, wall clanning and cement, fiber board, as well as outdoor living products. James Hardy generates about seventy five percent of its four billion US dollars in then your revenue from North America. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised under this deal. AASEEC shareholders will end up twenty six percent of the new company the primary listing the New York Stock Exchange. As you said, secondary listing on the AX. Local investors were not thrilled. James Hardy's share price felt fifteen percent yesterday. The concern is it's paying too much money, Sean.

Chief executive Aaron Erta, who's been running James Hardy for a little over two years, said the combination of companies made sense since, in fact, he said, one plus one equals three. In this instance, it's a one stop shop, or it will be one stop shop for building contractors and home renovators, wall clanning and cement, fiber board, as well as outdoor living products. James Hardy generates about seventy five percent of its four billion US dollars in then your revenue from North America. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised under this deal. AASEEC shareholders will end up twenty six percent of the new company the primary listing the New York Stock Exchange. As you said, secondary listing on the AX. Local investors were not thrilled. James Hardy's share price felt fifteen percent yesterday. The concern is it's paying too much money, Sean.

There seems to be so many deals in the building material sector lately.

There seems to be so many deals in the building material sector lately.

Sure has been. In the past twelve months. Chip rock and brickmaker CSR was bought by a French group. Irish group CRH bought cement maker Adbury. Borrel was acquired by Kerry Stokes's SGH Group. Three companies gone from the ASEX in the last twelve months. It's also another example of a larger listed ASX stock leaving the exchange, or at least as primary listing. That happened to gold Digger New Crest last year when it was acquired by Newmont. In recent years, also for different reasons, after Pay's left, Sydney Airport's left. Currently, the debate being debated about Rio Tinto's duel listing, whether it should stay it will stay. But this debate about companies leaving the ASEX is and it has implications for investors all.

Sure has been. In the past twelve months. Chip rock and brickmaker CSR was bought by a French group. Irish group CRH bought cement maker Adbury. Borrel was acquired by Kerry Stokes's SGH Group. Three companies gone from the ASEX in the last twelve months. It's also another example of a larger listed ASX stock leaving the exchange, or at least as primary listing. That happened to gold Digger New Crest last year when it was acquired by Newmont. In recent years, also for different reasons, after Pay's left, Sydney Airport's left. Currently, the debate being debated about Rio Tinto's duel listing, whether it should stay it will stay. But this debate about companies leaving the ASEX is and it has implications for investors all.

Right on the story. Number two. Now, Sewan, it is budget day in Canberra, and there's a little less enthusiasm this year, simply because most people seem more excited about the election that's coming up, and maybe even Donald Trump's tariffs too.

Right on the story. Number two. Now, Sewan, it is budget day in Canberra, and there's a little less enthusiasm this year, simply because most people seem more excited about the election that's coming up, and maybe even Donald Trump's tariffs too.

I'm still excited, Michael.

I'm still excited, Michael.

You are absolutely beside myself.

You are absolutely beside myself.

What do we know so far? One point eight billion dollars to cut one hundred and fifty dollars from power bills in the second half of this year, eight and a half billion dollars to increase bulk billing incentives, six hundred and eighty nine million dollars to reduce the cost of all scripts, a two year freeze in the excise indexation, increases on draft beer, money for housing, money for roads in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales. Money for defense, though perhaps not quite as much as expected. We'll tell you all more about it this time tomorrow morning.

What do we know so far? One point eight billion dollars to cut one hundred and fifty dollars from power bills in the second half of this year, eight and a half billion dollars to increase bulk billing incentives, six hundred and eighty nine million dollars to reduce the cost of all scripts, a two year freeze in the excise indexation, increases on draft beer, money for housing, money for roads in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales. Money for defense, though perhaps not quite as much as expected. We'll tell you all more about it this time tomorrow morning.

Indeed, we will storry. Number three. There isn't an election campaign going on, at least not officially at the moment, Sean, but it certainly feels like there is.

Indeed, we will storry. Number three. There isn't an election campaign going on, at least not officially at the moment, Sean, but it certainly feels like there is.

Well, that's true. Yesterday there was a landmark agreement between the federal government and Queensland over school funding means every public school student across the nation will receive a fully funded education. Queensland has really been the holdout ever since the Gonski reforms more than ten years ago. After months of back and forth negotiations, the federal government's agreed to deal with Queensland to lift the Commonwealth's contribution from twenty percent of the Schooling Resource Standard to twenty five percent by twenty thirty four, more money for Queensland. Basically. For its part, the coalition yesterday said it would return the federal budget to surplus if it wins government, or, as Finance spokesperson Jane Hume said, restore fiscal guardrails.

Well, that's true. Yesterday there was a landmark agreement between the federal government and Queensland over school funding means every public school student across the nation will receive a fully funded education. Queensland has really been the holdout ever since the Gonski reforms more than ten years ago. After months of back and forth negotiations, the federal government's agreed to deal with Queensland to lift the Commonwealth's contribution from twenty percent of the Schooling Resource Standard to twenty five percent by twenty thirty four, more money for Queensland. Basically. For its part, the coalition yesterday said it would return the federal budget to surplus if it wins government, or, as Finance spokesperson Jane Hume said, restore fiscal guardrails.

Story number four is also political. Sean independent and highly popular teal MP Monique Ryan is in a bit of hot water after video merge of her husband Peter Jordan removing campaign posters for her Liberal opponent, Amelia Hamer.

Story number four is also political. Sean independent and highly popular teal MP Monique Ryan is in a bit of hot water after video merge of her husband Peter Jordan removing campaign posters for her Liberal opponent, Amelia Hamer.

It's pretty funny, it's worth chasing the video. So Monique Ryan won the Melbourne seed of coup Young, once a blue ribbon Liberal seat. She beat Joss Friedenberg at the last election. The video shows Jordan running down the street with a poster under his arm He and Ryan have apologized. I just loved Peter Jordan's comment and I quote I believe the sign was illegally placed, but I should have reported my concerns to counsel.

It's pretty funny, it's worth chasing the video. So Monique Ryan won the Melbourne seed of coup Young, once a blue ribbon Liberal seat. She beat Joss Friedenberg at the last election. The video shows Jordan running down the street with a poster under his arm He and Ryan have apologized. I just loved Peter Jordan's comment and I quote I believe the sign was illegally placed, but I should have reported my concerns to counsel.

Probably all right. Last last one, Sean Story number five, Disney's live action version of the classic fairy tale Snow White, which, incredibly Sean is almost the most controversial movie of the year so far, has topped the North American box office chart despite a bunch of underwhelming reviews.

Probably all right. Last last one, Sean Story number five, Disney's live action version of the classic fairy tale Snow White, which, incredibly Sean is almost the most controversial movie of the year so far, has topped the North American box office chart despite a bunch of underwhelming reviews.

So talk about eighty seven million US dollars globally during this evening weekend. About half of that came from North America, according to the BBC, below expectation for a film that reportedly costs two hundred and seventy million dollars. The reworking of the nineteen thirty seven feature length animation had seen like a shurefire hit before running into a series of controversies ahead of it release that included some criticism of the casting of Rachel Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, as the heroine. Has also backlash about Zegler's pro Palestinian comments on social media and about pro Israel comments on social media by Israeli actress Gal Gado, who plays snow White's stepmother, the Evil Queen, throwing Zegler's comments about the movie being about a stalker and the ongoing debate about whether there should have been dwarfs in the film at all. In fact, Disney reclassified them as magical creatures, and snow White has become a flashpoint for the woke and anti woke movement.

So talk about eighty seven million US dollars globally during this evening weekend. About half of that came from North America, according to the BBC, below expectation for a film that reportedly costs two hundred and seventy million dollars. The reworking of the nineteen thirty seven feature length animation had seen like a shurefire hit before running into a series of controversies ahead of it release that included some criticism of the casting of Rachel Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, as the heroine. Has also backlash about Zegler's pro Palestinian comments on social media and about pro Israel comments on social media by Israeli actress Gal Gado, who plays snow White's stepmother, the Evil Queen, throwing Zegler's comments about the movie being about a stalker and the ongoing debate about whether there should have been dwarfs in the film at all. In fact, Disney reclassified them as magical creatures, and snow White has become a flashpoint for the woke and anti woke movement.

All right, there we go, the top five business stories in five minutes.

All right, there we go, the top five business stories in five minutes.

Thank you Sean, Thank you Michael.

Thank you Sean, Thank you Michael.

It is Tuesday, the twenty fifth of March twenty twenty five. Remember to hit follow on the podcast and five minutes isn't enough. You can find our longer daily show called Fear and Greed whereever you listen to podcasts. I'm Michael Thompson and that was the fast five business news by Fear and Greed. Have a great day.

It is Tuesday, the twenty fifth of March twenty twenty five. Remember to hit follow on the podcast and five minutes isn't enough. You can find our longer daily show called Fear and Greed whereever you listen to podcasts. I'm Michael Thompson and that was the fast five business news by Fear and Greed. Have a great day.