Delivery company collapses with 400 jobs at risk, Boxing Day sales start, and more top news

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Redstar Transport has appointed liquidators, threatening 400 jobs not to mention Christmas package deliveries. Liquidator PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Stephen Longley said it was not easy to make people redundant the week before Christmas: "This is a terrible situation at any time, let alone on the eve of the holidays. We are doing everything we can in the circumstances to manage the fallout." The Transport Workers Union said staff knew something was wrong when drivers were told to leave their vehicles at their final destinations, and 100 staffers were sent home.

Boxing Day sales have started already. Despite the fact Christmas has not arrived yet, sales are on at Adore Beauty, West Elm, Cotton On and Country Road to name a few. PayPal head of consumer marketing Liz Lefort told Fairfax it reflected a shift towards online and mobile shopping which meant that when the delivery cutoff for Christmas passed, it was time for sales. “Australians are looking for the best deals, not the stress that’s traditionally associated with heading out to the shops for the Boxing Day sales, so it’s not surprising to see Boxing Day sales appear before Boxing Day," Lefort said.

An ad that tracks people’s eye movements and delivers them tailored content has arrived in Australia. The Jetstar campaign, run by French outdoor ad group JCDecaux, monitored people as they watched a digital billboard featuring a short video of images of holiday destinations. By tracking eye movement, the digital billboard would determine the users’ favourite holiday destination and then show them flight and package prices.

GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer are merging their consumer-health units in what will become the world’s biggest producer of over-the-counter medicines. Glaxo will have a 68% stake in the new entity, which will be known as GSK Consumer Healthcare and led by the current head of Glaxo’s consumer arm, Brian McNamara. The deal will also allow Pfizer to yield control of its consumer business after failing to find a buyer for the unit.

More than 80% of Indigenous artworks sold in Australia are fake. A government inquiry determined the "extraordinary statistic" and called the introduction of a new trademark label for genuine works. The report found there was also cause for a new information guide on authentic products for tourists and compensation for individuals and art centres affected by counterfeiters. 

Idea of the Day: A sense of purpose is the fuel behind every success — personal or professional — says EY Americas Vice Chair of Accounts Bob Patton.

“Simply put, purpose is how you transform business from revenue and profit to long-term value for you, your stakeholders and your employees.”

— Cayla Dengate