Author: roymorgansocial

ANZ-Roy Morgan New Zealand Consumer Confidence – up 0.8pts to 127.7

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 6-Mar-18

The ANZ-Roy Morgan New Zealand Consumer Confidence Index rose from 126.9 to 127.7 in February 2018. This is still 2 points off the September 2017 high, but it is a solid level. On a seasonally adjusted basis the index remains 8 points off its September high at 124.7. The Current Conditions Index fell 4 points in February to 127.3. The Future Conditions Index lifted another 4 points to 128.0 and has largely unwound its post-election dip. A net 15% of consumers feel financially better off than a year ago. The proportion of those who reported being worse off was the lowest in the history of the survey. Meanwhile, a net 34% of consumers expect to be better off financially this time next year (up 5 points).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Labor, unions urge PM to fight tariffs

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Original article by Primrose Riordan, Joe Kelly, Andrew Burrell, Ben Packham, Cameron Stewart
The Australian – Page: 4 : 6-Mar-18

Federal Government ministers have begun lobbying their US counterparts in a bid to exempt local companies from the Trump administration’s new tariff regime for steel and aluminium imports. Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen notes that Australia’s steel and aluminium exports to the US are worth $A240m and $A70m respectively. Daniel Walton, the national secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, has warned of significant job losses in the local steel and aluminium sectors due to the tariff hikes, as well as the potential for the Australian market to be flooded with more low-cost steel from China.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION-FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED – ASX BSL

Industry hopping mad over kangaroo cull video

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 6-Mar-18

Australia’s kangaroo meat industry is furious over what it states are outlandish claims in a new video documentary. "Kangaroo: A Love-Hate Story", produced by Michael McIntyre and Kate McIntyre Clere, is yet to be seen in Australia. However, it has been screened in the US for over a month. McIntyre and McIntyre Clere have been accused of using shock tactics and of suggesting that some species of kangaroos are close to extinction. National Farmers’ Federation president Fiona Simson says the kangaroo population has increased to "crisis proportions". The kangaroo meat industry is worth $A200 million.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL FARMERS’ FEDERATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, WAROO GAME MEATS, KANGAROO INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA, ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY, UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY

SEEK buy-out of News Corp from Asia arm makes sense

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 6-Mar-18

Online jobs advertiser SEEK will pay $A157 million to buy News Corp’s 13.75 per cent stake in its Asian business. SEEK CEO Andrew Bassat says News Corp had been a "great partner", and that moving to 100 per cent ownership of SEEK Asia "just made sense". SEEK will use existing debt facilities to fund the transaction, which is due to be completed by 16 March. SEEK had revenue of $A620.3 million for the first half 2017-18, of which its international businesses contributed $A340.1 million.

CORPORATES
SEEK LIMITED – ASX SEK, SEEK ASIA, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Aussie Farmers Direct wilts in tough market

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 6-Mar-18

Aussie Farmers Direct was placed into voluntary administration on 5 March, 13 years after it first began delivering fresh produce to people at home. It had 100 franchisees and 260 employees, and Craig Shephard of KordaMentha says the business will cease trading immediately. One part of the company, Home Delivery Services, is not affected by the collapse and will continue to trade. Aussie Farmers Direct had sales of $A137m in 2014-15, but it lost $A15.5m. Its failure has been attributed to competition from supermarkets and meal-kit providers.

CORPORATES
AUSSIE FARMERS DIRECT, KORDA MENTHA AND COLLEAGUES PTY LTD, EQUITY PARTNERS PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, SHAW INVESTMENTS, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, CRESCENT POINT, PEPPERLEAF, YOUFOODZ, FIVEPOINTFOUR, TASTEBOX, YOUR GROCER, THOMAS FARM KITCHEN, DISH’D, GOURMET DINNER SERVICE

Lynas sees rare chance in trade row

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Original article by Glenda Korporaal
The Australian – Page: 17 & 28 : 6-Mar-18

Lynas Corporation has posted a 2017-18 interim profit of $A63m, compared with a $A19.3m loss for the previous corresponding period. Revenue was up 75 per cent at $A200.9m, while the rare earths miner reduced its debt to $US256.5m. CEO Amanda Lacaze says the Federal Government’s proposed collaboration with the US on the development of rare earths is positive for the local industry, adding that Lynas has contacted the office of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull regarding the issue.

CORPORATES
LYNAS CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX LYC, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

PM’s poll survival plan

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 5 : 6-Mar-18

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has downplayed concerns about his continued poor performance in public opinion polls. Turnbull ousted predecessor Tony Abbott after the latter had racked up 30 consecutive negative opinion polls, but the Coalition has now trailed Labor in 28 polls under Turnbull’s leadership. Supporters of Turnbull argue that he also cited factors such as Abbott’s lack of economic leadership for the spill in September 2015. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says his values and priorities are education, health and jobs, rather than opinion polls.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NEWSPOLL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS

Softened spy laws sent for scrutiny

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 4 : 6-Mar-18

The Federal Government has amended proposed foreign interference laws in response to the media industry’s concern about the impact on freedom of the press. Although journalists will not be exempt from the laws, they will only face criminal prosecution for reporting on classified documents if their actions pose a threat to public safety or national security, or affect an ongoing criminal investigation. The amendments will be scrutinised by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence & Security.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION

Economic Issues dominate Australians’ problems in 2018

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 6-Mar-18

Roy Morgan has explored the concerns of Australians in interviews with a representative cross-section of 650 Australians aged 14+ in February 2018. The in-depth research found that Australians regard economic issues as the major problems facing the nation and the world at large. Economic Issues (led by Financial problems and Cost of living, Unemployment, Economic problems, Housing affordability, Poverty and the gap between rich and poor) were mentioned by 32% of Australians as the most important problems facing the nation. When considering the wider World, the largest theme to emerge was again concerns related to the Economy, mentioned by just under 25% of Australians (led by the issue of Poverty and the gap between rich and poor) ahead of the 22% of Australians who mentioned Environmental issues and a further 19% of respondents who mentioned issues related to War & Terrorism.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Hodgman flags cabinet reshuffle

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Original article by Matthew Denholm
The Australian – Page: 6 : 5-Mar-18

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman has rejected claims by Labor and the Greens that the Liberal Party won the 2018 state election with the assistance of funding from the gambling industry. However, Hodgman says he is open to a review of the state’s rules governing donations to political parties. Hodgman, who is the first Tasmanian Liberal leader to win two successive terms of majority government in more than three decades, has also flagged plans for changes to his cabinet team. The Liberal Party seems likely to win 13-15 seats in the 25-seat lower house.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF TASMANIA, TASMANIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, TASMANIAN GREENS, JACQUI LAMBIE NETWORK