Author: roymorgansocial

Surprise additions to list of banned tech platforms

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 5-Nov-25

The federal government’s final list of social media platforms that will be subject to age restrictions has been expanded to include Reddit and video livestreaming service Kick. It had previously announced that people under the age of 16 will be barred from using Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube from 10 December. Communications Minister Anika Wells says the list is ‘dynamic’ and will be updated over time. The eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant has concluded that the "sole or significant purpose" of the eight platforms that will be subject to the ban is to enable online social interaction; platforms that are primarily used for messaging and online gaming will be excluded from the ban.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE ESAFETY COMMISSIONER, REDDIT INCORPORATED, KICK, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM LLC, SNAPCHAT INCORPORATED, TIKTOK, X CORPORATION, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED

Free-power plan to raise prices

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 4 : 5-Nov-25

MST Marquee analyst Saul Kavonic has described the federal government’s Solar Sharer scheme as "another poorly thought through market intervention" by the Climate Change and Energy Minister, Chris Bowen. Kavonic warns that the proposed three-hour block of ‘free’ electricity during the day will inevitably be offset by higher electricity prices at other times. David Dixon from Rystad Energy in turn says households may become more reluctant to invest in rooftop solar if they can use electricity for free.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER, MST MARQUEE, RYSTAD ENERGY AS

Inflation is going north, wages south

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Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 5-Nov-25

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock has indicated that the current monetary policy easing cycle could potentially be over, after the central bank left the cash rate unchanged at 3.6 per cent yesterday. The RBA has reduced official interest rates three times in 2025, but financial markets expect the next rate cut to occur in December 2026. Meanwhile, the RBA expects both headline and underlying inflation to remain above its target range of 2-3 per cent for at least another six months. Shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien has blamed Labor for the RBA’s decision to leave the cash rate on hold, contending that government spending is growing more than four times faster than the Australian economy.

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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence drops 1.3pts to 84.5 after higher-than-expected ABS CPI for September quarter ends speculation about more interest rate cuts this year

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 5-Nov-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 1.3pts to 84.5 in the week to 2 November; it is now 2pts lower than a year ago (86.5), and 2.1pts below the 2025 weekly average of 86.6. Analysis by State shows a fairly consistent result, with Consumer Confidence down in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, but up marginally in Queensland. Now 22% of Australians (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 42% (unchanged) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 26% (down 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 33% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Meanwhile, 10% (down 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 32% (up 2ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Only 21% (down 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 35% (unchanged) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Spy boss warns of realistic possibility of foreign-ordered killings in Australia

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Original article by Matthew Knott
The Age – Page: Online : 5-Nov-25

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s director-general Mike Burgess says there are "multiple, cascading and intersecting threats" to Australia’s social cohesion. He has used a Lowy Institute speech to warn that there is a realistic possibility that foreign governments will attempt to assassinate dissidents in Australia, and ASIO believes that least three nations are willing and capable of doing so. Burgess also identified a number of other threats, including state-sanctioned trolls, neo-Nazis, extreme anti-Israel activists and Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir; the latter is not a designated terrorist group in Australia, although it is in countries such as the UK.

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AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION

Canberra lays out terms for support of Rex Airlines rescue

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Original article by Chris Zappone
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 5-Nov-25

The federal government will provide Rex Airlines with a new $60m commercial loan, lifting taxpayers’ total financial support for the carrier to more than $200m since it went into administration. US-based Air T will in turn contribute $50m to the recapitalisation of Rex as part of its deal to acquire the failed airline. The government will also restructure about $90m of Rex’s debt on terms that will allow repayments to be made over time via a profit-sharing arrangement. In addition, the government will retain its security over Rex’s fleet of Saab 340s aircraft and its flight simulator. Meanwhile, administrator EY has confirmed that Rex’s creditors will not recover any of their money.

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REX AIRLINES PTY LTD, REGIONAL EXPRESS HOLDINGS LIMITED, AIR T INCORPORATED, ERNST AND YOUNG

Punt on special horse pays big dividends

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Original article by Brad Waters
The Australian – Page: 27 : 5-Nov-25

Half Yours has become only the 13th horse to win the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup in the same year. Jamie Melham in turn is now the only female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup-Caulfield Cup double, and just the second female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. Half Yours was bought for $305,000 on the Inglis Digital Sale platform in 2024, and the owners of the five-year-old gelding have picked up $7.5m for winning the two prestigious races. Half Yours was trained by father-and-son team Tony and Calvin McEvoy; the former says Half Yours is a "very special horse". Half Yours won the Melbourne Cup by two lengths, ahead of Goodie Two Shoes and Middle Earth.

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UBS warns against overplaying the volatile rare earths sector

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Original article by Gus McCubbing
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 27 : 5-Nov-25

Shares in Australian rare earths producers have rallied in the wake of the landmark critical minerals deal with the US. AUSIEX notes that the sector has posted strong gains since April, when China imposed export controls on seven rare earth elements. However, UBS equity strategist Richard Schellbach has likened the situation at present to 2010, when China similarly imposed restrictions on rare earths exports to Japan; he notes that the sector initially rallied, followed by a pullback when China removed the export controls. Schellbach also warns that it will take a long time to develop a rare earths industry in Australia; he adds that is unlikely to match the size of the iron ore and LNG industries.

CORPORATES
AUSIEX, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Netflix, Disney and other streamers to be forced to pay for more Australian-made content

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Original article by Karl Quinn
The Age – Page: Online : 5-Nov-25

The federal government will legislate an ‘Australian content obligation’ for streaming video-on-demand platforms. It will require streaming services that have more than one million subscribers in Australia to invest at least 10 per cent of their total expenditure in Australia or 7.5 per cent of their revenue in this country on producing local content. This will include local drama, children’s TV shows, documentaries, and educational or arts programs. Screen Producers Australia’s CEO Matthew Deaner has described the move as a "landmark day" for the nation’s screen industry.

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SCREEN PRODUCERS AUSTRALIA

No third parties emerge to foil Southern Cross-Seven takeover

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 5-Nov-25

An independent report from risk advisory firm Kroll has concluded that the proposed merger with Seven West Media is in the best interests of Southern Cross Media Group’s shareholders. Kroll found that it is a good deal for the radio station group’s investors, given that the company will contribute 47.3 per cent of the "relative underlying value" and have a 50.1 per cent stake in the merged entity. Southern Cross chairman Heith Mackay-Cruise has defended the proposed merger, noting that the traditional media landscape is facing a number of challenges. He has also confirmed that Southern Cross has not been approached by any other potential suitors.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, KROLL