Public service union wins ABC staff pay rise

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 28-Oct-16

The Community & Public Sector Union’s national secretary, Nadine Flood, has welcomed a new enterprise agreement for ABC employees. She notes that while not all of the union’s demands have been met, the new pay deal is much better than the initial offer from the public broadcaster’s management. The ABC put the pay deal directly to staff after negotiations with the union broke down. Amongst other things, ABC staff will receive an annual two per cent pay rise over three years, domestic violence leave and a two-week increase in paid parental leave.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SECTOR UNION

Michele Levine, CEO, Roy Morgan Research: Australian opposition to Muslim immigration exaggerated

Original article by Michele Levine, Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 26-Oct-16

In stark contrast to the widely reported Essential Research Poll in mid-September that claimed Australians opposed Muslim Immigration 49% cf. 40%, independent research by Roy Morgan shows Australians continue to support Muslim immigration (58% cf. 33%) as well as Asylum Seeker Immigration (66% to 25%). Five weeks ago, Australians were bombarded with the news that we, as a nation, or the majority of us, did not want Muslims coming into the country – based on a poll by Essential Research. I said at the time, in several interviews (Listen to radio interview with 2SER), that we believed it was highly unlikely that these results were true. Roy Morgan surveys over several years from 2010 to 2015, showed majority support for Muslims, refugees and others immigrating to Australia. We believed it highly unlikely that sentiment would have changed so dramatically. The latest Roy Morgan Research showed indeed Australians continue to support Muslim Immigration, albeit with a reduced majority. It is crucial that public opinion surveys on such important issues as this are independent and conducted with a sample which is truly representative of the Australian population.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, ESSENTIAL RESEARCH

Aussie kids saving more than ever, but girls lagging behind boys

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Oct-16

The latest data from Roy Morgan’s Young Australians Survey shows that 76 per cent of Australian children aged 6-13 had money saved in the year to June 2016, compared with 75 per cent in 2008. The average amount saved has risen from $220 to $251 in the last eight years. The average boy’s savings have increased by 15 per cent from $228 to $263, compared with growth of 12 per cent from $211 to $234 for girls. Meanwhile, 84 per cent of kids from the well-off AB socio-economic quintile have savings, with an average balance of $304, and 16 per cent of them have saved more than $1,000. On the other hand, only 67 per cent of kids from the less affluent FG quintile have money saved (at a much lower average amount of $176). It is worth noting, however, that 11 per cent of these children also have a balance of $1,000-plus.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Fruit juice brands fighting for shrinking market (except for trend-buster Nudie)

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Oct-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 5.3 million Australians aged 14+ (26.9 per cent of the population) reported drinking packaged fruit juice in any given seven days in the year to June 2016. This compares with 6.6 million (35.2 per cent) in the year to June 2012. The survey also shows that 6.2 per cent of Australians drink supermarket-branded packaged fruit juice, ahead of Golden Circle (5.8 per cent) and Berri (5.7 per cent). Men (27.6 per cent) are slightly more likely than women (26.3 per cent) to consume packaged fruit juice, with young people of both genders being the most avid consumers. Meanwhile, the number of Australians who agree with the statement "I often buy drinks from juice bars" has risen from just under 1.6 million to just over 1.8 million.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, GOLDEN CIRCLE LIMITED, BERRI LIMITED, DAILY JUICE COMPANY, NUDIE PTY LTD

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence drops 3.6% to 113.6

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Oct-16

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence fell 0.3 per cent to 113.6 in the week ended 23 October 2016. The fall was largely driven by a deterioration in consumers’ views toward future financial and economic conditions. Consumers’ views towards their current finances edged down 0.2 per cent, while views towards finances over the next 12 months dropped 7.1 per cent. Households’ views of current economic conditions fell 2.7 per cent, while views towards economic conditions over the next five years fell 4.9 per cent.

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

Trump might win, and beware the turmoil

Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 26-Oct-16

Hedge fund expert Jim Rogers says global financial market volatility is likely regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election. Rogers adds that a number of other factors will also contribute to looming financial market turbulence. He cautions against investing in bonds, and says investors should seek exposure to the agricultural sector, including farmland and agricultural futures. Rogers also says the Australian Government should take action to address the nation’s growing debt.

CORPORATES
QUANTUM FUND NV, APPLE INCORPORATED, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, PARAWAY PASTORAL COMPANY LIMITED

Miners demand Fair Work overhaul

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 6 : 26-Oct-16

Australian Mines & Metals Association CEO Steve Knott has called for Employment Minister Michaelia Cash to implement an independent review of the Fair Work Commission. Knott has accused the FWC of being "highly dysfunctional" and politicised, and says several senior members of the FWC have told him that they intend to retire early for these reasons. Knott has also urged the Federal Government to pursue industrial relations reforms such as changes to unfair dismissal laws and restricting unions’ right to access workplaces.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN MINES AND METALS ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED), AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, GROCON PTY LTD, VICTORIA. COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY

ScoMo takes tax fight to Xenophon

Original article by Phillip Coorey, Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 26-Oct-16

The Australian Government will continue to push for the company tax rate for businesses with turnover of up to $A50m to be reduced to 27.5 per cent. The Government requires the support of the Nick Xenophon Team’s three senators, although the party wants the turnover threshold to be capped at $A10m. Treasurer Scott Morrison will attend a series of meetings and functions with representatives of medium-sized businesses in Senator Nick Xenophon’s home state of South Australia, as part of the Government’s push to gain support for its scaled-back corporate tax reform package.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, ONE NATION PARTY, COMMITTEE FOR ADELAIDE, SAGE AUTOMATION LIMITED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, GLENCORE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, GM HOLDEN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, HAIGH’S CHOCOLATES, KORVEST LIMITED – ASX KOV, CODAN LIMITED – ASX CDA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE

Dreams turn to horror as four killed on trouble-stricken water raft ride

Original article by Michael McKenna
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 26-Oct-16

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says police and Workplace Health & Safety officials are investigating the cause of a fatal accident at a Gold Coast theme park. Two men and two women have died on the Thunder River Rapids Ride at Dreamworld after their raft hit another one and flipped over. Two of the victims were caught in a conveyor belt that carries the rafts. The ride is said to have experienced mechanical problems earlier in the day. It is the worst accident at an Australian theme park since 1979, when seven people died in a fire at Luna Park in Sydney.

CORPORATES
DREAMWORLD, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, QUEENSLAND. WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY BOARD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, ARDENT LEISURE GROUP – ASX AAD, LUNA PARK SYDNEY PTY LTD

Fortescue Metals shares leap on soaring iron ore futures

Original article by Tess Ingram, James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 26-Oct-16

Iron ore futures traded on China’s Dalian Commodity Exchange have risen to the highest level since mid-August 2014. Shares in pure-play iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group responded by rising 6.5 per cent to $A5.44 on 25 October 2016. Meanwhile, Fortescue has advised that it is still targeting a "C1" cost of between $US12 and $US13 per tonne for the 2016-17 financial year, compared with $US15.43 per tonne in 2015-16.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, DALIAN COMMODITY EXCHANGE, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO