Author: roymorgansocial

Employers urge Ley to expand IR changes

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 22-Oct-25

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has committed to reviewing the federal government’s multi-employer bargaining laws. However, business groups want the Coalition to consider more extensive industrial relations reforms. The Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s CEO Andrew McKellar says the Coalition should look at increasing the legal definition of a small business from 15 employees to 25, contending that getting a fair deal for small business should be a priority. The Australian Resources & ­Energy Employer Association’s CEO Steve Knott in turn has identified the abolition of laws expanding union delegate rights, right-of-entry provisions and the Fair Work Commission’s intractable bargaining powers as reforms the Coalition should be pursuing.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES AND ENERGY EMPLOYER ASSOCIATION

Scientists slam budget cuts that threaten Nobel Prize-generating research

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Original article by Liam Mannix, Angus Dalton
The Age – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

Science Minister Tim Ayres recently described Professor Richard Robson’s Nobel Prize in chemistry as a "tribute to the effectiveness and capability" of Australia’s research sector. However, the federal government proposes to shut down two of the beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron, which is being used to study the metal-organic frameworks that were pioneered by Professor Robson. Professionals Australia estimates that about 10 per cent of the synchrotron’s 150 employees are likely to be retrenched. The government also proposes to shut down the KOALA Laue diffractometer at the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in Sydney. Critics have warned that this will jeopardise Australia’s progress in achieving net-zero emissions.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES, AUSTRALIAN SYNCHROTRON COMPANY LIMITED

BHP sees resilient iron ore demand as China slows

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Original article by Mark Wembridge
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 22-Oct-25

BHP has advised that its Pilbara iron ore production totalled 64 million tonnes in the September quarter, which is one per cent lower than the same period in 2024. The lower output has been attributed to repair work at its Port Hedland infrastructure, but BHP says it is still on track to achieve its full-year production guidance of between 258 million tonnes and 269 million tonnes for 2025-26. BHP expects global demand for iron ore to remain strong, despite expectations of slowing growth in China and the ongoing but yet-to-be confirmed reports that China has banned BHP’s iron ore imports. BHP’s copper production rose by four per cent year-on-year.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

Companies could have profits from breaking environment laws stripped under Australian reforms

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Original article by Graham Readfearn
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

The federal government hopes to get its proposed changes to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act passed by the end of this year, with the legislation to be put before parliament in coming weeks. Environment Minister Murray Watt says he wants the overhauled environmental laws to include a definition of "unacceptable impact". He has also flagged harsher penalties for breaching environmental laws, including giving the government powers to strip companies of any financial gains made from such breaches. Watt adds that the proposed federal Environmental Protection Authority will be able to issue a ‘stop work order’ to prevent environmental harm.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 1pt to 84.0

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 1pt to 84.0 in the week to 19 October. However, Consumer Confidence is now 3.5pts below the same week a year ago (87.5), and 2.6pts below the 2025 weekly average of 86.6. Analysis by State shows mixed results, with increases in New South Wales and South Australia, down in Western Australia, and virtually unchanged in Victoria and Queensland. Now 19% of Australians (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 43% (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 25% (unchanged) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 32% (also unchanged) expect to be ‘worse off’. Meanwhile, just 8% (down 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 30% (down 2ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Only 22% (down 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 34% (down 1ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Roy Morgan Poll: In October, ALP and One Nation support up and support for the Coalition down

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

The latest Roy Morgan survey shows that primary support for the ALP was up 1% to 35% in October, with One Nation up 2.5% to 12% and the Greens up 1% to 13%; however, support for the Coalition dropped 3% to 27%, and support for Independents/Other Parties was down 1.5% to 13%. On a State-by-State basis support for the ALP increased significantly in the two largest States of New South Wales and Victoria, while One Nation support surged in all States (now at least 10% in all States except Victoria); in contrast, Coalition support fell in all States except Western Australia. On a two-party preferred basis the ALP increased its lead to 57% (up 1.5% from September) ahead of the Coalition on 43% (down 1.5%). If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be returned to Government with an increased majority. The latest Roy Morgan survey is based on interviewing a representative cross-section of 4,908 Australian electors from 22 September 22 to 19 October 2025.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY

Albanese hits critical mass

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 22-Oct-25

The $US8.5bn ($13bn) critical minerals framework agreement between Australia and the US will result in each country contributing at least US$1bn to critical minerals and rare earths projects over the next six months. They include a gallium project in Western Australia and the Nolans rare earths project in the Northern Territory. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump says the AUKUS alliance will be a "deterrence" to Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. Trump contends that AUKUS will not be needed to defend Taiwan, because he does not think China will invade the self-governed territory. Trump has also ruled out reviewing the current tariffs on Australian imports, stating that the nation "pays among the lowest tariffs"; this includes a baseline tariff of 10 per cent and a 50 per cent levy on steel and aluminium products

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Rex Airlines finds US buyer after entering into voluntary administration

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Original article by Miriah Davis
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

The administrators of Rex Airlines have confirmed that they have secured a sale and implementation deed with US-based air services company Air T. The deal follows a long-running sale process for Rex, which went into voluntary administration in June 2024. Transport Minister Catherine King in turn has confirmed that the federal government has entered into an agreement with Air T in relation to restructuring Rex’s financing arrangements. She says this will allow Rex to continue to provide aviation services for regional communities. Air T is a holding company for 16 entities that provide a range of aviation services. The deal will be put to Rex’s creditors in coming weeks.

CORPORATES
REX AIRLINES PTY LTD, REGIONAL EXPRESS HOLDINGS LIMITED, AIR T INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS

Risk of mortgage stress drops to lowest since February 2023 after RBA cuts interest rates to 3.6% in August

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

New research from Roy Morgan shows that 25.9% of mortgage holders (1,361,000) were ‘At Risk’ of ‘mortgage stress’ in the three months to September 2025, down 2% points from August. This is the lowest share of mortgage holders ‘At Risk’ of ‘mortgage stress’ since February 2023 when the share first rose above 25% of mortgage holders (where it has stayed ever since). The number of Australians ‘At Risk’ of mortgage stress has increased by 554,000 since May 2022, when the RBA began a cycle of interest rate increases. Meanwhile, the number of Australians considered to be ‘Extremely At Risk’ of mortgage stress is now numbered at 858,000 (16.3% of mortgage holders) which is in line with the long-term average over the last two decades (also 16.3%). These are the latest findings from Roy Morgan’s Single Source Survey, based on in-depth interviews conducted with over 60,000 Australians each year, including over 10,000 owner-occupied mortgage-holders.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Miners hail end of China grip

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 13 & 14 : 22-Oct-25

Arafura Rare Earths’ CEO Darryl Cuzzubbo says the $US8.5bn ($13bn) critical minerals deal between Australia and the US is the biggest step toward breaking China’ stranglehold on the sector. The deal includes a framework for US taxpayers to acquire stakes in Australian rare earths and critical minerals assets. Arafura itself will receive up to $US300m from the US Export-Import Bank to advance its Nolans rare earths project in the Northern Territory, while the federal government will invest another $US100m in the project. Meanwhile, Cuzzubbo says Arafura is about three years away from producing neodymium and praseodymium.

CORPORATES
ARAFURA RARE EARTHS LIMITED – ASX ARU, EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES