Author: roymorgansocial

Gay marriage vote is left at the altar

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 30-Aug-16

The Australian Government will not have sufficient numbers in the Senate to pass its enabling legislation for a plebiscite on same-sex marriage, after Derryn Hinch and the Nick Xenophon Team decided to vote against it. The Australian Labor Party and the Greens had already committed to rejecting the legislation, and favour a direct vote by Parliament on the issue rather than a plebiscite. The legalisation of same-sex marriage is now unlikely to be on the political agenda again until after the next federal election.

CORPORATES
NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY

85% of Australian households have completed the ABS Census despite website problems, Roy Morgan Research finds

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 29-Aug-16

A special snap SMS Morgan Poll has found that 85 per cent of Australian households have now completed the 2016 Census despite problems with the Census website on the designated Census date of 9 August. Roy Morgan Research CEO Michele Levine says clear majorities of all age groups, both genders and in every State have managed to complete the Census since Census night. The remaining 15 per cent of Australian households have another four weeks to complete the online Census forms or face potential fines of up to $A180 per day.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED,{SPAC}LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN GREENS

US awards $5 million to BHP Billiton whistleblower

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Original article by Nick McKenzie,{SPAC}Michael Bachelard,{SPAC}Richard Baker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 29-Aug-16

Crossbenchers will seek legislative reforms to strengthen Australia’s laws on the protection of corporate whistleblowers. Financial Services Minister Kelly O’Dwyer has indicated that changes to the whistleblower regime are on the agenda. At present, Australian laws provide little protection for people who expose corrupt conduct. US laws allow whistleblowers to receive a percentage of any fine imposed on a company. A BHP Billiton employee has been paid $US3.75m ($A4.96m) under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for exposing corrupt practices at the mining giant.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE,{SPAC}BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP,{SPAC}UNITED STATES. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION,{SPAC}THIESS PTY LTD,{SPAC}CIMIC GROUP LIMITED – ASX CIM,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Rinehart ponders bid for Kidman

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Original article by Kylar Loussikian
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 29-Aug-16

Australian businesswoman Gina Rinehart is believed to be considering a joint bid for the S. Kidman & Company rural property empire. The proposal would result in Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting taking a 66 per cent stake in Kidman, while the balance would be bought by Shanghai CRED Real Estate. The Chinese group recently withdrew from the consortium that had its bid to acquire Kidman blocked by the Federal Government. Rinehart has actively been investing in rural properties in recent years.

CORPORATES
S KIDMAN AND COMPANY PTY LTD,{SPAC}HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD,{SPAC}SHANGHAI CRED REAL ESTATE STOCK COMPANY LIMITED,{SPAC}SHANGHAI PENGXIN GROUP COMPANY LIMITED,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN RURAL CAPITAL LIMITED – ASX ARC,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET,{SPAC}GENIUS LINKS ASSET MANAGEMENT,{SPAC}LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}ERNST AND YOUNG

Latest results show Fortescue has finally become unshakeable

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 22 : 29-Aug-16

Fortescue Metals Group’s free cash flow increased by 93 per cent in 2015-16, to $US2.7bn, while its debt was slashed by $A2.9bn. Fortescue’s production cost averaged $US50 per tonne several years ago, but this was reduced to $US13.10 in June 2016 and the group aims to further reduce this in 2016-17. A number of factors have contributed to the reduction in production costs, such as the lower Australian dollar, the fall in the crude oil price, increased production and a significantly lower strip ratio.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG,{SPAC}VALE SA,{SPAC}PATERSONS SECURITIES LIMITED,{SPAC}CITIGROUP PTY LTD,{SPAC}MORNINGSTAR PTY LTD,{SPAC}MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG

AEC’s slow vote count boosts news site traffic

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 29-Aug-16

Nielsen Digital Ratings (Monthly) data shows that news websites enjoyed a strong rise in traffic during July, due to the protracted vote count following the 2016 federal election. The ABC overtook news.com.au to become the most-visited free news website, with 6.5 million unique visitors, while the latter boasted 6.2 million. Meanwhile, the paywalled website of "The Australian" recorded a record 1.6 million unique visitors.

CORPORATES
THE NIELSEN COMPANY (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA BUSINESS ARTS FOUNDATION,{SPAC}NEWS.COM.AU,{SPAC}NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD,{SPAC}NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS,{SPAC}NINE.COM.AU,{SPAC}NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC,{SPAC}DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}MAIL ONLINE,{SPAC}MICROSOFT AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Fox Sports to give cricket rights a bash

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 29-Aug-16

Pay TV group Fox Sports could launch a dedicated cricket channel if it gains the broadcasting rights to some or all Big Bash League matches. Fox Sports is believed to be considering a bid for the domestic Twenty20 series, potentially in partnership with the Nine Network. Nine has previously expressed interest in the rights to the BBL, which has attracted strong ratings for the Ten Network. Fox Sports is also seeking rights to A-League and Socceroos matches.

CORPORATES
FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD,{SPAC}BIG BASH LEAGUE,{SPAC}NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED,{SPAC}NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC,{SPAC}CRICKET AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN,{SPAC}SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM,{SPAC}THE A LEAGUE PTY LTD,{SPAC}SOCCEROOS,{SPAC}TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS,{SPAC}SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE,{SPAC}NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE

PM fires up with 25-point battle plan

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 29-Aug-16

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will ramp up his economic reform agenda with plans to introduce 25 bills to Parliament on 31 August and 1 September 2016. Turnbull has insisted that the bills must be approved by the Coalition’s backbench committees before Parliament resumes on 30 August. The bills cover a range of policies, including personal income tax cuts, a reduction in the corporate tax rate, welfare reforms and tobacco excise. Turnbull has indicated that he is willing to negotiate with crossbenchers, amid signs that they may oppose key reforms such as the reinstatement of the Australian Building & Construction Commission.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET,{SPAC}LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY,{SPAC}NICK XENOPHON TEAM,{SPAC}LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY,{SPAC}ONE NATION PARTY,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Rio delivers Seven ad bonanza

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Original article by Glenda Korporaal
The Australian – Page: 25 : 29-Aug-16

The Seven Network’s advertising revenue from its multi-platform coverage of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games is believed to have been within the range of $A100m to $A120m. Seven’s coverage included all three of its free-to-air channels and streaming via an Olympics app. Seven boasted a TV audience share of 45.8 per cent during the Games, compared with the Nine Network’s audience share of 40.8 per cent for its coverage of the London Olympics in 2012. Nine is said to have lost $A20m on its coverage.

CORPORATES
SEVEN ONLINE,{SPAC}SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM,{SPAC}NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED,{SPAC}NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC,{SPAC}HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN,{SPAC}DENTSU AEGIS MEDIA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD,{SPAC}WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW,{SPAC}TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS,{SPAC}McDONALD’S AUSTRALIA LIMITED,{SPAC}SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD,{SPAC}TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION AUSTRALIA LIMITED,{SPAC}FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

BHP, Vale brace for fallout from dam collapse report

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 29-Aug-16

US law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton will shortly release a technical report on its review into the tailings dam disaster at the Samarco iron ore project. Samarco is jointly owned by BHP Billiton and Vale, and the former has committed to full disclosure of the report, which will examine the causes of the November 2015 disaster. BHP has also responded to the Samarco incident by undertaking a review of its other joint ventures, which is likely to result in changes to how they are managed.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP,{SPAC}VALE SA,{SPAC}SAMARCO MINERACAO SA,{SPAC}CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN AND HAMILTON LLC,{SPAC}INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON MINING AND METALS,{SPAC}SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32,{SPAC}RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO,{SPAC}SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE (BRAZIL)