Author: roymorgansocial

1 in 8 Aussies could own a fitness band by end of 2016 as take-up snowballs among some sports participants

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: online : 18-Mar-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 1.54 million Australians aged 14+ (8 per cent) already own a personal fitness band or fitness tracker, and another 785,000 (four per cent) intend to buy themselves one in the next 12 months (plus another 50,000 or so buyers who already have one). If all these intenders do go out and get one, there’ll be around 2.3 million Australians (12 per cent) sporting fitness bands by the end 2016. Australians who regularly or occasionally participate in sports or physical activities are more likely overall to already own (nine per cent) or intend to buy (five per cent) a fitness band or tracker.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Local knowledge: the lure of intrastate holidays

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

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 10.3 million Australians aged 14+ chose to stay on home soil for their last holiday. The survey, which was carried out in the year to December 2015, also shows that 73 per cent of Western Australians’ last domestic trip was within their home state, ahead of 69.4 per cent of people in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and 66.4 per cent of Queenslanders. In contrast, Tasmanians are the least likely to take an intra-state holiday, with more than half of them heading to the mainland on their last trip.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Blackmores, Bega target China’s ageing population

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Original article by Sarah-Jane Tasker
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 17-Mar-16

Bega Cheese and Blackmores have reported strong demand for their infant formula in China. The partnership formed by the Australian-listed companies has been so successful that Bega and Blackmores want to expand into products for China’s ageing population. Bega chairman Barry Irvin said the partnership is working on "three to four" new products for the Chinese market.

CORPORATES
BEGA CHEESE LIMITED – ASX BGA, BLACKMORES LIMITED – ASX BKL, TATURA MILK INDUSTRIES LIMITED

100 CFMEU militants in court

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Original article by Elizabeth Colman
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 17-Mar-16

New figures show that the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union, its state branches and union officials have been fined a total of $A6.98m since 2002 for failing to comply with industrial laws. Meanwhile, 100 of the union’s officials and delegates have been charged with more than 1,000 offences in total, including coercion, intimidation and unlawful industrial action. Federal Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has urged Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to support a bill to reinstate the Australian Building & Construction Commission.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, FAIR WORK BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE FAIR WORK BUILDING INDUSTRY INSPECTORATE

Government revisits ‘backpacker tax’

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Original article by Jamie Freed
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 17-Mar-16

Tourism and International Education Minister Richard Colbeck says the Australian Government may reconsider elements of its proposed tax on people who hold working holiday visas. The so-called ‘backpacker tax’ is slated to take effect on 1 July 2016, and will abolish the tax-free threshold for temporary workers. Colbeck has conceded that changes may be necessary to avoid a shortage of staff in sectors such as tourism and hospitality.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, TOURISM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TTF AUSTRALIA LIMITED TOURISM AND TRANSPORT FORUM, NORTHERN TERRITORY. DEPT OF THE CHIEF MINISTER, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Nation’s wealthy line up for slice of Kidman

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Original article by Sue Neales
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 17-Mar-16

A decision on whether the sale of the S Kidman & Company rural property business to foreign buyers can proceed is likely in early April 2016. Three overseas consortiums were shortlisted to buy the Kidman assets, but it has been revealed that a number of potential Australian buyers have since been permitted to undertake due diligence. There have been suggestions that the decision was politically motivated, due to concerns about the sale of large landholdings to foreign interests.

CORPORATES
S KIDMAN AND COMPANY PTY LTD, ERNST AND YOUNG, SHANGHAI PENGXIN GROUP COMPANY LIMITED, GENIUS LINK ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP, AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY CHOICE PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, LINFOX PTY LTD, MOON LAKE INVESTMENTS PTY LTD, VAN DIEMEN’S LAND COMPANY, TASFOODS LIMITED – ASX TFL, KATHMANDU HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX KMD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES

Fifield criticises ‘analogue warriors’

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Original article by Dominic White, Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 32 : 17-Mar-16

Federal Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has refuted suggestions that cross-media ownership reforms will benefit some media groups in particular. Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra, he said the majority of media companies favour abolishing the "reach rule" and the "two-out-of-three rule". He also dismissed the concerns of some senators that the reforms would allow Rupert Murdoch to increase his control of the media sector.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Big business takes hit to please Nats

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 13 : 17-Mar-16

The Federal Government has decided to introduce an "effects test" to competition law. The Business Council of Australia opposes the "effects test", but the new policy is supported by other organisations, including the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission and the Australian Industry Group. Wesfarmers CEO Richard Goyder expressed his disappointment with the decision at "The Australian Financial Review" Business Summit.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, COLES GROUP LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

Explorers ditch ASX as downturn bites

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 17-Mar-16

Analysis by BDO shows that about 16 per cent of the 753 Australian-listed exploration companies had no active exploration program in the December 2015 quarter. Meanwhile, 25 exploration companies delisted, were placed in administration or opted to exit the sector during the period. Meanwhile, nearly 50 per cent of companies that remain in the sector are estimated to be able to finance operating expenditure for no more than two quarters.

CORPORATES
BDO CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AND ADVISERS, DORAY MINERALS LIMITED – ASX DRM, BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION

Glencore puts coal haulage business on the block for $1b

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Original article by Matthew Stevens, Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 & 26 : 17-Mar-16

Global mining company Glencore has confirmed that it will seek a buyer for its GRail coal haulage business in the Hunter Valley. It will shortly commence an auction process for the business, and it hopes to secure a deal by the September 2016 quarter. Glencore has invested around $A350m in the GRail business, which boasts EBITDA of $A100m. Potential buyers could include US-based Genesee & Wyoming, whose Freightliner subsidiary operates GRail on behalf of Glencore.

CORPORATES
GLENCORE PLC, GRAIL, GENESEE AND WYOMING INCORPORATED, FREIGHTLINER GROUP LIMITED, ASCIANO LIMITED – ASX AIO, PACIFIC NATIONAL PTY LTD, XSTRATA AG, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, UGL LIMITED – ASX UGL, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP