Author: roymorgansocial

Republic director’s fairytale grievance

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Original article by Jenna Clarke
The Australian – Page: 7 : 16-Jan-24

The Australian Republic Movement says that many people will have been pleased to see someone born in Tasmania become Queen of Denmark, but that it was a pity she had leave Australia to become a head of state. The ARM says that under a republic Mary could become an Australian head of state, while it labelled the accession of Queen Mary and King Frederik to the Danish throne as the "stuff of medieval fairytales". The ARM also claims that monarchies such as the Danish and British ones are becoming under question at a time when the average person is struggling to deal with the cost of living, while their representatives are leading a life of luxury.

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AUSTRALIAN REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT

Nauru cuts diplomatic ties with Taiwan

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Original article by Michael Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 16-Jan-24

Taiwan’s foreign ministry has expressed disappoinment at the news that Pacific island nation of Nauru has decided to sever diplomatic ties with it in favour of China. Nauru’s decision comes just a matter of days after Taiwanese voters elected William Lai Ching, with Lai considered a "trouble maker" by China. Nauru’s decision is seen as a blow to efforts by the federal government to counter China’s growing influence in the Pacific region after it signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands.

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Cost-of-living relief possible before May: PM

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 16-Jan-24

The federal government could potentially unveil further measures aimed at addressing the rising cost of living ahead of the budget on 14 May. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government understands that Australians are "doing it tough", and it may be open to additional cost-of-living relief. However, the government has ruled out cash handouts, although potential measures could include further rebates for household energy bills. The upcoming by-election in the Melbourne seat of Dunkley could affect the timing any household relief.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Albanese says Australia will not participate in ICJ case against Israel and instead focus on political solution

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Original article by Daniel Hurst
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 16-Jan-24

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia will not take part in the International Court of Justice proceedings initiated by South Africa, which is accusing Israel of genocide as a result of its bomdardment of Gaza. Speaking as foreign affairs minister Penny Wong set off on a trip to the Middle East, Albanese said Australia would instead focus on a ‘political solution’ to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Wong is due to visit both Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories during her Middle East visit; she will meet with survivors of the 7 October Hamas attack while in Israel, but will not visit the communities in southern Israel where the attacks were carried out, for which she has been criticised by the Zionist Federation of Australia

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

Supermarkets warned on pricing

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Original article by Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 16-Jan-24

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb says it could potentially take legal action against a major supermarket chain in the next 12 months for breaching consumer law. Although the ACCC does not have price monitoring powers when it comes to supermarkets, it does have a role in investigating misleading and deceptive conduct. Cass-Gottlieb noted that the ACCC is concerned about the issue of ‘was, now pricing’, whereby chains offer a discount on an item, but may have engaged in deceptive behaviour by increasing the price of the item for a short time beforehand.

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Artificial intelligence predicted to affect 40 per cent of jobs globally, IMF warns

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Original article by Holly Williams
The New Daily – Page: Online : 16-Jan-24

The International Monetary Fund says artificial intelligence and machine learning technology could worsen inequality between nations and within society. The IMF has concluded that AI technology will affect about 40 per cent of jobs worldwide, including 60 per cent of jobs in advanced economies. The IMF’s Kristalina Georgieva says the technology could boost productivity, global economic growth and incomes; however, she cautions that it could also replace jobs and deepen inequality.

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INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Santos gets green light on $5bn project

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Original article by Colin Packham
The Australian – Page: 13 & 14 : 16-Jan-24

The Federal Court’s Justice Natalie Charlesworth has ruled that Santos will not need to revise its environmental plan for the $5.3bn Barossa LNG project in the Timor Sea. Justice Charlesworth ordered Santos to temporarily stop work on a 262km pipeline in late 2023, pending a final ruling on Tiwi Islanders’ legal challenge to the Barossa project; Justice Charlesworth on Monday said she was not convinced that the pipeline would cause irreparable harm to the cultural heritag of the traditional owners. Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher says the company will shortly resume its drilling program, adding that the court ruling will have broad economic benefits.

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SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Roy Morgan’s latest Federal voting intention poll shows ALP 51.5% cf. L-NP 48.5% after inflation drops to two-year low of 4.3%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Jan-24

Support for Labor has increased 2.5% to 51.5% ahead of the Coalition on 48.5% (down 2.5%) on a two-party preferred basis after the official inflation figure dropped to a two-year low, according to the second Roy Morgan survey on Federal voting intention for 2024. The sharp fall in inflation, down 0.6% to 4.3%, means further interest rate increases in 2024 are unlikely. This week saw a reversal of trends evident a week ago with ALP support increasing 2.5% to 31.5% while Coalition support dropped 2% to 37%. The Greens dropped 1% to 12% and One Nation was down 0.5% to 4.5%. Support for Independents & Other Parties increased 1% to 15%. The latest Roy Morgan survey is based on interviewing a representative cross-section of 1,727 Australian electors from January 8-14, 2024. Further details will be released on Tuesday in Roy Morgan’s weekly video update presented by Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine here: http://www.youtube.com/roymorganaus

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

The Iconic promises to issue refunds to hacked customers

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Original article by David Swan, Jessica Yun
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 10-Jan-24

The Iconic is the latest Australian company to be hit by a growing wave of cybercrime. The online retailer has advised customers to regularly change their passwords following a rise in fraudulent account login attempts. Some customers claim to have had more than $1,000 stolen from their bank accounts after The Iconic was targeted by hackers who used personal information gleaned from separate data breaches to access customers’ accounts. The Iconic says it will provide full refunds to all affected customers, and emphasised that its own website has not been compromised.

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THEICONIC.COM.AU

Union accused of bad faith over new work bans

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Original article by Nick Bonyhady
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 10-Jan-24

The Maritime Union of Australia may seek to expand its industrial action against container terminal operator DP World Australia. Amongst other things, the MUA has indicated that it may delay arriving cargo ships for 16 hours and impose indefinite work bans on some vessels. DP World and the MUA commenced three days of negotiations on Tuesday, the same day the union flagged a potential escalation of the industrial action in documents sent to DP World. Nicolaj Noes has questioned whether the MUA is bargaining in good faith, given that the papers are dated 6 January.

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MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, DP WORLD AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, DP WORLD