Secret email plea to lock down Sydney

Original article by Anton Nilsson
The Daily Telegraph – Page: Online : 25-Nov-21

The New South Wales government’s response to the Delta variant outbreak is under further scrutiny. It follows the revelation that chief health officer Kerry Chant and senior NSW Health officials were urged to lock down Greater Sydney on 24 June. A NSW Health official in the Hunter Region called for such action due to the widespread detection of coronavirus fragments in wastewater in areas of Sydney and Wollongong. A lockdown was imposed in some parts of Sydney on 25 June, but Greater Sydney was not locked down until the next day. NSW recorded 248 new COVID-19 cases and two additional deaths on Wednesday.

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NEW SOUTH WALES. MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Coalition will consider changes to religious discrimination bill after Senate inquiry, Michaelia Cash says

Original article by Sarah Martin
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 25-Nov-21

The federal government’s religious discrimination bill will be tabled in the lower house on Thursday, although it will not be subject to debate or a vote until next week. The controversial bill will also be subject to a Senate inquiry when it is introduced to the upper house. Attorney-General Michaelia Cash has indicated that the government will be open to any amendments that are recommended by the Senate committee, which is slated to report on the bill in early 2022. Cash has also sought to clarify misunderstand about the ‘statement of belief’ provisions of the bill.

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AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT

ARIA engrossed by songbook of Genesis

Original article by Andrew McMillen
The Australian – Page: 3 : 25-Nov-21

The debut album of hip-hop artist Genesis Owusu has been named album of the year in the annual ARIA awards. ‘Smiling With No Teeth’ also took out the awards for best independent release, best hip-hop release and best cover art. Meanwhile, The Kid Laroi won the ARIA award for best pop release and best artist, while indie rock band Spacey Jane won the public-voted song of the year award. The ARIA awards were streamed on YouTube and 9Now, and held without a live audience for the second consecutive year.

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AUSTRALIAN RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Retailers ready to ride Black Friday wave

Original article by Richard Henderson, Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 & 34 : 25-Nov-21

Research by Boston Consulting Group shows that 82 per cent of Australians intend to participate in the Black Friday sales in 2021, compared with 43 per cent in 2020. Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra notes that November has displaced December as the nation’s biggest month for retail sales over the last two years, primarily due to the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Roy Morgan’s research shows that the four-day event will generate sales of $5.4bn in 2021. Some retailers have been offering big discounts ahead of the Black Friday sale on 26 November.

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THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION, ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Low-carbon steel’s cost challenges stand in the way of greener Pilbara

Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 12 : 25-Nov-21

BHP estimated in 2020 that 72 per cent of the world’s steel mills are blast furnaces, which use iron ore and coking coal. However, they also generate carbon dioxide in the steel-making process, even if the plant is powered by renewable energy. Electric arc furnaces are an alternative to traditional blast furnaces, and use either scrap metal or direct reduced iron as feedstock. Rio Tinto is working on a project to make direct reduced iron using ‘green’ hydrogen rather than methane, which is a greenhouse gas. Rio Tinto has cautioned that converting the world’s steel industry to this process would require massive amount of renewable energy.

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BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Over three-quarters of Victorians (76%) agree that an employed worker in Victoria is not allowed to enter their employer’s workplace unless fully vaccinated

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 25-Nov-21

A large majority of 76% of Victorians agree that an employed worker in Victoria is not allowed to enter their employer’s workplace unless fully vaccinated compared to only 24% that disagree, according to a special Victorian Roy Morgan SMS Poll conducted yesterday (November 24, 2021). Agreement with this policy is consistently strong across Gender, Age and Location although there are significant political differences. An almost unanimous 96% of ALP supporters agree with the policy compared to 91.5% of Greens supporters but only 55% of L-NP supporters and just 4% of supporters of the United Australia Party (UAP). The ALP has increased its two-party preferred lead to almost 20% points with the ALP on 59.5% cf. L-NP on 40.5%. Support for the ALP is strongest amongst women: ALP 62.5% cf. L-NP 37.5% while there is a tighter result for men: ALP 55.5% cf. L-NP 44.5%. The survey found 63.5% of Victorian electors approve of the way Premier Daniel Andrews is handling his job while a minority of 36.5%, down 3% points disapprove of his handling of the job.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Big cities tipped to lead fall in prices

Original article by Ben Wilmot
The Australian – Page: 3 : 25-Nov-21

SQM Research has forecast that growth in residential property prices will slow in the first quarter of 2022 before falling in the second half of the year. SQM Research MD Louis Christopher says there are signs that the national housing market is nearing its peak, adding that the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority could further intervene in the mortgage market as soon as December. SQM Research has also forecast that Sydney and Melbourne will record the biggest fall in house prices.

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SQM RESEARCH PTY LTD

Prime Media welcomes Seven, castigates the Nationals

Original article by Miranda Ward
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 27 : 25-Nov-21

Prime Media Group’s CEO Ian Audsley says the proposed takeover by Seven West Media is in the best interests of the regional affiliate’s shareholders. He has told Prime’s AGM that digital disruption has had an "irreversible and negative" impact on traditional media businesses in regional Australia. Audsley also warned that Prime’s future would be uncertain if the merger does not proceed. In addition, he has criticised the federal government – and the National Party in particular – over its failure to pursue further media reforms.

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PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Unvaxxed BHP miners agree to get the jab

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 25-Nov-21

BHP has advised that fewer than 35 workers at its Mt Arthur coal mine have yet to provide evidence that they are vaccinated against COVID-19. The resources group recently stood down nearly 80 of the mine’s workers under its mandatory vaccination policy. The CFMEU and the ACTU are challenging the validity of this policy in the Fair Work Commission, contending that BHP did not comply with the consultation requirements of the Work, Health and Safety Act.

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BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, ACTU, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Forrest defends bid to axe diesel rebate

Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 15 & 18 : 24-Nov-21

Fortescue Metals Group founder Andrew Forrest says the diesel fuel rebate costs taxpayers about $5bn a year at present. He adds that a small number of large mining and energy companies receive the bulk of the rebate, and he has urged the federal government to start phasing it out between 2025 and 2030. However, Forrest says the rebate should only be scrapped for large mining and energy companies, and it should be retained for farmers and other small business than rely upon it. The Mineral Council of Australia is among the critics of Forrest’s push to have the rebate scrapped.

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FORTESCUE FUTURE INDUSTRIES PTY LTD, MINERAL COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA