Australia commits 10 million vaccines to south-east Asia

Original article by Anthony Galloway
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 28-Oct-21

Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed the Association of South-east Asian Nations on Wednesday. He said that Australia will supply south-east Asian nations with 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by mid-2022, in addition to the four million doses it has already provided. Morrison also advised that Australia will provide the region with $124m to address "complex and emerging challenges" such as terrorism and energy security. He also stressed that the AUKUS alliance – and Australia’s deal to acquire nuclear-powered submarines – will have no impact on Australia’s commitment to both ASEAN and nuclear non-proliferation.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH-EAST ASIAN NATIONS

Odds of Crown buyout lengthen

Original article by Lachlan Moffet Gray
The Australian – Page: 17 : 28-Oct-21

The Star Entertainment Group and private equity firm Blackstone are seen as potential bidders for Crown Resorts, given that both have previously made takeover plays for the casinos operator. The sale and leaseback of Crown’s casinos could be attractive to potential suitors. However, Larry Gandler of Credit Suisse says the appointment of a special manager to supervise Crown for two years will most likely rule out any sale and leaseback arrangement during this period.

CORPORATES
CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN, THE STAR ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LIMITED – ASX SGR, THE BLACKSTONE GROUP LP, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

PM’s no to methane cut

Original article by Simon Benson, Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 28-Oct-21

The federal government will not agree to sign the Global Methane Pledge at the upcoming COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. The pledge is backed by the US and Europe, and would require signatories to reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. Refusal to sign the pledge is believed to have been a key commitment made by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to gain the National Party’s support for a net zero emissions target of 2030. It was feared that Australia would be particularly hard hit by such a pledge, given the economy’s reliance on industries such as agriculture and coal mining.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Aged-care boosters on agenda as TGA backs third-jab plan

Original article by Natasha Robinson
The Australian – Page: 4 : 28-Oct-21

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has formally approved the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot. It will be administered six months after a person has received their first dose of any coronavirus vaccine. Studies have suggested that the efficacy of vaccines declines significantly 3-6 months after they have been administered. However, TGA head John Skerritt has stressed that two doses of an approved vaccine provides strong protection against serious illness, hospitalisation and death. Aged-care residents will be given priority for booster shots, which are expected to become available to the general population from 8 November.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. THERAPEUTIC GOODS ADMINISTRATION

Final tranche of Hayne reforms a milestone

Original article by James Frost
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 28-Oct-21

The federal government will legislate to implement a further six recommendations arising from the Hayne royal commission on 28 October. The last tranche of legislation includes a bill to replace the Banking Executive Accountability Regime with the broader-based Financial Accountability Regime, which will also apply to the insurance and superannuation sectors. The government will also establish the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort, which will eventually be fully funded via an industry level. Kenneth Hayne released his final report in February 2019.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY

US officials query spike in contaminated Australian meat

Original article by Leah Douglas
The New Daily – Page: Online : 28-Oct-21

Data from the US Department of Agriculture shows that food safety officials rejected 10 shipments of meat from Australia in 2020, due to contamination with faeces or other digestive matter. This compares with just one shipment in 2019. Three shipments of meat were also rejected for the same reasons during the first two months of 2021. Brooke Muscat of the Community & Public Sector Union warns that more meat shipments will be rejected by US officials as the shift to the outsourcing of meat inspection services gathers pace.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. DEPT OF AGRICULTURE, COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SECTOR UNION

Dozens of Rio Tinto workers sacked, disciplined over harassment cases

Original article by Caitlyn Rintoul
The West Australian – Page: Online : 28-Oct-21

Simon Trott, the head of Rio Tinto’s iron ore division, has conceded that sexual misconduct occurs at the resources group’s mine sites and accommodation camps. He has told a parliamentary inquiry that 30 workers have been disciplined in the last year due to sexual misconduct, and 15 workers have been dismissed. Trott added that Rio Tinto is committed to organisational change on the issue. The inquiry into sexual misconduct in the ‘fly-in, fly-out’ sector has received more than 70 submissions from mining companies, industry bodies, unions and workers.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

ALP (54%) increases lead over the L-NP (46%) as the Federal Government discusses "Net Zero" carbon dioxide emissions

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 28-Oct-21

The latest Roy Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention shows that support for the ALP has increased to 54% (up 1% point since mid-October), cf. the L-NP on 46% (down 1% point) on a two-party preferred basis. The 1% point swing to the ALP came after the governing Liberal and National parties have spent the last few weeks ‘haggling’ about a change in policy for the Government to support a target of "Net Zero" carbon dioxide emissions for Australia by 2050. If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be elected with a similar margin to that won by John Howard at the 1996 Federal Election (ALP 53.6% cf. L-NP 46.4%). Primary support for the L-NP was down 1% point to 36.5% in October and is still ahead of the ALP which was also down 1% point to 35%. In contrast to the two major parties, Greens support increased by 2% points to 13.5% as media attention in October turned to Australia’s response to global warming and climate change. Support for One Nation was up 0.5% points to 3.5% while support for Independents/Others was down 0.5% points to 11.5%. Meanwhile, the Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating has increased by 3ps to 98 in late October. Now 41% (up 1% point) of Australians say the country is ‘heading in the right direction’, while 43% (down 2% points) say the country is ‘heading in the wrong direction’. This Roy Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention and Roy Morgan Government Confidence was conducted via telephone and online interviewing. Roy Morgan interviewed 2,778 Australian electors aged 18+ on the weekends of October 16/17 & 23/24.

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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

Pilbara Minerals sets new record for spot lithium cargo

Original article by Stuart McKinnon
The West Australian – Page: Online : 28-Oct-21

Pilbara Minerals has held its third auction of lithium concentrate since launching its Battery Material Exchange earlier in 2021. Pilbara Minerals has advised that it received a record bid of $US2,350 per tonne for a 10,000 tonne cargo of 5.5 per cent lithium concentrate in its latest auction via the digital platform. The price of lithium has more than doubled in the last year, amid rising demand for the battery mineral.

CORPORATES
PILBARA MINERALS LIMITED – ASX PLS

Voters will be asked to show identification to vote under Morrison government proposal

Original article by Paul Karp
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 27-Oct-21

The federal government has attracted criticism over plans to make it compulsory for voters to supply identification documents at polling stations on election day. The bill has been endorsed by the Coalition’s partyroom but has yet to introduced to parliament. Shadow special minister of state Don Farrell says Labor will oppose any bill that includes "anti-democratic thought bubbles". The government had first proposed voter ID laws in late 2018, while One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts recently introduced a voter ID bill in the upper house.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ONE NATION PARTY