Australian population growth powers travel industry

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Jul-19

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey shows that some 10.7 million Australians each year had at least one holiday in 2000/01, including 10.3 million who took a domestic holiday and 2 million who travelled overseas on holiday. Some took both domestic and overseas holidays. Today, around 13.7 million Australians take at least one annual holiday, including 12.6 million taking a domestic holiday and 5.5 million travelling overseas. This represents an increase of 3 million Australians (+28%) travelling on holiday compared to 2000/01. However this increase in travellers is driven entirely by population growth. The Australian population aged 14+ has grown by 5.1 million over the past two decades, representing an increase of 32.8% and out-pacing the growth in holidaymakers. A closer analysis also shows that while Australians taking domestic holidays has only increased by 2.3 million (+22.8%) since 2000/01, far more Australians are taking more expensive overseas holidays now than two decades ago, up by 3.5 million, and more than doubling – up by 169.3% since 2000/01.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Pull your weight: Feds tell states

Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 16-Jul-19

Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge has called on the states to accelerate new infrastructure projects where possible to help stimulate the Australian economy. While noting that capacity constraints in the construction sector are at their highest level since the resources boom, Tudge has suggested three areas where new infrastructure can be fast-tracked, including the 166 small urban congestion projects that the federal government announced in the lead-up to the 18 May election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA

Police asked to fingerprint ABC suspects

Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 3 : 16-Jul-19

The ABC has revealed that the Australian Federal Police sought access to the fingerprints and palm prints of journalists Dan Oakes and Sam Clark. The request was part of the AFP’s investigation into alleged offences under the Crimes Act, the Defence Act and the Criminal Code. Its actions have been criticised by John Lyons, the ABC’s head of investigations, who has expressed concern about the "criminalising" of legitimate investigative journalism. Press freedom has been under scrutiny in the wake of the AFP’s raids on the ABC’s Sydney office and the home of a News Corp Australia journalist.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY JOINT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT

Baby Boomers drink coffee and tea, but hot chocolate is for the young

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Jul-19

New research from Roy Morgan shows that over 15.2 million Australians now drink hot drinks in an average week, representing 74.1% of Australians aged 14+. The survey shows that 56.1% of Australians drink at least one cup of coffee in an average week, 47.6% drink tea and only 12.5% drink hot chocolate. Both hot tea and hot coffee are popular with older Australians, and Baby Boomers are the leading drinkers of both hot coffee (69.6%) and hot tea (61.1%) in an average week. The older Pre-Boomers are also big consumers of hot coffee (67.3%) and hot tea (59.9%), but less than a third of Generation Z drink either hot tea (32.3%) or hot coffee (30.5%) in an average week. Younger Australians are more likely to drink hot chocolate in an average week than their older counterparts, although the drink is in a clear third place for all age groups. Nearly a fifth of Generation Z (19.5%) drink hot chocolate in an average week, compared to only 7.3% of Pre-Boomers. Meanwhile, iced coffee is consumed by 1.1 million Australians (5.6%) in an average week, while just over 1 million Australians (5%) drink iced tea in an average week.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Fewer grocery buyers buy tubs of ice cream, but Weis Connoisseur and Bulla Creamy Classics are stable winners

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Jul-19

New research from Roy Morgan shows that the number of Australians aged 14+ who buy a tub or carton of ice cream has decreased from 10.5 million in 2015 to 9.9 million in 2019. Despite the overall decline there were a few stand-out brands that increased their customer base over the last four years. Connoisseur is now bought by 14.7% of ice cream buyers, up from 11.2% in 2015, while Weis has increased from 2.4% to 4.1% of ice cream buyers. Bulla Creamy Classics’ percentage of ice cream buyers has risen to a four-year high of 16.6%, from 12.5% in 2015. However, overall Bulla has dropped from being bought by 32.2% of ice cream buyers in 2015 to 30.9%. Still, Bulla is clearly the most popular ice cream brand in the marketplace, ahead of supermarket brands (bought by 26.2% of ice cream buyers) and Peters (bought by 21.2%).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, CONNOISSEUR, WEIS, BULLA, PETERS ICE CREAM

Mining wages hit boom-time highs

Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 15-Jul-19

Research by BDO Remsmart shows that wages for a number of jobs in the mining sector have risen above the peaks seen during the last resources boom. Western Australia in particular is seeing a surge in mining industry wages, as BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group invest in new iron ore mines. Factors such as stricter rules on the use of foreign labour, declining enrolments in university mining courses and investment in new infrastructure projects on the east coast are also putting upward pressure on wages. The demand for staff has prompted some mining companies to hire WA School of Mines students up to 18 months before they graduate.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, BDO REMSMART, CURTIN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY. SCHOOL OF MINES

Giving networks a sporting chance

Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 26 : 15-Jul-19

The Seven Network’s coverage of Wimbledon attracted an average audience of 205,000 per match on its 7Two secondary channel, with the audience peaking at 455,000 for the match in which Ash Barty’s was eliminated from the tournament. That match also attracted 207,000 viewers on Foxtel. The men’s Cricket World Cup has also been a ratings success for the Nine Network and Foxtel, particularly matches featuring the Australian team. Nevertheless, TV industry executives say the weak advertising market and the cost of sports broadcasting rights are a concern.

CORPORATES
SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL

Minimum wage world’s highest

Original article by Rachel Baxendale
The Weekend Australian – Page: 2 : 13-Jul-19

Australia’s minimum wage was increased by 3.5 per cent in 2018, with the increase giving Australia the highest minimum wage in the world when adjusted for inflation and purchasing power. This is according to recent OECD figures, which do not take into account the latest three per cent increase in the minimum wage. Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox says the OECD figures rebut union claims that the minimum wage system needs to be overhauled, although an ACTU spokesperson contends that it is a "basic principle of fairness" that no one who works full-time should be living in poverty.

CORPORATES
THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, ACTU, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

ANZ the first bank to loosen lending criteria

Original article by Eric Johnston
The Australian – Page: 19 : 15-Jul-19

The ANZ Bank has advised that its ‘floor rate’ for home loan customers will be reduced from 7.25 per cent to 5.5 per cent in response to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s recent reforms. ANZ will also increase its sensitivity margin to 2.5 per cent. Rival banks are expected to quickly follow ANZ in reducing their floor rates, which are used to assess a borrower’s ability to repay a loan.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Fix crisis in building industry

Original article by Brad Norington, Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 15-Jul-19

Private building certifiers are struggling to secure professional indemnity insurance in the wake of the problems with cracks in apartment buildings and inflammable cladding that have afflicted the construction industry. Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn says the issue has the potential to see the sector grind to halt, and the MBA and other industry groups have called on the federal government to intervene to fix the crisis.

CORPORATES
MASTER BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION