Media leaders united in fight for public’s right to know

Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 3 : 26-Jun-19

Freedom of the press and the public’s right to know will be the key thrust of a joint address to the National Press Club by three of Australia’s top media executives on 26 June. The joint appearance of News Corp Australasia chairman Michael Miller, Nine Entertainment Company CEO Hugh Marks and ABC MD David Anderson follows the recent police raids on the offices of the public broadcaster and the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australians holiday overseas for a shorter time

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Jun-19

Roy Morgan’s State of the Nation – Tourism presentation shows that when Australians went overseas for a holiday in 2002 the average time they spent was 31.9 days, but this had fallen to 21.6 days by March 2019. The average length of domestic holidays taken has remained relatively stable during this time, consistently around 6 days on average. This data is based on in-depth interviews conducted face-to-face with over 50,000 consumers per annum in their homes. Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says that when Australians go overseas the locations that top the list are New Zealand, England, the US, Bali and France. Looking at intention to travel overseas the places that Australians would like to go are New Zealand, the US, England, Japan and Canada.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Potential boost to Australian Economy from 140 million days accrued leave

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Jun-19

Roy Morgan’s State of the Nation – Tourism presentation shows that 25.2% of Australia’s 10.9 million paid workers have four or more weeks’ worth of annual leave accrued, with 13.2% having more than five weeks. In total, Australian workers have accrued 140 million days’ worth of annual leave. This data is based on in-depth interviews conducted face-to-face with over 50,000 consumers per annum in their homes. Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says that with the Australian economy showing signs of slowing, the potential boost that would come from people taking their accrued leave would be considerable. This would particularly be the case if Australians were encouraged to holiday in Australia.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence virtually unchanged at 114.3

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Jun-19

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence rose 0.1% to 114.3 in the week ended 23 June. Households’ views towards current financial conditions rose 4.7%, while views towards future financial conditions were up 0.2%. Both financial condition sub-indices have been positive for two straight weeks. However, consumers’ views toward current economic conditions fell 6.9% and views toward future economic conditions were down 5%. Both sub-indices are below their long-term averages. The ‘time to buy a household item’ index jumped 6.1%. It has not been above its current level since July 2018. The four-week moving average for inflation expectations rose to 3.9%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Risks build as central banks push on a string

Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 27 : 26-Jun-19

There is a growing view that further monetary policy easing will do little to stimulate economic growth. Expectations of further interest rate cuts have seen Australia’s All Ordinaries Index gain 18 per cent so far in 2019. Matthew Brooks of Macquarie Group notes that the Australian sharemarket rose by an average of 12 per cent after the first interest rate cut in eight of the 11 easing cycles since 1971, while the S&P 500 was up at least 10 per cent a year. The other three easing cycles coincided with recessions.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX, STANDARD AND POOR’S 500 INDEX, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, MERRILL LYNCH AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Super funds seek energy policy action

Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 17 & 28 : 25-Jun-19

Industry Super Australia says the nation’s energy policy needs to be overhauled quickly to prevent heavy industries going offshore. ISA contends that the amount of investment needed in electricity should be attracting the interest of portfolio investors, but a lack of certainty on energy policy means this is not occurring. ISA says there should be a focus on the creation of competition for long-term supply of energy and capacity at specified emissions targets, as well as the formation of special investment vehicles to encourage investment in the energy sector.

CORPORATES
INDUSTRY SUPER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Woodside deal to miss deadline

Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 25-Jun-19

The parties involved in the North West Shelf venture were hoping to reach agreement on the processing of third-party gas by the end of June. However, venture partner Shell recently indicated that a delay in reaching a final agreement is possible, and Woodside Petroleum CEO Peter Coleman has confirmed that this is likely to be the case. However, he said a decision on final approval for the US20 billion ($28.8 billion) Browse project remains on target for the end of 2020.

CORPORATES
SHELL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, BP PLC, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, CHEVRON CORPORATION, SAUDI ARAMCO, ENN GROUP

Facebook ruling sparks call for defamation law overhaul

Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 25-Jun-19

The Supreme Court of New South Wales has ruled that media companies can be deemed to be the publisher of comments that are posted on their Facebook pages, rendering them liable for comments that are defamatory. The court ruled that News Corp Australia and Nine Entertainment Company are responsible for users’ comments posted on Facebook, arguing that they are able to monitor such comments and prevent defamatory ones from being published. News Corp Australia says the ruling demonstrates the need for changes to the nation’s defamation laws.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, SKY NEWS

Green tape priority for red tape review

Original article by Andrew Tillett, Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 25-Jun-19

EnergyAustralia chairman Graham Bradley has welcomed the federal government’s decision to undertake a review of red tape. However, he notes that the regulatory burden on businesses has increased over the last 15 years, despite efforts to address the problem. Bradley has identified the duplication of approval processes between state and federal governments as one of the key contributors to project cost blowouts. Minerals Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable agrees that duplication is a problem, and she stresses the need for better regulation rather than simply more regulation.

CORPORATES
ENERGYAUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Metcash stands its ground as share price falls

Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 19 : 25-Jun-19

Grocery wholesaler Metcash has posted a net profit of $192.8m for the year to 30 April, following a loss of $148.2m previously. The group’s underlying profit was three per cent lower at $210.3m, but revenue increased by 1.8 per cent to $12.7bn. CEO Jeff Adams says Metcash is confident that its restructuring program, which includes further cost reductions, will pay off. Metcash shares fell 9.8 per cent on 24 June, closing at $2.84.

CORPORATES
METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, COLES GROUP LIMITED – ASX COL, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW