Author: roymorgansocial

BHP puts foot down on robotic truck drive

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 19 : 27-May-19

BHP may ramp up its deployment of autonomous haulage truck at its iron ore and coal mines in Australia. BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue now operate about 250 automated trucks at their iron ore mines in the Pilbara, and BHP recently said that most of its fleet could potentially be automated by 2023. Its fleet at the Jimblebar mine has been fully automated since 2017, and BHP executive Rag Udd notes that this has resulted in significant safety and productivity improvements. He stresses that such factors are driving the automation push, rather than job cuts, adding that many former truck drivers have been redeployed.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG

New minister ready for big to-do list

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 27-May-19

Paul Fletcher has replaced Mitch Fifield as Minister for Communications and the Arts in a cabinet reshuffle following the federal election. The former Optus executive will face a number of challenges in the portfolio, including lobbying by telcos for a reduction in the national broadband network’s wholesale pricing and a push by TV networks for drama and children’s content quotas to be relaxed. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s final report on its inquiry into digital platforms will also be released shortly.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, NBN CO LIMITED, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

Inflation Expectations dropped to a record low of 3.7% in April

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-May-19

Australians aged +14 expect inflation of 3.7% per year over the next two years, according to the Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations Index for April 2019. This is down 0.3% on March and down 0.8% on April 2018, and a new record low for the indicator. Inflation Expectations have now dropped to 1.2% points below the nine-year average of 4.9%, the largest gap below average since late 2015. Analysis by voting intentions shows that Inflation Expectations for L-NP supporters have dropped to only 3.4%, down 0.7% from a year ago, while those of ALP supporters are now just above the national average at 3.8%, also down by 0.7%. The Inflation Expectations of Greens supporters are in comparison little changed from a year ago at 3.8%, down by only 0.2%. April Inflation Expectations are based on personally interviewing a nationwide sample of 4,154 Australians aged 14+ face-to-face in their own homes.

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

Slowdown in new vehicle buying intentions but increasing interest in Hybrids

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-May-19

Roy Morgan’s latest ‘Automotive Currency Report’ shows that in the March 2019 quarter 1.889 million Australians aged 14+ said they intend to purchase a new vehicle in the next four years, down 435,000 or 19.1% from the same time last year. This level is also well below the 17-year long-term average of 2.155 million. Although intentions are well down, an increasing proportion of intenders say that their next vehicle is most likely to be a hybrid, up to 10.1% (from 5.6% a year ago). In addition to weakening year-on-year levels of vehicle buying intentions, one-year intentions are down by 136,000 (22.2%) over the same time last year. Currently, 476,000 Australians intend to purchase a new vehicle in the next 12 months, well down from the 612,000 last year and the long-term average of 611,000. These low intention levels are a further indication that 2019 is looking not looking positive for new vehicle sales. The report is based on data collected from Roy Morgan’s Single Source Survey, which is from in-depth personal interviews conducted face-to-face with over 50,000 Australians per annum in their homes.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Singapore Airlines best for international airline customer satisfaction

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-May-19

Singapore Airlines has won the Roy Morgan International Airlines Customer Satisfaction Award for April 2019, with a customer satisfaction rating of 89%. It is followed by Emirates (87%), Qatar Airways (85%) and Etihad Airways (83%). All four leading international airlines increased their customer satisfaction ratings in April compared to a year ago, with Qatar Airways showing the biggest increase (up by 6% points from a year ago). Emirates increased customer satisfaction by 3% points, Etihad Airways by 2% points and Singapore Airlines was up 1% point. Other big improvers amongst the leading international airlines include British Airways, which increased customer satisfaction by 9% points to 72%, and Thai Airways (up 4% points to 79%). Qantas is the leading Australian international airline with a customer satisfaction rating of 79%, just in front of main rival Virgin Australia on 76%, while Jetstar finished just outside the top 10 airlines in April.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, SINGAPORE AIRLINES LIMITED, EMIRATES AIRLINES, QATAR AIRWAYS, ETIHAD AIRWAYS, BRITISH AIRWAYS PLC, THAI AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX VAH, JETSTAR AIRLINES PTY LTD

Proportion of Australians drinking alcohol down from 2014

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-May-19

Roy Morgan’s ‘Alcohol Consumption Currency Report March 2019’ shows that 67.5% of Australians aged 18+ consume at least one type of alcoholic drink in an average four-week period. This represents a gradual decline over the last five years from 70.1% recorded in 2014. All major categories of alcoholic drinks showed declines over this period, apart from cider. Wine is consumed by 42.8% of Australians over an average four week period, ahead of beer (38.2%) and spirits (26.3%). Cider is now consumed by 11.4% of Australians, up from 11.1% five years ago, making it the only type of alcohol to increase. The incidence of cider drinkers is now ahead of RTD (10.8%), Liqueurs (6.5%) and Fortified Wine (4.9%). Over the last five years the biggest decline was for wine (down 2.3%), followed by liqueurs (down 1.2%) and RTD (down 0.9%). Beer showed a decline of 0.6% and as a result closed the gap marginally to wine as Australia’s most widely drunk type of alcohol. The report is based on in-depth interviews conducted face-to-face with over 50,000 consumers per annum in their homes, including detailed questioning of over 15,000 regarding their alcoholic drinking habits.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Finch trade-off breaks Adani mine stalemate

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Original article by Sarah Elks, Michael McKenna, Charlie Peel
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 24-May-19

The Queensland government is set to reveal a timeframe for approving the environmental plans for Adani’s proposed Carmichael coal mine. Adani Mining CEO Lucas Dow has welcomed the government’s commitment to set a timetable for approving the plans, after meeting with the state’s Co-ordinator-General and Department of Mining officials on 23 May. The department is expected to approve Adani’s management plan for the black-throated finch within weeks, having rejected it earlier in May.

CORPORATES
ADANI MINING PTY LTD, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, QUEENSLAND. OFFICE OF THE CO-ORDINATOR GENERAL, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE PROTECTION, QUEENSLAND RESOURCES COUNCIL LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA

Coal being phased out faster than expected, BHP warns investors

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Original article by Killian Plastow
The New Daily – Page: Online : 24-May-19

BHP has indicated that it has no plans to increase its thermal coal portfolio. CFO Peter Beaven says it expects the thermal coal market to plateau over time, before declining. Jason Aravanis of IBISWorld says demand for black coal is expected to fall by around six per cent a year by 2024, with most of that fall coming from thermal coal. Demand for coking coal, which is used to make steel, is expected to remain sound. The Department of Industry, Innovation & Science’s Resources and Energy Quarterly report for March had forecast that thermal coal export earnings are likely to hit a record $27 billion in 2018-19, before falling to $20 billion by 2023-24.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, IBISWORLD PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, GLENCORE PLC, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, MINERAL COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Anthony Albanese to be Labor leader, as Chalmers quits race

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Original article by Samantha Maiden
The New Daily – Page: Online : 24-May-19

Labor’s finance spokesman Jim Chalmers has withdrawn from the party’s leadership ballot, paving the way for Anthony Albanese to succeed Bill Shorten unopposed. Chalmers has cited factors such as his young family as reasons for his decision not to seek the leadership, although he is seen as a frontrunner to become deputy leader. Clare O’Neil and Richard Marles are also believed to considering a tilt at the deputy leadership.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Band of Nats’ women MPs defies blokey image

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 5 : 24-May-19

The National Party is on track to have up to six female representatives in the new parliament, compared with two previously. Senator Bridget McKenzie says the Nationals have exploded the myth that only women from the left of politics want to be in parliament. Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Michael McCormack says its female MPs have gotten into parliament on their merits and without the need for quotas.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA