O75 Public Administration

Unions want right to approach non-members at work in bid to bolster numbers

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Angus Thompson
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 6-Mar-24

The first tranche of the federal government’s Closing Loopholes legislation included the right for unions to appoint delegates in workplaces, and for that delegate to act on behalf of employees who are eligible to join the union. The ACTU wants the Fair Work Commission to insert a clause in all industry awards that includes a right for delegates to communicate with workers about joining the union. Jessica Tinsley from the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry says the legislation restricts delegates to engaging in "reasonable communication" with employees about their industrial interests; she contends that this should not apply to communications that are solely about joining the union.

CORPORATES
ACTU, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Labor’s housing plan panned as a trivial side issue

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 6-Mar-24

The Centre for Independent Studies’ chief economist Peter Tulip appeared before a Senate committee on Tuesday. He expressed support for the federal government’s target of building 1.2 million homes in five years. However, Tulip contended that the government’s Help to Buy shared equity scheme is a "trivial distraction" from real solutions to address the housing affordability crisis; he warned that the scheme will only benefit 40,000 home buyers, while increasing house prices and rents for all Australians. The Coalition opposes the scheme, while the Greens are demanding a number of concessions to gain their support.

CORPORATES
THE CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT STUDIES LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Ex-PwC chief wants tax leak report released

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Edmund Tadros
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 6-Mar-24

Law firm Linklaters’ report on the tax leaks scandal at PwC Australia was released in 2023, but the professional services firm’s global parent has refused to provide a copy of the report to Australian authorities. PwC International has to date only published a one-page statement which summarises the findings of the report. Kristin Stubbins, who became acting CEO of PwC Australia in the wake of the scandal, appeared before a parliamentary inquiry on Tuesday. Stubbins said she had expected a "more comprehensive release" of the report.

CORPORATES
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence down 2.2pts to 81.0 in early March – lowest since early December 2023

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 6-Mar-24

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 2.2pts to 81.0 in the week to 3 March, the lowest the indicator has been all year; it has now spent a record 57 straight weeks below the mark of 85. Consumer Confidence is now 1.1 points above the same week a year ago (79.9), but 2.3 points below the 2024 weekly average of 83.3. Consumer Confidence was virtually unchanged in the largest states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, and down in WA and SA. Now 19% of Australians (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 55% (up 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 33% (unchanged) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 34% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Now 11% (up 1ppt) of Australians now expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 32% (up 3ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 21% (up 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 50% (up 2ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Singapore backs AUKUS subs

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Andrew Tillett, Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 6-Mar-24

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will use a speech on Wednesday to emphasise that Australia’s destiny lies in the Asia-Pacific region. He will also tell ASEAN leaders that Australia is committed to working with them to ensure that the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality and independence are upheld. Albanese held meetings with the leaders of Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Timor Leste on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Melbourne on Tuesday. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told Albanese that Australia’s future fleet of nuclear-powered submarines will be welcome to visit the Changi naval base. He also urged China to drop its remaining trade sanctions against Australia.

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

Imports fall as households cut back

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Michael Read
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 6-Mar-24

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the nation’s current account surplus rose to $11.8bn in the December quarter, compared with just $1.3bn in the three months to September. Import volumes fell by 2.8 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms in the December quarter, with import volumes of consumer goods down 5.4 per cent. Export volumes were down 0.4 per cent, although higher iron ore and coal prices boosted overall export prices by 3.1 per cent. Meanwhile, economists expect the national accounts data to be released on Wednesday will show that GDP growth was 0.2 per cent in the December quarter.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Risk to GDP growth as firms destock

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Michael Read
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 5-Mar-24

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has reported that inventories fell by 1.7 per cent in the December quarter as private sector companies destocked, in part due to weaker demand. The surprise fall in inventories has increased speculation that GDP figures for the December quarter, which are to be released on Wednesday, will show a contraction, which would be the first since the September 2021 quarter. Asked about the prospect of GDP growth having been negative in the December quarter, Treasurer Jim Chalmers noted that Britain and Japan had recently fallen into a technical recession.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Keep cost-of-living focus: MPs, unions

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 5 : 5-Mar-24

The federal government’s budget in May will include further measures aimed at relieving cost-of-living pressures for households. Some Labor MPs have argued that the cost of living should be the government’s top priority until the next election; they include Queensland MP Graham Perrett, who warns that other issues could become a distraction in the lead-up to the poll. Electrical Trades Union secretary Michael Wright in turn contends that the energy transition is the key issue, arguing that it will result in the single biggest cost of living decrease "in human history".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ELECTRICAL TRADES UNION

Work to do on female candidates, says Liberal Party MP

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Jason Whittaker
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 5-Mar-24

Liberal MP Keith Wolahan has conceded that the party is falling short of its target on female representation in federal parliament. Speaking on the ABC’s Q+A program on Monday night, Wolahan said the Liberals are ready to preselect women but must do more to ensure that this occurs. He has also stressed that the preselection process must be democratic, and that Liberal candidates must be chosen by the party’s members. The Liberals may come under further scrutiny after McKinsey consultant Simon Kennedy was chosen as its candidate in the seat of Cook, which was recently vacated by Scott Morrison. There had been a push within the party to select Gwen Cherne to contest the seat at the upcoming by-election.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Wong urges ASEAN leaders to guard against conflict

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Joe Kelly, Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 5-Mar-24

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has told the ASEAN-­Australia special summit that a conflict in South-East Asia could cause the same level of devastation currently being seen in the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine. She urged ASEAN leaders to be bold and to commit to a "preventive architecture" in order to prevent the outbreak of conflict in the South-East Asia region, with Wong saying she wants to see a region where each country can pursue its own aspirations, and one where no country dominates and no country is dominated.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE