O75 Public Administration

Victoria’s demands are taste of future: Price

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale,Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 6-Sep-23

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s 12-month deadline to respond to the 46 recommendations in its final report is "ambitious", and one that the state government is unlikely to meet. He has downplayed concerns that the recommendations would result in separate justice systems for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. The federal Opposition’s Indigenous affairs spokeswoman, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, warns that the Yoorrook commission’s recommendations are a taste of what Australians can expect if the divisive voice to parliament is enshrined in the Constitution. She adds that lowering expectations for Indigenous Australians does not help solve the problems that lead to their over-representation in the criminal justice and child protection systems.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 0.6pts to 78.7 – highest for four months since late April

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 6-Sep-23

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 0.6pts to 78.7 in the week to 3 September; despite the small increase, the index has now spent a record 27 straight weeks below the mark of 80. Consumer Confidence is now 7.4pts below the same week a year ago (86.1), and it is just above the 2023 weekly average of 78.1. Consumer Confidence was up in Victoria and South Australia, but down slightly in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. Now 20% of Australians (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 53% (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’ financially. Only 7% (unchanged) of Australians expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 37% (up 1ppt) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 21% (unchanged) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 52% (down 3ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Alan Joyce to depart Qantas early

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Original article by Ayesha de Kretser,Joe Aston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 6-Sep-23

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has stepped down with immediate effect, stating that recent events have made it clear that he should bring forward his retirement by two months and allow the airline to move ahead with its ‘renewal’ as a priority. Qantas has come under scrutiny over its role in lobbying the federal government to block Qatar Airways’ request for additional flights to Australia, as well as legal action by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission over allegations that Qantas had sold tickets for more than 8,000 flights that it had already cancelled. Incoming CEO Vanessa Hudson will face the challenge of restoring Qantas’s reputation. Michele Levine, the CEO of Roy Morgan, which surveys the public regularly on the question of whether Corporate Australia is facing moral bankruptcy, says the poor behaviour of many of the economy’s corporate leaders reveals a moral blindness to what is ethical and in the community’s interest rather than solely in the shareholders’ interest.

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QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN,ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Backbench MPs now on $225k a year

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Original article by Rhiannon Down
The Australian – Page: 6 : 30-Aug-23

The Remuneration Tribunal has approved a pay rise of four per cent for federal MPs; it will take effect from 1 September and will be backdated to 1 July. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will receive a pay rise of $22,573 a year, lifting his salary to $586,929. The base salary for cabinet ministers will rise by $14,977 to $389,406, while the base salary of backbench MPs will rise from $217,060 a year to $225,742. The independent tribunal has described the increase in MPs’ salaries as ‘conservative’, given that wages for public sector workers have grown much faster over the last decade.

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AUSTRALIA. REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Dispute exposes labour hire laws legal nightmare

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 30-Aug-23

Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox says a union dispute at Opal Australian Paper shows that the federal government’ proposed ‘same job, same pay’ policy could be a legal nightmare for employers. The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union alleged that a labour hire worker was paid less than the direct workforce at Opal’s Maryvale paper mill in Victoria. A union deal required contractors to receive ‘no less favourable’ wages and conditions than direct employees. The Fair Work Commission assessed a range of disputed conditions before ruling in Opal’s favour, including overtime, casual rates, allowances and bonuses.

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OPAL AUSTRALIAN PAPER, AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WORKERS’ UNION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 2.3pts to 78.1 as Consumer Confidence hits a record six months below 80

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 30-Aug-23

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 2.3pts to 78.1 in the week to 27 August; however, it has now spent a record 26 straight weeks below the mark of 80. Consumer Confidence is now 6.9pts below the same week a year ago (85.0), and it is in line with the 2023 weekly average of 78.1. Consumer Confidence was up in the three largest States of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, but down slightly in both Western Australia and South Australia. Driving the improvement in the index this week were positive moves in sentiment related to both personal finances and the fortunes of the Australian economy over the next year.

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

Howard calls on No supporters to maintain their rage

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Original article by Paige Taylor
The Australian – Page: 4 : 30-Aug-23

Former prime minister John Howard has reiterated his view that the proposed constitutional amendment to establish an Indigenous Voice to parliament will divide Australia by race. He says the proposal for an Indigenous advisory body goes against what makes people Australian, and notes that former Labor PM Bob Hawke stated in 1988 that the only thing that defines someone as an Australian is their commitment to Australia. Howard hopes the voice is defeated in every state, while he contends that the notion of establishing a treaty with Indigenous people is absurd because treaties are made between sovereign nations.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Qatar turbulence worsens as PM washes his hands of flights decision

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Robyn Ironside, Glen Norris
The Australian – Page: 1 & 7 : 30-Aug-23

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the decision to reject Qatar Airlines’ application for additional flights into Australia was made solely by Transport Minister Catherine King, and that he had no role in it. However, Albanese contends that the former Coalition government had made similar decisions. It has also been revealed that King did not consult with her colleagues prior to rejecting Qatar Airways’ request. King has stated that the decision was made in the national interest, while Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones recently said Labor did not want to drive airfares down to a level where it is unsustainable for the existing Australia-based carrier. ANZ Bank CEO Shane Elliott says he is "disturbed" by reports that Qatar had been rebuffed in order to protect the profits of Qantas.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, QATAR AIRWAYS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Voice poll: PM set to name the day

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 23-Aug-23

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to reveal the date of the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to parliament during a visit to Adelaide next week. The referendum has been widely tipped to be held on 14 October, which would allow for a six-week official campaign. Parliament is scheduled to sit during the first two weeks of September, although Albanese is also slated to visit Indonesia, The Philippines and India during this period. Albanese says Australia will be stronger as a nation if the referendum succeeds, and he stresses that the Voice interfere with the way that the government operates on a day-to-day basis.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence down 2.4pts to 75.8 as Australian Dollar hits lowest since November 2022

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 23-Aug-23

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 2.4pts to 75.8 in the week to 20 August, and it has now spent a record 25 straight weeks below the mark of 80. Consumer Confidence is now 9.8pts below the same week a year ago (85.8), and 2.3pts below the 2023 weekly average of 78.1. Consumer Confidence was down in the three largest States of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, but up slightly in both Western Australia and South Australia. Now 19% of Australians (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 53% (unchanged) say their families are ‘worse off’ financially. Some 29% (down 2ppts) of Australians now expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 36% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’ financially. Only 7% (unchanged) of Australians now expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 39% (up 3ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 18% (down 2ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 55% (down 2ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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