O75 Public Administration

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 0.8pts to 81.6 – first consecutive weekly increases since late September

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Nov-22

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence was virtually unchanged at 81.6 in the week ended 20 November. It is now 25.8pts below the same week a year ago (107.4), and 7.6pts below the 2022 weekly average of 89.2. There were mixed results around the nation; Consumer Confidence decreased in NSW and Queensland, while the other three mainland States all increased. Now 21% of Australians (unchanged) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 49% (up 3ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’ financially. Some 30% (down 1ppt) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 36% (up 1ppt) expect to be ‘worse off’ financially. Only 7% (down 1ppt) of Australians now expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 39% (unchanged) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 24% (up 2ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 46% (down 4ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Firms face $75k cost for bargaining

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 23-Nov-22

The Department of Employment & Workplace Relations estimates that it will cost small businesses about $14,638 to engage in multi-employer bargaining. Medium businesses and large companies in turn will face costs of $75,148 and $94,311 respectively, according to the department’s regulatory impact statement. The federal government has based these estimates on an average consultant cost of $175 an hour. However, Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Andrew McKellar contends that businesses could expect to pay market rates of about $400 an hour. Meanwhile, Hancock Prospecting, has warned that multi-employer bargaining could threaten thousands of mining jobs and billions of dollars in royalty revenue.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD

Labor in retreat on corruption watchdog warrants

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Original article by Rosie Lewis, Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 5 : 23-Nov-22

The federal government has agreed to some compromises regarding its bill to establish a National Anti-Corruption Commission. The government has put forward an amendment which restricts the power to issue surveillance warrants to superior court judges; it had originally proposed that members of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal be authorised to approve warrants to bug phones or access encrypted messages. Labor has also agreed to provide increased protections for journalists and their sources. The Senate is slated to vote on the NACC bill next week.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL

More exemptions to salvage IR bill

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 23-Nov-22

The Senate inquiry into the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill has recommended increasing the threshold for small businesses to be exempted from multi-employer bargaining to 20 employees, compared with 15 under the existing provisions of the bill. Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has indicated that the government is willing to negotiate a higher threshold in order to secure the bill’s passage before parliament rises for the year. However, Burke notes that lifting the threshold too much would undo the central aim of the bill, which is to increase the wages of low-paid workers. Independent senator David Pocock has continued to push for a vote on the multi-employer bargaining provisions of the bill to be delayed until next year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS

NZ Election is too close to call with Labour/Greens (44.5%) even with National/Act NZ (44.5%) as minor parties surge

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Nov-22

The latest Roy Morgan New Zealand Poll shows that support for the Labour/Greens coalition government rose 2.5% points to 44.5% in October. Support for Labour fell 0.5% points to 29% (its lowest level of support since Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern came to power in October 2017); however, support for the Greens rose 3% points to a record high of 15.5%. Meanwhile, support for a potential National/Act NZ coalition government fell 4% points to 44.5%. Support for the National Party was down 4% points to 32%, while support for fellow right-leaning party Act NZ was unchanged at 12.5%. Support for the Maori Party fell 0.5% points to 3%, although the party remains the best placed of the minor parties to hold the balance of power in a new Parliament. A minority of 8% of electors (up 2% points) support other minor parties outside Parliament, with support for New Zealand First up 2.5% points to 3.5%, The Opportunities Party up 0.5% points to 3% and support for the New Conservative Party unchanged at 0.5%. This New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll on voting intention was conducted by telephone – both landline and mobile – with a New Zealand-wide cross-section of 951 electors during October. Meanwhile, the Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating rose 6pts in October to 92. The indicator is now down 33pts from just over a year ago in September 2021.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, LABOUR PARTY (NEW ZEALAND), GREEN PARTY OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND, NATIONAL PARTY OF NEW ZEALAND, ACT NEW ZEALAND, THE MAORI PARTY, NEW ZEALAND FIRST PARTY, THE OPPORTUNITIES PARTY, NEW CONSERVATIVE PARTY

Labor to boost whistleblower protections in last sitting fortnight of parliamentary year

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Original article by Paul Karp
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 16-Nov-22

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus will address the Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference in Sydney on Wednesday. He will reveal plans to pursue amendments to the Public Interest Disclosure Act which aim to provide increased protection for whistleblowers. Cabinet has approved the draft legislation, which will be introduced to parliament before it rises for the year. The federal government will pursue "priority amendments" to the Act, ahead of a fuller review in 2023. It wants stronger whistleblower protections to be in place before the National Anti-Corruption Commission becomes operational in mid-2023.

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AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT

Bowen signs up to global offshore wind club

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Original article by Hans van Leeuwen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 12 : 16-Nov-22

The federal government will seek to accelerate the development of Australia’s nascent offshore wind power industry. Onshore wind farms account for about 10 per cent of the nation’s electricity generation capacity at present, and the government has announced that Australia will join the Global Offshore Wind Alliance. Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who is attending the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, says Australia’s offshore wind farm industry is starting from scratch, and the nation will benefit from being a member of the alliance.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER, GLOBAL OFFSHORE WIND ALLIANCE

Qantas on IR: flight routes will die

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Original article by Simon Benson, Sarah Ison, Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 16-Nov-22

Qantas is the latest company to express concerns about the federal government’s Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill. The national carrier told the Senate committee that is reviewing the bill that multi-employer bargaining would effectively become industry-wide agreements that would reverse Labor’s economic reforms of the 1980s. Qantas also said the proposed industrial relations reforms would give too much power to trade unions and the Fair Work Commission. Qantas added that the reforms would increase the cost of air travel and reduce demand for flights, which could result in less profitable routes and services being discontinued. Clubs Australia in turn has warned that multi-employer bargaining could force many small clubs to close.

CORPORATES
QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, CLUBS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 2.1pts to 80.8 – the weekly increase halts a run of six straight declines

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Nov-22

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 2.1pts to 80.8 in the week ended 13 November. It is now 25.2pts below the same week a year ago (106.0), and 8.6pts below the 2022 weekly average of 89.4. There were mixed results around the nation; Consumer Confidence increased in NSW and Queensland, Victoria was unchanged while the index was down in Western Australia and South Australia. Now 21% of Australians (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 46% (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’ financially. Some 31% (up 2ppt) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 35% (down 3ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’ financially. Only 8% (up 2ppts) of Australians now expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 39% (down 4ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 22% (down 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 50% (unchanged) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Greens reveal key policies ahead of Victorian election

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Original article by Mitch Clarke
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 16-Nov-22

Action on climate action and housing affordability are among the key demands that the Victorian Greens will seek in return for supporting Labor if it is unable to form a majority government after the state election. Amongst other things, the Greens would push for a total ban on onshore and offshore gas exploration and production, a statewide ban on logging in native forests, and capping rent increases in line with wages. Premier Daniel Andrews has consistently ruled out any deals with the Greens or independent candidates.

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AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET