O75 Public Administration

Roy Morgan Business Confidence jumped 19pts to 120.5 in February as Omicron variant rapidly receded

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

In February 2022, Roy Morgan Business Confidence rose 19pts (+18.7%) to 120.5. This is the biggest monthly increase during the pandemic and essentially returns Business Confidence to its pre-Omicron level. There were positive moves across all aspects of the index; now 62.3% of businesses say they expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next year, while 53.1% of businesses say that the next 12 months will be a ‘good time to invest in growing the business’. On a State-based level there were large monthly increases across the board in February led by Victoria, up a large 29.5pts (+30.6%) to 125.7, South Australia, up 25pts (+25.7%) to 122.5, Queensland, up 17pts (+18.3%) to 109.5 and Western Australia, up 14.6pts (+12.6%) to 130.4 – once again the highest Business Confidence in the nation as the State prepared to fully re-open its borders in early March. Business Confidence has risen to its highest level since the start of the ‘Delta wave’ of COVID-19 in June 2021 (128.3).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

WA to bring in level two restrictions to combat COVID-19 case rise

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Original article by Peter de Kruijff
WAtoday – Page: Online : 1-Mar-22

Western Australia recorded 1,140 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, and there are now 5,540 active cases in the state. Premier Mark McGowan has announced that level two restrictions will be introduced from 3 March, which will coincide with the reopening of the state’s borders; he says it is hoped that the new restrictions will be in place for no more than four weeks, adding that the state’s Omicron outbreak is expected to peak before the end of March. Meanwhile, NSW reported 5,856 new infections and six deaths on Monday, while there were 5,852 new cases and three deaths in Victoria.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Dozens killed and injured as Putin bombs Ukraine

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Original article by Charles Miranda, Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson, Merryn Johns
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 1-Mar-22

Russia has launched a major missile and rocket attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv. Dozens of civilians are believed to have been killed and many more have been injured in the bombardment, which is believed to have included unguided Grad rockets and banned cluster bombs. There have been reports that Russian generals have been ordered to take Kharkiv at all costs, although Ukraine says it still holds the city. Meanwhile, a 5km convoy of Russian tanks and troops is advancing on Kyiv. There have also been reports that Russian mercenaries are in Kyiv and have orders to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and his government. Zelensky says he is sceptical about peace talks with Russia on the border with Belarus. The first round of talks have ended without a resolution, but they are expected to resume in coming days.

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WA to bring in level two restrictions to combat COVID-19 case rise

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Original article by Peter de Kruijff
WAtoday – Page: Online : 1-Mar-22

Western Australia recorded 1,140 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, and there are now 5,540 active cases in the state. Premier Mark McGowan has announced that level two restrictions will be introduced from 3 March, which will coincide with the reopening of the state’s borders; he says it is hoped that the new restrictions will be in place for no more than four weeks, adding that the state’s Omicron outbreak is expected to peak before the end of March. Meanwhile, NSW reported 5,856 new infections and six deaths on Monday, while there were 5,852 new cases and three deaths in Victoria.

CORPORATES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Dozens killed and injured as Putin bombs Ukraine

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Original article by Charles Miranda, Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson, Merryn Johns
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 1-Mar-22

Russia has launched a major missile and rocket attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv. Dozens of civilians are believed to have been killed and many more have been injured in the bombardment, which is believed to have included unguided Grad rockets and banned cluster bombs. There have been reports that Russian generals have been ordered to take Kharkiv at all costs, although Ukraine says it still holds the city. Meanwhile, a 5km convoy of Russian tanks and troops is advancing on Kyiv. There have also been reports that Russian mercenaries are in Kyiv and have orders to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and his government. Zelensky says he is sceptical about peace talks with Russia on the border with Belarus. The first round of talks have ended without a resolution, but they are expected to resume in coming days.

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United Australia Party’s $80m-plus war chest sparks call to limit election spending

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Original article by Christopher Knaus
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 23-Feb-22

The Centre for Public Integrity has outlined a range of proposed measures aimed at removing the influence of money in federal politics. Amongst other things, it has proposed capping donations to political parties, reducing the disclosure threshold for campaign donations to $1,000 and strengthening the Australian Electoral Commission’s powers to enforce donation laws. The Centre’s reform blueprint follows the United Australia Party’s recent revelation that its campaign budget for the upcoming federal election will exceed the $80m it spent on the 2019 poll.

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CENTRE FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY, UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY

ALP (57%) increases lead over the L-NP (43%) in mid-February as return of Parliament fails to provide a boost

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 23-Feb-22

ALP support is now at 57% (up 0.5% points since late January) cf. L-NP on 43% (down 0.5% points) on a two-party preferred basis, according to the latest Roy Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention conducted during February. The swing to the ALP came as Parliament resumed sitting in early February but there was no let-up for the Government with tough questions for Prime Minister Scott Morrison during an appearance at the National Press Club. A week later sexual abuse survivor, and former Australian of the Year, Grace Tame and former Parliamentary staffer, and alleged rape victim, Brittany Higgins also spoke and had little positive to say about Prime Minister Morrison or the L-NP Government. If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be elected with a similar margin to that won by Harold Holt at the 1966 Federal Election (L-CP 56.9% cf. ALP 43.1%). This Roy Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention and Government Confidence was conducted via telephone and online interviewing of 2,796 Australian electors aged 18+ from January 31 – February 13, 2022.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Australia’s Covid deaths explained

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Original article by Kara Monssen
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 23-Feb-22

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that a total of 2,639 people in Australia have died from or with COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Some 2,556 of the deaths up to 31 January 2022 were directly attributed to the coronavirus, while 83 people died from other causes but had the virus at the time of their death. Analysis also shows that people with pre-existing health conditions accounted for nearly 70 per cent of Covid deaths, while the elderly are also over-represented in the mortality figures. Associate Professor James Turner of Monash University says deaths should now be the key metric in Australia, rather than daily case numbers and infection rates.

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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, MONASH UNIVERSITY

Putin gives Russian troops green light to march into Ukraine

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Original article by Charles Miranda, Megan Palin
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 23-Feb-22

Russia faces economic sanctions after President Vladimir Putin authorised troops to enter the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, although he has not provided a timeline for their deployment. US President Joe Biden has responded by stating that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is beginning; he added that it is a flagrant violation of international law. The White House’s deputy national security adviser Jon Finer has stated that Washington’s response will be "swift and severe", with the first round of sanctions already in place. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenber in turn says there is every indication that Russia is planning a full-scale attack on Ukraine.

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UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence down slightly by 1.4pts to 101.8 in the third week of February

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

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 1.4pts to 101.8 during the third week of February; it is now 7.4pts below the same week a year ago (109.2), but it remains just above the 2022 weekly average of 101.5. Consumer Confidence this week was down around the country, with the largest decreases in NSW and Tasmania; however, Victoria bucked the trend, with Consumer Confidence up 3pts (107.8). Now 27% (up 1ppt) of Australians say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 30% (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’ financially. In addition, 35% (up 1ppt) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, and 19% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’ financially. Just 15% (down 2ppts) of Australians now expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 21% (unchanged) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 34% (down 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 34% (up 2ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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