O75 Public Administration

PM’s no to methane cut

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Original article by Simon Benson, Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 28-Oct-21

The federal government will not agree to sign the Global Methane Pledge at the upcoming COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. The pledge is backed by the US and Europe, and would require signatories to reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. Refusal to sign the pledge is believed to have been a key commitment made by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to gain the National Party’s support for a net zero emissions target of 2030. It was feared that Australia would be particularly hard hit by such a pledge, given the economy’s reliance on industries such as agriculture and coal mining.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Aged-care boosters on agenda as TGA backs third-jab plan

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Original article by Natasha Robinson
The Australian – Page: 4 : 28-Oct-21

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has formally approved the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot. It will be administered six months after a person has received their first dose of any coronavirus vaccine. Studies have suggested that the efficacy of vaccines declines significantly 3-6 months after they have been administered. However, TGA head John Skerritt has stressed that two doses of an approved vaccine provides strong protection against serious illness, hospitalisation and death. Aged-care residents will be given priority for booster shots, which are expected to become available to the general population from 8 November.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. THERAPEUTIC GOODS ADMINISTRATION

ALP (54%) increases lead over the L-NP (46%) as the Federal Government discusses "Net Zero" carbon dioxide emissions

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 28-Oct-21

The latest Roy Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention shows that support for the ALP has increased to 54% (up 1% point since mid-October), cf. the L-NP on 46% (down 1% point) on a two-party preferred basis. The 1% point swing to the ALP came after the governing Liberal and National parties have spent the last few weeks ‘haggling’ about a change in policy for the Government to support a target of "Net Zero" carbon dioxide emissions for Australia by 2050. If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be elected with a similar margin to that won by John Howard at the 1996 Federal Election (ALP 53.6% cf. L-NP 46.4%). Primary support for the L-NP was down 1% point to 36.5% in October and is still ahead of the ALP which was also down 1% point to 35%. In contrast to the two major parties, Greens support increased by 2% points to 13.5% as media attention in October turned to Australia’s response to global warming and climate change. Support for One Nation was up 0.5% points to 3.5% while support for Independents/Others was down 0.5% points to 11.5%. Meanwhile, the Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating has increased by 3ps to 98 in late October. Now 41% (up 1% point) of Australians say the country is ‘heading in the right direction’, while 43% (down 2% points) say the country is ‘heading in the wrong direction’. This Roy Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention and Roy Morgan Government Confidence was conducted via telephone and online interviewing. Roy Morgan interviewed 2,778 Australian electors aged 18+ on the weekends of October 16/17 & 23/24.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY

Voters will be asked to show identification to vote under Morrison government proposal

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Original article by Paul Karp
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 27-Oct-21

The federal government has attracted criticism over plans to make it compulsory for voters to supply identification documents at polling stations on election day. The bill has been endorsed by the Coalition’s partyroom but has yet to introduced to parliament. Shadow special minister of state Don Farrell says Labor will oppose any bill that includes "anti-democratic thought bubbles". The government had first proposed voter ID laws in late 2018, while One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts recently introduced a voter ID bill in the upper house.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ONE NATION PARTY

Movement in the Sydney CBD increased to 27% of pre-pandemic levels in the first week after lockdown ended

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-Oct-21

A special analysis of movement data in Australia’s Capital City CBDs since the COVID-19 pandemic began shows that movement in the Sydney CBD increased to 27% of pre-pandemic levels in the first week after Greater Sydney’s 107-day lockdown ended. The average 7-day movement level in the Sydney CBD hit a low of 8% of pre-pandemic levels in late July and had increased to 17% before the lockdown ended on Monday October 11. In the first week of re-opening average movement levels increased by 10% points to 27% – the highest level for over four months. Meanwhile, the short and sharp three-day lockdown in southern Tasmania led to a plunge in movement levels in the Hobart CBD, with the average 7-day movement levels at only 44% of pre-pandemic levels in mid-October. The Greater Melbourne area has finally emerged from its sixth lockdown and we are told this will be the final lockdown as over 70% of Victorians are now fully vaccinated. Average movement levels in the Melbourne CBD were at only 18% of pre-pandemic levels in mid-October before the lockdown ended. The movement levels in other Capital City CBDs have increased over the last few weeks as we move into the warmer months. The Adelaide CBD is again the standout with average movement levels closest to pre-pandemic ‘normal’ at 76% – the highest level of movement since early May. Roy Morgan has partnered with leading technology innovator UberMedia to aggregate data from tens of thousands of mobile devices to assess the movements of Australians as we deal with the restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, UBERMEDIA

Crown on last warning

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale, Lachlan Moffet Gray
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 27-Oct-21

Royal commissioner Ray Finkelstein has made 33 recommendations in his final report on Crown Resorts. Finkelstein found that Crown is unsuitable to operate its Melbourne casino, and stated that Crown Melbourne’s conduct was "variously illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative" over a number of years. However, Crown will retain its sole Victorian casino licence for two years, although it will subject to strict conditions. Among other things, Stephen O’Bryan has been appointed as a special manager to supervise Crown’s Melbourne casino, while James Packer will be required to reduce his 37 per cent stake in Crown to less than five per cent by September 2024.

CORPORATES
CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN, CROWN MELBOURNE LIMITED

Bring it on: PM goads Labor towards climate action poll

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 10 : 27-Oct-21

The federal government’s net zero emissions target of 2050 envisions that all sectors of the economy will bear the burden of the push for carbon neutrality. The energy sector will be required to slash its emissions by 91-97 per cent by 2050, transport’s emissions will be cut by 53-71 per cent, and the mining and manufacturing sectors’ emissions will have to fall by 18-54 per cent. The government’s own technology road map is slated to reduce carbon emissions by 40 per cent, by expanding the number of priority technologies to include ultra-low-cost solar power. The other five priority technologies are not yet commercially viable. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has signalled that climate change could be a key issue for the next federal election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence virtually unchanged at 106.8 as Melbourne’s sixth lockdown ends

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-Oct-21

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 0.2pts to 106.8 on 23/24 October. Consumer Confidence remains below the 2021 weekly average of 108.2, but it is now 7.1 points higher than the same week a year ago (99.7). Consumer Confidence was up slightly in Victoria, and Melbourne, as the city began to re-open from its sixth lockdown; however, it was down slightly in NSW and Sydney nearly two weeks after that city re-opened earlier in October. Now 28% (up 1ppt) of Australians say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 28% (up 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’ financially. In addition, 37% (down 1ppt) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, and 17% (up 3ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’ financially. Some 19% (unchanged) of Australians expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 20% (also unchanged) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 39% (up 2ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 29% (down 1ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Roy Morgan Business Confidence jumps by 10.7pts (+10.2%) to 115.3 in October as lockdowns end in Sydney and Melbourne

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Oct-21

In October 2021, Roy Morgan Business Confidence rose 10.7pts (+10.2%) to 115.3. This is the biggest increase in Business Confidence so far during 2021 and comes as long-running lockdowns have ended in Greater Sydney, Greater Melbourne and the ACT. Business Confidence is now 16.6pts (+16.8%) higher than in October 2020 (98.7), and it is back above the long-term average of 113.8 for the first time since July 2021. Now 55.1% of businesses expecting ‘good times’ for the economy over the next 12 months, while 55% of businesses say the next 12 months is a ‘good time to invest in growing the business’. Business Confidence in October was up strongly in all six States from a year ago. The biggest increase was in South Australia, where Business Confidence increased by 46.5pts (+50%) to 139.5 to be higher than any other State. Western Australia has the second highest level of Business Confidence at 130.8, up 22.4pts (+20.7%) from a year ago; it is now over 15pts higher than the national figure of 115.3.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

NAB facing criminal charges for failing to pay casuals entitlements

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Original article by Charlotte Grieve
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 26-Oct-21

National Australia Bank has been accused of allegedly violating Victorian laws over its failure to pay long service leave entitlements to casual employees. Victoria’s recently established Wage Inspectorate has filed criminal charges against NAB, while the bank has filed a counter-claim in the Federal Court over the issue. NAB executive Susan Ferrier notes it does not provide casual workers with long service leave under enterprise agreements that have been in place for 20 years, while she says the NAB does not believe casual workers are not covered by state laws for long service leave.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA. WAGES INSPECTORATE