O75 Public Administration

Hi-tech race to combat China

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Original article by Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 17-Nov-21

The federal government has identified nine priority technologies that will be accelerated under the AUKUS and Quadrilateral Security Dialogue alliances in response to China’s investment in quantum technology and artificial intelligence. These priorities include critical minerals, quantum technology, genetic engineering and cyber security. Prime Minister Scott Morrison will use a speech on Wednesday to emphasise that the AUKUS alliance is not just about nuclear submarines.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

High (60.5%) approval of Premier Daniel Andrews rests on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 17-Nov-21

A special Roy Morgan survey last week found that 60.5% of Victorian electors now approve of the way Premier Daniel Andrews is handling his job, although this is down 10.5% points from November 2020; some 39.5% (up 10.5% points) of Victorians disapprove of Andrews’ handling of the job. The approval of Andrews’ handling of his job is heavily correlated to age. A large majority of young Victorians aged under 35 (72%) approve of Andrews’ handling of the job, while only 28% disapprove. This strong approval declines progressively with age. Over two-fifths of those aged 35-49 (62.5%) and 50-64 (61%) approve of Andrews’ handling of the job, while this drops to only 55% of people aged 65+. The approval rating for Andrews amongst the genders match the figures for the two-party preferred voting support, with 65% of women approving of Andrews’ handling of his job compared to 55.5% of men. Analysing by voting intention shows just how widely divergent the views of supporters of the different parties are. A near unanimous 97% of ALP voters approve of Andrews’ handling of the job, and 84% of Greens supporters also approve. In contrast, only 16% of L-NP supporters approve of Andrews’ handling of the job; this drops to only 1.5% of supporters of Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED,VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET,AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY,LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA,NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY

Hazzard warning: Premier axes powers push

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Original article by Yoni Bashan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 17-Nov-21

The New South Wales government has abandoned plans to extend its COVID-19 emergency powers. Health Minister Brad Hazzard had proposed legislation to extend these powers until March 2023, but Premier Dominic Perrottet moved to drop the bill amid opposition within the Coalition partyroom. Amongst other things, some government MPs are believed to have feared a similar backlash to the Victorian Labor government’s controversial pandemic bill. NSW recorded 212 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, and two additional deaths from the current outbreak.

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NEW SOUTH WALES. MINISTRY OF HEALTH,NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence drops 3pts to 106.0 as worries about inflation mount

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 17-Nov-21

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 3pts to 106.0 on 13/14 November; it is now below the 2021 weekly average of 108.2 and 0.6 points lower than the same week a year ago (106.6). This is the first time Consumer Confidence has dropped below its level of a year ago since late November 2020. Consumer Confidence this week was down in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, but there was a small increase in Queensland. Now 29% (down 2ppts) 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, 38% (down 2ppts) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, and 17% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’ financially. Some 20% (up 1ppt) of Australians expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 20% (up 1ppt) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 39% (down 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 30% (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

Voter ID bill may discourage turnout and no evidence it will prevent fraud, committee says

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Original article by Paul Karp
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 11-Nov-21

The parliamentary committee on human rights has expressed reservations about the federal government’s legislation that would require voters to supply proof of their identity at polling stations on election day. Amongst other things, the committee is concerned that the voter ID laws may discourage people from voting; it also warns that the legislation may have a "disproportionate" impact on certain groups, such as the homeless and indigenous people in remote communities. The committee has also questioned whether the legislation would be effective in addressing election fraud.

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COVID testing firm kept $12m in JobKeeper cash amid soaring profits

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Original article by Clay Lucas
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 11-Nov-21

Pathological group Australian Clinical Labs has been a beneficiary of both the federal government’s COVID-19 testing program and the JobKeeper wage subsidy. The company’s revenue increased by 29 per cent in 2020-21, while its after-tax profit rose from $11.7m to $88.7m. Australian Clinical Labs received JobKeeper payments totalling $34.3m over the last two financial years, but it repaid just $21.9m. Australian Clinical Labs’ annual report for 2020 notes that revenue fell sharply in the months immediately following the onset of the pandemic in March of that year, making the firm eligible for JobKeeper. The company also receives a government subsidy for every COVID-19 test it performs.

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AUSTRALIAN CLINICAL LABS LIMITED – ASX ACL

Andrews’ pandemic powers risk state rule by decree

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale, Angelica Snowden
The Australian – Page: 5 : 11-Nov-21

The Victorian Bar has urged the state government to reconsider its controversial new pandemic laws. Amongst other things, it has expressed concern that the Department of Health could exercise its new powers under the legislation without sufficient oversight by parliament. Sixty barristers have in turn signed an open letter in which they warn that the legislation would enable the government to effectively rule the state by decree for the foreseeable future. The bill was passed by the lower house in October and will require the support of at least three crossbenchers in the upper house.

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VICTORIAN BAR INCORPORATED

Victoria’s major parties both lose support to minor parties although ALP would still win easily; while Premier Daniel Andrews’ job approval is still high at 60.5% but over 10% points lower than a year ago

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Nov-21

A Victorian Roy Morgan Poll on State voting intention shows primary support is down for both the ALP State Government on 43% (down 2% points from November 2020) and the Liberal-National Opposition on 31% (down 3.5% points); while support for the Greens is unchanged on 11%. The beneficiaries are the minor parties and independents – now attracting the support of 15% of electors – up 5.5% points. Minor party support is highest for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party on 3%, Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party is on 2%, while 3.5% support other parties and 6.5% support Independents. Despite the drift in support to minor parties the ALP still holds a strong two-party preferred lead: ALP 58% cf. L-NP 42%. However, Premier Daniel Andrews’ job approval is now at 60.5%, down a large 10.5% points from November 2020 when approval for the Premier hit a record high after the end of Victoria’s long second lockdown, and disapproval is 39.5%. Detailed analysis of results shows significant gender and age differences on voting intentions and sentiment towards Premier Andrews. Full details and key demographic breakdowns will be released later today. This Roy Morgan Poll surveyed yesterday (Wednesday) a cross section of 1,357 Victorian electors.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY, JUSTICE PARTY, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence continued to slowly increase this week but there were divergent moves in re-opened Sydney and Melbourne

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Original article by Gary Morgan, Michele Levine, Julian McCrann
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Nov-21

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence is now at 109.0 and has increased in 11 of the last 13 weeks since hitting a ‘Delta-wave’ low of 98.6 on August 7/8, 2021. That low was the week Victoria entered its record sixth lockdown, and Consumer Confidence has since increased by 10.4pts (+10.5%). We have been asked about the moves in Consumer Confidence in the key cities of Sydney and Melbourne which this week were in different directions. Consumer Confidence in Sydney increased by 4.4pts (+4.1%) to 112.8 as restrictions in the city continued to ease. Consumer Confidence in Sydney has now increased for two straight weeks. In contrast, Consumer Confidence in Melbourne was down 5pts (-4.4%) to 107.6. This decline reverses the similarly sized increase of 5.4pts (+5.0%) a week earlier. There were several likely drivers of this decline in Melbourne during the past week. There were large protests outside the Victorian Parliament against the proposed pandemic legislation which would give the Premier the power to declare a pandemic indefinitely, as well as the mandatory vaccinations being ordered by the Government. The State Government has also been in the spotlight over the last week as the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission investigates allegations of misuse of public funds to engage in ‘branch stacking’.

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

‘Existential crisis’: United States and China stun COP26 with joint climate change pact

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Original article by Nick O’Malley, Bevan Shields
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 11-Nov-21

The COP26 climate summit in Glasgow has received a major boost after the US and China issued a joint statement in which they committed to "concrete and pragmatic" co-operation to address the issue of climate change. They declared climate change to be an "existential crisis" that requires them to work together. China’s climate envoy Xie Zhenhua stressed the need to actively address climate change for the benefit of both nations and the entire world. US climate envoy John Kerry has described the joint declaration as a "roadmap" for the nations’ present and future collaboration on climate change.

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