O75 Public Administration

IR reforms could save billions in back pay

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 2-Dec-20

The federal government’s industrial relations omnibus bill will be put before parliament before it rises for the year. The bill is expected to be discussed at a cabinet meeting on 2 December, along with a proposed legislative response to the Workpac v Rossato case. The Federal Court ruled that casual staff who work "regular and predictable" hours are entitled to benefits such as paid annual leave in addition to a casual loading. The government is believed to be considering reforms that would allow employers to use a casual worker’s 25 per cent loading to help offset any retrospective leave liability.

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FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

States on $500bn debt binge

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Original article by Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 2-Dec-20

Centre for Independent Studies research fellow Robert Carling says that rising state government debt means that some states could have their credit ratings downgraded in coming years. Analysis of state governments’ Budget papers show that their combined debt will top $491bn by mid-2024, compared with just $200bn in June 2020. Carling contends that while some of the increase in debt is inevitable, some states are taking on more debt than necessary. Chris Richardson of Deloitte Access Economics in turn says rising debt is better than the alternative of lower debt and an unemployment rate that is higher for longer.

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THE CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT STUDIES LIMITED, DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 3pts to 107.5 as confidence grows about Australia’s economic performance over the next year

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 2-Dec-20

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 3pts to 107.5 on November 28/29. It is now 12.3pts above the 2020 weekly average of 95.2 and only 0.6pts lower than a year ago (108.1). Now 24% (up 1ppt) of Australians say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 31% (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’ financially. In addition, 38% (down 1ppt) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, and 15% (down 1ppt) expect to be ‘worse off’ financially. Some 17% (up 3ppts) of Australians expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 23% (down 4ppts) expect ‘bad times’ (the lowest figure for this indicator since April 2019). Meanwhile, 41% (up 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 25% (down 4ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Labor willing to engage on IR changes: Burke

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 27-Nov-20

Shadow employment minister Tony Burke says Labor is likely to pass the federal government’s industrial relations omnibus bill if the proposed reforms are based on those agreed upon by the Coalition’s working groups. However, Labor will refer the legislation to a Senate committee, which ensure that the bill is not debated and voted upon before Parliament rises for the year. The government has given indications that the reforms will include changes to the Fair Work Act’s ‘better-off-overall-test’, although reinstating the ‘no disadvantage test’ will be on its agenda.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Thais that bind: secret mission ends Aussie’s torment

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Original article by Ben Packham, Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 11 : 27-Nov-20

It has been revealed that Australia’s director-general of national intelligence Nick Warner led a secret, year-long effort to secure the release of Melbourne University lecturer Kylie Moore-Gilbert after she had spent over 800 days in Iranian jails. Moore-Gilbert was released in a prisoner swap deal that involved Thailand releasing three Iranian terrorists; Moore-Gilbert had been serving a 10-year sentence on trumped-up espionage charges. Warner had been Australia’s ambassador in Iran during the mid-1990s and used his connections in Iran to help secure her release. Australia’s ambassador to Thailand, Allan McKinnon, lobbied that nation’s authorities to release the three Iranian terrorists.

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UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

Roy Morgan Business Confidence up 10.4pts to 109.1 in November – Confidence is now above 100 in four States – NSW, QLD, WA & SA

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-Nov-20

In November 2020 Roy Morgan Business Confidence jumped 10.4pts (+10.5%) to 109.1, the highest monthly reading since September 2019 (110.6). Business Confidence has now increased by a record 23.5pts (+27.5%) over the last two months. It is now 0.7pts higher than in November 2019 (108.4), but still 4.2pts below the long-term average of 113.3. An increasing majority of businesses, 57.9% (up 5.5ppts), said the next 12 months is a ‘good time to invest in growing the business’, the highest figure for this indicator since January 2014. On a State-based level Business Confidence is now in positive territory above 100 in four States. Confidence is highest in South Australia at 120.2 although it should be noted most interviewing was completed before the brief State-wide shutdown. Business Confidence is also above average in Western Australia (up 6pts to 114.4), New South Wales (up 8.4pts to 113.8) and jumped strongly in Queensland to 109.3 (up 18.8pts). However, Business Confidence in Victoria (97.8) and Tasmania (88.9) is now well below the national average.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

More big firms to get capex break

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 11 : 23-Nov-20

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is to expand the federal government’s business expense tax break so that more large companies can access it, with legislation to enact the changes to be introduced. Large companies that will now be able to access the scheme will include Coca-Cola Amatil and Boral, while large companies that will remain excluded include Wesfarmers, BHP, Telstra and Rio Tinto. Frydenberg says around 50 companies employing over 150,000 people are expected to benefit from the scheme’s expansion

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COCA-COLA AMATIL LIMITED – ASX CCL, BORAL LIMITED – ASX BLD, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX IAG

Vaccine’s immune boost

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Original article by Grant McArthur
Herald Sun – Page: 7 : 23-Nov-20

Research undertaken by scientists in Melbourne suggests that some people who contract COVID-19 may be immune from reinfection for a year or more. The researchers at Monash University, The Alfred hospital and the Burnet Institute tracked the immune cells of 25 COVID-19 patients and found that they were still able to fight off the virus some 242 days after contracting it. The scientists are hopeful that a COVID-19 vaccine would provide protection for a similar length of time, without the need for regular booster shots.

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MONASH UNIVERSITY, ALFRED HOSPITAL, THE MACFARLANE BURNET INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH LIMITED

HILDA report shows home ownership sliding, incomes falling and inequality rising

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Original article by Rod Myer
The New Daily – Page: Online : 20-Nov-20

The Melbourne Institute’s latest Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) report shows that the nation’s average household assets increased by 64 per cent to $1.37 million between 2002 and 2018. However, average household debt rose by 104 per cent to $213,496 over this period. The HILDA survey also found that the proportion of Australians with a mortgage rose from 33.8 per cent to 36.3 per cent, although home ownership has declined from 68.1 per cent in 2002 to 63.9 per cent.

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UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE. INSTITUTE OF APPLIED ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH

Victoria closes border to South Australia after outbreak

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Original article by Rachael Dexter, Benjamin Preiss, Craig Butt
The Age – Page: Online : 20-Nov-20

South Australian residents will be banned from crossing the border into Victoria for 48 hours. The border closure took effect at 11.59pm on 19 November, although some exemptions will apply, including freight drivers and people needing medical care. The Victorian government will introduce a permit system on 21 November. The border closure was prompted by the discovery of coronavirus traces in wastewater at Portland and Benalla. Acting Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng says they could be from an active case or a recovered case who is still shedding the virus. Victoria has now recorded 20 consecutive days with no new COVID-19 cases. Premier Daniel Andrews says his government is still on track to further ease coronavirus restrictions within days.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET