O75 Public Administration

China devours one-third of all our farm exports

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Original article by Patrick Commins
The Australian – Page: 5 : 20-Aug-20

Data from Rabobank shows that China accounted for 32 per cent of Australia’s food and agricultural exports in 2019-20. China also bought 30 per cent of Australia’s lamb exports and 25 per cent the nation’s beef exports during the financial year, while it accounted for 77 per cent of wool shipments. Tim Hunt of Rabobank warns that Australia is too reliant on a single export market, particularly given the recent tensions between the two nations. He notes that while China has been the major driver of the agribusiness sector’s growth over the last decade, there is a need to diversify into other export markets.

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RABOBANK AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Democratic convention viewership tumbles 24% on first night

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Original article by Gerry Smith, Christopher Palmeri
Bloomberg – Page: Online : 20-Aug-20

Data from Nielsen shows that about 19.7 million people watched the first night of the Democratic National Convention on broadcast and cable television networks. This compares with a first night viewership of 25.9 million in 2016. However, some 10.3 million people watched a live stream of the convention, compared with just three million in 2016. Joe Biden’s election campaign team estimates that the combined broadcast and streaming audience was nearly 29 million, which is slightly higher than four years ago.

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DEMOCRATIC PARTY (UNITED STATES), THE NIELSEN COMPANY

Aim is for 95pc to have corona jab: Morrison

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Original article by Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 6 : 20-Aug-20

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has emphasised that it will not be compulsory for Australians to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. He had initially stated that vaccination would be "as mandatory as possible" and people would only be exempted on medical grounds. However, Morrison says his preference is for 95 per cent of Australians to be vaccinated, and the government will introduce measures aimed at encouraging a high rate of immunisation when and if an effective COVID-19 vaccination becomes available.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Business groups push to open international borders for economic boost

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Original article by Jennifer Duke
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 20-Aug-20

Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO James Pearson is among the business leaders who have urged the federal government to re-open the nation’s international borders as soon as possible. He describes it as a "critically important step" in the Australian economy’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and he argues that domestic markets cannot sustain high employment and living standards. Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox and Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott have also called for international travel restrictions to be eased as soon as possible.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Joel Fitzgibbon warns of ALP split

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Original article by Greg Brown, Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 20-Aug-20

Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon has expressed concern that the party could eventually split due to the growing divide between its traditional working-class and socially-progressive supporters. The shadow resources and agriculture minister has suggested that two separate Labor parties that are focused on cities and regional communities respectively could eventually govern in a coalition arrangement. Meanwhile, shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers will use a speech on 20 August to urge Labor to re-engage with traditional supporters who shunned the party at the 2019 federal election.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern maintains crushing lead over new National leader Judith Collins

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-Aug-20

In July support for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party was at 53.5% (down 1% since June), but still more than double the support for the National Party on 26.5% (down 0.5%), with just over a month to go before the New Zealand election in mid-September. If an election were held today Labour could govern without the help of either New Zealand First or the Greens. Interviewing for this survey in July encompassed the period before and after Judith Collins became the new leader of National in mid-July after Todd Muller’s shock resignation after less than two months in the role. The early indications are that the new leader has had a negligible impact on support for National although a full month of interviewing in August will provide a clearer picture in the run-up to the election. The latest New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll on voting intention was conducted by telephone – both landline and mobile – with a NZ-wide cross-section of 899 electors during July.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, LABOUR PARTY (NEW ZEALAND), GREEN PARTY OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND, NATIONAL PARTY OF NEW ZEALAND, NEW ZEALAND FIRST PARTY, NEW ZEALAND. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

330,000 jobs at risk in retail, building

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Original article by Adam Creighton, Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 5 : 10-Aug-20

McKinsey has warned that a second wave of coronavirus-induced job losses could affect between 270,000 and 640,000 Australian workers by March. The consulting firm expects sectors such as retailing and construction to be hardest hit as government support measures are scaled back. McKinsey forecasts that an additional 215,000 jobs could be lost in the retail sector by March, on top of the 42,000 that were shed in the June quarter; the construction sector in turn faces the loss of up to 205,000 jobs by March, having shed 46,000 jobs in the three months to June.

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McKINSEY AND COMPANY

JobKeeper could be expanded to deal with further coronavirus outbreaks

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Original article by Jennifer Duke
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 10-Aug-20

The JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme is now expected to cost $101bn in total, after the federal government agreed to extend it beyond September at a lower rate. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has emphasised the need to gradually phase out government support, although he has not ruled out further extending the scheme beyond March if the pandemic worsens. Labor contends that the government needs a plan to boost employment rather than focusing on the JobKeeper and JobSeeker schemes.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Virus kills 17 Victorians, state to spend extra $60m on mental health

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Original article by Stephen Lunn, Tessa Akerman
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 10-Aug-20

Victoria reported 394 new coronavirus cases on 9 August, which is the state’s lowest daily total since 29 July. This followed 466 new cases on the previous day. However, Victoria’s death toll from the respiratory illness has risen by 17 and now stands at 210, while the national death toll is 295. Meanwhile, the state government will allocate an additional $60m for mental health funding. New figures show that there has been a sharp increase in use of mental health services in the state over the last six weeks, particularly among those under the age of 18.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Inflation Expectations rebound in July to 3.4% as COVID-19 returns

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-Aug-20

In July, Australians expected inflation of 3.4% annually over the next two years, up 0.2% points on the record low in June. Inflation Expectations are down 0.7% points on a year ago. For much of Australia the month of July began with hope that the COVID-19 pandemic was successfully being dealt with, but as the month progressed the virus re-emerged. This was particularly evident in Melbourne which progressively introduced new restrictions throughout the month. Sydney also experienced renewed outbreaks during the month, with restrictions being re-imposed to limit gathering sizes at certain venues. With this in mind the increase in Inflation Expectations in July were driven by increases in Australia’s largest cities of Sydney (up 0.1% to 3.4%), Melbourne (up 0.6% to 3.4%) and Brisbane (up 0.1% to 3.5%). Inflation Expectations are split significantly on gender lines, with women expecting annual inflation of 4% over the next two years while men expect inflation of only 2.8%. Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says the rebound in Inflation Expectations in July follows three successive declines from April to June, and is the largest monthly increase in the measure so far in 2020.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED