O75 Public Administration

Australia outraged over Qatar incident

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 27-Oct-20

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has asked Qatari authorities for a report into an incident that occurred at Doha airport on 2 October. Dozens of women, including 13 Australians, were taken from a plane that was due to fly from Doha to Sydney and examined against their will in an ambulance on the tarmac. Authorities were searching for a woman who had delivered a baby in a terminal toilet but then abandoned it. About the only action Australia can take if Qatar chooses not to do so over the incident is to limit or ban flights to Australia by Qatar Airways. However, it is one of the few airlines that are returning stranded expatriates to Australia

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, QATAR AIRWAYS

Shipton likely to follow Crennan in ASIC exit ‘by year’s end’

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Original article by Richard Gluyas
The Australian – Page: 13 & 17 : 27-Oct-20

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission’s deputy chairman Daniel Crennan maintains that he had received advice that his expense claims had been line with the corporate regulator’s policy. Crennan formally resigned on 26 October in the wake of the expenses scandal that has embroiled himself and chairman James Shipton; Crennan indicated that he had intended to retire from ASIC in mid-2021 anyway. Meanwhile, former Australian Competition & Consumer Commission chairman Allan Fels expects Shipton to resign before the end of 2020. Fels says ASIC has had a "very poor record over many years".

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AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Boxing Day Test crowd allowed at MCG after Melbourne lockdown ends

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Original article by
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 27-Oct-20

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has conceded that the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions has come too late to allow people to attend the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on 3 November. However, Andrews is confident that the traditional Boxing Day Test at the MCG will be played before a live crowd, although he cautions it is too soon to know how many people will be allowed through the gates. Australia is scheduled to play India in a four-Test series during the upcoming summer; more than 73,000 people were at the MCG for the first day of the Boxing Day match against India in 2018.

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

New pub and restaurant rules too restrictive

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Original article by Stephen Lunn, John Lethlean
The Australian – Page: 5 : 27-Oct-20

Owners of hospitality venues have welcomed the Victorian government’s decision to ease lockdown restrictions, but some warn that the measures do not go far enough. Pubs, cafes and restaurants will be able to serve up to 20 patrons indoors and 50 outdoors from 11.5pm on 27 October. However, the number of patrons in each room will be restricted to no more than 10. Lucas Restaurant Group CEO Chris Lucas says the density limit needs to be increased to 20, arguing that it will not be commercially viable for some restaurants to open under the revised restrictions.

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LUCAS RESTAURANT GROUP

Zero to hero: Andrews opens economy at last

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 27-Oct-20

Victoria recorded no new coronavirus cases on 26 October, and the number of active cases statewide has fallen to 91. It was the first day with zero new cases since 9 June, prompting Premier Daniel Andrews to announce major changes to lockdown measures from 11.59pm on 27 October. Amongst other things, Melbourne retailers and hospitality venues will be permitted to re-open, although there will be limits on the number of patrons, while Melbourne residents will be allowed to leave their home for any reason for the first time since 9 July. However, some restrictions will remain in place until at least 8 November, including the 25km travel limit.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

ASIC overhaul as chair faces exit

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Original article by Richard Gluyas
The Australian – Page: 13 & 16 : 26-Oct-20

An independent review into the expenses of Australian Securities & Investments Commission chairman James Shipton is expected to be completed before the end of 2020. Shipton has stepped aside pending the outcome of the review, but sources have suggested that he is unlikely to remain in the role. ASIC’s acting chair Karen Chester is tipped to succeed Shipton, who has agreed to repay the expenses he incurred in relocating from the US to Australia. ASIC’s deputy chair Daniel Crennan will also repay expenses associated with moving from Melbourne to Sydney.

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AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION

Digital dossiers designed to blackmail, intimidate

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Original article by Angus Grigg
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 26-Oct-20

Matt Pottinger has confirmed to the London think tank Policy Exchange that China is constructing ‘digital dossiers’ of millions of people around the world. The comments of Pottinger, who is the Deputy National Security Adviser to US President Donald Trump, follow the revelation that a Chinese military contractor had a database with profiles of over 2.4 million people globally, with the Australians listed including Prime Minister Scott Morrison and technology billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes. Pottinger says the compilation of such ‘dossiers’, aimed at influencing, humiliating, dividing and blackmailing opponents, has always been a feature of Leninist regimes.

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POLICY EXCHANGE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Fan-free Cup day as crowds banned

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Original article by Damon Johnston
The Australian – Page: 5 : 26-Oct-20

The four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival attracted about 275,000 people in 2019. The Victoria Racing Club had hoped that 10,000 people would be able to attend each day of the flagship event in 2020, with appropriate coronavirus measures in place. However, VRC chair Amanda Elliott has advised that Flemington racecourse will be closed to the general public for the entire event. The VRC remains hopeful that some racehorse owners can attend in person. The state government barred owners from attending the Cox Plate on 24 October.

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VICTORIA RACING CLUB LIMITED

Economic reward in virus suppression

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Original article by Matthew Denholm
The Australian – Page: 4 : 26-Oct-20

CommSec’s latest ‘State of the States’ report shows that Tasmania is Australia’s best performing economy for a third successive quarter. Tasmania is ranked first with regard to a number of indicators, including housing finance and retail trade. Craig James of CommSec says there is a link between a state’s success in suppressing COVID-19 and its economic performance. Tasmania has had no recorded cases since August, and the release of the CommSec report coincides with Tasmania’s borders being re-opened to all other states except Victoria and New South Wales.

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COMMONWEALTH SERVICES LIMITED

Reform taxes to help economy recover, IMF tells Australia

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 26-Oct-20

Harald Finger of the International Monetary Fund has expressed support for federal government measures such as the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Finger also agrees that the JobKeeper scheme needs to be wound back as the domestic economy recovers, and the focus should shift to economic reforms that boost growth in productivity and investment. The IMF Mission chief to Australia also advocates a reduction in the corporate tax rate and increasing the goods and services tax.

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INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND