O75 Public Administration

Zahra calls for overhaul of retail awards

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Original article by Glenda Korporaal
The Australian – Page: 15 : 25-May-20

Retail sector employees are covered by 122 separate industry awards, and Australian Retailers Association CEO says this should be reduced as part of the nation’s economic recovery from the pandemic. Zahra has also urged greater flexibility with regard to stores’ trading hours and penalty rates in the sector. He argues that the complexity of the awards system is contributing to the growing problem of wage underpayments in the retail sector. Zahra warns that retail sales could fall sharply when the JobKeeper scheme is phased out in September.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION

JobKeeper gaffe bonus to help rein in debt

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 25-May-20

Prime Minister Scott Morrison concedes that responsibility for the massive over-estimate of the cost of JobKeeper ultimately rests with him. The wage subsidy scheme is now expected to cost about $70bn rather than the $130bn that had been budgeted, after it was revealed that about 1,000 businesses had mistakenly entered the amount of money they expected to receive under the scheme rather than the number of eligible employees. Morrison says the revised cost of JobKeeper will reduce government borrowings, while Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has ruled out broadening the eligibility criteria for the scheme.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Cut tax to spark mining boom

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Original article by Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 25-May-20

The Minerals Council of Australia has urged the federal government to reduce the company tax rate as part of its post-coronavirus economic strategy. MCA CEO Tania Constable says the nation’s corporate tax rate is not internationally competitive, and measures such as tax reform and speeding up project approvals could prompt a new wave of resources projects worth around $100bn. Master Builders Australia has in turn called for a $13.2bn stimulus package for the construction industry. Prime Minister Scott Morrison will deliver an economic recovery speech on 26 May.

CORPORATES
MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

JobSeeker’s block on work to be scrutinised

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 22-May-20

The federal government’s decision to double the JobSeeker allowance will be scrutinised as part of its forthcoming review of the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme. There are concerns that increasing the unemployment benefit to $550 a week has prompted some casual workers to quit their jobs, as they are of the view that they are financially better off by going on the dole. Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy stresses that JobKeeper and the increased JobKeeper payment are temporary. However, he has flagged the possibility that they may be phased out gradually.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Porter puts bill on hold as he seeks union help

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 22-May-20

Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter has advised that the federal government’s Ensuring Integrity Bill is not a legislative priority at present. He says the government’s immediate focus will be on seeking the union movement’s support for economic and workplace reforms in the wake of the pandemic. Australia’s major political parties agree that addressing problems with the enterprise bargaining system will be a key element of any reform process.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS, SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS

Research reveals how virus spreads

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Original article by Imogen Reid, Natasha Robinson
The Australian – Page: 3 : 22-May-20

A research team at the Doherty Institute has identified 76 coronavirus clusters in Victoria using genomic sequencing. Doherty Institute director Benjamin Howden says the technology has enabled it to both identify large clusters and determine the impact of social restrictions on COVID-19’s spread within the community. Victoria has recorded more than 1,500 coronavirus cases in total, and Howden says genomic sequencing has enabled the Doherty Institute to determine the source of infection for many of the 165 cases whose origin had previously been unknown.

CORPORATES
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE. PETER DOHERTY INSTITUTE FOR INFECTION AND IMMUNITY

Leaders’ spat a risk to our national unity

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Original article by Craig Johnstone, Sarah Elks
The Australian – Page: 5 : 22-May-20

Professor AJ Brown of Griffith University says a war of words between state leaders over restrictions on interstate travel may undermine the national cabinet’s spirit of co-operation during the coronavirus pandemic. The professor of public policy and law says it is "surprising and a little disappointing" that New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian is calling for state borders to be reopened for economic reasons. NSW has criticised Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for signalling that her state’s borders may remain closed until September.

CORPORATES
GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Casual benefits ruling raises JobKeeper risk

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 22-May-20

Employers may face claims for up to $8bn in back pay following the Federal Court’s ruling that casual workers who have ‘regular and predictable shifts’ are entitled to paid leave and a 25 per cent loading. Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter has flagged government action in response to the ruling, saying one option may be to give more casual workers the right to request that their jobs become permanent. Council of Small Business Organisations CEO Peter Strong says the ruling will deter small businesses from hiring casual workers, while Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox warns of the potential for large-scale job losses when the JobKeeper scheme ends in September.

CORPORATES
FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS, SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

Australia relaxed over China’s changes to iron ore export rules, but war of words goes on

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Original article by Ben Doherty
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 22-May-20

BHP and Fortescue Metals Group have welcomed China’s decision to relax its inspection rules for iron ore shipments. From 1 June, customs officials will only inspect batches of iron ore if this is requested by the importer or trader; all shipments were previously subject to mandatory inspection on arrival in China. Minerals Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable says the new customs procedures recognise the high quality of Australian iron ore. However, the Chinese media has warned that growing trade tensions could potentially hit Australia’s iron ore exports. Australia supplies 62 per cent of China’s iron ore.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Australian guinea pigs step up for virus trial

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Original article by Natasha Robinson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 5 : 20-May-20

Australia-based Q-Pharm will shortly commence a phase one clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine that is being developed by US biopharmaceutical group Novavax. Some 131 people in Melbourne and Brisbane have volunteered to participate in the clinical trial. Q-Pharm will also undertake phase 1 clinical trials of a potential vaccine that being developed by the University of Queensland. Meanwhile, the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research will commence a clinical trial of antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine.

CORPORATES
Q-PHARM PTY LTD, UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND, WALTER AND ELIZA HALL INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH