O75 Public Administration

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

Coalition eyes Australian economic sovereignty with boost to manufacturing

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Original article by Paul Karp
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 20-May-20

Federal Industry Minister Karen Andrews will use a National Press Club speech on 20 May to call for Australia to ramp up local manufacturing in the post-coronavirus environment. She will argue that factors such as domestic manufacturing, a lower company tax rate and an increase in natural gas supply are crucial to the nation’s economic sovereignty. Andrews will also emphasis the need for projects to be approved more quickly.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE, ENERGY AND RESOURCES

Cheap gas to power recovery

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 20-May-20

Ensuring that the east coast has access to affordable gas will be part of the federal government’s strategy to boost the economy in the wake of the pandemic. The National COVID-19 Co-ordination Commission is looking at a range of options for reducing the domestic price of gas; chairman Nev Power says these could include building a pipeline from Western Australia’s offshore gas fields to Moomba in South Australia. He adds that another option could be to relocate energy-intensive manufacturing to WA, where gas prices are lower due to a domestic gas reserve.

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AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL COVID-19 COORDINATION COMMISSION

China knew barley dumping claims were false

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Original article by Andrew Taylor, Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 20-May-20

The federal government will hold crisis talks with barley growers on 20 May following China’s imposition of a punitive tariff, but Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says the nation will not retaliate with a trade war. The government is likely to take the matter to the World Trade Organisation, although it remains hopeful of resolving the dispute bilaterally. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the government’s submission to China’s Commerce Ministry noted that China International Chamber of Commerce officials had admitted that there was no evidence to support claims of dumping by Australian barley producers.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, CHINA. MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, CHINA INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

World Health Assembly agrees to independent inquiry and global strategy to fight COVID-19

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Original article by
The New Daily – Page: Online : 20-May-20

The World Health Assembly has formally adopted a resolution calling for an impartial and independent review into the global response to the coronavirus pandemic. There was unanimous support among the World Health Organization’s member nations for the push to hold an inquiry, which had been led by Australia and the European Union. Health Minister Greg Hunt and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne have welcomed the passing of the resolution.

CORPORATES
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence increases for seventh straight week, up 2.0pts to 92.3

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

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence rose 2.2% to 92.3 in the week to 17 May. Now 24% (up 3ppts) of Australians say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 36% (down 4ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’ financially. Meanwhile, 37% (up 1ppt) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, and 20% (unchanged) expect to be ‘worse off’ financially. However, just 7% (up 1ppt) expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 48% (up 2ppts) expect ‘bad times’. In addition, 34% (up 4ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 40% (up 1ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’. The four-week moving average for ‘inflation expectations’ remained unchanged at 3.4%. The weekly reading decreased to 3.3% from 3.5%.

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

China imposes 80.5 per cent barley tariffs on Australian firms from Tuesday

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Original article by
The New Daily – Page: Online : 19-May-20

The decision by China’s Commerce Ministry to impose anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties totalling 80.5 per cent on Australian barley has been described as "deeply disappointing" by Trade Minister Simon Birmingham. He denies that Australia has subsidised or dumped barley that was exported to China. The decision takes effect from 19 May and is tipped to virtually put an end to Australia’s barley exports to China, which are worth between $1.5bn and $2bn a year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, CHINA. MINISTRY OF COMMERCE

Border bans to wipe out tourism jobs

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Original article by Charlie Peel, Sarah Elks
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 19-May-20

The Queensland government has indicated that the state’s borders may not be reopened to interstate travellers until September. South Australia and Western Australia have also flagged the possibility that travel restrictions could remain in place for some time, prompting concern about the impact on the tourism sector. Winter is a key tourism season for Queensland, with 2.2 million visitors from interstate staying there for at least one night between June and August 2019. Flight Centre CEO Graham Turner says Queensland’s tourism industry could take years to recover if the state remains closed to interstate visitors during the winter months.

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QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP LIMITED – ASX FLT

Time ripe for urgent IR repairs: employers

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Original article by Ewin Hannan, Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 2 : 19-May-20

The Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry has proposed five changes to the industrial relations system to create jobs and boost productivity in the post-coronavirus work environment. Amongst other things, ACCI CEO James Pearson has called for employee stand-down provisions to be extended until March 2021, while companies should be permitted to stagger the times at which employees start and finish work without incurring overtime payments. Pearson has outlined his suggestions in a letter to Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS, SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS, ACTU