O75 Public Administration

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

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

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

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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.

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

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.

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

Xi backs down on virus inquiry, pledges $3bn to recovery

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Original article by Will Glasgow, Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 19-May-20

Chinese President Xi Jinping has agreed to support an independent inquiry into the origin of the coronavirus after it is brought under control. China was under growing pressure to back an inquiry after some 121 of the World Health Organization’s 194 member countries agreed to back a resolution calling for such an inquiry. Xi has also indicated that China will provide $US2bn ($3.1bn) to help with the global response to the pandemic and said that China will ensure that any vaccine it develops is made available globally.

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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

World coalition backs Australia

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 18-May-20

The UK, New Zealand and Japan are among 62 nations that have agreed to support a motion calling for an independent inquiry into the origin of the coronavirus when the World Health Assembly meets on 18 May. Australia has led the push for an inquiry into the pandemic, and Foreign Minister Marise Payne stresses that international collaboration is needed so the world can prevent or respond to future pandemics. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has indicated that the US may be prepared to restore its funding for the World Health Organization, although only the same amount of money that China contributes.

CORPORATES
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Leaders push to retain national cabinet model for policy reform

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Original article by Craig Johnstone, Matthew Denholm
The Australian – Page: 2 : 18-May-20

Several state leaders have praised the national cabinet model and expressed support for it to continue when the coronavirus crisis abates. Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein says Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been respectful in his dealings with state and territory leaders during the pandemic. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews agrees that the national cabinet should continue in some form as priority shifts from responding to the health crisis to addressing its economic impact. Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner adds that the national cabinet has "shown the commonwealth at its best".

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, TASMANIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, NORTHERN TERRITORY. DEPT OF THE CHIEF MINISTER

Green New Deal puts debt at 44pc of GDP

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 18-May-20

Greens leader Adam Bandt has called on the federal government to lead Australia out of the COVID-19 crisis with a bold economic plan. The Greens will outline the strategies it believes are needed for Australia to recover from COVID-19 on 18 May; its plans include the construction of 500,000 new public housing properties and $59 billion to be spent on sustainable infrastructure. The Greens would guarantee anyone under the age of 30 employment, a training place or free higher education, while they are calling for the current JobSeeker rate of $1,115 per fortnight to be retained.

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AUSTRALIAN GREENS

PM’s post-pandemic powerplay

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 18-May-20

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stressed the need for greater workplace flexibility in the post-coronavirus environment, in order to boost the economy and get people back to work. He says that employers, workers, unions and government must co-operate in delivering the reforms that are needed in the wake of the pandemic. Morrison is optimistic that the union movement will continue to work constructively with the government, although he does not have similar expectations from Labor. Morrison adds that the immediate priority is to ensure that Australia does not face a second wave of coronavirus infections as lockdown restrictions are eased.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Pandemic pain to hit wage rises

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 15-May-20

Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO James Pearson says the latest jobs data underlines the need for the minimum wage to remain unchanged in 2020. He warns that an increase in the minimum wage would jeopardise more jobs. Fair Work Commission president Ian Ross has flagged the possibility that a minimum wage rise could be delayed for companies that are receiving the JobKeeper wage subsidy. However, the ACTU opposes any delay; it is pushing for a minimum wage rise of four per cent, or $30 a week.

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AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, ACTU