O75 Public Administration

PM won’t identify foreign spy ring

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 26-Feb-20

ASIO’s director-general Mike Burgess has declined to identify any countries behind a recently-exposed foreign spy ring. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also refused to do so, citing national interest concerns. However, Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick says nations such as the US and Canada have "called out" the countries that are involved in espionage and foreign influence. He has suggested that China is the "most likely culprit".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, CENTRE ALLIANCE

What’s our strategy for slump in wake of virus?

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Robert Gottliebsen
The Australian – Page: 25 : 26-Feb-20

Research by Roy Morgan shows that one-in-six Australian businesses have already been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. This includes sectors of the economy that are among the biggest employers, such as manufacturing and education. However, small and medium enterprises are likely to be hardest hit by the economic fallout from the virus. The federal government is therefore to be commended for proposing to require large companies to pay suppliers more promptly. At present, the proposed legislation only applies to businesses with turnover of up to $10m, but it should be expanded to include medium-sized businesses.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence decreases to 108.3

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Feb-20

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence fell 0.7% to 108.3 in the week ended 23 February. Current finances fell 4%, while future finances were down 5.2% for a second straight weekly loss. In contrast, current economic conditions gained 2.4%, building on the strong rise of 6.5% in the previous reading; future economic conditions rose 2.7%. The ‘Time to buy a major household item’ subindex gained 1.7% after declining for two successive weeks. The four-week moving average for inflation expectations was stable at 4%.

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

Blow to trade far larger than Trump

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Tony Boyd
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 16 : 26-Feb-20

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink says the coronavirus outbreak has highlighted the dangers of being too dependent on China for imported goods, and companies will need to diversify their supply chains. He also expects the coronavirus to have a greater impact on international trade than the tariff war that was initiated by President Donald Trump. Fink adds that rather than relying on the monetary policy measures of central banks, governments will need to pursue fiscal stimulus if the coronavirus affects global economic growth.

CORPORATES
BLACKROCK INCORPORATED, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Virus triggers surplus retreat

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Rosie Lewis, Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 8 : 26-Feb-20

The global death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 2,711, and more than 80,000 people worldwide have been diagnosed with the respiratory illness. Meanwhile, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has warned that the virus will have a greater economic impact on the Australian economy than the summer bushfires, while Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stressed the impact of the virus is not restricted to the education and tourism sectors. Chris Richardson of Deloitte Access Economics says there is still a chance that the government will achieve a Budget surplus for 2019-20.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD

ASIO uncovers sleeper agent running spy ring

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 25-Feb-20

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general Mike Burgess says countering terrorism remains ASIO’s top priority. He was delivering the Annual Threat Assessment on 24 February, with Burgess stating the ­number of active terrorist leads ASIO was investigating had doubled in the past 12 months. He revealed that ASIO had uncovered a ‘sleeper agent’ running a major spy ring, although he did not disclose what had happened to the agent. Burgess said ASIO had used controversial new encryption laws within 10 days of them coming into effect in 2018 in order to prevent a possible terrorist attack.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION

Inflation expectations much higher among ALP supporters than Liberal, National or Greens supporters

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 25-Feb-20

Australians aged +14 expect inflation of 3.9% annually over the next two years, according to the Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations Index for January 2020. This is a slight decrease of 0.1% on December, but down 0.3% on a year ago. This is the lowest expectation of future price increases to start a year since the series began in 2010, and compares to price expectations of 6.6% annually over the next two years in January 2011. Comparing price expectations by Federal voting intention shows that the highest price expectations are held by those voting for Independents/Others at 4.4% annually over the next two years, equal to those who can’t say who they would vote for (also 4.4%). In terms of supporters of the major parties, ALP supporters expect annual price increases of 4.1% over the next two years which is slightly higher than the national average of 3.9% and significantly higher than both L-NP supporters on 3.5% and Greens supporters on 3.7%. January Inflation Expectations are based on personal interviews with a nationally representative sample of 4,052 Australians aged 14+.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Already 1-in-6 Australian businesses have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19)

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 25-Feb-20

In mid-February around 1-in-6 Australian businesses (15%) have already been affected by the coronavirus. This new threat to business comes after 28% of Australian businesses said they have been affected by the extensive bushfires over the last few months, according to a special Roy Morgan Snap SMS Survey of 1,170 Australian businesses. A little over a week after the Australian Government stopped all direct commercial flights to China in early February the coronavirus (COVID-19) is already striking several industries. Around two-fifths of Manufacturers are already reporting being affected, closely followed by a third of Education & training businesses and those in the Wholesale industry. Other industries to already be feeling the effects of the coronavirus include Accommodation & Food services (which includes travel and tourism businesses), Community services, Administrative & Support services and Property & Business services. Meanwhile, a deeper analysis of the industries most heavily impacted by the bushfires/floods shows that over 40% of businesses in the Accommodation and Food services sector, which includes travel and tourism, say they have been affected either ‘A great deal’ or ‘Somewhat’. Around a third of businesses in the Retail and Property & Business services industries have been affected, while there have also been disproportionately large impacts on Manufacturing, Transport, Postal and Warehousing, Public administration & defence, Education & training and Recreation & personal.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Power stability critical

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 24-Feb-20

The Energy Security Board’s latest annual report card has stated that electricity affordability improved from ‘critical’ in 2018 to ‘moderate-critical’ in 2019. This was due to a combination of falling costs and government pressure on retailers. The ESB noted that power generation from wind and solar is tipped to grow from 16 per cent of supply in 2019 to more than 40 per cent by 2030. However, it warned that the growth of wind and solar poses a threat to the stability of the national grid, with greater intervention needed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ENERGY SECURITY BOARD

ALP target a business bodyblow

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Rosie Lewis, Elias Visontay
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 24-Feb-20

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has criticised Labor’s target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, describing it as "reckless and irresponsible". Labor leader Anthony Albanese has indicated that the net zero emissions target will be economy-wide, prompting concern among sectors such as agriculture and logistics. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has warned that achieving this target would require Australia to eliminate most of its cattle herd, which would in turn result in higher costs for consumers.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES, NATIONAL FARMERS’ FEDERATION LIMITED