Everyone will get the virus

Original article by Geoff Chambers, Natasha Robinson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 28-Feb-20

The global death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has risen to 2,814, and more than 82,000 people worldwide have been diagnosed with the respiratory illness. The federal government has responded to the growing crisis by extending its ban on direct travel from mainland China for another week, while it recently activated an emergency response plan. Meanwhile, Professor Ian Mackay from the University of Queensland doubts that the coronavirus can be contained and warns that it will most likely become endemic. He adds that most people will become infected with the coronavirus at some stage, and for most people the symptoms will be no worse than a bad head cold.

CORPORATES
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

Coronavirus to hit budget and income growth

Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 28-Feb-20

Modelling by Deloitte Access Economics suggests that the coronavirus could see growth in national income fall from 6.4 per cent to just two per cent in the first half of 2020. This would have a $5.9bn impact on the domestic economy, with the tourism and education sectors being particularly hard hit. Meanwhile, economists have downgraded their GDP growth forecasts for the December quarter after data showed that there was a 2.8 per cent decline in capital expenditure during the period. Economists had expected growth of 0.5 per cent.

CORPORATES
DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD

Virus, fires: 1.5 million visitors lost

Original article by Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 8 : 27-Feb-20

A draft report from Deloitte Access Economics has highlighted the impact of the summer bushfires and the coronavirus outbreak on the Australian economy. The tourism industry is expected to be particularly hard hit, with the number of international visitors forecast to decline by 10-15 per cent in 2020. Adele Labine-Romain of Deloitte Access Economics warns that the coronavirus will have an impact across the economy unless it is contained quickly. Meanwhile, the federal government will shortly decide whether to extend its travel ban on visitors from mainland China; the ban could potentially be extended to countries such as Japan and South Korea.

CORPORATES
DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD

‘It’s coming – it’s just how long it takes to come’

Original article by Marnie O’Neill
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 27-Feb-20

The global death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 2,770, and more than 81,000 people worldwide have been diagnosed with the respiratory illness. There have been 23 confirmed cases in Australia, but Associate Professor Ian Mackay from the University of Queensland warns that it is only a matter of time before the nation experiences a major outbreak of the coronavirus. He adds that Australians should stock up on essentials such as batteries, toilet paper and canned food, but he stresses that there is no need for panic buying. Professor Mackay believes that a pandemic is inevitable.

CORPORATES
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

Part time and casual jobs fuelling the growth of under-employment

Original article by
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 27-Feb-20

Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine appeared on the ABC’s ‘7.30’ program on 26 February to discuss the issue of under-employment in Australia. Research by Roy Morgan shows that 8.7 per cent of the workforce is under-employed, compared with the official ABS figure of 8.5 per cent. Roy Morgan estimates that almost 1.2 million Australians were under-employed in 2019, an increase of nearly 450,000 since 2005. Levine says part-time jobs are growing at a faster rate than full-time jobs, and the economy would benefit from people having extra work if they wanted it. The ABS counts a person as being employed if they work for just one hour a week.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Airlines set for worst since GFC

Original article by Lucas Baird
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 27-Feb-20

CAPA-Centre for Aviation chairman Peter Harbison says the coronavirus will have a major impact on the global aviation sector if it is not contained quickly. He warns that if the virus outbreak becomes a pandemic, it will have the biggest impact on aviation since the global financial crisis. The International Air Transport Association estimates that the coronavirus will reduce the earnings of Asia-Pacific airlines by $US27.8bn in 2020.

CORPORATES
CAPA – CENTRE FOR AVIATION, INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION

PM won’t identify foreign spy ring

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?

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

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

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