O75 Public Administration

Kelty unleashes super spray at Swan

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Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 25-Oct-19

Former ACTU secretary Bill Kelty referred to Wayne Swan as a "miserable bastard" at the launch of the Crescent Think Tank on 24 October. Kelty’s description of the former Labor treasurer was on account of him only increasing the superannuation guarantee by 0.5 per cent during Labor’s six years in office. Kelty and former Labor prime minister Paul Keating are pushing for the SG to be increased to 12 per cent, although some Liberal MPs and the Grattan Institute have called for it to be paused at 9.5 per cent. Kelty says suggestions that deferring SG increases will cause employers to increase wages are "laughable".

CORPORATES
ACTU, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, GRATTAN INSTITUTE

Setka not going anywhere, says union

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 25-Oct-19

The CFMMEU’s national conference in Adelaide has passed a motion calling on Labor to oppose exploitative free-trade agreements. Dave Noonan, the head of the union’s construction division, has criticised Labor leader Anthony Albanese for agreeing to support ‘sell-out’ free trade deals. He also said the CFMMEU’s Victorian secretary John Setka had the full support of delegates at the national conference and he will not resign. Noonan added that Setka’s resignation from Labor will have no impact, arguing that many of the CFMMEU’s leaders have not been party members.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS, SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT

Union bill set to pass, with or without Setka

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 25-Oct-19

The federal government is believed to have secured Centre Alliance’s support for the Ensuring Integrity Bill after agreeing to some changes to the draft legislation. Independent senator Jacqui Lambie maintains that she will back the legislation unless John Setka resigns as the Victorian secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union. Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter has in turn urged Labor to sever its ties with the militant union, arguing that the problem is "much bigger" than Setka.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS, SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS, CENTRE ALLIANCE, ONE NATION PARTY

Paris on radar in green surge

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Original article by Graham Lloyd
The Australian – Page: 1 & 7 : 24-Oct-19

Research by the Australian National University has spent 11 times the global average on renewable energy in recent years. The researcher conclude that the nation will be able to meet its Paris emissions reduction targets without needing to use Kyoto carryover credits if this level of investment is sustained. The ANU researchers also forecast that Australia’s carbon emissions will fall by 3-4 per cent between 2020 and 2022 as a result of the investment in renewables.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Parties urge shorter pre-polling time

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Original article by Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 6 : 24-Oct-19

The issue of early voting in federal elections came under scrutiny by the joint standing committee on electoral matters on 23 October. Andrew Hirst, the Liberal Party’s federal director, told the committee’s inquiry into the 18 May election that the pre-polling period should be reduced from three weeks to two, while the number of pre-polling centres should be reduced to 2013 levels. He argued that pre-polling means that many people have voted before political parties have released their key election policies.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL MATTERS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION, GETUP LIMITED

Let whistleblowers speak to avoid a corrupt society

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Original article by Joyce Moullakis
The Australian – Page: 2 : 24-Oct-19

Commonwealth Bank of Australia whistleblower Jeff Morris has criticised the federal government’s handling of the issue of protection for whistleblowers and journalists. He has questioned the government’s "ethics and intent" with regard to whistleblowers, warning that its attempts to shut down dissent on the issue will allow corruption and wrongdoing to thrive. Morris exposed the misconduct within CBA’s financial planning division which resulted in customers receiving compensation.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION

Monetary policy beats fiscal stimulus

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Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 24-Oct-19

Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy is upbeat about the outlook for the Australian economy. He has told the Senate estimates committee that the economy is growing ‘modestly’ and it should continue to strengthen. Kennedy also contended that monetary policy is still a better option for boosting economic growth than fiscal stimulus. He also stressed the need for structural reform and an increase in labour productivity.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON ECONOMICS, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Setka exit deepens Labor rift

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 24-Oct-19

The federal government’s hopes of passing the Ensuring Integrity Bill have been boosted by John Setka’s refusal to step down as Victorian secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union. Setka’s resignation from the Labor party on 23 October has pre-empted an upcoming meeting of its national executive, which had been expected to expel him from the party. However, independent senator Jacqui Lambie maintains that she will back the legislation unless Setka also resigns from his CFMMEU role. Setka’s resignation has been welcomed by Labor leader Anthony Albanese, who led the push to have him expelled.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Union role expected in new IR laws

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 23-Oct-19

Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter has confirmed that lifetime workplace agreements for greenfield projects will be part of the federal government’s proposed overhaul of workplace laws. Labor is likely to support the move, given that Porter is expected to endorse lifetime agreements that are negotiated between unions and employers. However, unions have reservations about the proposal.

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

Business splits on 12pc super

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Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 23-Oct-19

The Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s chief economist Ross Lambie says any further increase in the superannuation guarantee should be dependent on an increase in productivity. Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox supports the long-term goal of lifting the super guarantee to 12 per cent; however, he is open to further delaying the rise, citing factors such as the cost to businesses and the need for real wages to increase. AustralianSuper CEO Ian Silk argues that the increase in the super guarantee has been legislated, and it has already been delayed twice.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING UNIONS’ SUPERANNUATION FUND, AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION, HOST-PLUS, AUSTRALIAN MINES AND METALS ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED), GRATTAN INSTITUTE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION, MASTER ELECTRICIANS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD