O75 Public Administration

Tools down if workers hot, sticky

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 11-Oct-19

The Queen’s Wharf project in Brisbane is among the construction sites in southeast Queensland that will be subject to a new hot weather policy. The agreement between the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union and Multiplex will allow building workers to stop work temporarily when the temperature reaches 28C and humidity tops 75 per cent at least three hours before the start of a shift. Master Builders Queensland CEO Grant Galvin says the policy will be an occupational health and safety nightmare, and he warns that it could be exploited by the CFMMEU.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, BROOKFIELD MULTIPLEX LIMITED, MASTER BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WORKERS’ UNION, ELECTRICAL TRADES UNION

Joint strategy with US on rare earths

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Original article by Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 7 : 11-Oct-19

Resources Minister Matt Canavan has indicated that a joint strategy with the US regarding critical minerals such as rare earths will be finalised in coming weeks. He has stressed the need for co-operation between governments to ensure that new rare earths projects go ahead. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who is visiting Australia, has emphasised the importance of processing rather than merely mining rare earths. Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says the federal government wants processing of critical minerals to be undertaken in Australia.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LYNAS CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX LYC

Big energy: big-stick rules hamper firm investment

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith, Simon Evans, Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: S1 & S2 : 10-Oct-19

Origin Energy CEO Frank Calabria has told an energy summit that the federal government’s proposed legislation to force energy companies to divest assets is deterring investment in the sector at a time when it is urgently needed. The issue of government intervention in the energy market attracted criticism from some of the summit’s delegates, but Energy Minister Angus Taylor says such action is justified given the rise in electricity prices in recent years as renewable energy generation has increased.

CORPORATES
ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, ENERGYAUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, AUSTRALIA. ENERGY SECURITY BOARD, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET OPERATOR LIMITED

Strict best interest duty needed: Harris

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 10-Oct-19

Former Productivity Commission chairman Peter Harris has stressed the need for a strong ‘best interest duty’ that applies equally across the banking, mortgage broking, financial advice and superannuation industry. He is concerned that industry lobbying could result in a proposed best interest duty for mortgage brokers being watered down. Harris has also downplayed the need for a mortgage pricing inquiry, arguing that the federal government’s priority should be to implement the recommendations made by the commission in its 2018 report on competition in the financial services sector.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN FINANCE GROUP LIMITED – ASX AFG

Canavan seeks US funds to help develop rare earths resources

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 10-Oct-19

Resources Minister Matt Canavan has held talks with US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross regarding co-operation in the development of critical minerals projects, including rare earths. Amongst other things, the federal government is looking at options such as providing funding for early-stage projects via Export Finance Australia and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility. China is the world’s major producer of rare earths, accounting for about 80 per cent of global supply.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, LYNAS CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX LYC, ARAFURA RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX ARU, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY. UNITED STATES STUDIES CENTRE

Tax cuts key to driving revival: US

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Original article by Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 10-Oct-19

US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross will meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Canberra on 10 October. Ross says the federal government should look at corporate tax reform in order to increase the nation’s global competitiveness and attract more direct foreign investment. Ross has also cautioned against focusing too much on Australia’s trade relationship with China at the expense of its investment relationship with the US. He has also warned that Australia’s aluminium exports to the US are under scrutiny following a recent trebling of export volumes after the Trump administration agreed to a tariff exemption.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Costs blow strikes Fair Work funders

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 6 : 9-Oct-19

Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox has welcomed the Federal Court’s ruling that litigation funder August Ventures should provide security for employers’ costs in a class action over alleged breaches of workplace laws. Willox hopes the ruling will make Fair Work class actions less attractive to litigation funders, while he has called for such businesses to be subject to greater regulation. There are currently 11 class actions before the Federal Court involving ­alleged breaches of the Fair Work Act.

CORPORATES
FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, AUGUST VENTURES, ADERO LAW, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, WORKPAC PTY LTD

Morrison: ANZUS Libs’ greatest move

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Original article by Troy Bramston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 9-Oct-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has attributed the Liberal Party’s electoral success and longevity in government to the fact that it is a ‘common sense’ and ‘pragmatic’ party that has broad appeal. Morrison has identified the ANZUS Treaty, which was signed in 1951, as the Liberal Party’s most important achievement in government. Morrison adds that he has always wanted to serve his country, but never had any ambitions of becoming Liberal leader or prime minister.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence reverses to 112.3

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Oct-19

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence fell 2.1% to 112.3 in the week ended 6 October, after gaining 4.2% in the previous reading. Households’ views towards current financial conditions fell 4.7%, while views towards future financial conditions lost 5.0%. Consumers’ views toward current economic conditions fell 1.7% and views towards future economic conditions fell 1.1%. The ‘time to buy a major household item’ continued to recover after falling to a 10-year low in recent weeks, although it remains below its long-term average. Inflation expectations rose 0.1 ppt to 4.1%.

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

Research on how cells adapt to oxygen earns trio Nobel Prize for medicine

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Original article by
The New Daily – Page: Online : 8-Oct-19

Scientists William Kaelin, Gregg Semenza and Peter Ratcliffe have been awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize for Medicine for their work in determining how cells adapt to oxygen levels. In awarding the prize to Kaelin, Semenza and Ratcliffe, the Nobel Assembly at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute noted that oxygen sensing is central to a large number of diseases. Their work is tipped to help find new methods for combating diseases such as cancer and anaemia.

CORPORATES
KAROLINSKA INSTITUTE