O75 Public Administration

Labor’s double-dipping motion fails

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Original article by Adam Zuchetti
mybusiness.com.au – Page: Online : 17-Sep-19

The Senate has defeated a disallowance motion moved by Labor against the Fair Work Amendment (Casual Loading Offset) Regulations 2018. The regulations were introduced by the federal government to prevent casual employees ‘double-dipping’ on annual leave and other entitlements, and were adopted in the wake of the WorkPac decision. The motion, which was put by Labor Senator Don Farrell, was defeated by 33 votes to 29 on 16 September. The motion’s defeat was welcomed by Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO James Pearson, with Pearson saying he was thankful common sense had prevailed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, WORKPAC PTY LTD

HK pleads for patience

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Original article by Michael Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 13 : 17-Sep-19

Hong Kong businessman and politician Bernard Chan believes it can end the unrest in the former UK colony without the need for Chinese military intervention. Chan, who is on the board of Cathay Pacific and who is president of Asia Financial Holdings and Asia Insurance, says no one wants to see such intervention, including Beijing itself. Chan believes the unrest is more about the Hong Kong government’s failure to address economic and social challenges than concern about Chinese political interference, and he hopes Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s upcoming annual policy address, which she will give in October, will act as a ‘circuitbreaker’ for the unrest.

CORPORATES
CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LIMITED, ASIA FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, ASIA INSURANCE COMPANY

Challenge to ruling on shift workers’ leave

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 17-Sep-19

The federal government and Mondelez International plan to challenge a Federal Court decision regarding shift workers’ leave entitlements in the High Court. Mondelez, with the support of the government, had sought to cut personal and carers leave entitlements for shift workers at its Cadbury factory in Tasmania, but the Federal Court rejected its bid. Employer groups state the decision would give those who work industry-specific rosters or long hours much greater leave entitlements than those who work standard 38-hour weeks. Attorney-General Christian Porter said the Federal Court’s decision would create inequality between workers, while he noted employers had estimated the decision could increase their costs by up to $2 billion a year.

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FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, MONDELEZ AUSTRALIA (FOODS) LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, CADBURY AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Rebel Liberals call spill against NSW Premier

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Original article by Andrew Clennell
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 17-Sep-19

Three Liberal MPs will launch a ’empty chair’ spill motion against New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian on 17 September over abortion legislation. The legislation has passed the NSW Lower House on a conscience vote, despite most Liberal MPs voting against it. The three MPs – Lower House member Tanya Davies and Upper House members Matthew Mason-Cox and Lou Amato – have stated they are launching their motion against Berejiklian because of the unwillingness of her and her government to agree to proposed amendments to the legislation that would be put to the Upper House.

CORPORATES
NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

‘Bittersweet’: agricultural exports reach record high amid stock sell-off

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Original article by Ean Higgins
The Australian – Page: Online : 17-Sep-19

Australian agricultural exports reached a record high of $50.7 billion in 2018-19, according to Rural Bank’s Australian Agricultural Trade report. Agricultural commodities to record growth in 2018-19 included cotton, diary, sheep and wine, while commodities that declined in value included seafood and wool. Beef recorded the biggest rise in export value growth, up $1.9 billion to $12.3 billion. However, Rural Bank described this growth as ‘bittersweet’, it being a reflection of farmers not able to feed all their stock because of drought and therefore having to sell some of them.

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RURAL BANK LIMITED

Consumers won’t feel the pain unless things get serious

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Original article by Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: 6 : 17-Sep-19

The drone attacks on Saudi oilfields serve as a reminder about how reliant Australia is on oil for its transport needs, and how potentially vulnerable it is to disruptions in the Middle East. Australia’s oil refineries import over 75 per cent of their feedstock, while Australia has the lowest oil reserves (59 days) of any member of the International Energy Agency. John Mitchell from Chatham House says around 20 per cent of Australia’s oil consumption comes through the Strait of Hormuz, either directly to Australia or indirectly after being processed in Asian refineries. The Saudi attacks are unlikely to have any immediate impact on local petrol prices.

CORPORATES
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY, CHATHAM HOUSE

Time to stay calm on Iran, says Frydenberg, despite perfect storm

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Original article by Simon Benson, Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 17-Sep-19

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has urged business leaders and investors not to overreact to recent events such as the attacks on Saudi oil facilities. He said on 16 September that the attacks, along with Brexit and trade tensions, give "investors cause to pause". The attacks, which took place on 14 September, have sparked fears of war in the Middle East, with Donald Trump saying the US is "locked and loaded" to take action over them. Iran has denied allegations it was responsible for the attacks, which saw the price of Brent crude oil jump almost 20 per cent when markets opened on 16 September.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Labor rethinks climate policies

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Original article by Richard Ferguson,{SHARE}Sascha O’Sullivan
The Australian – Page: 2 : 16-Sep-19

Labor’s frontbench is divided on how ambitious the climate change policy that it takes to the next federal election should be. Labor leader Anthony Albanese has not ruled out getting rid of Bill Shorten’s target of a 45 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030, while Opposition climate spokesman Mark Butler says whatever target Labor comes up with will still be an improvement on the federal government’s target. Meanwhile, Albanese has criticised the federal government for not taking steps to deal with the drought, following revelations that parts of New South Wales could run out of water within six months.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Union duo plead guilty over drugs

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 16-Sep-19

Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union NSW organisers Simon Gutierrez and Nicholas Rekes have pleaded guilty to drug possession and dealing charges in Sydney Local Court. Rekes and Gutierrez were arrested in April, after a police operation that saw $4,000 worth of drugs seized and which also involved the arrest of CFMMEU NSW assistant secretary Michael Greenfield. Greenfield pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine in July, but avoided jail or a conviction. Master Builders Association CEO Denita Wain says the fact that the three still retain significant workplace entry rights despite the charges against them shows why the federal government’s Ensuring Integrity laws are so necessary.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA,{SHARE}MASTER BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION

Support for business activism

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Original article by Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 16-Sep-19

A Committee for Economic Development of Australia survey of over 3,000 people found that over 75 per cent believe business leaders should speak out on issues of national importance. However, under 50 per cent of those surveyed felt that such advocacy was happening. The CEDA’s survey results come at a time when the federal government has criticised business for getting involved in too many activist causes. Tim Reed, the outgoing CEO of MYOB, says companies are entitled to take part in "community conversations", while he says he is proud of MYOB’s stance on issues such as same-sex marriage.

CORPORATES
COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTRALIA,{SHARE}MYOB GROUP LIMITED