O75 Public Administration

LNG exporters tell Coalition to back off

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 20 : 30-May-19

Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association CEO Andrew McConville says the federal government should avoid further intervention in the east coast gas market. The government’s Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism has helped to put downward pressure on gas prices, and large industrial gas users have called for further intervention.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION LIMITEDAUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCESANTOS LIMITED – ASX STOORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORGROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC

ALP to miners: give us millions or risk tax hike

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Original article by Michael McKennaPerry Williams
The Australian – Page: 6 : 30-May-19

Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad has indicated that coal royalties will not be increased in the state’s June 2019 Budget. However, she has not ruled out an increase in royalties if coal producers fail to contribute to the state government’s proposed community infrastructure fund. Trad has stressed that industry contributions to the fund are "completely voluntary". The government will contribute $30m to the fund, and it hopes the coal industry will pitch in with a further $70m.

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QUEENSLAND. TREASURYQUEENSLAND RESOURCES COUNCIL LIMITEDAUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTYADANI MINING PTY LTDLIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND

D-day for new minimum wage

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 2 : 30-May-19

The Fair Work Commission will announce its decision in the annual minimum wage case on 30 May. The ACTU lobbied for a six per cent increase in the minimum wage, although employers’ group used their submissions to the FWC to argue for a wage increase that is in line with the inflation rate. Meanwhile, Restaurant & Catering Australia called for no increase in the minimum wage. The new wage rate for 2.2 million workers will take effect on 1 July, when the next round of penalty rate cuts are also due to take effect.

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AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSIONACTUAUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRYTHE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUPRESTAURANT AND CATERING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

Labor clears decks for policy refit

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 30-May-19

Labor will decide the composition of its shadow cabinet team on 30 May. Finance spokesman Jim Chalmers is expected to replace Chris Bowen as shadow treasurer, and there is speculation that the latter could be given the infrastructure or industry portfolio. Senator Kristina Keneally will be given a frontbench portfolio on the insistence of Labor leader Anthony Albanese. Meanwhile, Albanese has ruled out backing the Coalition’s so-called ‘big stick’ energy policy, while he may resist a growing push within Labor’s ranks to support the government’s income tax cuts package.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Fair Work Ombudsman accuses toy retailer Uncle Toys of underpaying workers

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Original article by Josh Fagan
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 29-May-19

The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges that retailer Uncle Toys paid some of its employees just $6.70 an hour at its pop-up stores across Melbourne during the Christmas trading period. FWO Sandra Parker says the retailer and its owner Eyal Israel are the first to be prosecuted under the Protecting Vulnerable Workers laws. The eight employees of Uncle Toys who were underpaid are all on temporary working visas, and are said to be owed a total of $21,000 in wages and entitlements.

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AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, UNCLE TOYS

Shorten wants health role, but some in Labor say that’s a sick joke

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Original article by Richard Ferguson, Alice Workman
The Australian – Page: 4 : 29-May-19

Labor will hold its first caucus meeting in the wake of its election defeat on 30 May, but new leader Anthony Albanese has indicated that the new shadow ministry will not be announced for several days. Former leader Bill Shorten is said to have expressed interest in the health portfolio, although Catherine King is believed to be keen to retain the portfolio. Some Labor MPs do not think Shorten deserves a frontbench portfolio, while former Labor minister Stephen Conroy says he still has much to contribute.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

ScoMo effect sends us cruising

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Original article by Joyce Moullakis, Luke Griffiths, Lisa Allen, Samantha Bailey
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 29-May-19

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Coalition’s surprise federal election win has boosted activity in several sectors of the economy. Banks and mortgage brokers say there has been a sharp increase in home loan enquiries in the wake of the 18 May poll, with Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn noting that it received more mortgage loan applications in the week after the election than it had in more than six months. Cruise lines have also reported an increase in enquiries and bookings, particularly among retirees who would have been hard hit by Labor’s reforms.

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COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSSIE HOME LOANS LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN FINANCE GROUP LIMITED – ASX AFG, NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE, REGENT SEVEN SEAS, OCEANIA CRUISE LINES PTY LTD, ACCOR ASIA PACIFIC, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

Big stick returns in power fight

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 29-May-19

Energy Minister Angus Taylor says legislation aimed at forcing power companies to reduce electricity prices will be a priority for the federal government when parliament resumes. The so-called ‘big stick’ bill was put on hold in March after being rejected by parliament, and the CEOs of major energy companies still have concerns about the proposed legislation. Taylor also says the federal government will encourage its state counterparts to take action to increase electricity and gas supply.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, ONE NATION PARTY

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence increases further to 118.6

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 29-May-19

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence rose 1.2% to 118.6 in the week ended 26 May. Households’ views towards current financial conditions rose 1.2%, while views towards future financial conditions rose 0.8%. These two indices have risen for three consecutive weeks, and the measure of current financial conditions is at its highest since early February. Meanwhile, consumers’ views toward current economic conditions rose 3.0% and future economic conditions were up 4.5%. The ‘time to buy a household item’ index fell 2.9%.

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

$32bn debt binge funds pledges

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Original article by Rebecca Urban
The Australian – Page: 6 : 28-May-19

The Victorian Government’s May 2019 Budget has forecast a surplus of $1bn in 2019-20, rising to $1.5bn in the following financial year. State debt is projected to rise by $32.1bn over the forward estimates period, topping $54.9bn in 2022-23. The increased debt will be used to finance infrastructure projects, with expenditure on infrastructure to average $13.4bn a year over the forward estimates. Meanwhile, the government has scaled back its forecasts for growth in employment and gross state product over the next three years.

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, S&P GLOBAL RATINGS