O75 Public Administration

Tony Abbott’s Paris backflip reveals the emptiness of last year’s leadership madness

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Original article by David Crowe
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 8-Mar-19

Tony Abbott has backtracked on his call for Australia to pull out of the Paris climate agreement. Abbott was all for pulling out of the agreement last July, and it is now clear that his crusade was all about trying to hurt then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and replacing him with a new leader, rather than energy policy. Abbott is clearly worried that Zali Steggall, who is running against him as an independent candidate and who has been campaigning strongly on climate action, has a good chance of beating him.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Billions in gains on offer from US-China skirmish

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Original article by Glenda Korporaal
The Australian – Page: 20 : 8-Mar-19

A PwC report has concluded that Australia’s manufacturing, education and resources sectors are amongst those that could benefit from the US-China trade war. The report suggests that the domestic economy could potentially be bolstered by up to $2bn a year if the trade tensions continue. PwC economist Jeremy Thorpe says local businesses should be looking at how they can capitalise on any trade opportunities that may arise as a result of the tensions between the US and China.

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PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD

Morrison snuffs out Nationals’ power push

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 8-Mar-19

The federal government has rejected a bid by six National Party MPs to revive its "big stick" legislation prior to the upcoming election. The bill to force energy companies to divest assets if they fail to reduce electricity price was recently put on hold. The Nationals MPs also want the government to commit to underwriting a new power generation project in regional Queensland before the election. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the April 2019 Budget and flood relief measures for Queensland are his legislative priorities.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Labor, ACTU hose down wage fears

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 8-Mar-19

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has committed to ensuring that the minimum wage is increased to become a living wage if Labor wins the federal election. Shorten and ACTU secretary Sally McManus have both expressed support for the Fair Work Commission continuing to have responsibility for setting a living wage, as well as the timeframe for transitioning from the minimum wage. Prime Minister Scott Morrison contends that economic growth rather than increased taxes is the best way to lift wages.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Business Confidence virtually unchanged in February at 105.6

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 8-Mar-19

Roy Morgan Business Confidence was virtually unchanged at 105.6 (down 0.3 points) in February. However, the consecutive ratings under 110 represent the weakest start to a year in the history of the Index dating back to 2011, and follow a slowing of the Australian economy to a GDP growth rate of only 0.2% during the December quarter, the slowest quarterly growth since 2016. Business Confidence in February was 14.4pts below its level of a year ago, and 10.3pts below its long-term average of 115.9. However, some industries have started 2019 with high and increasing confidence, including mining, accommodation and food services, and transport, postal and warehousing. Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says business confidence should improve in the second half of 2019, once the federal and New South Wales elections are out of the way.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Former PM Malcolm Turnbull slams Liberal Party in BBC interview

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Original article by
News.com.au – Page: Online : 8-Mar-19

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has claimed in an interview with British journalist Andrew Neil that he was ousted because the Liberal Party believed that he would win the 2019 election. Turnbull maintains that the Coalition had been in a winnable position when he was ousted in August. He says public opinion polls of the time showed that support for the Coalition and Labor was evenly split, and that the Coalition was ahead in marginal seats. Turnbull adds that the Liberals can still win the election, but notes that successor Scott Morrison is faring worse than him in the polls.

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

Nat MPs ignite energy war

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 7-Mar-19

Michelle Landry and George Christensen are among six National Party MPs who have called for the federal government to press ahead with legislation to force energy companies to divest assets if they fail to reduce electricity prices. The legislation was recently put on hold, but the six Nationals MPs want it to be debated by parliament in April. They also want the government to agree to underwrite a new power generation project in regional Queensland prior to the upcoming election, and some have expressed a preference for a clean coal plant.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Health insurers call for workplace FBT break

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Original article by Sarah-Jane Tasker
The Australian – Page: 21 : 7-Mar-19

Private health insurance industry executives have urged the federal government to exempt employer-sponsored health insurance from the fringe benefits tax regime. Medicare CEO Craig Drummond argues that such a move would help reduce the strain on the health system, a view shared by HBF CEO John Van Der Wielen. Members Health Fund Alliance CEO Matthew Koce questions why salary packaging can include cars but not health insurance policies.

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MEDIBANK PRIVATE LIMITED – ASX MPL, HBF HEALTH LIMITED, MEMBERS HEALTH FUND ALLIANCE, NIB HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NHF, BUPA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Resources boom gives government wriggle room

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Original article by David Uren
The Australian – Page: 4 : 7-Mar-19

Higher commodity prices in 2018 resulted in nominal GDP growth of 5.5 per cent for the calendar year. The mid-year Budget update in December had forecast nominal GDP growth of 4.75 per cent in 2018-19 and just 3.5 per cent in 2019-20. Treasury is likely to revise these forecasts in the April 2019 Budget, although it is expected to scale back economic growth forecasts in response to the national accounts data for the December quarter. Meanwhile, company and personal income tax revenue rose by 11.8 per cent and 7.6 per cent respectively in 2018.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Jail for employers exploiting workers

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 7-Mar-19

The federal goverment has expressed in-principle support for the 22 recommendations made in the report of the Migrant Workers’ Taskforce. The report found that many migrant workers are victims of wage exploitation, and recommended harsher penalties for underpayment. The government is set to announce criminal sanctions for "clear, deliberate and systemic" underpayment of works, despite opposition from employers’ groups. It also intends to establish a national labour-hire registration scheme covering industries where wage exploitation is widespread.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF JOBS AND SMALL BUSINESS, 7-ELEVEN STORES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY