O75 Public Administration

No criminal charges for anyone implicated in leaking information in AWU raids case

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Original article by Matthew Doran
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 15-Jan-19

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions believes that there is little chance of securing any convictions over media leaks regarding raids on the offices of the Australian Workers’ Union in October 2017. An Australian Federal Police spokeswoman says that as there is no prospect of criminal charges, the investigation into the affair will be discontinued. The senior media adviser to former Employment Minister Michaelia Cash resigned over the leak, although Cash herself denied that her office had any knowledge of the leak.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION-FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIA. REGISTERED ORGANISATIONS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF JOBS AND SMALL BUSINESS

Fair Work boss sidelines Coalition appointees

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 15-Jan-19

The federal government appointed six new deputy presidents to the Fair Work Commission in late 2018. Such appointees traditionally hear full bench cases, but FWC president Iain Ross has told members of the commission that most of the deputy presidents will only handle relatively minor matters such as conciliation work. The majority of the new appointees have an employer background, which prompted Labor to accuse the government of "stacking" the FWC.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF JOBS AND SMALL BUSINESS, ACTU, AUSTRALIAN MINES AND METALS ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED), BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, EXXONMOBIL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION, NSW BUSINESS CHAMBER LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS LIMITED, CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH

Ports, mine targeted in CFMEU hit

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 15-Jan-19

Hutchison Ports Australia will be subject to industrial action by the militant Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union. Work bans will commence on 17 January, in response to the stevedoring group’s push to reduce pay rates and leave entitlements under a new workplace agreement. Hutchison will apply for an order from the Fair Work Commission requiring the union to give five days’ notice prior to launching the industrial action. Meanwhile, CFMMEU members at the Wongawilli Colliery in New South Wales have voted to extend strike action for a second week.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, HUTCHISON PORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOLLONGONG COAL LIMITED – ASX WLC, JINDAL STEEL AND POWER LIMITED, CAS MINE SERVICES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Shorten super tax net to trap a million

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Original article by Rosie Lewis, Adam Creighton
The Weekend Australian – Page: Online : 12-Jan-19

Treasury analysis indicates up to one million Australians could be impacted by superannuation tax changes if Labor wins the next election. Labor’s planned changes include a cut to the cap on non-concessional superannuation contributions that people can make each year, and a reduction in the high-income super contribution threshold. The self-employed and mothers returning to work from maternity leave are among those most likely to be affected by Labor’s changes.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, RICE WARNER ACTUARIES PTY LTD

Australia Day ceremonies to be made compulsory

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Original article by Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: Online : 14-Jan-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will force local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, while he will also introduce a dress code for ceremonies. Morrison has rejected Labor leader Bill Shorten’s claim that the government was trying to politicise Australia Day, with his action following the decision of some councils not to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day out of respect to indigenous Australians. Shorten noted that 530 of Australia’s 537 councils hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, while he said he had no plans to change Australia Day from 26 January if Labor wins the next election.

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

Which industries can expect pay rise in 2019

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Original article by Lucas Baird
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 11-Jan-19

Information and communications technology is one of just three areas that 1st Executive director Andrew Thoseby says people wanting to change career paths to get a pay rise should switch to. He says the other two areas are insolvency accounting and sales. Executive headhunter Kylie Hammond is advising job applicants to seek out industries she describes as "recession-proof", including aged-care and health. Touchstone Executive Search MD Chris Kliengbeil does not expect much growth in fixed remuneration in the fast-moving consumer goods and retail sector in 2019.

CORPORATES
1ST EXECUTIVE PTY LTD, TOUCHSTONE EXECUTIVE SEARCH

Unions go to war over labour hire

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 11-Jan-19

The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union is seeking a 10 per cent pay rise for labour-hire workers at a New South Wales coal mine. The workers at Wongawilli Colliery, who are paid significantly less than workers at other mines in the region, will commence a seven-day strike. CAS Mine Services has warned that the proposed pay rise is not financially viable. The CFMMEU’s national president Tony Maher says the poor treatment of labour-hire workers will be a key issue at the upcoming federal election.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, CAS MINE SERVICES PTY LTD, WOLLONGONG COAL LIMITED – ASX WLC, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF JOBS AND SMALL BUSINESS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Sunsuper says top-10 approach fair

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Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 11-Jan-19

Scott Hartley, the CEO of industry superannuation fund Sunsuper, has expressed support for a proposal to restrict default super regime to a list of the 10 best-performing funds. However, he says the new system would need to be gradually phased in to reduce risk. The proposed reform has been criticised by Industry Super Australia CEO Bernie Dean, and Willis Towers Watson Australasia’s former CEO Andrew Boal warns of the potential for "unintended consequences".

CORPORATES
SUNSUPER PTY LTD, INDUSTRY SUPER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WILLIS TOWERS WATSON, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

Labor slams attack on union super

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Original article by John Kehoe, Joanna Mather, David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 11-Jan-19

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen has criticised the Productivity Commission’s proposed changes to the default superannuation fund regime. He says restricting the default fund to a list of the 10-best performing funds is problematic, as returns can vary significantly over a period of time. The PC’s key recommendation is opposed by labour unions, while the Financial Services Council and the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia have also expressed reservations. However, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the proposal has merit and is worth considering.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL, THE ASSOCIATION OF SUPERANNUATION FUNDS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, COUNCIL OF SUPERANNUATION CUSTODIANS, SUPERANNUATION CONSUMERS’ CENTRE, BT FINANCIAL GROUP PTY LTD, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC

Slowdown threatens budget surplus

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 10-Jan-19

Fitch Solutions has cast doubt upon the federal government’s timetable for a return to a Budget surplus. The government expects a surplus equivalent to 0.2 per cent of GDP in 2019-20, but Fitch has forecast that factors such as slowing economic growth will result in a deficit equivalent to 0.1 per cent of GDP for the financial year. The firm warns that increased government spending and slowing global economic growth will also delay the return to a surplus. Fitch’s forecast of a 2018-19 deficit equivalent to 0.3 per cent of GDP is in line with the government’s projections.

CORPORATES
FITCH SOLUTIONS, FITCH RATINGS LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA