O75 Public Administration

Million face tax sting under Shorten

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Original article by Adam Creighton, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 8-Jan-19

The Treasury estimates that about 580,000 Australians will pay the highest marginal income tax rate in 2018-19. However, modelling by the Treasury suggests that this could rise to nearly 1.1 million by 2025 if Labor wins the federal election and proceeds with plans to scrap the Coalition’s proposed increase in the threshold for the top tax rate from $180,000 to $200,000 in 2024-25. The modelling also shows that the number of people in the highest tax bracket would rise to 820,000 by 2024-25 under a Coalition government.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

MPs to monitor foreign interference threats

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 7-Jan-19

James McGrath says the joint standing committee on electoral matters will continue with its efforts to ensure that Australia’s electoral system remains free from foreign interference. McGrath is the chairman of the committee, and he says there has been no evidence to date of such interference, but that the need to be vigilant on such matters remains important. He says cyber interference has the potential to undermine confidence in Australian democracy.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL MATTERS, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Labor creating a rental famine

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Original article by Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 2 : 7-Jan-19

Liberal senator Dean Smith contends that young Australians would be most affected by Labor’s proposed changes to negative gearing. With 2.1 million renters aged between 20 and 34 in Australia, Smith says Labor’s plans represent an opportunity for the federal government to portray itself as a better option for voters in this age group. Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen says he would be happy to have a debate on whether Labor or the Coalition has the best housing policies for young people.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, SQM RESEARCH PTY LTD

Red light flashing over fuel security

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Original article by Primrose Riordan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 7-Jan-19

There is growing concern about Australia’s limited onshore fuel stockpiles, with experts warning that it is less prepared than other developed nations for an international crisis that would affect fuel supplies. Data from the Department of Energy shows that Australia’s petrol stockpile would last 22 days, while the diesel fuel supply would be exhausted in just 17 days. In contrast, the International Energy Agency recommends that nations have a fuel stockpile equivalent to 90 days. The federal government has been criticised for delaying a review of Australia’s fuel stockpiles.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, DEAKIN UNIVERSITY, AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE

Senator bills for rally trip, admits he’s doomed

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Original article by Ben Packham, Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 7-Jan-19

Independent senator Fraser ­Anning has defended his taxpayer-funded trip to attend an anti-immigration rally in Melbourne. Fraser says the trip was official parliamentary business, as the violent crimes committed by people of African appearance in Melbourne are now being replicated in his home state of Queensland. However, Anning concedes that he has little chance of retaining his seat at the next election. Both sides of politics have condemned the racially-motivated rally at St Kilda beach, while some federal MPs have criticised Anning for attending the event.

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

Calls for Setka to be kicked out of ALP

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 4-Jan-19

Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union official John Setka will appear on court on 9 January after police were called to his home on 26 December. Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O’Dwyer says the police charges mean that Setka should be expelled from the Australian Labor Party and step down from his role at the CFMMEU. Setka in turn has asked the media to respect his family’s privacy following the domestic incident.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF JOBS AND SMALL BUSINESS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, MELBOURNE MAGISTRATES’ COURT

Greens’ Basin bill bad for climate

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Original article by Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 2 : 4-Jan-19

The Mineral Council of Australia has warned that a proposed ban on thermal coal production in Queensland’s Galilee Basin would force Asian countries to buy lower-quality coal from developing countries. The MCA argues that this could in turn result in higher global carbon emissions. In addition, it has questioned the constitutional validity of such a ban. The Australian Greens’ bill to ban thermal coal production in the Galilee Basin is also opposed by the Queensland division of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union.

CORPORATES
MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, QUEENSLAND RESOURCES COUNCIL LIMITED, ADANI MINING PTY LTD

KPMG urges refund plan for black economy fines

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 3-Jan-19

KPMG’s submission to a Treasury review has proposed that individuals who have previously engaged in black economy activity could have part of their fine refunded if they have a proven track record of complying with tax laws. The firm suggested that individuals would be more likely to continue to comply with tax laws under such a system, and they could qualify for a refund after three years with a clean slate. The black economy is estimated to be worth up to $50bn a year.

CORPORATES
KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE

Shorten policy a risk to free trade

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Original article by Geoff Connolly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 3-Jan-19

Labor’s national conference in December supported changes to the party’s policy platform with regard to free-trade agreements, including bans on deals that waive ­labour-market testing requirements or include Investor State Dispute Settlement provisions. However, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says Labor’s policy would put Australia’s future free-trade deals at risk and undermine the ability of local companies to export their products and services. Meanwhile, data to be released on 3 January will highlight the economic benefits of Australia’s free-trade deals with China and South Korea.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

Labor plan to criminalise wage theft may backfire

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Original article by Anna Patty
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 5 : 3-Jan-19

University of Melbourne researchers Melissa Kennedy and John Howe have questioned the constitutional validity of Labor’s proposal for state laws aimed at addressing wage exploitation. They say the proposed laws in New South Wales and Victoria could conflict with federal laws such as the Fair Work Act, raising the possibility of a constitutional challenge. They have also raised concerns that criminalising wage theft could undermine the Fair Work Ombudsman’s ability to recover workers’ entitlements.

CORPORATES
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN