O75 Public Administration

ScoMo wrong to lock in retirement age: experts

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Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 6-Sep-18

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the federal government will scrap plans to incrementally lift the age at which people qualify for the old age pension to 70 by 2035. His decision was applauded by Ian Yates, the CEO of seniors advocacy group COTA, who said the government should focus on lifting workplace participation rates for people over 55. However, Grattan Institute fellow Brendan Coates claimed the government’s decision would increase the tax burden on a declining working-age population, while Chris Richardson from Deloitte Access Economics described the decision as being "good politics but poor policy".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, COTA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, GRATTAN INSTITUTE, DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD

‘China’s a sovereign country’: PM unfazed by ABC censoring

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Original article by
The New Daily – Page: Online : 3-Sep-18

China has cut off access to the ABC’s website and its apps, claiming that they have breached its internet rules and regulations. Access to the website and apps was cut off on 22 August, the day after the federal government announced it would prevent two Chinese firms from taking part in the roll-out of Australia’s 5G mobile network. However, sources within the Chinese government suggest it is unlikely the two events are linked. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was not bothered by China’s censorship of the ABC.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY LIMITED

Forster withdraws from Wentworth race

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 4-Sep-18

The Liberal Party will conduct a pre-selection ballot for the seat of Wentworth on 11 September. The seat has become vacant following Malcolm Turnbull’s decision to resign from federal parliament. Christine Forster, who is the sister of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and a City of Sydney councillor, has announced she will not contest the ballot, citing concerns it could cause division within the Liberal Party. House of Representatives speaker Tony Smith is yet to announce a date for the Wentworth by-election.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, CITY OF SYDNEY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, BRONTE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Big gas buyers welcome Labor’s tough new stick on LNG exports

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Original article by Mark Ludlow, Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 4-Sep-18

Opposition leader Bill Shorten said on 3 September that Labor would introduce a permanent gas export control trigger if it wins the next election. He said the trigger would be used if gas prices were getting too high, rather than just when shortages were being predicted. Saul Kavonic from Credit Suisse says such controls are a "blunt and ineffective tool" in terms of lowering gas prices, although Energy Users Association of Australia head Andrew Richards said Labor’s federal gas plan was "worth serious consideration".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, ENERGY USERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION LIMITED, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

CFMMEU’s John Setka deletes tweet after Scott Morrison’s threat to abolish union

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Original article by Fergus Hunter
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 4-Sep-18

Construction, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union official John Setka has deleted a tweet that had prompted Prime Minister Scott Morrison to threaten the CFFMEU with deregistration. The highly inappropriate tweet showed a picture of Setka’s children holding a poster with profanities on it that targeted the Australian Building & Construction Commission. Morrison said the tweet was "the straw that breaks the camel’s back", and that the CFMMEU has acted like a bunch of thugs under Setka. He called on Bill Shorten to sever Labor’s ties with the CFMMEU.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

PM’s threat riles energy industry

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 4-Sep-18

Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned energy companies on 3 September that he may impose a royal commission on them if they do not react favourably to measures aimed at reducing electricity prices. Australian Energy Council CEO Sarah McNamara said she does not believe a royal commission into the sector is needed, given the number of inquiries that it has been subject to, including the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s recent major review. Morrison said he was putting the big power companies "on notice".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY COUNCIL, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Supercharge economy, not giant vampire squid

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Original article by Terry McCrann
The Weekend Australian – Page: 38 : 1-Sep-18

When it was introduced in the early 1990s, it was hoped that compulsory superannuation would mean an end to people needing the old-aged pension. However, that ideal is no longer practical, due to a combination of low investment returns and the reduction of permanent and secure jobs. It has been suggested that it is now time to make Australia’s superannuation system a voluntary one instead. This would deliver a number of benefits, including an increase in real wages and a big jump in personal income tax revenues.

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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. FUTURE FUND MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Dutton’s au pair drama shows hypocrisy of immigration policy

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Original article by Waleed Aly
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 31-Aug-18

Peter Dutton has sought to create an image of being someone who believes in the importance of applying rules rigidly and in law and order. Humanitarian causes seemingly do not move him. However, in letting an au pair into Australia on a tourist visa when he was immigration minister, Dutton showed he was prepared to go against the principles on which he has earned his tough reputation. He was told the au pair had previously broken Australia’s visa rules and was likely to do so again, but he ignored the advice of Immigration staff. It would appear Dutton is happy to let some people into Australia illegally if they are "the right kind of people".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS

Mortgage rates are going up as house prices are falling and that’s unusual à and a worry

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Original article by Stephen Letts
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 2-Sep-18

House prices are falling at the same time as mortgages are increasing, and this does not happen often in Australia; the last time it occurred was in 2008. Mortgage rates were higher at that time than they are now, while unemployment was lower back in 2008. As is currently the case, the main reason why banks increased their mortgage rates back in 2008 was due to funding costs, rather than because of Reserve Bank action. Paul Dales from Capital Economics says the three conditions that could see Australia face a recession or financial crisis in the next few years are currently all present: higher mortgages; falling house prices; and a tightening of credit.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, CAPITAL ECONOMICS LIMITED, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, BANKWEST, ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

Scott Morrison clinches win-win free trade deal with Indonesia

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Original article by James Massola, Karuni Rompies
The Age – Page: Online : 31-Aug-18

Universities Australia and the Cattle Council of Australia are among the industry groups to welcome the clinching of a free trade agreement between Australia and Indonesia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the agreement is a "massive win-win" for both countries. The agreement will see reduced tariffs and improved access for Australian rural producers such as wheat growers and dairy farmers, while Australian universities and health care providers will be able to set up facilities in Indonesia. The majority of Indonesian goods exported to Australia will no longer have tariffs applied to them.

CORPORATES
UNIVERSITIES AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CATTLE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY