O75 Public Administration

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence down to 118.9

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 25-Jul-18

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence fell 2.1% to 118.9 in the week ended 22 July, to its lowest value in seven weeks. Households’ views towards current financial conditions fell 1.9%, more than reversing the 1.5% bounce in the previous week. Similarly, households were also less optimistic about future financial conditions, which fell 1.4%. Consumers’ assessment of current economic conditions weakened by 3.8%, more than unwinding the cumulative 2.8% rise of the previous two weeks. Views towards future economic conditions declined 3.9% to 112.7. Both subindices are at their lowest points in seven weeks. The "time to buy a household item" subindex was flat (-0.1%), holding on to its 2.4% gain in the previous week.

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

Deloitte claims tax cuts are unaffordable

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Original article by Ben Potter
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 23-Jul-18

Deloitte Access Economics’ June Business Outlook contends that the Budget is not yet healthy enough for the federal government to commit to long-term tax cuts. Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen claims that Deloitte’s comments are an indictment of the government’s tax plans, which he contends will increase the prospect that more cuts to health and education will be needed over the next 10 years. Deloitte notes that a slump in property and a decline in the Chinese economy could bring about an end to the current revenue surge that the Budget is enjoying.

CORPORATES
DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE

Business split over carbon offsets

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Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 20-Jul-18

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg is yet to decide whether international carbon offsets should be used as part of the National Energy Guarantee. Those opposing the idea include Labor and large energy users, while the Business Council of Australia is in favour of their use. Dow Chemical noted in its submission on the NEG that Europe’s experience in this area indicates that there is potential for abuse when international carbon offsets are utilised.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, DOW CHEMICAL AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CLEAN ENERGY COUNCIL LIMITED, GREENPEACE AUSTRALIA PACIFIC LIMITED, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, REPUTEX AUSTRALIA PACIFIC PTY LTD

Jobs boom raises stakes for RBA

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 20-Jul-18

Official data shows that Australia’s unemployment rate was steady at 5.4 per cent in June, with the economy adding a higher-than-expected 50,900 jobs. This comprised 41,200 full-time and 9,700 part-time jobs. The data prompted a rebound in the Australian dollar on 19 July, while it may put pressure on the Reserve Bank to move more quickly to tighten monetary policy. The trend jobless rate was last at its current level in November 2012, when the cash rate was 3.25 per cent, compared with 1.5 per cent at present.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, GOLDMAN SACHS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TD SECURITIES, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD

Coalition mulls new company tax options

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 19-Jul-18

The Federal Government remains hopeful of gaining the support of One Nation and Centre Alliance for its full corporate tax cuts package when parliament resumes in August. The two minor parties have a combined four seats in the Senate, which would be sufficient for the tax bill to be passed. However, the Government may consider bringing forward tax cuts that have already been legislated if its full tax package is rejected by the Senate.

CORPORATES
ONE NATION PARTY, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, BUSINESS SA, COOPERS BREWERY LIMITED, THOMAS FOODS INTERNATIONAL

Business rails against union bid to remove secret strike ballots

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 2 : 19-Jul-18

Delegates at the ACTU Congress have passed a resolution calling for workers to be given the right to take legally protected industrial action without the need to hold a secret ballot. The congress also endorsed resolutions on the right to strike during enterprise bargaining talks across industries or sectors and the abolition of the Australian Building & Construction Commission. Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO James Pearson has warned that the ACTU’s push for industrial relations reform would result in job losses.

CORPORATES
ACTU, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, LABOUR PARTY (GREAT BRITAIN), AUSTRALIA. ROAD SAFETY REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL

Militant to strike tough line for ACTU

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 18-Jul-18

Michele O’Neil has called for changes to Australia’s laws on the right to strike in her first speech as the newly-elected president of the ACTU. She has told the peak union body’s congress that the right to strike is a basic human right that is now highly regulated and restricted. O’Neil also favours changes to workplace laws to allow enterprise bargaining to occur at industry-wide level. O’Neil was the only contender to succeed Ged Kearney. Meanwhile, ACTU secretary Sally McManus has urged the union movement to step up its campaign for industrial relations reform.

CORPORATES
ACTU, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, TEXTILE, CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR UNION OF AUSTRALIA, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

Shorten vows he’ll restore Sunday penalties in 100 days

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 6 : 18-Jul-18

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has told the ACTU Congress that he will reverse weekend penalty rate cuts within his first 100 days in office if Labor wins the next election. He also committed to amending the Fair Work Act to prevent penalty rates from being "arbitrarily" reduced in the future. Labor will also legislate for casual staff to become permanent employees after a certain period of continuous employment.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU

Australia’s unemployed have the highest Inflation Expectations at 5.5%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 18-Jul-18

Australians aged +14 expect inflation of 4.5% per year over the next two years, according to the Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations Index for June 2018. This is up 0.2% from a month ago, and up 0.3% on June 2017. Inflation Expectations have now tracked in a narrow range between 4.3%-4.5% for 12 straight months since July 2017. Following this month’s fall, Inflation Expectations remain well below the eight-year average of 5.0%. Analysis by employment status shows that Inflation Expectations are up amongst all categories over the past year. The biggest increase is for unemployed Australians, who now have Inflation Expectations of 5.5% (up a significant 0.7% from a year ago), while the smallest increase is for Australians employed full-time (up only 0.2% to 4% and the lowest of any employment category). June Inflation Expectations are based on a nationwide face-to-face survey of 4,300 Australians aged 14+.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

NEG too costly, say big energy users

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Original article by Perry Williams, Joe Kelly, Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 18-Jul-18

The ACTU has expressed concern that the federal government’s proposed national energy guarantee will result in higher electricity prices and ensure that large electricity retailers retain their market power. The ACTU has also questioned whether the NEG will have much impact on carbon emissions. Major industrial users of electricity have also warned that the NEG is unlikely to result in lower electricity prices.

CORPORATES
ACTU, DOW CHEMICAL AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BRICKWORKS LIMITED – ASX BKW, RUSAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, QUEENSLAND ALUMINA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA