O75 Public Administration

Australians are real stars at cheating – Ball-tampering is merely the tip of the iceberg

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Original article by Janet Albrechtsen
The Australian – Page: 12 : 4-Apr-18

Factors such as the extent of "liar loans" revealed by the banking royal commission, the black economy, and rampant insurance fraud and theft from shops suggest that Australia is a nation of cheats. The forgone tax revenue from the $A25bn-a-year black economy, for example, is much greater than tax evasion by large companies. For many people in a nation founded by petty criminals, the real crime arising from cricket’s ball-tampering scandal may be not the plot itself but the fact that Smith, Warner and Bancroft did it live on international television.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence falters amidst market fears, down 1.9pts to 115.5

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 5-Apr-18

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence fell 1.6% to 115.5 in the week ended 1 April, on the back of a 0.9% decline the prior week. Views towards current economic conditions edged up 0.7% to 102.5, and sentiment around future economic conditions fell for the second straight week, down another 1.1%. Households’ views towards current financial conditions slipped 0.8% following a 3.1% decline previously. Consumers were also pessimistic about future financial conditions, with a fall of 2.3% unwinding much of the 2.8% rise in the previous week.

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

Big Power says No to new fossil-fuel plant

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Original article by Ben Potter
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 4-Apr-18

Major electricity companies maintain that the construction of new coal-fired power stations is not economically viable, despite a push by some Coalition MPs. A spokesperson for EnergyAustralia says the company’s focus is on a "modern energy system" based on renewables and technology such as battery storage. Ben Skinner of the Australian Energy Council argues that clean-coal technology would not significantly reduce the "material carbon risk" of coal-fired power plants.

CORPORATES
ENERGYAUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY COUNCIL, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, GENEX POWER LIMITED – ASX GNX, ENGIE SA, GRATTAN INSTITUTE

Labor urged to hold fire on super rise

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 4-Apr-18

The superannuation guarantee is currently slated to increase to 12 per cent in 2025. Labor had originally legislated for the super guarantee to reach this level in 2019, and employers’ groups have cautioned against any move to bring forward the Coalition’s revised target date. Jenny Lambert of the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry says any such move could dampen wages growth and would be too costly and disruptive for many businesses. Labor’s employment spokesman Brendan O’Connor stresses that changes to the super guarantee would depend on the state of the Budget.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, ACTU, SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Rip appears in union fabric as turf war looms

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 4-Apr-18

Geofabrics alleges that the Queensland division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union breached right-of-entry laws when four officials attempted to gain access to its factory in Ormeau. The industrial textile manufacturer’s staff are represented by the Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia, which recently merged with the CFMEU. TCFUA secretary Michele O’Neil is said to be "aghast" at the CFMEU’s actions. The case will be heard by the Fair Work Commission and Queensland’s industrial relations commission.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, TEXTILE, CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR UNION OF AUSTRALIA, GEOFABRICS AUSTRALASIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, QUEENSLAND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION, QUEENSLAND COUNCIL OF UNIONS, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

It was a ‘wake-up call’: CSIRO spent millions after Chinese data breach

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Original article by Angus Grigg, Ben Potter, Nick McKenzie
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 4-Apr-18

The CSIRO’s annual report shows that it undertook an internal review of its IT security following a data breach that was first disclosed in late 2013. In November of that year, the Australian Federal Police began an investigation into the unnamed Chinese scientist who was at the centre of the suspected breach, after he failed to turn up for work and subsequently returned to China. CSIRO has since invested millions of dollars on upgrading its cyber security and information systems.

CORPORATES
CSIRO, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, CANBERRA DATA CENTRES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, AUSTRALIA. BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY, AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL HEALTH LABORATORY

Threat to strike as union job axed

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 29-Mar-18

Alcoa and the Australian Workers’ Union are negotiating a new enterprise agreement for workers at the Portland aluminium smelter in Victoria. However, the AWU is resisting Alcoa’s push to abolish the full-time position of union convener, which boasts an annual salary of $A123,000. The convener solely undertakes union-related duties at the smelter, and Alcoa contends that the position is not necessary given that the AWU already has a full-time organiser at the site. The AWU has warned of the potential for strike action over the issue.

CORPORATES
ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION-FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES

ALP links: 189-vote senator blocks $36bn tax cuts

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Original article by Michael Owen, Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 29-Mar-18

The Federal Government still hopes to secure the two Senate votes that are required to pass its corporate tax cuts package. The Government is continuing to negotiate with Derryn Hinch, but fellow crossbencher Tim Storer says he cannot support the bill in its current form. He argues that the forgone revenue from the company tax cuts should instead be used to finance social and economic programs. Storer gained just 189 votes as a Nick Xenophon Team candidate at the 2016 election, and he was elevated to the Senate after Skye Kakoschke-Moore was ruled ineligible due to dual citizenship. He had resigned from the Australian Labor Party in 2015.

CORPORATES
NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT

Bounced out: Smith, Warner unfit to lead

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Original article by Peter Lalor
The Australian – Page: 1 & 8 : 29-Mar-18

Cricket Australia has banned Steve Smith and David Warner from all forms of cricket for 12 months, while Cameron Bancroft has been banned for nine months. In addition, Smith will be barred from the captaincy role for an additional year after his ban is lifted, while Warner faces a life-time ban from leading his country. Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland has told a press conference that Smith, Warner and Bancroft were the only members of the Test team who had any knowledge of the ball-tampering strategy. It has also been revealed that Bancroft had used sandpaper rather than adhesive tape to alter the condition of the ball.

CORPORATES
CRICKET AUSTRALIA

Company tax cut delayed by two holdout senators

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 28-Mar-18

The Federal Government will put its corporate tax cuts package on hold until May after failing to secure the support of Senate crossbenchers Derryn Hinch and Tim Storer. The Government had gained the support of seven crossbenchers and had hoped to pass the legislation before Easter. Meanwhile, the Business Council of Australia has launched a cross-platform campaign in support of the proposed company tax cuts, while Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has called upon the business sector to lobby crossbenchers to back the tax cuts.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS