O75 Public Administration

Secret survey shows tax cuts won’t go to jobs

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Original article by Laura Tingle, Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 27-Mar-18

Business Council of Australia members were asked in a recent survey how they would respond in the event of company tax cuts. They were given four options: returning funds to shareholders; boosting investment; giving current employees a pay rise; or hiring more staff. It is understood that less than 20 per cent chose either of the last two options. The responses seem to be at odds with a letter that the BCA and 10 prominent CEOs sent to all senators in the week ending 23 March, in which it suggested that implementing tax cuts would ultimately lead to more jobs and greater wage growth.

CORPORATES
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, MYOB GROUP LIMITED – ASX MYO, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, ENERGYAUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, JBS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES

Axe looms for Lehmann over tampering

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Original article by Peter Lalor
The Australian – Page: 1 & 7 : 27-Mar-18

There is speculation that Cricket Australia is poised to sack coach Darren Lehmann in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal, while Steve Smith has stood down as captain of Indian Premier League team the Rajasthan Royals. Smith and David Warner are at risk of losing lucrative IPL contracts due to their role in the controversy. CA could also potentially impose 12-month bans on both players, in addition to penalties already announced by the International Cricket Council. Meanwhile, the Australian team’s tactics have come under further scrutiny, with English fast bowler Stuart Broad raising concerns about possible ball-tampering during the 2017-18 Ashes series.

CORPORATES
CRICKET AUSTRALIA, INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL, INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE, AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS’ ASSOCIATION

Crossbenchers get green light to horsetrade on tax

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Original article by Ben Packham, Victoria Laurie
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 26-Mar-18

A report by international tax experts Jack Mintz and Philip Bazel notes that Australia’s company tax rate is currently the fourth-highest among OECD member nations. However, they warn that Australia will be ranked second within two years unless the tax rate is reduced, while the nation risks losing global capital inflows. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says the Federal Government is open to compromises with crossbench senators Derryn Hinch and Tim Storer in return for their support for the company tax cuts bill.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY

Smith’s shame

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Original article by Peter Lalor
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 26-Mar-18

The International Cricket Council has fined Steve Smith his entire match fee for the current Test against South Africa in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal. Smith will also be banned from playing in the final Test of the series. Batsman Cameron Bancroft has been fined 75 per cent of his match fee after admitting that he had attempted to change the condition of the ball using adhesive tape. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says it "beggars belief" that the Australian cricket team has cheated, while Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist are among the former players to have expressed outrage over the team’s conduct.

CORPORATES
INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN

Viterra axes pay by 24pc after union snubs hearing

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 23-Mar-18

The Fair Work Commission has agreed to a request by grain company Viterra to terminate an enterprise agreement covering workers at its Port Lincoln terminal in South Australia. Its request followed three years of unsuccessful negotiation with the Australian Workers’ Union. As a result of the FWC’s decision, the workers in question will now come under the relevant industry award. Their pay will be cut by as much as 24 per cent, while they will no longer be entitled to generous redundancy entitlements.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, VITERRA INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION-FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES

Senate calls for limits to developments around airports

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Original article by Jenny Wiggins
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 23-Mar-18

A Senate committee has called for guidelines to be put in place to ensure that there are "public safety zones" around airports. Such zones permit aircraft to make emergency landings or take evasive action without the risk of hitting buildings, but no such guidelines are in place in Australia. The committee noted that commercial and housing developments near airports represents a significant safety risk, while the Australian & International Pilots Association notes that buildings near runways can cause turbulent wakes when the wind is strong.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL PILOTS ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA. SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT, AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT SAFETY BUREAU, AUSTRALIA. CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

Enemies plot for Andrews’ head

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Original article by John Ferguson, Samantha Hutchinson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 8 : 23-Mar-18

Labor figures have rejected claims by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews that he knew nothing about its rorts-for-votes scheme. They claim that either Andrews or caucus approved the scheme, which was engineered by former Labor treasurer John Lenders, and they contend that caucus had no knowledge of the scheme. Andrews’ factional enemies within the Labor party are keen to destabilise his leadership over the issue, and want Labor MPs involved in the scheme to disclose what they knew about it.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA, VICTORIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE

Turnbull on the verge of tax victory

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Original article by Simon Benson, Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 23-Mar-18

One Nation has agreed to back the Federal Government’s company tax cuts package in return for a commitment to a pilot program for taxpayer-subsidised apprenticeships. The Government still requires the support of independent senators Tim Storer and Derryn Hinch, with the latter advising that he will back the tax package provided that it does not apply to the four major banks. Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm has vowed to withdraw his support for the tax cuts if the Government agrees to Hinch’s demands. Meanwhile, Labor has signalled that it may seek to reverse any reduction in the tax rate for larger companies if it wins the next election.

CORPORATES
ONE NATION PARTY, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, ACTU

Trump to slap China with $US50b in trade sanctions

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Original article by John Kehoe, Michael Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 16 : 23-Mar-18

Fears of a global trade war have been heightened after the US announced plans to pursue punitive measures against China in retaliation for its theft of intellectual property. The US will impose $US50bn ($A64bn) worth of tariffs on China are expected to target a wide range of Chinese-made goods, while the US is also expected to introduce new foreign investment restrictions on China. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has noted that the World Trade Organization has been "wholly inadequate" in addressing concerns about China.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE, WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, CHINA. MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, BOEING COMPANY, QUALCOMM INCORPORATED, MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, UNITED STATES. NATIONAL FOREIGN TRADE COUNCIL, THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INCORPORATED

No action on Labor MP rorts

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Original article by Benjamin Preiss, Adam Carey, Noel Towell
The Age – Page: 1 : 22-Mar-18

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says nobody should lose their job over the misuse of taxpayers’ funds during the 2014 state election campaign. He notes that the report of Ombudsman Deborah Glass made no recommendations about taking further action against any individual. Her investigation found that some field organisers were employed full-time by Labor while also being employed for two days a week as electorate officers on the public payroll. Opposition Leader Matthew Guy says the government ministers responsible for the $A388,000 rort should resign.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, VICTORIA. OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA, VICTORIAN GREENS