O75 Public Administration

Australians losing faith in democracy, report finds

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 29-Nov-17

Just 28 per cent of Australians trust the federal government to do the right thing by them either most of the time or almost always, compared to 48 per cent in 2009. This is according to the latest findings of the Monash University-Scanlon Foundation Social Cohesion Program, which has gauged Australians’ views on issues such as immigration, discrimination and political trust annually for the past decade. Over a third of respondents stated Australia’s current political system needs either a major revamp or replacing altogether.

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MONASH UNIVERSITY, SCANLON FOUNDATION, ONE NATION PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Accused had links to radical Islamists, police allege

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The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 29-Nov-17

Ali Khalif Shire Ali appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 28 November to face terrorism-related charges, having been arrested on the previous day. Police allege that he was trying to secure an automatic weapon with the intention of carrying out a terrorist attack in Melbourne’s Federation Square on New Year’s Eve 2017. It is understood Ali has been under surveillance by counter-terrorism officers for two years, while he has claimed ASIO tried to recruit him as an informant. Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan says police are looking to see if Ali has links to other radicals.

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MELBOURNE MAGISTRATES’ COURT, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence moderates after recent strength down 1.4pts to 115.0

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 29-Nov-17

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence declined in the week ending 26 November, easing 1.2% to 115.0. However, confidence remains above the long term average of 112.9. Three out of five sub-indices posted falls, including both current and future economic conditions. Households’ views towards both current and future economic conditions slipped 3.4% and 3.3% respectively, after two weeks of solid gains. Household views toward the state of their current finances slipped for the fourth consecutive week, down 2.3%, while sentiment around the ‘time to buy a household item’ improved 0.5%, bringing this sub-index back to its long term average (133.8).

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

Keating’s praise for Curtin vision of war

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Original article by Troy Bramston
The Australian – Page: 7 : 28-Nov-17

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating has referred to Sir Robert Menzies as a "woeful coward". Keating made his comments while speaking at the launch of "John Curtin’s War" at the Lowy Institute on 27 November. The book was written by John Edwards, a one-time adviser to Keating. Keating said that Menzies failed to understand the threat that Japan posed to Australia in the lead-up to World War II. Keating said that Curtin, who became prime minister in 1941, made decisions "quickly and resolutely".

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LOWY INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL POLICY

Wage justice for apprentices

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 28-Nov-17

The Electrical Trades Union estimates that Queensland apprentices could be owed as much as $A70 million in back pay. Its comments follow the full Federal Court’s decision to uphold a previous ruling by the Fair Work Commission that Queensland employers should have been paying apprentices under federal awards since the start of 2014, rather than under low-paying state awards. Employer groups such as the Master Builders Association and the Housing Industry Association had appealed the Commission’s ruling, as had training group All Trades Queensland.

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ELECTRICAL TRADES UNION, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, MASTER BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND, HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (QUEENSLAND)

Business alarm as vote brings on merger of militant super union

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: Online : 28-Nov-17

Members of the Maritime Union of Australia have voted in favour of a merger with the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union. It is expected the two unions will ask the Fair Work Commission in January 2018 to approve their alliance, which would create a union with 144,000 members. However, employer groups have indicated they will go to the High Court if necessary in an attempt to block the FWC from approving the merger. Fifty per cent of MUA members took part in the vote, with 87 per cent of votes supporting the merger.

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MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, TEXTILE, CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN MINES AND METALS ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED), FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, MASTER BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION

Malcolm Turnbull under pressure to allow bank probe

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 28-Nov-17

Nationals MP Llew O’Brien has indicated he is prepared to cross the floor of the House of Representatives to support a private members’ bill to establish a commission of inquiry into the banking sector. Nationals MP George Christensen has already indicated he cross the floor to support the bill in the lower house. The bill has been instigated by Nationals senator Barry O’Sullivan, and already has enough support to pass through the upper house. O’Sullivan says the federal government should perhaps take control of the process to get the bill enacted, given the current state of the numbers.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, KATTER’S AUSTRALIAN PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

NSW may boycott SA water inquiry

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Original article by Edmund Tadros
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 27/11/2017

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has announced a Royal Commission into claims that the Murray-Darling Basin has been the subject of water theft by upstream irrigators. His decision follows the release of two reports that were highly critical of how the Basin is being managed by both the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the various states. Both reports were prompted by a July television program that aired claims of water theft by cotton farmers in New South Wales, along with allegations that NSW bureaucrats were involved in subverting the Murray-Darling Basin agreement. The NSW government is yet to indicate whether it will permit ministers and public servants to appear before the Commission.

CORPORATES
SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET MURRAY-DARLING BASIN COMMISSION NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES NEW SOUTH WALES. INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION NEW SOUTH WALES. OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Nats to go rogue after Qld loss

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 27/11/2017

The National Party believes the result of the Queensland election shows it needs to better distinguish itself from the Liberals, otherwise it will lose more votes to One Nation in regional areas. Nationals senator Barry O’Sullivan says the election result, with further counting on 26 November pushing Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk closer to the 47 seats she needs for a majority, has made him even more determined to go ahead with his private members’ bill to establish a commission of inquiry into the banks. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has rejected suggestions he should take the blame for the Queensland result.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA ONE NATION PARTY AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

MUA faces fines for wharfie war

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Weekend Australian – Page: 4 : 25/11/2017

The Maritime Union of Australia faces the likelihood of large civil penalties after the Federal Court found it had breached the Fair Work Act by taking unlawful industrial action. The action, which lasted for seven days in 2015, was prompted by the dismissal of 97 workers by Hutchison Ports Australia, with the MUA appearing to take the view that the dismissals were an attempt to reduce its influence over the Hutchison workforce. The legal action against the MUA was instigated by the Fair Work Commission. As well as the prospect of sizeable civil penalties, the MUA may also have to pay damages.

CORPORATES
MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA HUTCHISON PORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION