O75 Public Administration

Labor vetoes ASIC chair

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 10 : 13-Oct-17

Credit Suisse Australia chairman John O’Sullivan will not seek to become chairman of the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. He had been regarded as a leading contender to succeed Greg Medcraft, but he has cited "personal attacks" and insinuations by the Australian Labor Party for his decision to withdraw his candidacy. Labor had alleged that his appointment at ASIC would not be appropriate given his links to the Liberal Party and the so-called "Ute-gate" scandal in 2009. The Government in turn has argued that Medcraft was a former Labor party member and had been appointed by a Labor government without going through a formal selection process.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, OZCAR

New Zealanders say North Korea will use a nuclear weapon

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 13-Oct-17

A special Roy Morgan SMS Survey shows that 58% of New Zealanders think it is either "Very likely" (19%) or "Fairly likely" (39%) that North Korea will use a nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, 42% say North Korea is "Fairly unlikely" (31%) or "Very unlikely" (11%) to do so. The poll, which was taken after the New Zealand election in September, also shows that 78% of New Zealanders want the opposing sides in the North Korean stand-off to reach a peaceful diplomatic solution. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says 60% of National Party supporters and 59% of Labour supporters say it is likely North Korea will use a nuclear weapon, while 75% of National supporters and 80% of Labour supporters want a peaceful diplomatic solution to the stand-off rather than a military solution.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NATIONAL PARTY OF NEW ZEALAND, LABOUR PARTY (NEW ZEALAND)

ANZ-Roy Morgan New Zealand Consumer Confidence dips slightly to 126.3 (down 3.6pts)

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 13-Oct-17

The ANZ-Roy Morgan New Zealand Consumer Confidence Index eased four points from 129.9 to 126.3 in October, a historically high level. Adjusted for seasonality, the index also fell by four points to 129.1. This is still the third highest level in the past three years. The Current Conditions Index dipped 3.3 points to 124.0, while the Future Conditions Index eased 3.8 points to 127.8. Meanwhile, a net 15% of consumers feel financially better off than a year ago, while net optimism towards the economy one year out fell back from +30 to +25, and for the five-year outlook, from +29 to +25.

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

PM weighs expanding Direct Action

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 13-Oct-17

Australia is meant to achieve certain carbon emission reduction targets by 2030, but there are concerns that these targets will not be met without an appropriate mechanism in place. The Federal Government appears to have abandoned the Finkel Review’s proposed Clean Energy Target, while the Renewable Energy Target will end in 2020. There are suggestions that the government’s Direct Action scheme could be used as an alternative to the RET, although Australian Energy Council CEO Matthew Warren contends that it would have to be reconfigured in order to be viable.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN ENERGY COUNCIL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, GRATTAN INSTITUTE

$2m legal bill to save pollies’ jobs

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 12-Oct-17

The cost of the High Court case to determine the eligibility of politicians with dual citizenship to be in parliament is under scrutiny. Some MPs estimate that the total cost to taxpayers will be between $A2m and $A3m, although Peter Faris QC suggests that the final cost may be much higher. The Federal Government will pay all legal costs associated with the case, with the court hearing evidence from 24 barristers. Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm has questioned the need for the MPs and senators to have separate legal representation.

CORPORATES
HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA. LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY. AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET. AUSTRALIAN GREENS. AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT. ONE NATION PARTY. NICK XENOPHON TEAM

2.498 million Australians (18.9%) now unemployed or under-employed

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 12-Oct-17

A Roy Morgan survey shows that 1.202 million Australians were unemployed (9.1% of the workforce) in September, an increase of 101,000 (up 0.6%) on a year ago. In addition, 1.296 million Australians (9.8% of the workforce) are now under-employed and looking for work or looking for more work, up a significant 294,000 (2.1%) in a year. In total, 2.498 million (18.9%) Australians were unemployed or under-employed in September – marking two whole years in which more than two million Australians have been looking for work or looking for more work. The figures also show that 11,972,000 Australians were employed in September – an increase of 143,000 over the past year. The Roy Morgan real unemployment figures are substantially higher than the current ABS estimate of 5.6% for August. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says the Roy Morgan employment estimates have consistently shown that the Australian economy is generating new jobs, but the increase in employment is heavily concentrated in part-time rather than full-time jobs – and that trend has continued.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED. AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Too early to walk away from energy target: BCA

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 2 : 12-Oct-17

Business Council of Australia president Grant King argues that the Federal Government should not abandon its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28 per cent by 2030. However, he adds that the Government needs to outline how it will achieve this target, noting that investing in renewable energy will become cheaper over time as the cost of renewables is falling. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australia is on track to achieve its 2030 emissions reductions target under the Paris climate change agreement.

CORPORATES
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET. MANUFACTURING AUSTRALIA LIMITED. AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

Shorten calls for ‘radical’ action on pay

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by James Massola
The Age – Page: 4 : 12-Oct-17

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says the Federal Court’s ruling in the penalty rates case demonstrates that voting for the Coalition at the next election will result in lower wages, while he adds that Labor will restore and protect penalty rates. Meanwhile, Shorten notes that real wages have increased by just six per cent in the last decade, while real labour productivity has increased by 20 per cent. He has urged unions, business leaders and politicians to work together to address the issue of low wages growth.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY. FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION. JOHN CURTIN RESEARCH CENTRE. AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY. AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Penalty rates: Unions lose court appeal against cuts to public holiday, Sunday pay

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Emma Younger
abc.net au – Page: Online : 12-Oct-17

The Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees Association and United Voice have failed to have the Fair Work Commission’s decision to reduce Sunday and public holiday penalty rates overturned. Amongst other things, the unions had argued in the Federal Court that the FWC had not taken into consideration the impact of penalty rate cuts on low-income workers in sectors affected by the ruling, which include retailing and hospitality. Both unions have flagged further legal action, but the court’s decision has been welcomed by the Australian Retailers Association and the Australian Hotels Association

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION. SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION. UNITED VOICE. AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION. AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION. ACTU

High-stakes hearing looms for Domino’s

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Adele Ferguson
The Age – Page: 21 : 11-Oct-17

A Fair Work Commission hearing is scheduled for 1 November on an application to terminate existing enterprise agreements for Domino’s Pizza Enterprises staff. The Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees’ Association applied to terminate an enterprise agreement in July, although it is continuing to hold negotiations with the fast-food group. The Retail & Fast Food Workers Union is also seeking to have a Domino’s enterprise agreement terminated. Domino’s is also being investigated over allegations of wage fraud.

CORPORATES
DOMINO’S PIZZA ENTERPRISES LIMITED – ASX DMP, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, RETAIL AND FAST FOOD WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, DEUTSCHE BANK AG