O75 Public Administration

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence: remains steady

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-Sep-17

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence eased 0.6% in the week ending 24 September. The moderation in confidence was driven by a solid decline in views towards future economic conditions, which was somewhat offset by an increase in the "time to buy a major household item" index. The remaining sub-indices showed little change. Consumers’ views towards current economic conditions remained unchanged (+0.1%). Meanwhile, consumers seem less optimistic about future economic conditions, with the sub-index falling 6.5%. The four-week moving average aggregate economic conditions index remains well below its long-run average. Similarly, households’ views towards current financial conditions showed little change (+0.1%), while confidence around future financial conditions slipped 0.8%. The four-week moving average aggregate financial conditions index has risen above its long-term average through September.

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

No-case sacking violates a basic freedom: Cash

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 21-Sep-17

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says workers should not be sacked due to their views on same-sex marriage, while Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has urged employers to respect Australians’ right to freedom of expression. Capital Kids Parties’ owner Madlin Sims has caused a furore after retrenching a contractor who opposed marriage equality. The Fair Work Ombudsman would have no jurisdiction over the termination of a contractor’s employment, although lawyers say the sacking may breach anti-discrimination laws in the Australian Capital Territory.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, CAPITAL KIDS PARTIES, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, BRADLEY ALLEN LOVE, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT

Coal mine strife stokes supply fears

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Original article by Mark Ludlow, Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 21-Sep-17

A Glencore spokesman rejects suggestions that protracted enterprise agreement negotiations at its Hunter Valley coal mines has affected its ability to secure new supply contracts or fulfil existing contracts. Tony Maher of the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union claims that the industrial action has had a material impact on Glencore and resulted in a 20 per cent increase in the price of coal. There are concerns that the dispute could also result in higher electricity prices and affect electricity supply.

CORPORATES
GLENCORE PLC, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET OPERATOR LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY COUNCIL, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, PACIFIC NATIONAL PTY LTD, AURIZON HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX AZJ

Abbott opposed cheaper gas push: Libs

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 21-Sep-17

Some Coalition MPs have criticised the stance of former prime minister Tony Abbott on the issue of energy policy, after he threatened to vote against the government if it legislates to provide more renewable energy subsidies. Abbott’s critics within the Coalition note that he recently opposed a push for LNG export controls due to sovereign risk concerns, while he had also opposed the abolition of the Renewable Energy Target when he was prime minister.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

OECD predicts best growth in six years

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Original article by Geoff Winestock
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 21-Sep-17

The OECD has upgraded its forecast for global economic growth in 2018 by 0.1 per cent, to 3.7 per cent. However, Australia’s economic growth outlook remains unchanged, although the OECD noted the nation’s high housing prices. The Reserve Bank’s assistant governor, Luci Ellis, is also upbeat about the global economic outlook, noting that global growth should continue for some time in the absence of any major risk factors. Meanwhile, the ANZ Bank anticipates two increases in the cash rate during 2018.

CORPORATES
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS ECONOMISTS INCORPORATED

Gas exports ‘starve local firms, jobs’

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 21-Sep-17

The Federal Government will shortly decide whether to impose LNG export controls in response to concerns about a gas shortage in the domestic market. However, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims has warned that few alternative options are available, and said local factories may close and shed staff if the Government fails to limit gas export volumes. Sims has also argued that energy sustainability, reliability and affordability are separate issues and each requires a different solution.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SCIENTIST, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, ESSO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA)

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence rises across the board, up 5pts to 114.8

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 20-Sep-17

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence bounced 4.6% to 114.8 in the week ended 17 September 2017, more than offsetting the loss over the previous week. The strength in the index was broadly based, with four out of five indicators rising. The index is currently at the highest level in eight weeks. Consumers’ views towards current and future economic conditions surged, up 5.8% and 12.9% respectively. This broadly offset the sharp falls over the previous week. However, the four-week moving average aggregate economic conditions index remains well below its long-run average. Households’ views towards current financial conditions rose 2.6%, bringing the index to the highest level in 15 weeks. In contrast, confidence around future financial conditions slipped, down 0.3%. The four-week moving average aggregate financial conditions’ index has edged above its long term average and seems to be showing some momentum.

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

Enterprise deals unworkable, bosses warn

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 20-Sep-17

Australian Industry Group CEO lnnes Willox has called for changes to the way the "better-off-overall test" is applied in approving enterprise bargaining agreements. He argues that applying the test equally to all workers at a company has become unworkable in the wake of the Fair Work Commission’s decision to strike down an EBA at Coles in 2016. Willox favours a recommendation of the Productivity Commission that the test be applied to different classes of employees.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT

Union demands action over ‘rogue’ building watchdog

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 20-Sep-17

The Electrical Trades Union’s national secretary Allen Hicks has criticised the Australian Building & Construction Commission for pursuing costs against the union. The ETU challenged the validity of the national building code in court earlier in 2017, but subsequently abandoned the case. However, former ABCC head Nigel Hadgkiss sought a ruling against the union on costs. Hicks argues that Hadgkiss should have been aware that there was little chance of costs being awarded, and he wants the Federal Government to ensure that the ABCC is accountable for its expenditure on litigation.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, ELECTRICAL TRADES UNION, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, SA POWER NETWORKS, ASHURST AUSTRALIA, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Abbott to ‘cross floor on energy’

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 20-Sep-17

Up to six Coalition backbenchers are said to support former prime minister Tony Abbott in his stance against a clean energy target. Abbott has warned that he would vote against a government bill to introduce a CET, while he has called for Australia to adopt a reliable energy target of 100 per cent in place of a renewable energy target. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has conceded that the RET is too generous, but noted that it was introduced in its current form during Abbott’s prime ministership.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY