O75 Public Administration

Woolworths reaches enterprise agreement with striking union workers

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Original article by Duncan Evans, Liam Beatty
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 8-Dec-24

Woolworths has begun restocking its supermarkets’ shelves after securing a new enterprise agreement for employees at four distribution centres. The deal with the United Workers Union and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association has ended a 17-day strike that is estimated to have cost the grocery giant about $50m in lost sales. The SDA has advised that the warehouse workers will receive a pay rise of 12.84 per cent over three years, a $1000 up-front cash payment, a $500 up-front gift card and a $500 gift card for the next two years. Weekend penalty rates for shift workers will also be increased, while Woolworths has agreed to concessions regarding its controversial performance management framework.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, UNITED WORKERS UNION, SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION

Rebels declare end of Assad rule in Syria

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Original article by
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 9-Dec-24

Islamist-led rebels have declared the end of the Assad regime in Syria, with President Bashar al-Assad said to have fled the country after more five decades of rule by the Assad family. His departure comes less than a fortnight after the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group launched its campaign against Assad, while Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali said that he was ready to co-operate with "any leadership chosen by the Syrian people". The HST stated that that its fighters had broken into a jail on the outskirts of the Syrian capital of Damascus, announcing an "end of the era of tyranny in the prison of Sednaya", which has become synonymous with the worst abuses of the Assad regime. Assad is said to have fled to Russia.

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ALP steps into Woolies dispute

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Original article by Ewin Hannan, Brendan Kearns
The Australian – Page: 5 : 4-Dec-24

Woolworths estimates that the strike action by distribution centre workers has cost it about $50m in lost food sales to date. Meanwhile, Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt and staff from his department have held talks with Woolworths executives and United Workers Union officials in a bid to resolve the impasse that has led to empty shelves at Woolworths stores in Victoria and southern NSW. The 12-day strike has also affected supplies at liquor stores Dan Murphy’s and BWS, which are owned by Woolworths spin-off Endeavour Group.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, UNITED WORKERS UNION, ENDEAVOUR GROUP LIMITED – ASX EDV, DAN MURPHY’S, BWS – BEER WINE SPIRITS

Adam Bandt pushes for formal power-sharing deal with Anthony Albanese in case of minority election

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Original article by Jacob Greber, Greg Jennett
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 4-Dec-24

Greens leader Adam Bandt has outlined his party’s terms for helping Labor to form government if the 2025 federal election results in a hung parliament. Bandt says there would be a "lot of merit" in establishing a formal power-sharing deal with Labor that clearly states the legislative priorities for the next parliament. Bandt adds that priority areas will include expanding Medicare to include dental and mental health care for adults, free access to GPs, and action to address the rising cost of rental housing. The Greens have been more co-operative in recent weeks, and the party backed more than 40 government bills on the final day of parliament for the year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Trump offers hope, but PM and Wong turn on Israel again

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Original article by Ben Packham, Joanna Panagopoulos, Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 4-Dec-24

US president-elect Donald Trump has given Hamas an ultimatum to release its remaining Israeli hostages. Trump has indicated that Hamas will be "hit harder than anybody has been hit" before in the history of the US if the surviving hostages are not freed before his inauguration on 20 January. Meanwhile, sources have confirmed that the federal government is likely to vote against Israel on three key resolutions in the United Nations’ General Assembly.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, UNITED NATIONS. GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 2.7pts to 88.4 as Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales provide boost to confidence

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 4 Deceember 2024

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 2.7pts to 88.4 in the week to 1 December, to its highest level since May 2022 – just after the last Federal Election. Consumer Confidence is now 12 points above the same week a year ago (76.4), and 5.6 points above the 2024 weekly average of 82.8. A look at Consumer Confidence by State shows varied results around the country with increases in New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia, but decreases in Victoria and South Australia. Now 23% of Australians (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 47% (unchanged) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 34% (up 2ppts) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 29% (down 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Now 8% (down 2ppts) of Australians expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 29% (down 1ppt) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 31% (up 7ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items (the highest figure for this indicator since April 2022), while 42% (down 1ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’ (the lowest figure for this indicator since June 2022).

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

Government spending splurge props up GDP

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Original article by Michael Read
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 5 : 4-Dec-24

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that federal and state government spending totalled $195.8bn in the September quarter. This is eight per cent higher year-on-year, and compares with average annual spending growth of 5.3 per cent in the decade prior to the pandemic. The ABS notes that recurrent government spending increased by 1.4 per cent in the quarter, which is partly due to federal and state government electricity bill subsidies. Meanwhile, Westpac says government spending is set to reach a record 27.8 per cent of GDP in the quarter, compared with 27.3 per cent in the three months to June. National accounts data to be released on Wednesday is expected to show that annual GDP growth rose to 1.1 per cent in September.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC

Class action on Covid-19 jabs doomed to fail: Defence

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Original article by Duncan Murray
The New Daily – Page: Online : 3-Dec-24

Brisbane law firm NR Barbi Solicitor is leading a class action against the federal government in the federal court, with the action alleging that it was negligent in approving Covid-19 vaccines. It seeks damages on behalf of those who suffered "serious adverse events" after taking one or more of the vaccines; one of those listed as members of the class action is Michelle Grace Hunder, who alleges she was diagnosed with vaccine-induced pericarditis. Kate Eastman SC, the barrister appearing for the respondents named in the action, told a hearing on Monday they were seeking to have the lawsuit thrown out on the basis it had no reasonable chance of being successful.

CORPORATES
NR BARBI SOLICITOR, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Mining profits suffer a $4.6bn hit

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Original article by Jack Quail
The Australian – Page: 4 : 3-Dec-24

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that profits in the nation’s resources sector fell by 8.8 per cent to $47.4bn in the September quarter. The $4.6bn downturn was driven by a decline in iron ore and coal exports, which will weigh on the federal government’s revenue and the budget bottom line. The figures also show that non-mining profits fell by 1.7 per cent to $74.1bn during the quarter, and by 2.8 per cent in the year to September. Meanwhile, GDP data to be released on Wednesday is expected to show that the economy grew by 0.5 per cent in the September quarter and 1.1 per cent year-on-year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Roy Morgan Poll: Coalition regains two-party preferred lead after Albanese Government does deals with the Greens to pass legislation

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 3-Dec-24

Coalition 51% (up 2%) are now ahead of the ALP 49% (down 2%) on a two-party preferred basis. If a Federal Election were held now the result would be ‘too close to call’ the latest Roy Morgan survey finds. As we said a week ago, when leaders meet world leaders there is often a short-term ‘boost’, but this usually proves short-lived as voters return to focusing on the ‘bread and butter’ issues. At home the Government did several deals last week – including several ‘deals’ with the Greens – to pass legislation. The Greens’ ‘deals’ included RBA governance reforms, a supermarket code of conduct, the Future Made in Australia scheme and housing reforms to boost rental supply – despite this ‘success’ Government support returned to where it was before Albanese met World leaders in South America at the APEC and G20 meetings.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS