O75 Public Administration

TPP deal ‘doomed’ as US set to retreat

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 16 : 10-Nov-16

Australia’s former foreign minister Bob Carr does not expect the Trans-Pacific Partnership to proceed under US President Donald Trump. He adds that Congress is unlikely to ratify the 12-nation trade deal during the final months of Barack Obama’s presidency, while Trump could potentially also abandon some existing international treaties. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is optimistic that the Obama administration will ratify the TPP, although she notes that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is being negotiated in Asia and would provide an alternative to the TPP.

CORPORATES
TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Hotel chain ripped off migrant cleaners

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 6 : 9-Nov-16

An audit undertaken by Oaks Hotels and Resorts revealed that 1,502 migrant workers were collectively underpaid some $A1.9m in the year to August 2016. The hotel chain undertook the audit after the Fair Work Ombudsman threatened to launch legal action over allegations of wage exploitation by an Oaks subsidiary, Housekeepers Pty Ltd. The company had deemed the migrant workers at 40 of its hotels to be independent contracts rather than employees. It initially provided 16 workers with some $A13,000 in back pay, but the FWO subsequently found that the underpayments had continued.

CORPORATES
OAKS HOTELS AND RESORTS LIMITED, HOUSEKEEPERS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, UNITED VOICE, 7-ELEVEN STORES PTY LTD, CALTEX AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX CTX

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence Rebounds – up 3.7pts to 117.8

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Nov-16

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence rose 3.2 per cent to 117.8 in the week ended 7 November 2016, entirely offsetting the decline over the previous two weeks. The bounce in consumer confidence was underpinned by a strong rise in the economic outlook sub-indices. Households’ view on economic conditions over the next 12 months jumped a sharp 7.8 per cent while views towards economic conditions over the next five years rose 5.2 per cent. Meanwhile, consumers’ views towards their finances compared with a year ago rose a solid 3.0 per cent, while households’ views towards their current finances edged 1.7 per cent higher

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

Super shapes as an election issue yet again

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 9-Nov-16

The Federal Government’s superannuation tax reforms are set to be passed by parliament, after the Australian Labor Party agreed to back the measures. However, Labor will seek a mandate for further super tax reform at the next election after Treasurer Scott Morrison refused to support the Opposition’s proposed changes to the Government’s reforms. Amongst other things, the Australian Labor Party had sought to have non-concessional contributions capped at $A75,000 per year, rather than $A100,000 as proposed by the Government.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL

Clinton on edge of victory

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 13 : 9-Nov-16

Sharemarkets rallied on 8 November 2016, amid growing expectations that Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton will win the US presidential election. Public opinion polls suggest that Clinton will defeat Republican Party rival Donald Trump, although the result is likely to be very close. However, Trump remained confident of victory as he visited several states on the last day of campaigning for the election. An estimated 40 million Americans had voted prior to election day.

CORPORATES
DEMOCRATIC PARTY (UNITED STATES), REPUBLICAN PARTY (UNITED STATES), STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX, NIKKEI 225 INDEX, STANDARD AND POOR’S 500 INDEX, DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE INDEX, NASDAQ COMPOSITE INDEX, BMO CAPITAL MARKETS, REAL CLEAR POLITICS

Free-speech heat on Shorten

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Original article by David Crowe, Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 9-Nov-16

The joint parliamentary committee on human rights will report the findings of an inquiry into the Racial Discrimination Act by 28 February 2017. Federal cabinet opted to refer the issue to the committee, which will examine the impact of sections 18C and 18D on freedom of speech. It will also consider possible changes to the way complaints are handled by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Meanwhile, AHRC president Gillian Triggs has indicated that she is open to changes to section 18C.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine’s comment on the rise in Roy Morgan October Business Confidence

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Original article by Michele Levine, Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 8-Nov-16

Business Confidence increased for the second straight month, up by 1.3pts (+1.1%) in October to 116.2 – the highest Business Confidence has been since the Federal Election in July. The most confident industries in October were the primary industries of Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Mining – which has significantly recovered from lows earlier in 2016, Education and training, Accommodation and Rental, hiring and real estate services – all significantly above the national average. Industries lagging in confidence in October include Transport, postal and warehousing, Arts and recreational services, Personal, repair and other services and the utilities of Electricity, gas, water and waste. It is no surprise to see lower business confidence in the Electricity industry given the problems with the South Australian power system and the well-anticipated recent decision to close Victoria’s Hazelwood power stations (responsible for up to 25% of Victorian baseload energy demand).

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ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Natural disasters a threat to billions of dollars of GDP

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Original article by Sally Patten
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 27 : 8-Nov-16

The Federal Government has been urged to spend more money on mitigating the risks associated with natural disasters. SGS Economics & Planning and Insurance Australia Group estimate that 11 per cent of national GDP is at risk of being affected by bushfires, while cyclones pose a threat to 20 per cent of GDP. Disaster relief dominates in government spending on natural disasters, while only three per cent is spent on mitigation.

CORPORATES
INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX IAG, SGS ECONOMICS AND PLANNING PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

Business Confidence up slightly in October to 116.2 (up 1.1%) on the back of renewed strength in primary industries Agriculture & Mining

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 8-Nov-16

Roy Morgan Research’s Business Confidence rose 1.1% to 116.2 in October 2016. The small rise in Business Confidence occurred even though the Australian All Ordinaries fell during October – the All Ordinaries ended October at 5,402.40 (down 122.8pts from September 30). However, this fall was concentrated in the last week of the month (the All Ordinaries lost 120.9pts between October 25-31) and has fallen further in early November – now at 5,330.9 (November 7). This month’s small rise in Business Confidence means Business Confidence is now just below the 6yr average (116.6) and slightly below the ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence October rating of 118.5.

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

Labor push for tougher cuts on superannuation

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 8-Nov-16

The Opposition will seek more changes to the Federal Government’s superannuation tax reforms in return for its support in parliament. Amongst other things, the Australian Labor Party wants non-concessional contributions to be capped at $A75,000 per year, rather than $A100,000 as proposed by the Government. The super legislation will be introduced into parliament during the second last sitting week for 2016, and the Government hopes the reforms will be passed by both houses before parliament rises for the year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE