O75 Public Administration

Cal for new ETS based on emission intensity

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Original article by Ben Potter, Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 1-Sep-16

The Climate Change Authority has proposed the introduction of a market-based emissions intensity scheme for the electricity industry. Under the proposed scheme, the power industry could use local carbon credits to offset the liability but would not have access to international credits. Power generators support the idea while the LNG industry stresses the importance of competitiveness which may be under threat under the proposed scheme.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORITY, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, CLIMATE INSTITUTE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, ENGIE SA, MITSUI AND COMPANY LIMITED

Union leader denies threats of violence

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Original article by Patrick Durkin, Aaron Patrick, David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 1-Sep-16

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews triggered a political crisis when he decided to give the union more influence over the Country Fire Authority. The Volunteer Firefighters Association Victoria took the matter to the Supreme Court. Jane Garrett resigned as Emergency Services Minister in June 2016 as she did not agree with Andrews’ tactics. She was allegedly bullied by United Firefighters Union leader Peter Marshall who was reported as telling Garrett "I am coming to get you" and "you’re all f—ing dead".

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY, SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED FIREFIGHTERS’ UNION OF AUSTRALIA, VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION VICTORIA, VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADES VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMISSION, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Labor kept at bay over banks

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 : 1-Sep-16

The Australian Government has announced an inquiry into the practices of small business lenders. The inquiry, to be led by Small Business Ombudsman Kate Carnell, will examine "the adequacy of the law" to deal with lending practices that may need tighter regulatory provisions. About 23 cases will be examined which were identified as problematic by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations & Financial Services.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, BANK OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BANKERS’ ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, CEC GROUP LIMITED – ASX CEG

Cheering up the Chinese

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Original article by Glenda Korporaal
The Australian – Page: 29 : 31-Aug-16

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will participate in a G20 meeting in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on 3-4 September 2016. The event will provide the Australian Government with an opportunity to reassure China that Australia is still interested in strengthening ties between the two countries. Australia’s relations with China have been negatively affected by the ban imposed on two Chinese companies bidding for Ausgrid, on national security grounds.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSGRID PTY LTD, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20), ALIBABA.COM CORPORATION

Morrison insists cuts come from super

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 31-Aug-16

Negotiations over the Federal Government’s proposed changes to superannuation are likely to continue until October 2016. Progress is likely to be slow as Treasurer Scott Morrison insists that any revenue lost through amendments must be replaced by changes within superannuation. The Government’s budget repair initiatives will also be difficult to implement.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, TD SECURITIES

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence falls after Olympics ends, but still at high levels – 118.4 (down 3.4pts)

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 31-Aug-16

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence fell 2.8 per cent to 118.4 in the week ending 28 August 2016. The decline in confidence was entirely driven by households’ views of the economic outlook. Households’ views of the economic outlook in the next 12 months fell by 7.0 per cent, while consumers’ views of their current and future finances rose by 1.9 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively.

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

Coles deal forces union rates retreat

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 30-Aug-16

The Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees’ Association has reviewed nearly 100 enterprise agreements in response to the Fair Work Commission’s decision to strike down its pay deal with Coles. The SDA’s national secretary, Gerard Dwyer, has warned that the ruling means that the union will have to cease the long-standing practice of trading off penalty rates in return for gaining higher base rates of pay for its members. The FWC ruled that the Coles enterprise agreement breached the "no disadvantage" test.

CORPORATES
SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

National support down but still has election winning lead after boost from $1 billion housing infrastructure fund announcement wears off

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 30-Aug-16

A New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll on voting intention has found that support for the ruling National Party has fallen by seven per cent to 46 per cent in August 2016. The poll also shows that support for a potential Labour/Greens alliance has risen by three per cent to 40 per cent, while the NZ Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating has risen by 0.5 points to 127.5 points. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says that while the main focus during August was New Zealand’s performance at the Olympics, of more importance to the New Zealand economy and the Government’s future in particular was the decision by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) to cut interest rates to a record low of two per cent, which suggests that the RBNZ sees a challenging period ahead before New Zealand heads to an election later next year.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NATIONAL PARTY OF NEW ZEALAND, LABOUR PARTY (NEW ZEALAND), GREEN PARTY OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND, NEW ZEALAND FIRST PARTY, CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF NEW ZEALAND, THE MAORI PARTY, ACT NEW ZEALAND, INTERNET PARTY, MANA PARTY, UNITED FUTURE PARTY (NEW ZEALAND), RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND

Hanson offers hope for ABCC bill

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Original article by Sarah Martin
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 30-Aug-16

Incoming senator Pauline Hanson will consult with both sides of politics before deciding her stance on the Australian Building & Construction Commission. However, Hanson has indicated that she opposes "union thuggery" and says small contractors and subcontractors must be protected from such union practices. Hanson is yet to decide her position on proposed company tax cuts, but warns of the risk that companies may relocate to countries with lower tax rates unless the tax burden is reduced.

CORPORATES
ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Government faces delay on ‘urgent’ cuts

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 30-Aug-16

The Australian Government will introduce 26 separate bills to Parliament in coming days, although its "omnibus" and superanuation reform bills will be delayed. The Australian Labor Party was not given a copy of the omnibus bill at its caucus meeting on 29 August 2016, while some Labor MPs oppose several of the proposed measures to reduce government spending. Meanwhile, the Government is yet to reach consensus within its own ranks regarding the lifetime cap on non-concessional super contributions.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE, COUNCIL ON THE AGEING, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY, VICTORIA. COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY, UNITED FIREFIGHTERS’ UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET