O75 Public Administration

Hanson offers hope for ABCC bill

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

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

85% of Australian households have completed the ABS Census despite website problems, Roy Morgan Research finds

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 29-Aug-16

A special snap SMS Morgan Poll has found that 85 per cent of Australian households have now completed the 2016 Census despite problems with the Census website on the designated Census date of 9 August. Roy Morgan Research CEO Michele Levine says clear majorities of all age groups, both genders and in every State have managed to complete the Census since Census night. The remaining 15 per cent of Australian households have another four weeks to complete the online Census forms or face potential fines of up to $A180 per day.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED,{SPAC}LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN GREENS

US awards $5 million to BHP Billiton whistleblower

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Nick McKenzie,{SPAC}Michael Bachelard,{SPAC}Richard Baker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 29-Aug-16

Crossbenchers will seek legislative reforms to strengthen Australia’s laws on the protection of corporate whistleblowers. Financial Services Minister Kelly O’Dwyer has indicated that changes to the whistleblower regime are on the agenda. At present, Australian laws provide little protection for people who expose corrupt conduct. US laws allow whistleblowers to receive a percentage of any fine imposed on a company. A BHP Billiton employee has been paid $US3.75m ($A4.96m) under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for exposing corrupt practices at the mining giant.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE,{SPAC}BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP,{SPAC}UNITED STATES. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION,{SPAC}THIESS PTY LTD,{SPAC}CIMIC GROUP LIMITED – ASX CIM,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

PM fires up with 25-point battle plan

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 29-Aug-16

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will ramp up his economic reform agenda with plans to introduce 25 bills to Parliament on 31 August and 1 September 2016. Turnbull has insisted that the bills must be approved by the Coalition’s backbench committees before Parliament resumes on 30 August. The bills cover a range of policies, including personal income tax cuts, a reduction in the corporate tax rate, welfare reforms and tobacco excise. Turnbull has indicated that he is willing to negotiate with crossbenchers, amid signs that they may oppose key reforms such as the reinstatement of the Australian Building & Construction Commission.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET,{SPAC}LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION,{SPAC}AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY,{SPAC}NICK XENOPHON TEAM,{SPAC}LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY,{SPAC}ONE NATION PARTY,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Michele Levine, CEO, Roy Morgan Research, comments on the findings in State of the Nation 25: Spotlight on Financial Risk

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Aug-16

The end of the mining boom in Australia presents the Australian economy with many pressing challenges – and some of the biggest involve the potential for a slowing Australian economy to increase mortgage stress around the country, and also to lead to diminished superannuation balances for Australians heading towards retirement. The casualisation of the Australian work-force with an increasing proportion of Australians working part-time rather than full-time means many Australians are forced to save less for their retirement whilst the ability to pay current bills, including mortgage payments, is also crimped. In addition, the persistently low interest rates in Australia mean the amount required for retirement actually increases as annual returns on investments follow interest rates lower. Follow this link to view the full State of the Nation 25: Spotlight on Financial Risk Powerpoint presentation PDF.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Miners may face native title compo liability

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 12 : 26-Aug-16

A ruling by the Federal Court in Darwin awarding $A3.3 million as compensation in a native title case is likely to be followed by other compensation claims. Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett has indicated that future compensation claims will either be dealt with by the state or by the beneficiaries of the grant of land. The Queensland Government favours mining companies making arrangements with indigenous groups on their own.

CORPORATES
FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

State of the Nation 25: Spotlight on Financial Risk

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Aug-16

Roy Morgan Research CEO Michele Levine this week presented the latest State of the Nation Report in Melbourne and Sydney, with a special Spotlight on Financial Risk including Mortgage debt and stress, Income risks and the adequacy of retirement funding. Key findings of this in-depth industry spotlight include: Home ownership in Australia is likely to continue its downward trend whilst house price increases outpace the increase in household incomes; Mortgage stress levels are likely to remain elevated even with the likelihood of further interest rate reductions by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) over the coming 12-18 months. Official Australian interest rates are already at a record low of 1.5% and likely to converge with the 0% interest rates found in comparable Western economies including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and the EU; Household debt levels could become a risk for both households and banks should general economic conditions turn down; The reliance on dual incomes for home loans repayments by many Australian families is a risk in itself with the increasing trend towards part-time work throughout much of the economy and with the additional factor of low wages growth and many more. View the full release to see a comprehensive run-down of findings.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Business chiefs lobby crossbench on company tax

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 26-Aug-16

Analysis of tax data by the Business Council of Australia shows that the nation’s 12 largest companies account for approximately 33 per cent of corporate tax revenue. The BCA intends to ramp up its campaign in support of the Federal Government’s proposal to progressively reduce the tax rate for all companies. Crossbench senators will be targeted by its lobbying campaign. The BCA will argue that a high tax rate will deter companies from investing in Australia, while increased investment will in turn stimulate economic growth.

CORPORATES
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, ONE NATION PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, COCA-COLA AMATIL LIMITED – ASX CCL, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, BP AUSTRALIA LIMITED, ARRIUM LIMITED – ASX ARI, OXFAM

Telstra launches "The Australian Digital Inclusion Index 2016" powered by Roy Morgan Research

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 25-Aug-16

Yesterday Telstra launched "The Australian Digital Inclusion Index 2016". Powered by Roy Morgan Research in conjunction with the Centre for Social Impact and Swinburne University of Technology. Based on Roy Morgan Research’s annual Single Source Survey of 50,000 extensive face-to-face interviews, the Index is the most detailed picture yet of digital inclusion in Australia. The key findings include that Digital inclusion is about social and economic participation; Overall, digital inclusion is growing in Australia; But many Australians are still missing out; Access is improving overall; But Digital Ability is an area for further improvement; Affordability is a challenge for some groups, although value has improved; The "age gap" is substantial, but steady; For people with disability, digital inclusion is low, but improving steadily; Indigenous digital inclusion is also low, but improving; The gender gap is narrow, but different attitudes toward technology remain; Some Australian communities are digitally excluded and Geography plays a critical role.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. CENTRE FOR SOCIAL IMPACT, SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Australian firms caught up in foreign bribe claims

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Nick McKenzie, Emmanuel Freudenthal, Michael Bachelard, Richard Baker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 25-Aug-16

The Australian Federal Police is investigating allegations of bribery involving Sundance Resources and the Snowy Mountains Engineering Company (SMEC). The Sundance case implicates the son of the Republic of Congo’s president, Denis Sassou Nguesso, in arranging mining licences in 2016 for which he was rewarded with Sundance shares. SMEC’s employees allegedly bribed Sri Lankan officials in 2011.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, SUNDANCE RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX SDL, SNOWY MOUNTAINS ENGINEERING CORPORATION LIMITED, WORLD BANK, TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL