O75 Public Administration

Too late to hold plebiscite this year: electoral body

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 4 : 2-Aug-16

The Australian Electoral Commission’s submission to a Senate committee suggests that there would be insufficient time to organise and hold a plebiscite on same-sex marriage before the end of 2016. The submission estimates that the entire process would take 29 weeks, but there are just 21 weeks left in the calendar year. The Special Minister of State, Scott Ryan, recently expressed his view that a plebiscite could still be held this year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SKY NEWS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Workplace laws rigid and out of date: report

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Original article by Lucille Keen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 29-Jul-16

Reforms are need in Australia’s employment laws in order to reflect the changing nature of work. Industrial relations expert Stephen Sasse states in a report written for the Institute of Public Affairs that flaws in the current employment system include rigidity, excessive interference from regulatory bodies and disregard for the efficacy of market forces. The report is titled "Your Right to Work".

CORPORATES
INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Super reforms could hit half of all SMSFs

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Original article by Sally Patten
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 29-Jul-16

The SMSF Association is trying to persuade the Federal Government to amend its superannuation reforms. CEO Andrea Slattery has suggested a smaller reduction in the non-concessional super contributions limit, which the Government proposes to cut to $A25,000. According to the SMSF Association and Accurium, a 65-year old couple would need $A1 million in super savings to live comfortably in retirement, with $A59,000 to spend annually.

CORPORATES
SMSF ASSOCIATION, ACCURIUM PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

PM to make captain’s call on Rudd

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 29-Jul-16

The nomination of former prime minister Kevin Rudd as a candidate for secretary-general of the United Nations was a key issue on the agenda of a cabinet meeting on 28 July 2016. Scott Morrison, Peter Dutton and Mathias Cormann are among the ministers who opposed nominating Rudd, although Foreign Minister Julie Bishop supports his nomination. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will decide whether Rudd should be nominated to succeed Ban Ki-moon. He intends to consult with Rudd and senior members of the Coalition before making a decision.

CORPORATES
UNITED NATIONS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LABOUR PARTY (NEW ZEALAND)

Morrison warns super rebels on backing rich

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Sally Patten
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 28-Jul-16

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison says people who have already exceeded the proposed $A500,000 lifetime cap on non-concessional superannuation contributions stand to benefit the most if the reform is scrapped. Morrison has also warned that unless the Government’s super reforms proceed and spending is reduced, the nation will face higher taxes, a bigger Budget deficit and a blowout in public debt. The Government may agree to exempt certain "life events" from the lifetime cap.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND, THE ASSOCIATION OF SUPERANNUATION FUNDS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY

Hanson hits jackpot with $1.6m handout

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 28-Jul-16

More than $A60m in electoral funding has been allocated to political parties and independent candidates that gained more than four per cent of first preferences at the 2016 federal election. The Liberal Party and the Australian Labor Party were allocated $A23.4m and $A22.3m respectively, while the Greens have received $A6.6m. One Nation, which is led by controversial Senator-elect Pauline Hanson, has been paid $A1.6m and the Nick Xenophon Team will receive $A1.2m. The Palmer United Party will not receive any public funding.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, ONE NATION PARTY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, PALMER UNITED PARTY, JUSTICE PARTY, KATTER’S AUSTRALIAN PARTY, CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (FRED NILE GROUP), AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Inflation no cause for ‘market hysteria’

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 28-Jul-16

Australia’s latest inflation data shows that consumer prices rose by just 0.4 per cent in the June 2016 quarter, while the annual inflation rate of one per cent is the lowest since 1999. The annual core inflation rate was 1.5 per cent, which is well below the Reserve Bank’s target range of 2-3 per cent. Financial markets now estimate that there is a 52 per cent chance that the central bank will reduce official interest rates in August. However, former board member Warwick McKibbin has cautioned against a hasty response to the inflation data.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, JAPAN. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD

ACCC raids CFMEU in probe into price-fixing

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 27-Jul-16

The militant Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union is under scrutiny for potential cartel activity. Its office in Canberra was raided by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission and the Australian Federal Police on 26 July 2016, in response to allegations of price-fixing that were raised during hearings of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance & Corruption. Union boss Dave Noonan has denied that the CFMEU or its officials engaged in such practices.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION

PM pressed to broaden juvenile abuse inquiry

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Original article by Amos Aikman
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 27-Jul-16

Federal Attorney-General George Brandis says the royal commission into the juvenile justice system will focus on the Northern Territory, although some indigenous leaders argue that its scope should be nationwide. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Adam Giles has sacked the Northern Territory’s corrections minister in the wake of the "Four Corners" expose on the brutal practices used to restrain inmates at the Don Dale detention centre. There have also been demands for Giles to resign or for his government to be sacked by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NORTHERN TERRITORY. DEPT OF THE CHIEF MINISTER, NORTHERN TERRITORY. DEPT OF JUSTICE, AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, COUNTRY LIBERAL PARTY

HR managers liable for employer’s actions

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 27-Jul-16

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James will address a human resources managers’ forum on 27 July 2016. She will warn that failure to comply with federal industrial relations laws has become entrenched in some sectors of the labour market. James will also stress that HR managers could potentially be held personally liable for any breaches of workplace laws that are condoned by their employer.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN