O75 Public Administration

Australia an also-ran in TPP gains: World Bank

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Original article by Greg Earl
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 12-Jan-16

A study released by the World Bank in early January 2016 suggests that there will be modest benefits for Australia from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. The TPP is forecast to result in a rise in Australia’s GDP of less than two percentage points by 2030. All other countries-signatories to the TPP, with the exception of the US, are expected to experience larger rises in GDP.

CORPORATES
WORLD BANK, TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP

L-NP lead down over ALP – now 56% (down 1.5%) cf. 44% (up 1.5%) although L-NP would still win Federal Election easily

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 11-Jan-16

A multi-mode Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention has found that support for Australia’s ruling Liberal-National Coalition on a two-party preferred basis has fallen by 1.5 per cent to 56 per cent. The poll, which was carried out on the weekends of 2-3 and 9-1 January 2016, also shows that the Coalition’s primary vote has fallen by one per cent to 47 per cent, but the Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating has risen by 1.5 points to 116.5. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says that although the latest Morgan Poll shows that the L-NP Government continues to enjoy widespread support, the sharp falls on the Australian sharemarket last week show that the Australian economy faces a tough year as the Chinese economy slows and the Australian mining industry is heavily impacted by falling commodities prices across the board. Apart from overseas concerns the main issue for the Government as it faces re-election this year is to outline a credible plan to tackle Australia’s high real unemployment rate.

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MORGAN POLL, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, KATTER’S AUSTRALIAN PARTY, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Is 2016 the year of media merger frenzy?

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 12-Jan-16

Scrapping the "reach rule" and the "two-out-of three rule" is likely to be on the Australian Government’s agenda in 2016. Cross-media ownership reforms are tipped to prompt consolidation in the sector, which could include several media groups merging to form a multi-platform conglomerate. However, some industry experts believe that the value of media stocks will need to fall further in order to make a compelling case for such mega-mergers. News Corp now has exposure to newspapers, TV, radio and outdoor advertising, and it may pursue further expansion under relaxed media laws. This in turn may force some its rivals to amalgamate in order to remain competitive.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, ILLYRIA PTY LTD, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, PACIFIC MAGAZINES PTY LTD, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, BAUER MEDIA KG, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, DOMAIN.COM.AU, McDONALD’S CORPORATION

Coalition starts IR charm offensive

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Original article by Primrose Riordan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 2 : 12-Jan-16

The Australian Government will need the support of six crossbench senators to get the Australian Building and Construction Commission Bill through the upper house. The Senate has already rejected the legislation twice, but the Government is committed to introducing it again when Parliament resumes in early February 2016. The proposed industrial relations reforms are aimed at cracking down on unions in the wake of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Corruption and Governance.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH

Tax home sales over $2m call

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Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 11-Jan-16

The Australia Institute has urged a review of the capital gains tax exemption on family homes, which is expected to cost $A189bn by 2020. This compares with $A46bn in 2015-16. The Australia Institute advocates scrapping the CGT exemption for homes valued at more than $A2m, and modelling suggests that this move could add around $A12bn to the Federal Government’s Budget bottom line over four years. AMP chairman Simon McKeon supports the Australia Institute’s proposal.

CORPORATES
THE AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE LIMITED, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA. NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MODELLING, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Beef up workers’ rights to halt exploitation

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Original article by Mark Zirnsak, Heather Moore
The Age – Page: 18 : 11-Jan-16

There is growing evidence that Australian employers are underpaying staff in a wide range of sectors, particular people who are on temporary work visas or student visas. Temporary workers supplied by labour hire firms are also being exploited, with low wages and long working hours. The Productivity Commission has made a number of welcome recommendations to address the issue, including increased funding for the Fair Work Ombudsman and ensuring that people on temporary work visas are fully informed of their rights.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, 7-ELEVEN STORES PTY LTD, PIZZA HUT AUSTRALIA, MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND, BAIADA POULTRY PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, JL POULTRY PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA, BAPTIST CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

Unionists face bans

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Original article by Annika Smethurst
Herald Sun – Page: 13 : 11-Jan-16

The Australian Government will resubmit the Registered Organisations Bill to the Senate when Parliament resumes in February 2016. The revised bill is expected to include measures aimed at union officials who breach the law, including financial penalties and bans on them holding office. They are among the recommendations of the final report of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA POLICE, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT

Bosses want ban on union tactic

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Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 11-Jan-16

The final report of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption noted that pattern bargaining is a major issue in the construction industry. However, it not recommend a total ban on the practice as it does not seem to be widespread in other industries. Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch has urged the Federal Government to introduce laws to prohibit pattern bargaining in the building industry, arguing that it increases construction costs and undermines productivity.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

ACCC wants to curb oligopoly power

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Original article by Misa Han
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 11-Jan-16

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims has urged the Federal Government to strengthen laws aimed at companies that abuse their market power. He advocates scrapping rules which require the competition regulator to prove that a company took advantage of its market power. He notes that large companies can use this defence by arguing that small business could do the same thing, even if they are not in a position to do so.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, TYRO PAYMENTS, CLIFFORD CHANCE, APPLE INCORPORATED, BLACKBERRY LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, UBER TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED, AIRBNB INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED

Senate’s warning to PM over rush to early election

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 8-Jan-16

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been warned against calling an early election. Some Coalition politicians believe that a double-dissolution election would destabilise the Opposition. Rosemary Laing, the clerk of the Senate, fears that such a move would antagonise voters and weaken their support for the Coalition.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA