O75 Public Administration

Cheap permits an option for emitters

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1&8 : 12-Aug-15

The Australian Government has announced a plan to cut emissions by 26 per cent to 28 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on 11 August 2015 that the Government did not abandon the idea of allowing Australian companies to trade in international permits. This option will be reconsidered in 2017-18 or later.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SNOWY HYDRO LIMITED, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, CLIMATE INSTITUTE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

Gay marriage rocks PM

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1&8 : 12-Aug-15

A special meeting of Coalition MPs and senators, held on 11 August 2015, was devoted to the divisive issue of gay marriage. The proposal to introduce same-sex marriage through legislative changes was defeated by 66 votes to 33. Prime Minster Tony Abbott said the issue will be considered again in the next term of Parliament. His preferred option is a referendum which would allow the public to decide on gay marriage.

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

Innovators want states to do more

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Original article by Yolanda Redrup
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 11-Aug-15

Technology entrepreneurs have voted Sydney the start-up capital of Australia. It remained on top because of its proximity to funding and availability of services, IoT Group CEO Simon Kantor said. Innovate NSW offers support, including matched funding of up to $A15,000 to help small to medium enterprises demonstrate an idea, prove a concept or develop a prototype.

CORPORATES
CITY OF SYDNEY, CITY OF MELBOURNE, IOTECH, SHARESIGHT PTY LTD, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF INDUSTRY AND INVESTMENT, AEERIS LIMITED – ASX AER, DROPBOX INCORPORATED

Union took money from rehab centre

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Original article by Lucille Keen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 11-Aug-15

The building industry union kept half the money raised for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic, the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption has been told. Foundation House in Sydney was funded by employers, who agreed to pay $A3 a week for each employee under a workplace agreement with the union. Master Builders Association CEO Brian Seidler said he and others resigned from the clinic’s management committee when it was discovered some of the funding was diverted to union activities.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, MASTERS BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, BOVIS LEND LEASE PTY LTD

Coalition to put ABCC bill to a Senate vote

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 11-Aug-15

Legislation to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission will be put to the Senate following damaging allegations in the trade union royal commission. Employment Minister Eric Abetz says the activities of the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union confirm the need for an industry watchdog. The bill requires the support of six of the eight crossbench senators.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, ACTU

Heat is on as emissions goal goes to cabinet

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Original article by Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 10-Aug-15

The Australian federal cabinet will meet on 10 August 2015 to discuss the emissions target. The cabinet is likely to endorse a reduction in Australian carbon emissions by between 15 and 25 per cent by 2030. The Climate Change Authority recommended a much higher target, but Prime Minister Tony Abbott argued that a "practical approach" was more appropriate.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, CLIMATE INSTITUTE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Construction, farmers to win from CER plan

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Original article by Greg Earl
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 10-Aug-15

The Australian Government wants Australia to have much closer ties with Singapore, in fact, as close as Australia’s relationship with New Zealand (NZ). The Closer Economic Relations (CER) Agreement between NZ and Australia will be used as a model for a similar agreement with Singapore, to be developed within 10 years. Trade Minister Andrew Robb is in charge of the process of developing the CER-style ties with the island-state.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA SINGAPORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY LIMITED

Jobless rate matches 13-year high of 6.3pc

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 7-Aug-15

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the nation’s unemployment rate rose from 6.1 per cent to 6.3 per cent in July 2015. However, it is estimated that the economy added 38,500 jobs during the month, compared with economists’ expectations of just 10,000. Treasurer Joe Hockey says this demonstration that the transition from the construction phase of the mining boom is proceeding well, while Ivan Calhoun of National Australia Bank expects interest rates to remain on hold in the near-term.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

ACTU insider says Work Choices scare campaign will fail

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Original article by Ewin Hannan, Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1&7 : 7-Aug-15

Former ACTU assistant secretary Tim Lyons dismisses comparisons between the WorkChoices regime and the Productivity Commission’s recommendations on industrial relations reform. The proposed reforms have been criticised by unions and the Australian Labor Party, but Lyons warns that younger workers in particular are unlikely to be swayed by any campaign linking the recommendations to WorkChoices. The proposed reforms have been welcomed by business leader Tony Shepherd.

CORPORATES
ACTU, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, 3AW SOUTHERN CROSS RADIO PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, PER CAPITA AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Billson slams BCA ‘utter nonsense’

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 5-Aug-15

The Australian Government’s cabinet ministers have endorsed a proposal to add a so-called "effects test" to the Competition and Consumer Act. The reform was one of 56 recommendations made by the Harper review of competition laws, and is supported by the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. However, the Business Council of Australia maintains that an effects test would adversely affect competition and make companies more vulnerable to litigation.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, THE AVALON, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY