O75 Public Administration

Federal ALP increases lead as NSW prepares to vote in State Election

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 23-Mar-15

A multi-mode Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention has found that support for the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis has fallen by 2.5 per cent to 44 per cent. The poll, which was carried out on the weekends of 14-15 and 21-22 March 2015, also shows that support for the Australian Labor Party has risen by 2.5 per cent to 56 per cent. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says Labor has increased its strong lead over the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis, despite what looks like the certain re-election of New South Wales Liberal Premier Mike Baird on 28 March

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

Big pressure to scrap small firms tax cut

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 24-Mar-15

The Council of Small Business Australia has urged the Federal Government to abandon a proposed 1.5 per cent tax cut for small businesses. CEO Peter Strong argues that the tax cut that has been proposed for the May 2016 Budget will do little to improve business confidence. The council instead favours the introduction of an accelerated depreciation rate of 150 per cent for the sector, a move which is also supported by several government MPs

CORPORATES
COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

BHP Billiton denies US anti-dumping charge

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 23-Mar-15

The Tasmanian Electro Metallurgical Company subsidiary of BHP Billiton has been accused of importing low-cost silicomanganese into the US. The dumping allegation has been made by US-based Felman Production, which claims that the practice has had a "devastating impact" on the US market. BHP’s submission to the US International Trade Commission argues that the inefficiency of US producers is the main problem facing the sector

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, TASMANIAN ELECTRO METALLURGICAL COMPANY PTY LTD, UNITED STATES. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION, FELMAN PRODUCTION LLC, SOUTH32 LIMITED, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, GRANGE RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX GRR

Corbett on mergers, mistakes, News

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 30 : 23-Mar-15

Fairfax Media chairman Roger Corbett has welcomed proposed changes to Australia’s cross-media ownership laws. Corbett says Fairfax is in a strong position to participate in any rationalisation of the media industry, adding that there would be significant economies of scale from Fairfax merging with a TV network. Meanwhile, Corbett has stressed that the print editions of Fairfax’s major newspapers are not under threat, and concedes that the group should have bought Carsales.com in 2006

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, CARSALES.COM LIMITED – ASX CRZ, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, DOMAIN.COM.AU, AUSTEREO GROUP LIMITED

Baird to stop Liberal rot

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Geoff Winestock
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 5 : 23-Mar-15

The latest Fairfax Media-Ipsos poll shows that the New South Wales (NSW) Coalition has 54 per cent support on a two-party preferred basis, compared with 46 per cent for the Australian Labor Party. The poll, which was carried out from 19-21 March 2015, also shows that 48 per cent of NSW electors support the proposed partial sale of the state’s electricity network, while 47 per cent are against it. However, 61 per cent oppose the sale unless the proceeds are invested in new infrastructure projects

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, IPSOS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, LIBERAL PARTY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, THE GREENS NSW INCORPORATED, CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (FRED NILE GROUP), SHOOTERS AND FISHERS PARTY INCORPORATED, NO LAND TAX PARTY, REACHTEL PTY LTD

State’s letter guaranteed $1.2b

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Lucille Keen, Ben Potter
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 20-Mar-15

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas says the previous state government signed a letter that was prepared by the Lend Lease-led East West Connect consortium. The letter contains a guarantee to pay more than $A1.2 billion in compensation to the consortium if the project is cancelled. Pallas accused the previous government of being too close to business. The State Government is trying to avoid paying $A1.2 billion in compensation for cancelling the toll-road project

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, EAST WEST CONNECT PTY LTD, VICTORIA. LINKING MELBOURNE AUTHORITY, LEND LEASE GROUP LIMITED – ASX LLC, CLAYTON UTZ, ECOMOUV SAS

Future of work could be one award

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 9 : 20-Mar-15

The Business Council of Australia’s submission to an inquiry into workplace relations has proposed a gradual shift to a single industrial award for all sectors of the economy. As an interim measure, just one award would apply to each industry before being phased out in favour of a universal award. The employers’ association also proposes the adoption of one penalty rate for all employees, and paring back awards to cover just 10 employment issues

CORPORATES
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Bid to clean up ‘feral’ Senate

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 20-Mar-15

Liberal Party of Australia MP Tony Smith has urged changes to the voting system for the upper house. Smith has expressed concern that the current system can be "gamed" by independents and minor parties to secure seats in the Senate. He favours a system of optional preference voting for people who chose to vote "above-the-line" on the ballot paper, which would not result in the distribution of preferences. Australian Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has supported the reform push

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Budget gets $80b worse under Libs

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Laura Tingle, Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 20-Mar-15

Analysis of the Australian Government’s Budget papers shows that the nation’s cumulative deficits for the three years to 2017-18 now total $A103.9bn. This compares with the Government’s forecast of $A24.5bn in deficits. The Government seems likely to achieve about $A8bn worth of savings that it has pursued since taking office in 2013. The budget deficit for 2014-15 is expected to exceed $A40bn, compared with the Government’s forecast of just $A24bn

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Abbott loses the plot on debt

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 19-Mar-15

Prime Minister Tony Abbott seems to have abandoned his commitment to economic reform. He said on 18 March 2015 that the May 2015 Budget will be "dull". Abbott no longer insists on reducing debt as quickly as possible and accepts that it could take 40 years to achieve a Budget surplus. Australia’s national debt is currently at 15 per cent of GDP, but it is forecast to rise to 60 per cent by 2055

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION, BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, MERRILL LYNCH (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA