Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 6-Mar-15
BHP Billiton intends to spend more on low-emission technologies, but the group wants more clarity on climate change policy. Fiona Wild, BHP’s head of climate change, says the challenge is to make carbon capture and storage technologies financially viable. Such initiatives are important, but fossil fuels will retain their central place in energy generation
CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP
Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 5-Mar-15
The Australian Government has decided not to introduce a $A5 GP co-payment. Health Minister Sussan Ley is now looking for other cost-cutting options, although she has ruled out the means-testing of bulk-billing. The matter will be discussed at a meeting of Ley and Prime Minister Tony Abbott with Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler
CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED
Original article by Will Glasgow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 12 : 5-Mar-15
Energy-intensive companies such as Boral and Orora support the New South Wales Government’s proposal to privatise the state’s electricity network if it wins the 2015 election. Energy Users Association of Australia CEO Phillip Barresi has rejected warnings from trade unions that selling the state’s "poles and wires" will result in higher electricity prices. Some 5,000 people attended a union-organised anti-privatisation rally outside Parliament House on 4 March
CORPORATES
BORAL LIMITED – ASX BLD, ORORA LIMITED – ASX ORA, ENERGY USERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, ELECTRICAL TRADES UNION, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY REGULATOR, NEW SOUTH WALES. INDEPENDENT PRICING AND REGULATORY TRIBUNAL, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, McKELL INSTITUTE
Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 4-Mar-15
A Roy Morgan survey on Australia’s unemployment and under-employed shows that the real unemployment rate rose to 11 per cent in February 2015. This compares with an official unemployment rate of 6.4 per cent in January. The total workforce has fallen by 139,000 to 12,526,000 since February 2014, and the number of Australians who are under-employed has risen by 81,000 to 1,161,000 in the last 12 months. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says that to stand any chance of re-election in 2016, the Federal Government must look seriously at comprehensive industrial relations reform in in the May 2015 Budget
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS
Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 4-Mar-15
Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler has backed the Federal Government’s decision to abandon its proposed Medicare co-payment. However, he says the decision to leave the Medicare rebate at its current level until 2018 should also be scrapped, arguing that it will reduce GPs’ income. Health Minister Susan Ley says the rebate freeze will also be reviewed, and has stressed the need for policies that help the Government to balance the Budget
CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY
Original article by Tim Binsted
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 4-Mar-15
Geoff Raby & Associates founder Geoff Raby says his firm has received an increase in enquiries from prospective Chinese investors in Australia’s agricultural sector. This includes sectors such as dairy, meat and wheat, and includes both farmland and processing facilities. The Australian Government has proposed new regulations for foreign investors in assets such as farms and housing, including application fees that start from $A5,000
CORPORATES
GEOFF RABY AND ASSOCIATES, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS AND SCIENCES, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, CBH LIMITED, CO-OPERATIVE BULK HANDLING LIMITED
Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 17 : 4-Mar-15
The New South Wales Government has unveiled plans for a financial technology hub in the Sydney CBD. The Stone & Chalk hub will receive financial backing from a range of companies, including major banks, insurers, retailers and technology groups. The hub will provide financial technology start-ups with subsidised office space and facilities to work with financial and technology companies to further develop their business
CORPORATES
NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, HSBC AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD, SUNCORP BANK, INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX IAG, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, VEDA GROUP LIMITED – ASX VED, AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, INTEL CORPORATION, ORACLE CORPORATION, FINZSOFT SOLUTIONS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, ALLENS, KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, CAPITAL MARKETS CO-OPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE LIMITED, CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCE AND REGULATION, FINANCIAL SERVICES INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALASIA, AWI VENTURES LIMITED, SOCIETYONE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, LEVEL39, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA
Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 4-Mar-15
Fair Work Building & Construction’s powers to take action over unlawful conduct by unions are slated to expire at the end of May 2015. The Australian Government faces resistance from the Opposition and the Australian Greens to extend these powers. Groups such as the Australian Industry Union and Master Builders Australia are concerned about the impact on the construction industry if the sunset clause introduced by the Australian Labor Party takes effect
CORPORATES
FAIR WORK BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, PALMER UNITED PARTY
Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 3-Mar-15
If Prime Minister Tony Abbott is forced to resign as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia, he will most likely be replaced either by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop or Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The latter has many conservative opponents within the party who do not share his views on issues such as gay marriage. Abbott has warned his colleagues to focus on governing and stop squabbling over the leadership
CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, IPSOS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE
Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 3-Mar-15
The Australian Government is considering major changes to the Medicare system, and has widespread support among GPs for the proposed reforms. The key change under consideration is a shift to a system whereby GPs are paid an annual lump sum in advance to treat patients such as the chronically ill. This would allow the Government to abandon its controversial co-payment scheme. However, the Medicare rebate will remain at its current level until 2018
CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, McKINSEY AND COMPANY
