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Myer trims staff hours to cut costs

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 28-Nov-17

Department store chain Myer is cutting staff hours at its poorer performing stores to help reduce costs, although the move appears at odds with CEO Richard Umbers’ New Myer strategy. A key feature of the strategy involves boosting "customer facing hours". Myer’s same-store sales fell by 2.1 per cent in the three months to October, and Umbers told its AGM on 24 November that there had been no improvement since then. Myer has been the subject of sustained attack recently from major shareholder Solomon Lew over its performance.

CORPORATES
MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, PREMIER INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX PMV, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, DEUTSCHE BANK AG

Triple J moves Hottest 100 from Australia Day

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Original article by Broede Carmody
The Age – Page: 3 : 28-Nov-17

Radio station Triple J will no longer count down its 100 top songs of the year on Australia Day, announcing on 27 November that it would move the Hottest 100 to the fourth weekend in January. Triple J stated a survey of listeners had found that 60 per cent had supported the change of date. The decision was initially prompted by an online petition started in August, with Triple J asked to move the Hottest 100 from Australia Day out of respect to Indigenous Australians. The Greens have welcomed the change, but federal Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield said he was "bewildered" by the change in date.

CORPORATES
TRIPLE J PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS

Nine exposed to potential class action over Don Burke allegations

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: Online : 28-Nov-17

The Nine Network is to investigate sexual harassment, bullying and assault allegations made against Don Burke by female staff and associates. The accusations against Burke, host of the long-running "Burke’s Backyard" show that was broadcast on Nine, were made as part of an investigation by the ABC and Fairfax Media. Roger Singh from Shine Lawyers notes media firms could be hit with significant damages claims if it was found they were negligent in their duty of care in terms of staff that had been the subject of abuse.

CORPORATES
NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, SHINE LAWYERS, CTC PRODUCTIONS PTY LTD

Snappers focus on press council ruling

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Original article by Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 26 : 27/11/2017

Opinions are divided over a Press Council of Australia ruling concerning a picture of a woman being pulled out of a car that had been involved in a fatal car accident. The Council ruled that the picture had breached standards in regards to the woman’s privacy and the minimisation of her distress. Russell McPhedron, who took pictures of survivors of the 1977 Granville train crash, in which 84 people were killed, says he agrees with the Council. However, David Gray, chief photographer at Reuters, says the decision was "ridiculous".

CORPORATES
PRESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA REUTERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE WALKLEY FOUNDATION FOR JOURNALISM

Sexual misconduct file imminent

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 26 : 27/11/2017

Journalist Tracey Spicer’s promise to "name and shame" sexual predators in the Australian media industry could come to fruition in the week beginning 27 November. Spicer made her commitment in October, but says she has been delayed by legal issues. It is understood she has been able to collate 485 complaints concerning 65 separate alleged offenders. Child actress Sarah Monahan, who was abused by actor Robert Hughes when they appeared together in "Hey Dad", said on 25 November that she expects Spicer to disclose "household names" when she makes her revelations.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ BAUER MEDIA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD CBS CORPORATION

Georgie will never be managed, says Karl

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Original article by Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 26 : 27/11/2017

Today co-host Karl Stefanovic says the program plans to increase the number of political interviews it does in 2018, but it will be making sure not to let politicians get away with any spin. New co-host Georgie Gardner says they hope to do more campaigns in 2018, while she states that she will not let Stefanovic "manage" her. Gardner was previously on "Today" for seven years as its newsreader, but left in 2014 partly to spend more time with her family. Her final show attracted the program’s highest ratings for some years.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Myer could be hit with class action

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Original article by Adele Ferguson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 40 : 27/11/2017

Department store chain Myer still has much to worry about, even though Solomon Lew did not succeed with his bid to have three of its directors "voted down" at its AGM on 24 November. It is believed that two law firms are trying to gauge shareholder interest in a class action against Myer, while Lew, who is its biggest shareholder via his stake in Premier Investments, is understood to be still seeking an extraordinary general meeting at which he would seek a spill of its entire board. Meanwhile, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission is said to be monitoring Myer, apparently in regard to the "high carrying value" of its non-tangible assets.

CORPORATES
MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR PREMIER INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX PMV AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX JAPARA HEALTHCARE LIMITED – ASX JHC REGIS HEALTHCARE LIMITED – ASX REG ASALEO CARE LIMITED – ASX AHY NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED TESCO PLC DICK SMITH HOLDINGS LIMITED SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES

Georgie on $800k to sit next to Karl

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 5 : 24-Nov-17

New "Today"co-host Georgie Gardner has denied suggestions she initially knocked Nine’s offer to work alongside Karl Stefanovic. Gardner’s much anticipated appointment was confirmed by Nine on 23 November. It is understood that Gardner, who is replacing Lisa Wilkinson, will be paid $A800,000 a year, up from the $A500,000 she currently receives. Gardner previously worked on "Today" as its newsreader for seven years, but left in 2014.

CORPORATES
NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN

Woolies’ warning to suppliers

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 24-Nov-17

Woolworths chairman Gordon Cairns has urged food and grocery suppliers to think carefully before putting their goods for sale on Amazon. Speaking at its AGM on 23 November, he said retailers such as Woolworths might find that they could not compete with Amazon’s prices, and so might decide to start selling more of their private label goods in preference to brand-name products. CEO Brad Banducci said that Uber Eats could be as a big a threat to Woolworths’ business as Amazon over the next year.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, UBER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BIG W DISCOUNT STORES, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, BP AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Amazon’s retail invasion begins

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Original article by Sue Mitchell, James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 23-Nov-17

Australian retailing is set for its biggest shake-up in decades on 23 November, when Amazon "soft-launches" its electronic commerce operations, with a full launch expected on 24 November. Ben Gilbert from UBS says Amazon’s arrival in Australia is likely to have a detrimental impact on the profit margins of local retailers, as they will have to invest more in delivery and service, as well as lowering their prices. However, he believes investors have perhaps over-reacted to Amazon’s pending arrival in terms of how much they have pushed down the share price of local retailers.

CORPORATES
AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, JB HI-FI LIMITED – ASX JBH, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, GREENCROSS LIMITED – ASX GXL, SUPER RETAIL GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUL, DYSON APPLIANCES LIMITED, BREVILLE GROUP LIMITED – ASX BRG