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Aussies spending $600m less online than a year ago

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Original article by David Swan
The Australian – Page: 15 : 12-Jul-23

Data from Airwallex shows that factors such as cost-of-living pressures and interest rates rises are prompting Australian consumers to shop online less frequently. The company estimates that online spending fell by 1.82 per cent nationwide in the year to June; this equates to a downturn of $523.3m, or $587 per adult. Amelia Hamer of Airwallex says Australians are holding back on their discretionary spending across the digital economy; however, she notes that "bright spots" include the technology, education and travel sectors

CORPORATES
AIRWALLEX PTY LTD

Rio hunts in the outback for new lithium deposits

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Original article by Elouise Fowler, Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 12-Jul-23

Rio Tinto has extended a lithium exploration partnership with Everest Metals with regard to the latter’s Rover Project in Western Australia. Everest has advised that Rio Tinto Exploration will commence a drilling program to assess the hard rock lithium reserves at the Rover Project. The Rio Tinto subsidiary struck an initial exploration deal with Everest in March 2021, before taking an 80 per cent stake in the venture in October 2022. WA is the world’s biggest source of hard rock lithium.

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RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, EVEREST METALS CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX EMC

ABC hires cultural guidance advisers

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Original article by Sophie Elsworth
The Australian – Page: 3 : 5-Jul-23

The ABC has released a 30-page Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Plan. Amongst other things, the public broadcaster will appoint three ‘cultural guidance advisers’ by June 2024; their role will include ensuring that culturally informed decisions are made when producing content. The inclusion plan, which is published every three years, also includes an anti-racism and discrimination statement, with the ABC set to launch a targeted anti-racism and discrimination campaign by the end of 2023. The ABC recently retrenched 120 employees as part of a restructuring program.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

ABC board lays down law on radio fix

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Original article by James Madden
The Australian – Page: 18 : 3-Jul-23

The ABC’s senior management has been urged to take action to address the decline in the audience share of its radio stations. The ratings of both ABC Radio and Radio National have fallen sharply in the last 18 months or so, and an internal advisory group has made a number of proposals aimed at addressing this, including changes to its on-air presenters and an overhaul of internal reporting structures within the public broadcaster. The advisory group’s report was tabled at the ABC’s recent board meeting in Perth.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, ABC RADIO, RADIO NATIONAL

Backlash to ABC cuts grows as artists, authors and performers urge rethink

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Original article by Linda Morris
The Age – Page: Online : 28-Jun-23

Live Performance Australia has written to ABC chair Ita Buttrose urging the public broadcaster to reconsider its decision to disband its stand-alone arts team as part of a restructuring program. The peak body for the live entertainment industry contends that scrapping the two specialist editorial roles will have a "damaging impact" on the coverage of Australian arts and culture. The National Association for the Visual Arts’ executive director Penelope Benton says the move does make sense given that interest in the arts in Australia has never been higher.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, LIVE PERFORMANCE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS LIMITED

B is for broadcast: Rowland’s ABC dig

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Original article by James Madden, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 3 : 21-Jun-23

The ABC continues to attract scrutiny over a restructuring that includes shifting its focus to a ‘digital-first’ model. The issue was raised in the federal government’s caucus meeting on Tuesday, with Communications Minister Michelle Rowland noting that the ‘B’ in ABC stands for broadcasting. A spokesman for Rowland later clarified her comments, stating that she had told caucus that the ABC has made it clear that broadcasting remains important as it prepares for a future time when most audiences with engage with it via digital channels. The ABC’s restructuring will include the loss of about 120 jobs.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Murdoch and conservative rivals circle Spectator and Telegraph

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Original article by Thomas Seal, Sabah Meddings, Alex Wickham
The Age – Page: Online : 15-Jun-23

News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch could be among the potential bidders for the UK’s The Telegraph newspaper and The Spectator magazine. They have been put on the market after the holding company for the two publications was placed in receivership earlier in June. Sources have indicated that Murdoch made an offer of about Stg50 million ($93 million) for The Spectator two years ago, and he is said to have long desired owing the 195-year-old magazine. However, a Murdoch bid for The Telegraph may face antitrust concerns and political opposition. Other potential contenders for The Spectator are said to include Paul Marshall, the co-founder of hedge fund Marshall Wace, while the Daily Mail & General Trust is seen as a possible buyer of The Telegraph.

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NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MARSHALL WACE LLP, DAILY MAIL AND GENERAL TRUST PLC

ABC job cuts: corporation to make as many as 100 roles redundant amid major restructure

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Original article by Amanda Meade
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 15-Jun-23

The ABC has declined to comment on reports that it is set to announce job cuts ahead of the public broadcaster’s restructuring that takes effect on 1 July. ABC MD David Anderson recently flagged the likelihood of job losses when the three existing divisions are scrapped in favour of two divisions focused on news and content. There is speculation that up to 100 jobs will be cut in the ABC’s biggest restructuring since 2017. The restructuring is part of the ABC’s transition to a digital-first model.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

ABC Radio listeners in key city tune out

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Original article by James Madden
The Australian – Page: 3 : 7-Jun-23

GfK’s latest radio ratings survey shows that the ABC’s audience share across all timeslots in Melbourne has fallen by 0.2 percentage points to 6.0 per cent. This compares with an audience share of 10.1 per cent in December 2021. ABC Radio Melbourne has shed an average of 26,000 listeners in the latest survey period, with the broadcaster’s flagship morning, afternoon and drive timeslots recording a loss of audience share. In contrast, ABC Radio Sydney’s audience share rose across the key timeslots; the ABC’s audience share in Adelaide and Perth also rose, but its audience fell across all timeslots in Brisbane. The GfK ratings include streaming data for the first time.

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GFK PTY LTD, ABC RADIO, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Aussies tipped to spend $9.3 billion on mid-year/EOFY sales

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 6-Jun-23

Research from the Australian Retailers Association in collaboration with Roy Morgan shows that shoppers are tipped to spend $9.3bn on mid-year and End of Financial Year sales in 2023. This is $500m higher than in 2022, although the number of Australians who are planning to shop during these sales is expected to fall to 5.8 million, which is 400,000 lower than previously. Those who plan to shop in the mid-year/EOFY sales will each spend an average of $1,616; this is up almost $200 per person from 2022. The 50-64 age demographic are set to be the biggest shoppers, encompassing 37.6% or $3.5 billion of the overall $9.3 billion spend. Meanwhile, 51 per cent of Australians will shop online during the mid-year/EOFY sales. The ARA-Roy Morgan Snap SMS survey was conducted from May 19-24 with an Australian-wide cross-section of 3,187 Australians aged 18+.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION