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Security laws used to avoid scrutiny, say media bosses

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 27-Jun-19

News Corp Australasia chairman Michael Miller, Nine Entertainment CEO Hugh Marks and ABC MD David Anderson jointly addressed the National Press Club on 26 June. They discussed issues such as the Australian Federal Police’s recent media raids, the impact of national security laws on freedom of the press and the public’s right to know, and the need for an overhaul of defamation laws. Miller suggested that the AFP raids on the ABC’s Sydney office and the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst constituted intimidation rather than investigation.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES

Media leaders united in fight for public’s right to know

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 3 : 26-Jun-19

Freedom of the press and the public’s right to know will be the key thrust of a joint address to the National Press Club by three of Australia’s top media executives on 26 June. The joint appearance of News Corp Australasia chairman Michael Miller, Nine Entertainment Company CEO Hugh Marks and ABC MD David Anderson follows the recent police raids on the offices of the public broadcaster and the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

News takes AFP raid fight to High Court

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Original article by Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 6 : 25-Jun-19

The ABC and News Corp Australia will both challenge the constitutional validity of the Australian Federal Police’s recent media raids. The ABC will ask the Federal Court to rule that the AFP’s warrant was invalid on a number of grounds, including that it infringed the public broadcaster’s implied right of political communication. News Corp Australia will use similar arguments in the High Court; it will also seek confirmation from the AFP that it is no longer investigating the media group itself or journalist Annika Smethurst.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE, AUSTRALIAN SIGNALS DIRECTORATE

Rivals unite on law reform

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Original article by Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 24 : 24-Jun-19

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller, ABC MD David Anderson and Nine Entertainment Company CEO Hugh Marks will jointly address the National Press Club on 26 June. They will call for legislative reforms to ensure freedom of the press and the public’s right to know. The joint speech follows the recent police raids on the ABC’s Sydney offices and the home of a News Corp journalist. The ABC is set to launch a legal challenge to the Australian Federal Police raids, while News Corp is still considering its legal options.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE

Retail the weakest part of the economy, RBA warns

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Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 24-Jun-19

The Reserve Bank of Australia has released a report which highlights the tough trading environment for the retail sector. The central bank’s June bulletin notes that retailers’ profit margins are being hit by price competition, while profitability in the sector may be at risk if retailers seek to boost market share by selling products at a loss. The net margins of food retailers have fallen below five per cent, compared with more than seven per cent in 2009. There has also been a sharp decline in the net margins of non-food retailers over this period.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, COLES GROUP LIMITED – ASX COL, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, COSTCO WHOLESALE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ZARA, UNIQLO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Harris Scarfe highest for discount department store satisfaction

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 24-Jun-19

New research from Roy Morgan shows that Harris Scarfe is Australia’s leading discount department store, with a customer satisfaction rating of 90.1%, ahead of Kmart on 88.9% and Best & Less on 88.7%. The biggest improvement over the year to April came from Harris Scarfe (up 6.9% points). The other improvers were Best & Less (up 4.1% points), Big W (up 2.1% points), Costco (up 1.5% points) and Kmart (up 0.8% points). These are the latest results from Roy Morgan’s Discount Department Store Satisfaction Report, which is based on in-depth personal interviews conducted face-to-face with over 50,000 Australians per annum in their own homes, including over 9,000 interviews with people who shop at a discount department store in an average four weeks.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, HARRIS SCARFE HOLDINGS LIMITED, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BEST AND LESS PTY LTD, BIG W DISCOUNT STORES, COSTCO WHOLESALE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Millar to serve ABC a country breakfast

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 7 : 20-Jun-19

The ABC has advised that Lisa Millar will replace Virginia Trioli as the co-host of the public broadcaster’s ‘News Breakfast’ program in August. The ABC veteran has been a foreign correspondent for the last nine years, and notes that the city-country divide has become more pronounced during her absence from Australia. As a result, Millar wants to cover more stories about regional Australia in her new role.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED

Stop the copycats: Murdoch targets tech titans

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Original article by Stephen Drill
The Australian – Page: 17 : 20-Jun-19

News Corporation’s co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch has stressed the importance of investing in journalism for the global media group. He also warned that many news websites merely copy other publishers’ stories rather than producing their own content, and digital search platforms should recognise this and give prominence to companies that invest in journalism. Murdoch also said News Corp will be a growth business after selling the bulk of its entertainment assets to Disney.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, WALT DISNEY COMPANY, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SKY NEWS, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA, REALESTATE.COM.AU, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, WPP PLC

Coles CEO’s $1bn refresh gambit

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Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 19-Jun-19

Coles Group has outlined plans to reduce costs by $1bn over the next four years in a bid to arrest the 20 per cent downturn in earnings over the last two years. The proceeds from the cost-cutting program will be redirected to initiatives such as refurbishing stores and enhancing Coles’ online operations. Coles plans to open about 10 new stores in 2020, compared with 21 in 2019. It also intends to refurbish 75 stores in 2020, up from 50 in fiscal 2019. Coles shares closed 3.44 per cent higher at $13.21 on 18 June.

CORPORATES
COLES GROUP LIMITED – ASX COL, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, COSTCO WHOLESALE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, VERTIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Media chiefs want urgent action on press freedom

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 18-Jun-19

Nine Entertainment Company CEO Hugh Marks, News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller and ABC MD David Anderson will jointly address the National Press Club on 26 June. They will discuss the fallout from the Australian Federal Police’s media raids, and press the case for legislative reforms to provide greater protection for journalists and whistleblowers. The federal government is under pressure to hold a parliamentary inquiry into press freedom, but the media industry believes that changes to national security laws should be the priority.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ALLIANCE FOR JOURNALISTS’ FREEDOM