A staggering number of people believe they can justify shoplifting

Original article by Ash Cant
The New Daily – Page: Online : 27-Sep-23

Research from Monash University shows that many Australians believe that shoplifting is acceptable due to the cost-of-living crisis. Some 28 per cent of respondents are of the view that it is fine to take an item from a store without paying for it. However, 93 per cent of consumers aged 55+ said that shoplifting is not at all justifiable, compared with just 47 per cent of those aged 18-34. Meanwhile, 30 per cent of respondents believe it is fine to change the price tags on products. Major supermarket chains have ramped up their anti-theft measures in response to a spike in shoplifting.

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MONASH UNIVERSITY

Uluru statement a ‘declaration of war’: Mundine

Original article by
The New Daily – Page: Online : 27-Sep-23

Indigenous leader Nyunggai Warren Mundine used a National Press Club speech on Tuesday to reiterate his view that the proposed Indigenous Voice to parliament is divisive. Amongst other things, he refuted claims by ‘Yes’ advocates that Indigenous Australians currently do not have a voice, contending that they have many voices and that hundreds of Indigenous organisations are involved in policy-making that affects First Nations people. Mundine also described the Uluru Statement from the Heart as "a symbolic declaration of war against modern Australia". Leading ‘Yes’ campaigner and Uluru statement architect Megan Davis says this comment is "inflammatory".

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Economists rip into Labor’s white paper

Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 27-Sep-23

The federal government’s employment white paper is continuing to attract scrutiny from economists and the Opposition. Labour economist Mark Wooden says the white paper lacks substantive measures to meet the government’s stated goal of making the economy more "productive, dynamic and competitive". The Centre for Independent Studies’ chief economist Peter Tulip doubts that the government’s policies will reduce the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment, adding that Labor’s industrial relations reforms may increase the NAIRU. Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor in turn says the government should focus on policies that result in low inflation and low unemployment.

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THE CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT STUDIES LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Business blasts flawed IR bill

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 2 : 27-Sep-23

The federal government has estimated that the proposed labour hire and gig economy changes in its Closing Loopholes bill would cost employers up to $9bn in extra wages over the next decade. However, the Business Council of Australia contends that this estimate is based on outdated, limited and flawed data; the employers’ group notes that the explanatory memorandum accompanying the bill acknowledges this fact. BCA CEO Bran Black says the flaws call into question the government’s estimates of the impact of the proposed changes on individual businesses.

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BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence down 3.4pts to 76.4 – lowest since mid-August

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-Sep-23

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 3.4pts to 76.4 in the week to 24 September; it has now spent a record 30 straight weeks below the mark of 80. Consumer Confidence is now 11.4pts below the same week a year ago (87.8), and 1.7 pts below the 2023 weekly average of 78.1. Consumer Confidence was down in the four largest States of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, but unchanged in South Australia. Now 19% of Australians (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 54% (up 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’ financially. Only 7% (down 1ppt) of Australians now expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 35% (up 1ppt) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 19% (unchanged) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 54% (up 1ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Allan no certainty to succeed Andrews

Original article by Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 6 : 27-Sep-23

Victoria’s Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan is widely tipped to succeed Daniel Andrews as the state’s 49th premier. The transport and infrastructure minister is a member of Victorian Labor’s Socialist Left faction, as is Andrews. However, some Labor insiders have flagged the potential for factional unrest if rival contenders for the party’s leadership emerge. Labor’s caucus will meet on Wednesday to determine a successor to Andrews, but the party’s rules require nominations for leader to remain open for three days; the vote must go to a ballot of Labor members and state caucus if there is more than one nomination. This means that the new premier may not be decided until at least early next week.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Divisive Andrews bows out early

Original article by Gus McCubbing, Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 27-Sep-23

Victoria’s outgoing Premier Daniel Andrews says he arrived at the decision to resign a few days ago, as he began to consider life after politics for the first time. He will formally step down as premier and the member for Mulgrave at 5pm on Wednesday, after more than two decades in state parliament and having led Labor to three election wins since 2014. Andrews says his legacy as premier will be "for others" to determine, but Opposition leader John Pesutto contends that his legacy will be mounting debt for future generations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described Andrews as a man of "great conviction" and "fierce determination" to make a difference.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Melbourne Storm is again the most widely supported club in the NRL in 2023 while Parramatta is on top in Sydney

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-Sep-23

The Melbourne Storm has topped the annual Roy Morgan NRL supporter ladder for a third year in a row, with 1,197,000 supporters in 2023, an increase of 34,000 (+2.9%) on a year ago. The Brisbane Broncos are in second place with 1,150,000 supporters, up 94,000 (+8.9%) in a year. Support for NRL clubs has grown significantly compared to the pre-pandemic period despite the upheavals of the last three years, and 14 of the 16 continuing clubs have increased their support compared to 2022. New club the Dolphins played their first NRL game in March 2023 and already have attracted the support of 232,000 Australians, to be the third most popular Queensland club. Meanwhile, 7.2 million Australians (33.5%) now support an NRL team, up 11.7% on a year ago. In addition, some 6.8 million Australians (31.4%) now watch the NRL on TV, up 674,000 (+11%) on a year ago.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, MELBOURNE STORM RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB LIMITED, BRISBANE BRONCOS RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB LIMITED, DOLPHINS RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB

Business alarmed at Labor’s work goal

Original article by Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 4 : 26-Sep-23

The federal government has attracted criticism over its employment white paper’s revised definition of ‘full employment’. The government’s goal is for ‘everyone who wants a job to be able to find one without searching for too long’. Treasurer Jim Chalmers say the technical definition of full employment – the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment, which is used by the Reserve Bank – is distinct but complementary to the government’s objective. However, Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Andrew McKellar contends that having dual definitions for full employment could undermine the RBA’s efforts to restore inflation to its target range. The white paper estimates that about 2.8 million people are either unemployed and looking for work or underemployed and seeking more work.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Pezzullo faces Home Affairs axe

Original article by Joe Kelly, Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 26-Sep-23

Former Australian Public Service commissioner Lynelle Briggs will undertake an independent review into the conduct of Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo. This follows revelations that Pezzullo had sent hundreds of encrypted text messages to Liberal Party powerbroker Scott Briggs over several years. The federal government has advised that Pezzullo has agreed to step aside pending the outcome of the review, and senior public service officials believe that he will not return to the role that has a remuneration package of up to $928,340. The Greens contend that Pezullo’s position is untenable and that he should resign.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS