Doctors fees revealed as bulk billing spikes

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Natasha Robinson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 11-Feb-26

Data from the federal government shows that 3,412 medical clinics nationwide now offer full bulk-billing, an increase of nearly 1,300 since Labor’s reforms were introduced in November. The figures show that the national bulk-billing rate has increased by more than four percentage points to 81.4 per cent of GP consultations over the last three months. Health Minister Mark Butler says GPs and medical clinics are moving back to bulk billing because it works for patients and their practices. Meanwhile, the government will legislate to allow more data to be uploaded to the existing Medical Costs Finder website; this will enable consumers to compare out-of-pocket expenses for GPs, specialists and hospitals.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, DISABILITY AND AGEING, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Roy Morgan Business Confidence slumps 7.6pts to 97.4 in January – the lowest confidence rating since April 2025

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Feb-26

In January 2026 Roy Morgan Business Confidence slumped 7.6pts to 97.4, its lowest rating since April 2025 (96.7). The result followed a spike in inflationary pressures, with the official ABS annual inflation estimates for November at 3.4% (released in early January), and now jumping to 3.8% for the 12 months to December 2025 (released in late January). Business Confidence is now 12.3pts below the long-term average of 109.7, and down 10.8pts from January 2025. Now 27.2% (down 7.9ppts) of respondents say their business is ‘better off’ financially than a year ago, while 29.7% (down 2.2ppts) say the business is ‘worse off’ (the lowest figure for this indicator since June 2021). Just 33.3% (down 13.1ppts) expect the business to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 24.4% (up 5.4ppts) expect the business to be ‘worse off’. Meanwhile, 34.9% (down 5.4ppts) of respondents say the next 12 months will be a ‘good time to invest’ in growing the business, while 36.9% (up 2.8ppts) say the next 12 months will be a ‘bad time to invest’.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence drops 3.6pts to 76.9 – down over 7pts in two weeks to lowest since December 2023

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Feb-26

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 3.6pts to 76.9 in the week to 8 February; it is now 9.8pts lower than a year ago (86.7), and 4.1pts below the 2026 weekly average of 81.0. Analysis by State shows that the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise interest rates for the first time in more than two years hit confidence everywhere, with a uniform fall in confidence across all States this week. Now just 16% of Australians (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 47% (up 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, only 22% (down 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year (the lowest figure for this indicator since July 1989), while 35% (down 1ppt) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 8% (unchanged) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 38% (up 5ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 20% (down 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 39% (unchanged) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Taylor backers plot mass resignations as Ley’s allies invoke Turnbull hardball tactics

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Paul Sakkal
The Age – Page: Online : 11-Feb-26

Opposition leader Sussan Ley is under renewed scrutiny amid growing speculation of an imminent move to oust her. Sources have indicated that Liberal MP Angus Taylor is preparing to resign from the shadow frontbench as a prelude to launching a leadership challenge. Supporters of Taylor are also believed to be planning to quit the frontbench en masse in order to put further pressure on Ley. MPs from the Liberals’ moderate and conservative factions have urged Taylor to declare his hand. Meanwhile, Ley’s supporters want her to invoke a rule that requires a majority of the partyroom to sign a petition calling for a leadership ballot. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull used the same rule in 2018 in an attempt to ward off a challenge by Peter Dutton; Scott Morrison won the resulting ballot.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Telstra warns of higher mobile bills over $7.2b fee

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 11-Feb-26

The Australian Communications & Media Authority has proposed charging telcos a combined $7.2bn to renew spectrum licences that are slated to expire between 2028 and 2032. ACMA had previously proposed charging Telstra, Optus, TPG Telecom and NBN Co between $5bn and $6.2bn in total for renewing their licences; it has attributed the higher price to factors such as changes to methodology and benchmarking. Telstra’s share of the revised fee would be about $2.7bn, but the telco estimates that its fair share is $1.4bn; it has warned that the cost of the new pricing regime would be passed on to customers via higher mobile phone bills.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY, TELSTRA GROUP LIMITED – ASX TLS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPG, NBN CO LIMITED

PM stares down Hard Left

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Ben Packham, James Dowling
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 11-Feb-26

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has praised the federal government’s efforts to combat anti-Semitism; however, he said the test will be in these measures’ full implementation and their outcome. Herzog also stated that he is on a mission to improve Israel’s relations with the federal government after a number of disagreements, including his nation’s right to defend itself. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged the people involved in violent protests against Herzog on Monday night to "turn the temperature down"; he told parliament that Herzog deserves to be treated with respect during his official visit, and stated that he will not walk away from his support for Herzog’s presence in Australia.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Bloodletting as CSL axes its CEO

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 13 & 19 : 11-Feb-26

Biotechnology group CSL will undertake a global search for a successor to outgoing CEO Paul McKenzie. CSL released an announcement to the sharemarket late in trading yesterday that McKenzie will retire with immediate effect. Chairman Brian McNamee has indicated that the board recognised that McKenzie lacked the skills that CSL will require in the future. He has defended the decision to announce McKenzie’s departure the day before CSL is slated to release its interim results, arguing that it will allow investors to focus on the financial report rather than leadership issues. CSL’s former chief financial officer Gordon Naylor will become interim CEO.

CORPORATES
CSL LIMITED – ASX CSL

Macquarie’s plan to grab more market share in deposits

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 11-Feb-26

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority shows that Macquarie Bank’s household deposits topped $100bn for the first time in December. Macquarie’s deposits grew by 3.6 per cent in December, outperforming all other banks. Head of personal banking Ben Perham says Macquarie aims to increase its market share with regard to term deposits, which is curently one per cent; in contrast, its share of transaction and savings accounts is now seven per cent. Meanwhile, its home loan market share has risen to 6.8 per cent, and Perham says it is approving mortgage loans "considerably faster" than other lenders.

CORPORATES
MACQUARIE BANK LIMITED, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY

UK-owned Foxtel still calls Australia home

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by James Madden
The Australian – Page: 15 : 11-Feb-26

Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany has emphasised that the pay-TV and streaming group remains focused on producing content for Australian audiences, despite having been sold to UK-based DAZN in 2025. Speaking at Foxtel’s annual showcase on Tuesday night, Delany noted that it is still an Australian-operated company that has a local headquarters and management team, and directly employs more than 1,000 Australian. He added that Foxtel invests more than $1bn in Australian sports every year, as well as $130m in local drama content.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, DAZN

Lithium boss urges West to instate price floor after landmark deal

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Mark Wembridge
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 11-Feb-26

PLS Group has secured a two-year offtake agreement with China-based Canmax Technologies for the suppy of spodumene concentrate. PLS will supply Canmax with 150,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate over two years, with an option to extend the deal for a further 12 months. The agreement includes a guaranteed floor price of $US1,000 per tonne, and CEO Dale Henderson has urged Western governments to consider implementing a floor price for lithium, as well as other incentives. The price of six per cent spodumene rose to more than $US2,000 per tonne in early 2026, compared with just $US575 per tonne in mid-2025.

CORPORATES
PLS GROUP LIMITED – ASX PLS, CANMAX TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY LIMITED