Kennett calls Liberal infighting a disgrace

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Anthony Galloway
The Australian – Page: 8 : 9-Apr-26

The Liberal Party of Victoria’s executive team is under growing scrutiny in the wake of the botched preselection ballot for the upper house seat of Moira Deeming. The Liberals’ president Philip Davis recently criticised some members of the state executive, while members of the party’s conservative faction have in turn called for Davis to step down. Former premier Jeff Kennett says the conduct of some members of the Liberal Party is "grossly depressing" and an "absolute disgrace"; he has urged the party’s factions to end the hostilities and focus on pitching the Liberals as a credible alternative government ahead of the election in November. Kennett also contends that the Coalition should work with One Nation to defeat the "corrupt" state government.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA

Strike looms at major gas plant as workers pursue $500,000 pay deals

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 8 : 9-Apr-26

The Offshore Alliance has applied to the Fair Work Commission to hold a ballot on protected industrial action at Inpex’s Ichthys LNG project. The Offshore Alliance – which comprises the Maritime Union of Australia and the Australian Workers’ Union – has been in talks about a new pay deal for more than 400 workers at Ichthys’s offshore and onshore operations for about six months. Inpex contends that its pay offer is "fair and competitive", while the Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association says the unions’ log of claims is unsustainable. AREEA says the Ichthys workers typically earn between $300,000 and $400,000 a year, and the unions’ demands would increase their annual earnings to more than $500,000.

CORPORATES
INPEX CORPORATIONICHTHYS LNG PTY LTDOFFSHORE ALLIANCEMARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIAAUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNIONAUSTRALIAN RESOURCES AND ENERGY EMPLOYER ASSOCIATION

Bowen says renewables target remains, experts differ

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Thomas HenryElizabeth Pike
The Australian – Page: 6 : 9-Apr-26

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has rejected suggestions that the federal government is no longer committed to its 2030 target of generating 82 per cent of the nation’s electricity via renewables. He stated in Sydney yesterday that the 2030 renewables target is still government policy, despite the fact that explicit references to it have been removed from Labor’s draft national policy platform for the next federal election. Bowen added that this omission does not mean that Labor has conceded that it may fall short of the target. Saul Kavonic from MST Financial expects the 82 per cent renewables target to be downgraded to an "ambition" by 2028, given that the operating life of the Eraring coal-fired power station has been extended by two years.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATERMST FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD

Roy Morgan Business Confidence increased 2.1pts to 90.7 in March despite the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Apr-26

In March 2026, Roy Morgan Business Confidence rose 2.1pts to 90.7, recovering slightly from its lowest level since 2024. The small increase in March came after large consecutive falls in January (down 7.6 points) and February (down 8.8 points), and the index remains well below the neutral level of 100. Business Confidence is now 18.8pts below the long-term average of 109.5, and down 15.3 points from a year ago. Now 25.3% (up 0.6ppts) of respondents say their business is ‘better off’ financially than a year ago, while 38.1% (down 3.2ppts) say the business is ‘worse off’. Just 35.6% (down 1.6ppts) of respondents expect the business to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 21.2% (down 3.6ppts) expect the business to be ‘worse off’. Meanwhile, 31.6% (down 2.2ppts) of respondents say the next 12 months will be a ‘good time to invest’ in growing the business (a record low figure for this indicator), while 43.1% (up 2.1ppts) say the next 12 months will be a ‘bad time to invest’.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence increases 3.5 points to 62.3 after the Albanese Government slashes the fuel excise

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Apr-26

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 3.5 points to 62.3 in the week to 5 April; however, it is now 24.5pts lower than a year ago (86.8), and 12pts below the 2026 weekly average of 74.3. Although an improvement on last week’s record low, this is the second lowest Consumer Confidence in the index stretching back over 50 years since 1972. An analysis by State shows that Consumer Confidence improved in all five mainland States this week. Now 13% of Australians (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 60% (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 19% (up 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 47% (down 4ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 5% (up 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 54% (down 2ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 16% (up 3ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 55% (up 1ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Roberts-Smith arrest a test for nation: Howard

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Steve BracksLachlan Leeming
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 9-Apr-26

Ex-SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith will remain in jail until at least 17 April, when his application for bail is scheduled to be heard. Former prime minister John Howard says Roberts-Smith’s war crimes trial will "test to the limits" Australians’ respect for the rule of law and the nation’s defence forces. He adds that some Australians regard Roberts-Smith as the "modern personification of the great ANZAC tradition", given that he is a Victoria Cross recipient. Roberts-Smiths has been accused of murdering five unarmed detainees in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart contends that the money that has been spent on war crimes investigations should have been used to strengthen Australia’s security and protect the nation from terrorism.

CORPORATES
SPECIAL AIR SERVICE REGIMENT

ALP MPs join chorus of calls for urgent boost to fuel stocks

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sarah IsonRosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 9-Apr-26

The Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s CEO Andrew McKellar says the federal government should capitalise on the temporary ceasefire in the Persian Gulf to increase the nation’s fuel security. A number of Labor backbenchers have urged the government to take action to increase Australia’s on-shore fuel reserves to 90 days, in line with the International Energy Agency’s recommendation. Meanwhile, Energy Minister Chris Bowen has ruled out ending the temporary reduction in the fuel excise tax before 30 June. Economists in turn have warned that extending the excise cut in the May budget would give consumers more spending power if petrol prices fall, which could boost inflation.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRYINTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCYAUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

War a bigger economic wrecking ball than fires, floods or financial crisis

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Shane Wright
The Age – Page: Online : 9-Apr-26

The International Monetary Fund has released a report which concludes that a major war reduces cumulative GDP by about seven per cent over five years. In contrast, the IMF estimates that a natural disaster reduces GDP growth by less than six per cent over the same time-frame, while a sovereign debt crisis cuts GDP by just 4.25 per cent. A separate report from the IMF notes that half of the world’s nations increased their defence spending between 2020 and 2024; the IMF says that about 40 per cent of all nations’ defence budgets now comprises at least two per cent of GDP, compared with just 27 per cent in 2018. The IMF researchers have also warned that a substantial increase in defence spending would require governments to reduce expenditure in other areas, such as health and education.

CORPORATES
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY CONFERENCE

Iran says Strait of Hormuz is closed again as Israel bombards Lebanon

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Michael Koziol
The Age – Page: Online : 9-Apr-26

The temporary ceasefire in the Persian Gulf is in doubt after less than 24 hours, following Israel’s continued airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Multiple news agencies in Iran have reported that the Islamic republic has closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping in response to the Israeli military action. The White House has advised that Lebanon is not currently included in the ceasefire agreement, although press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the US and Israel may discuss doing so in the future. However, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif contends that Lebanon is included in the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that his nation is ready to resume airstrikes on Iran "at any moment".

CORPORATES

Union booze breath fail was mouthwash

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 13 & 17 : 9-Apr-26

There has been a sharp increase in unions’ right-of-entry requests at iron ore mines in the Pilbara since Labor took office federally in 2022. BHP received 844 right-of-entry requests in 2025, and there were 168 in the first 10 weeks of 2026. The issue has come under scrutiny in the wake of BHP’s refusal to allow an Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union organiser to access its Newman mine site via a right-of-access permit. The AMWU contends that the organiser had failed a breathalyser test after using an alcohol-based mouthwash immediately before entering the mine site. However, BHP says its rules on alcohol and drug use are strictly enforced and non-negotiable.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHPAUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WORKERS’ UNION