Turquoise Hill rebels against Rio’s pressure

Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 6-Nov-20

Canada-based Turquoise Hill Resources has commenced arbitration proceedings against Rio Tinto over a disagreement regarding financing options for the expansion of the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia. Rio Tinto has pushed for Turquoise Hill to finance a cost blowout at the project via a capital raising rather than by taking on additional debt. Rio Tinto has a 50.79 per cent stake in Turquoise Hill.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, TURQUOISE HILL RESOURCES LIMITED

Woodside vows to defend SNE oil site

Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 20 : 31-May-18

The legal dispute over a stake in the SNE oilfield in Senegal was a key issue on the agenda at FAR Limited’s 2018 AGM. Chairman Nic Limb told shareholders that the company will have the right to buy a 35 per cent stake in the oilfield at the same price that Woodside Petroleum paid for it if an arbitration court rules in FAR’s favour. He has also not ruled out seeking a partner to buy the stake if Woodside’s deal with ConocoPhillips is overturned. A Woodside spokeswoman has described the arbitration as "frivolous" and without merit.

CORPORATES
FAR LIMITED – ASX FAR, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, CONOCOPHILLIPS, INTERNATIONAL COURT OF ARBITRATION

Labor’s Fair Work plan insane

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 25-Jan-18

Australian Mines & Metals Association CEO Steve Knott has criticised the Federal Opposition’s proposal to give Fair Work Commission more power to arbitrate industrial disputes. He argues that the FWC is already dominated by former union officials and Labor supporters, adding that it would be "insanity" to give it more power. Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox says the FWC’s existing powers to intervene are sufficient.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN MINES AND METALS ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED), AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, ACTU

ALP’s Fair Work Commission power play

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 24-Jan-18

ACTU secretary Sally McManus has expressed support for the Federal Opposition’s proposal to give the Fair Work Commission more power to arbitrate industrial disputes. Labor’s workplace relations spokesman Brendan O’Connor says that while the parties to a dispute should always seek to resolve it themselves, an alternative is needed when one party has not acted in good faith. However, Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox has warned against any changes to the Fair Work Act that would give unions more bargaining power.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

Unions push for casual worker rights

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 17-Mar-15

The ACTU wants casual workers to have a legal right to compulsory arbitration when employers do not "bargain in good faith". The ACTU will present its views on the matter in a submission to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into workplace relations. The Australian Industry Group argues in its submission that workplace agreements should include a mandatory clause about measures to improve productivity

CORPORATES
ACTU, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION