ASSOCIATIONS

New Free TV boss Savill to push for cuts in broadcast licence fees

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 10-Oct-16

Brett Savill, who has succeeded Julie Flynn as CEO of Free TV Australia, says the TV sector is likely to undergo greater change in the next 5-10 years than the switch from analogue to digital. However, he notes that TV is still the only medium than can attract the large audiences that viewed the recent Australian Football League and National Rugby League grand finals. Savill is expected to lobby the Federal Government for a further reduction in broadcasting licence fees, which Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has indicated is under active consideration.

CORPORATES
FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, BAI COMMUNICATIONS, BROADCAST AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS, KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE

Miners plead for no new tax slug in NSW budget

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Original article by Annabel Hepworth
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 26-May-16

The New South Wales Minerals Council has warned the State Government that imposing additional taxes on mining companies in the June 2016 Budget will deter investment and increase investor uncertainty. The Council’s pre-Budget submission has also urged Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian to provide more funding for the "Resources for Regions" infrastructure program.

CORPORATES
NEW SOUTH WALES MINERALS COUNCIL, NEW SOUTH WALES. THE TREASURY, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, SHENHUA WATERMARK COAL PTY LTD

Unionists descend into business-class warfare

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Original article by Elizabeth Colman
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 29-Apr-16

ACTU secretary Dave Oliver has accused Tourism Accommodation Australia chairman Martin Ferguson of hypocrisy. Ferguson has called for Sunday penalty rates in the hospitality industry to be reduced, but Oliver notes that the former federal Australian Labor Party minister’s parliamentary Gold Pass allows him to travel business-class while advocating a reduction in the wages of low-paid employees. The Fair Work Commission is reviewing weekend penalty rates in sectors such as hospitality and retailing.

CORPORATES
ACTU, TOURISM ACCOMMODATION AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA

Mining sector backs 20pc company rate

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 29-Mar-16

A report produced by Canadian academic Jack Mintz has concluded that Australia’s corporate tax rate is uncompetitive, and proposes a progressive reduction from 30 per cent to just 20 per cent. The report was commissioned by the Minerals Council of Australia. The Federal Government’s May 2016 Budget is widely tipped to include a reduction in the company tax rate.

CORPORATES
MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Super funds push for more ESG disclosure

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Original article by Ruth Liew
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 3-Mar-16

Australian-listed companies are under pressure to report more thoroughly their environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. On 2 March 2016, the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) and the Financial Services Council launched a new guide on corporate disclosure of ESG information to shareholders. Research by ACSI suggests that the ESG disclosure practices of ASX 200 companies are inadequate.

CORPORATES
FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL, AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF SUPERANNUATION INVESTORS INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Tweaking super won’t help women

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Original article by Sally Rose
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 20-Nov-15

The Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) says the gap in the superannuation savings of men and women can only be eliminated by paying women higher salaries and raising their workforce participation rates. The AIST believes that super policy reforms will have a limited effect on the savings gap, which is now 17 per cent.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SUPERANNUATION TRUSTEES, DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LIMITED

Big pressure to scrap small firms tax cut

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 24-Mar-15

The Council of Small Business Australia has urged the Federal Government to abandon a proposed 1.5 per cent tax cut for small businesses. CEO Peter Strong argues that the tax cut that has been proposed for the May 2016 Budget will do little to improve business confidence. The council instead favours the introduction of an accelerated depreciation rate of 150 per cent for the sector, a move which is also supported by several government MPs

CORPORATES
COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

Big retailers warn of chill to competition

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Original article by Katie Walsh
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 19-Nov-14

An Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) submission to the Harper review of competition law has expressed concern about the proposed "effects test". It warns that this would adversely affect competition and would have no long-term benefit for consumers. The ANRA has supported some of the other recommendations of the review, while small retailers say the proposal to deregulate trading hours will ultimately increase the dominance of retail giants Coles and Woolworths

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL RETAILERS ASSOCIATION LIMITED, COLES GROUP LIMITED, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, WESFARMERS BUNNINGS LIMITED, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, INDEPENDENT GROCERS OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CONSUMERS’ ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIAN TAXI INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Change laws to boost women’s super: ASFA

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Original article by Nassim Khadem
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 24 : 13-Nov-14

It is estimated that men have an average of $A197,000 in their superannuation fund upon retirement, compared with just $A105,000 for women. The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has proposed relaxing discrimination laws to permit higher employer contributions to female employees’ super accounts. The ASFA also proposes scrapping the superannuation guarantee income threshold, which is currently set at $A450 per month

CORPORATES
THE ASSOCIATION OF SUPERANNUATION FUNDS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CHALLENGER LIMITED – ASX CGF, COLONIAL FIRST STATE GROUP LIMITED, VICSUPER PTY LTD, RICE WARNER ACTUARIES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION COMMISSION

Toughen up on teacher training, uni heads warned

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Original article by Justine Ferrari
The Australian – Page: 4 : 6-Nov-14

John Hattie, the new chair of the Australian Institute for Teaching & School Leadership, supports a more stringent accreditation process for the country’s 400 teaching courses. Hattie notes that there is a 30 per cent over-supply of teachers in some areas. He suggests that culling courses could result in better-quality degrees. Hattie has drafted a new direction for the Institute, which accredits courses for public school teachers. It reflects the Australian Government’s policies to improve teaching quality

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE FOR TEACHING AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION, STANFORD UNIVERSITY