AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Rethink press inquiry and act, PM urged

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Original article by Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 2 : 13-Jun-19

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher says the federal government has made no decision on a parliamentary inquiry into press freedom in the wake of the Australian Federal Police’s recent media raids. However, some Coalition MPS have expressed concern that the issue may become politicised if there is a parliamentary inquiry. Liberal MP Craig Kelly argues that a special inquiry into the actions of the AFP is not necessary as parliament has oversight of the law enforcement agency.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Coalition to strike amid Setka strife

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 13-Jun-19

Labor has been urged to support the federal government’s Ensuring ­Integrity Bill in the wake of the controversy surrounding Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & ­Energy Union official John Setka. Labor opposed the bill – which amongst other things would allow courts to disqualify union officials for repeated breaches of civil law – in the previous parliament. Setka has refused to stand down as the CFMMEU’s Victorian secretary in the wake of comments he allegedly made about domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty, while Labor leader Anthony Albanese is seeking to have him expelled from the party.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, ELECTRICAL TRADES UNION, UNITED VOICE

Legal setback for Adani on eve of sign-off

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Original article by Charlie Peel, Sarah Elks
The Australian – Page: 8 : 13-Jun-19

The development of Adani’s Carmichael coal mine may be further delayed due to an ‘administrative error’ by the federal government. Adani’s separate proposal to build a 110km water pipeline will have to be reassessed by Environment Minister Sussan Ley and reopened to public comment. This follows the revelation that the Department of the Environment cannot prove that it had considered all of the public submissions it received on the pipeline project. The Queensland Government is slated to make a decision regarding the groundwater management plan for the Carmichael mine on 13 June.

CORPORATES
ADANI MINING PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INCORPORATED, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS OFFICE LIMITED, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, QUEENSLAND GREENS

US-Australia to secure rare earths

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Original article by Angus Grigg, Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 2 : 13-Jun-19

The US, Canada and Australia will co-operate in developing a strategy to reduce reliance on China for key minerals such as rare earths and lithium. Rare earths in particular are crucial in a range of technology, including defence systems, wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries. Meanwhile, Austrade has identified a list of Australia’s ‘critical’ mineral resources that could potentially be developed using offshore capital. The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility is also considering an investment in Arafura Resources’ proposed rare earths mine in the Northern Territory.

CORPORATES
AUSTRADE, NORTHERN AUSTRALIA INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITY, ARAFURA RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX ARU, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, GEOSCIENCE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE, CHINA. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM COMMISSION, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Cormann says power price drops on the way

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 12-Jun-19

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has reiterated the federal government’s commitment to reducing electricity prices by 25-30 per cent by the end of 2021. He notes that the Coalition has a range of policy initiatives aimed at achieving this goal, including its so-called "big stick" legislation and its proposal to underwrite baseload generation projects. Action to reduce power prices is among the key demands of Senate crossbenchers in return for backing the Coalition’s income tax cuts package.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, ONE NATION PARTY, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Media demands legal shake-up, not an inquiry

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Original article by Rosie Lewis, Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 12-Jun-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison held talks with the ABC’s MD David Anderson and chair Ita Buttrose on 11 June, in the wake of a controversial police raid on the public broadcaster’s Sydney offices. Morrison has signalled that the federal government is open to holding a parliamentary inquiry into press ­freedom. However, News Corp Australia executive Campbell Reid argues that an inquiry is not necessary; instead, he says that legislation governing freedom of the press should be reviewed by a working group comprising politicians, legal experts and media representatives.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, LAW COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE

Senator in no hurry for deal on tax cuts

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 2 : 12-Jun-19

The federal government will make its income tax cuts package a top priority when parliament resumes on 2 July. However, Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick says his party will take its time over negotiations with the government to ensure that it achieves the best outcome. Patrick has signalled that in addition to its previously stated demands in return for supporting the tax package, Centre Alliance will seek additional assistance for pensioners who will not benefit from the tax cuts.

CORPORATES
CENTRE ALLIANCE, ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE

Coalition to move on press freedom

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Original article by Olivia Caisley, Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 2 : 11-Jun-19

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has advised that the federal government will shortly issue a public response to the Australian Federal Police’s recent media industry raids. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has indicated that she would support a parliamentary inquiry into freedom of the press, although she adds that journalists tend to be biased and there should be some restrictions on press freedom. A spokesman for shadow home affairs minister Kristina Keneally says Labor is still considering whether to support an inquiry.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AL JAZEERA, NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION

Power, gas costs key to tax cut win

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Original article by Rosie Lewis, Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 11-Jun-19

The Australian Conservatives’ Cory Bernardi is currently the only Senate crossbencher who supports the Coalition’s full income tax cuts package. Other crossbenchers have outlined their key demands in return for supporting the tax cuts. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson will push for the construction of at least one high-efficiency, low-emissions coal-fired power station, a royal commission into the family law system and the implementation of the Bradfield water-diversion scheme. Centre Alliance has also identified the high cost of gas and electricity as a key issue that needs to be addressed in return for its support.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, ONE NATION PARTY, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Frydenberg to flesh out growth plan

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 7-Jun-19

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says he is prepared to look at new measures that might boost the economy, so long as they do not represent a breach of election commitments. Frydenberg says his first task is to implement the measures in the Coalition’s pre-election Budget. Frydenberg is about to attend the G20 Finance Meeting in Japan, and he says he will hold talks with his overseas counterparts about reforms to boost productivity that they might be embracing in their economies.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA