AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Canavan seeks US funds to help develop rare earths resources

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 10-Oct-19

Resources Minister Matt Canavan has held talks with US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross regarding co-operation in the development of critical minerals projects, including rare earths. Amongst other things, the federal government is looking at options such as providing funding for early-stage projects via Export Finance Australia and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility. China is the world’s major producer of rare earths, accounting for about 80 per cent of global supply.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, LYNAS CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX LYC, ARAFURA RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX ARU, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY. UNITED STATES STUDIES CENTRE

Tax cuts key to driving revival: US

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 10-Oct-19

US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross will meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Canberra on 10 October. Ross says the federal government should look at corporate tax reform in order to increase the nation’s global competitiveness and attract more direct foreign investment. Ross has also cautioned against focusing too much on Australia’s trade relationship with China at the expense of its investment relationship with the US. He has also warned that Australia’s aluminium exports to the US are under scrutiny following a recent trebling of export volumes after the Trump administration agreed to a tariff exemption.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Morrison: ANZUS Libs’ greatest move

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Troy Bramston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 9-Oct-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has attributed the Liberal Party’s electoral success and longevity in government to the fact that it is a ‘common sense’ and ‘pragmatic’ party that has broad appeal. Morrison has identified the ANZUS Treaty, which was signed in 1951, as the Liberal Party’s most important achievement in government. Morrison adds that he has always wanted to serve his country, but never had any ambitions of becoming Liberal leader or prime minister.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Coalition faces Senate battle to pass big reforms

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 2 : 8-Oct-19

The federal government has identified a number of legislative priorities when Parliament resumes on 14 October. However, analysis suggests that the Coalition may lack the numbers to pass up to seven bills in the Senate, including the Ensuring Integrity Bill and a religious discrimination bill. The proposed first-home loan deposit scheme is the only government initiative that appears to have sufficient support in both houses at present, after Labor agreed to back the bill.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE

Denialists are to blame for high power bills: Turnbull

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Troy Bramston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 8-Oct-19

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says the federal government’s lack of a ‘­coherent’ national energy policy has resulted in higher electricity prices in Australia and higher greenhouse gas emissions. He has also accused the Liberal Party of having been influenced by a group that is "denialist and reactionary" on the issue of climate change. Turnbull contends that Robert Menzies regarded the Liberal Party as being ‘genuinely progressive’ rather than a ‘conventional conservative party’. He argues that the term ‘conservative’ has lost its true meaning.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

A $31.9 million election bill leaves Labor in the red

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Samantha Maiden
The New Daily – Page: Online : 7-Oct-19

Labor is facing a budget deficit of about $900,000 after its primary vote in the 18 May federal election was lower than expected. Labor had anticipated a primary vote of 36 per cent, but it was about 33 per cent. As a result, Labor will receive $24.6m from taxpayers under public funding rules, which is around $2m lower than expected. The Liberal Party will receive around $27.8m and the Greens in turn will receive about $7.67m. Meanwhile, Labor’s financial documents show that the party spend $31.9m on its election campaign.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

I lost workers’ trust, admits Shorten

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 7-Oct-19

Former Labor leader Bill Shorten has accepted responsibility for the party’s 18 May federal election loss. He has conceded that Labor’s proposal to abolish cash refunds for excess franking credits caused much anxiety among some electors, while there was a widespread perception that Labor’s election policies were not focused on creating jobs. Shorten intends to remain in politics, although he has ruled out becoming Labor leader again. Labor will shortly complete a review of its election campaign.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Tweaking will not protect journalists

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Chris Merritt
The Australian – Page: 24 : 4-Oct-19

Attorney-General Christian Porter is at odds with Law Council president Arthur Moses over a ministerial directive that allows him to veto prosecutions against journalists over reports that may breach secrecy laws. Porter’s ministerial directive also seemingly contradicts one issued by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton in early August, in the wake of the Australian Federal Police’s media raids. Porter’s ministerial directive could potentially enable him to kill off AFP cases against media companies and journalists that have been sanctioned by Dutton.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, LAW COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE

Real power, not just position

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 4-Oct-19

The Coalition’s unexpected federal election win has seen Prime Minister Scott Morrison retain top ranking in AFR Magazine’s 2019 Power List. Morrison had been ranked first in 2018 by virtue of the fact that he succeeded Malcolm Turnbull shortly before the list was finalised. Labor leader Anthony Albanese is ranked fifth in the 2019 Power List, behind Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

PM slap for UN in new world order

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 4-Oct-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spoken of his concern regarding a new order that seeks to give global institutions authority over individual countries in terms of dictating their national policies. Morrison was speaking at the Lowy Institute on 3 October, saying that he needs to focus more on international forces that are shaping Australia’s future. Morrison also said he will visit Indonesia in November for the inauguration of President Joko Widodo, and that he will visit India and Japan in early 2020.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LOWY INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL POLICY, UNITED NATIONS