AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Joint strategy with US on rare earths

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Original article by Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 7 : 11-Oct-19

Resources Minister Matt Canavan has indicated that a joint strategy with the US regarding critical minerals such as rare earths will be finalised in coming weeks. He has stressed the need for co-operation between governments to ensure that new rare earths projects go ahead. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who is visiting Australia, has emphasised the importance of processing rather than merely mining rare earths. Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says the federal government wants processing of critical minerals to be undertaken in Australia.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LYNAS CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX LYC

Big energy: big-stick rules hamper firm investment

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith, Simon Evans, Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: S1 & S2 : 10-Oct-19

Origin Energy CEO Frank Calabria has told an energy summit that the federal government’s proposed legislation to force energy companies to divest assets is deterring investment in the sector at a time when it is urgently needed. The issue of government intervention in the energy market attracted criticism from some of the summit’s delegates, but Energy Minister Angus Taylor says such action is justified given the rise in electricity prices in recent years as renewable energy generation has increased.

CORPORATES
ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, ENERGYAUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, AUSTRALIA. ENERGY SECURITY BOARD, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET OPERATOR LIMITED

Strict best interest duty needed: Harris

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 10-Oct-19

Former Productivity Commission chairman Peter Harris has stressed the need for a strong ‘best interest duty’ that applies equally across the banking, mortgage broking, financial advice and superannuation industry. He is concerned that industry lobbying could result in a proposed best interest duty for mortgage brokers being watered down. Harris has also downplayed the need for a mortgage pricing inquiry, arguing that the federal government’s priority should be to implement the recommendations made by the commission in its 2018 report on competition in the financial services sector.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN FINANCE GROUP LIMITED – ASX AFG

Canavan seeks US funds to help develop rare earths resources

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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