AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

ScoMo effect sends us cruising

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Original article by Joyce Moullakis, Luke Griffiths, Lisa Allen, Samantha Bailey
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 29-May-19

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Coalition’s surprise federal election win has boosted activity in several sectors of the economy. Banks and mortgage brokers say there has been a sharp increase in home loan enquiries in the wake of the 18 May poll, with Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn noting that it received more mortgage loan applications in the week after the election than it had in more than six months. Cruise lines have also reported an increase in enquiries and bookings, particularly among retirees who would have been hard hit by Labor’s reforms.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSSIE HOME LOANS LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN FINANCE GROUP LIMITED – ASX AFG, NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE, REGENT SEVEN SEAS, OCEANIA CRUISE LINES PTY LTD, ACCOR ASIA PACIFIC, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

Big stick returns in power fight

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 29-May-19

Energy Minister Angus Taylor says legislation aimed at forcing power companies to reduce electricity prices will be a priority for the federal government when parliament resumes. The so-called ‘big stick’ bill was put on hold in March after being rejected by parliament, and the CEOs of major energy companies still have concerns about the proposed legislation. Taylor also says the federal government will encourage its state counterparts to take action to increase electricity and gas supply.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, ONE NATION PARTY

Energy experts urge Coalition to do more on climate policy

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Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 28-May-19

RepuTex director Hugh Grossman says the Coalition’s Emissions Reduction Fund will not help Australia to achieve its 2030 carbon emissions reduction targets by itself. The fund, which has been renamed the Climate Solutions Fund, pays polluters for securing carbon abatement. However, it has been criticised for not penalising the biggest polluters and compelling them to change their behaviour. The Grattan Institute’s Tony Wood says the energy sector can be expected to adopt a more conciliatory approach to the Coalition, given that it was widely expected to lose the federal election.

CORPORATES
GRATTAN INSTITUTE, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, ENERGY USERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, REPUTEX AUSTRALIA PACIFIC PTY LTD

Porter has mandate to restructure workplace tribunal: employers

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 28-May-19

Australian Mines & Metals Association CEO Steve Knott says the Fair Work Commission needs to approve enterprise agreements more quickly, arguing that the often lengthy delays at present are unacceptable. He says one option may be to give the Fair Work Ombudsman responsibility for approving workplace deals. Knott has urged new Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter to undertake a review of the FWC’s performance and processes.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF JOBS AND SMALL BUSINESS, AUSTRALIAN MINES AND METALS ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED), RMIT UNIVERSITY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Doesn’t add up: Albo’s mine craft

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Original article by Greg Brown, Alice Workman
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 28-May-19

Resources Minister Matt Canavan contends that Labor has learned nothing from how Queenslanders voted in the federal election. Canavan was attacking new Labor leader Anthony Albanese and deputy leader Richard Marles for refusing to say whether they support Adani’s proposed Carmichael coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin, with the Basin having estimated thermal coal reserves of 27 billion tonnes. Albanese stated in 2018 that "there’s no market" for thermal coal, and that the Adani mine is "a climate change issue".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, ADANI MINING PTY LTD, QUEENSLAND RESOURCES COUNCIL LIMITED

Scott Morrison unveils new ministry as Coalition prepares for majority government

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Original article by Henry Belot, Dan Conifer
abc.net au – Page: Online : 27-May-19

The federal government has announced a number of changes to its Cabinet team in the wake of the federal election. Sussan Ley will replace Melissa Price as Minister for the Environment, although Energy Minister Angus Taylor will assume responsibility for carbon emissions reduction policy. Linda Reynolds has been given the defence portfolio, Bridget McKenzie is the new Agriculture Minister and Ken Wyatt will take on the Indigenous Affairs portfolio. Senator Arthur Sinodinos will succeed Joe Hockey as Australia’s ambassador to the US, while former Communications Minister Mitch Fifield is set to become Australia’s ambassador to the United Nations.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS

New minister ready for big to-do list

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 27-May-19

Paul Fletcher has replaced Mitch Fifield as Minister for Communications and the Arts in a cabinet reshuffle following the federal election. The former Optus executive will face a number of challenges in the portfolio, including lobbying by telcos for a reduction in the national broadband network’s wholesale pricing and a push by TV networks for drama and children’s content quotas to be relaxed. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s final report on its inquiry into digital platforms will also be released shortly.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, NBN CO LIMITED, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

Band of Nats’ women MPs defies blokey image

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 5 : 24-May-19

The National Party is on track to have up to six female representatives in the new parliament, compared with two previously. Senator Bridget McKenzie says the Nationals have exploded the myth that only women from the left of politics want to be in parliament. Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Michael McCormack says its female MPs have gotten into parliament on their merits and without the need for quotas.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Anthony Albanese to be Labor leader, as Chalmers quits race

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Original article by Samantha Maiden
The New Daily – Page: Online : 24-May-19

Labor’s finance spokesman Jim Chalmers has withdrawn from the party’s leadership ballot, paving the way for Anthony Albanese to succeed Bill Shorten unopposed. Chalmers has cited factors such as his young family as reasons for his decision not to seek the leadership, although he is seen as a frontrunner to become deputy leader. Clare O’Neil and Richard Marles are also believed to considering a tilt at the deputy leadership.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Treasurer’s tariff plea to Trump

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Original article by Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 2 : 24-May-19

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has urged US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to "amicably" bring an end to the trade war with China. Frydenberg made his plea after Mnuchin rang to congratulate him on the re-election of the Coalition government. Council of Small Businesses of Australia CEO Peter Strong says that up to 15 per cent of Australian small businesses trade globally, so the current trade tensions are causing them great concern.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA