AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Senate rivals clear path for Keneally’s prize

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Original article by Andrew Clennell, Brad Norington
The Australian – Page: 2 : 18-Jan-18

The Transport Workers’ Union’s national secretary Tony Sheldon and United Voice’s Tara Moriarty have chosen not to seek nomination to replace Labor’s Sam Dastyari in the Senate. Former New South Wales premier Kristina Keneally now seems certain to replace Dastyari. She gained 45.12 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote in the Bennelong by-election in late 2017. Meanwhile, there is speculation that Labor will offer Sheldon a Senate seat at the next federal election, and Moriarty is tipped to contest the next state election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, TRANSPORT WORKERS’ UNION, UNITED VOICE, HEALTH SERVICES UNION OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Terror, trade top Tokyo agenda

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 2 : 18-Jan-18

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will meet with members of Japan’s National Security Council during a brief visit to Japan on 18 January. Turnbull will discuss issues such as joint military training exercises and Japan’s measures to protect civilians from the threat of terrorist attacks on its public transport system. Turnbull will also address Japanese and Australian business leaders during his trip, and he will call for action to finalise the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, JAPAN. NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, JAPAN. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, CANADA. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Health premium rises tipped

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Original article by Sarah-Jane Tasker, Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 15 : 18-Jan-18

There is speculation that private health insurance premiums will rise by an average of four per cent in 2018. Macquarie Group analysts estimate that Medibank and NIB will increase their premiums by an average of 3.85 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively. Macquarie has increased its share price targets for both insurers. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt expects the lowest increase in health insurance premiums for 17 years. He will announce the premium increases in the next several weeks.

CORPORATES
MEDIBANK PRIVATE LIMITED – ASX MPL, NIB HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NHF, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Wesfarmers: Tax cut spurs wages growth

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Original article by Joanna Mather, Brad Thompson, Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 15-Jan-18

A number of US companies have announced plans to increase minimum pay rates or provide bonuses to staff in response to the Trump administration’s company tax cuts. The Australian Government will reintroduce its across-the-board company tax cuts package when parliament resumes in February, and Revenue Minister Kelly O’Dwyer has stressed the need for the nation’s tax regime to remain competitive. Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott and the Group of 100’s Australian president Andrew Porter argue that company tax cuts could boost local wages.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, GROUP OF 100 INCORPORATED, WAL-MART STORES INCORPORATED, FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES NV, AMERICAN AIRLINES INCORPORATED, AT&T CORPORATION, BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, WELLS FARGO BANK, REPUBLICAN PARTY (UNITED STATES), COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN FOUNDATION INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED – ASX AFI, AUSTRALIAN FOUNDATION INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED – ASX AFI

PM, Shorten to go to battle on cost of living

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 15-Jan-18

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will return from their summer break in the week beginning 15 January. They will both highlight their parties’ policies aimed at addressing electors’ concerns about the rising cost of living. Turnbull and Shorten will both also start the new political year with their leadership credentials again under scrutiny, while Labor may face the prospect of having to contest up to four by-elections as a result of the dual citizenship crisis.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND

Apprentices ripped off

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Original article by Renee Viellaris
The Courier-Mail – Page: 19 : 12-Jan-18

U to 10,000 apprentices in Queensland may have been underpaid since 2014 because the Fair Work Ombudsman published wage rates that were incorrect. The mistake could result in apprentices receiving wage increases of up to $A150 a week. It could also cost taxpayers up to $A30m, and the Queensland Government is refusing to contribute to its federal counterpart’s compensation package.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

WA Lib leader issues political suicide GST warning to Turnbull

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 12-Jan-18

Western Australia’s Opposition Leader Mike Nahan is generally supportive of the Productivity Commission’s recommendations regarding the distribution of goods and services tax revenue. However, he has suggested that the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory should be directly funded by the Federal Government, and GST revenue should be distributed solely to the states. Nahan also says any attempt by the Federal Government to make changes to the GST cannot succeed without the Australian Labor Party’s support.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, NORTHERN TERRITORY. DEPT OF THE CHIEF MINISTER

Reworked tax package to include personal cut

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Original article by David Uren
The Australian – Page: 2 : 12-Jan-18

The Australian Labor will again vote against a bill to reduce the tax rate for all companies if it is reintroduced to the Senate. Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen argues that there are greater priorities for the Budget. Financial Services Minister Kelly O’Dwyer has urged Labor to support the legislation, which will return to the Senate when parliament resumes in February. There is speculation that both company and personal income tax cuts will feature in the May 2018 Budget if the upper house rejects the legislation again.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM

Charities fear donations bill a muzzle

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 4 : 11-Jan-18

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has rejected claims that the Federal Government’s move to ban foreign donations to political parties will limit the ability of charities to engage in public debate on social issues. Charities would be required to register as a political campaigner if their "political expenditure" has exceeded $A100,000 in any of the last four years. John Falzon of the St Vincent de Paul Society says the bill is targeting organisations that are critical of government policy, and it will increase the compliance burden for charities.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, COMMUNITY COUNCIL FOR AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Minerals Council: End rigid industrial laws

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 11-Jan-18

The Minerals Council of Australia has used its pre-Budget submission to urge the Federal Government to pursue industrial relations reforms. Amongst other things, the MCA has proposed changes to workplace right-of-entry rules for unions, new restrictions regarding protected industrial action and an overhaul of the rules governing enterprise bargaining. Interim CEO David Byers has warned that Australia’s productivity and competitiveness will be adversely affected if there are no changes to the nation’s "outdated" workplace practices.

CORPORATES
MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, GLENCORE PLC, ACTU