AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

PM seeks TPP backing as Peru agrees trade deal

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 10-Nov-17

Peru will abolish almost all tariffs on Australian imports under a free-trade agreement between the two nations. Australian farmers in particular are set to benefit from the trade deal, with sheep meat, wheat and almonds among the products that will be tariff-free from the outset, while the tariff on beef will be abolished within five years. Australia accounted for just $US5.3m of the $US4.6bn worth of agricultural products imported by Peru in 2016. Meanwhile, the Federal Government is optimistic that the Trans-Pacific Partnership will proceed without the US.

CORPORATES
TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION

Tensions increase over rival SSM bill

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 6 : 10-Nov-17

Liberal MP Ian Goodenough has expressed concern about the limited focus of religious protections in a private members’ bill to legalise same-sex marriage. He says some Coalition MPs are developing a separate bill on same-sex marriage that will provide greater protection for religious freedoms if the majority of Australians support marriage equality in the postal survey. Meanwhile, Australian Conservatives founder Cory Bernardi says resolving parliament’s dual citizenship crisis should take priority over the issue of same-sex marriage.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, FREEDOM FOR FAITH, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY. UNITED STATES STUDIES CENTRE

Coalition rejects ACTU push to delay IR agenda

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 6 : 10-Nov-17

ACTU president Ged Kearney says the Federal Government does not have a mandate for industrial relations reform while doubts remain about the eligibility of some MPs to be in parliament. Five bills relating to unions are currently before the Senate, but Kearney argues that they should be shelved until the dual citizenship crisis is resolved. Unions have raised the prospect of a legal challenge if any of the bills are passed.

CORPORATES
ACTU, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

PM ignites citizenship war over four Labor MPs

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Original article by David Crowe, Andrew Clennell, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 10-Nov-17

The dual nationality crisis seems set to overshadow the final session of federal parliament for the year. Nick Xenophon Team MP Rebekha Sharkie has indicated that she is seeking legal advice as to whether her renunciation of British citizenship was completed before she was elected to parliament. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has received independent legal advice which suggests that four Labor MPs are likely to be disqualified from parliament if they held British citizenship when they nominated for the 2016 election.

CORPORATES
NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Our company tax to top world

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Original article by David Uren
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 9-Nov-17

The tax rate for large Australian companies has remained unchanged since 2000, when it was reduced to 30 per cent. However, the average company tax rate in advanced countries has fallen from 32 per cent to just 24 per cent over the last 17 years. The Treasury has warned that Australia’s ability to attract business investment will be adversely affected if the nation fails to respond to plans by the US to slash its company tax rate, while Australia will also face lower growth in GDP and real wages. Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott has urged a reduction in the company tax rate.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

ALP blocks scrutiny of dubious trio

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Original article by Rosie Lewis, Andrew Clennell, Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 9-Nov-17

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten discussed parliament’s dual citizenship crisis on 8 November, although they did not reach an agreement on proposed disclosure rules. Meanwhile, the Australian Labor Party’s Justine Keay, Susan Lamb and Josh Wilson and the Liberal Party’s Jason Falinski are the latest federal MPs to come under scrutiny over their eligibility to be in parliament over dual citizenship concerns.

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

Kroger lashes Libs over GetUp!

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Original article by Simon Benson, Andrew Clennell
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 8-Nov-17

Liberal Party of Victoria president Michael Kroger has criticised several federal Liberal MPs for holding "secret" meetings with representatives of GetUp. Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne and backbenchers Tim Wilson and Trent Zimmerman are among the members of the Liberal Party’s moderate faction to have held meetings with the left-wing activist group. However, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull argues that GetUp meets with politicians from all political parties.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, GETUP LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

$30bn boost for PM’s tax reform plan

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 8-Nov-17

A new report from the Treasury has concluded that the Federal Government’s proposed $A65bn corporate tax cuts proposal would result in a total tax revenue gain of about $A30bn. The research paper estimates that reducing the company tax rate from 30 per cent to 25 per cent will increase the size of the domestic economy by more than one per cent over the long-term. The report also notes that the average company tax rate among OECD nations has fallen to 24 per cent, compared with 32 per cent in 2000, and it warns that Australia could face a permanent reduction in both GDP and real wages if it fails to take similar action.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Malcolm Turnbull moves on citizenship, orders full disclosure

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 7-Nov-17

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has called for all federal politicians to declare to the parliament that they are not dual citizens as a way of resolving the current citizenship saga. However, he continued to resist calls for a citizenship audit of federal MPs, as has been sought by the minor parties. Turnbull’s proposal would apply to both sitting and new MPs, with new MPs being required to make declarations within 21 days of being sworn in. Supporting documentation would be required by MPs when making their declaration.

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

Citizenship debacle a trust breaker: Goyder

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 3-Nov-17

Wesfarmers CEO Richard Goyder says political uncertainty is weighing on consumer confidence and retail sales. He used a National Press Club speech on 2 November to criticise former Senate president Stephen Parry over a long delay in disclosing concerns that he may have British citizenship by descent. Goyder added that Parry’s inaction has contributed to the general public’s lack of trust in politicians and heightened the perception that they are not addressing the needs of electors.

CORPORATES
WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED