AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

States lock away 200 years of gas supply: business

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Original article by Sarah Martin, Anthony Klan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 28-Apr-17

The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association says the Federal Government’s move to impose LNG export controls could increase the nation’s sovereign risk and discourage investment in exploration and production. APPEA and Resources Minister Matt Canavan have criticised state governments for restrictions on gas exploration, and APPEA estimates that there are sufficient untapped gas reserves in Victoria and New South Wales to meet demand for gas on the east coast for about 200 years.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS

Bernardi alliance out to block Xenophon

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Original article by Rosie Lewis, Verity Edwards
The Australian – Page: 5 : 27-Apr-17

Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm says he has agreed to a "loose" voting alliance with the newly-enlarged Australian Conservatives. They will co-operate when voting on issues on which they broadly agree, with the aim of curbing the influence of the Nick Xenophon Team in the upper house. Australian Conservatives founder Cory Bernadi says the new party would welcome any Liberal politicians who wish to defect. His party recently merged with Family First Australia.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, FAMILY FIRST PARTY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, ONE NATION PARTY

PM orders gas giants: Aussies first

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Original article by Sarah Martin
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 27-Apr-17

The Federal Government will introduce an "Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism", which is aimed at ensuring that domestic gas supply is sufficient to meet forecast demand. Resources Minister Matt Canavan will be given the power to block gas exports to ensure that gas users on the east coast have access to sufficient gas. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the government aims to ensure that the domestic price of gas is affordable and reflects global export prices.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, COCONUT AIRLINES, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC, GLADSTONE LNG PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA PACIFIC LNG LIMITED, QUEENSLAND CURTIS LNG PTY LTD, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL

PM expected to meet Trump in New York

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 26-Apr-17

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has held meetings with Iraq counterpart Haider Al-Abadi and Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani during a trip to the Middle East. Turnbull also celebrated Anzac Day with Australian soldiers. His impromptu trip was a closely-held secret due to security concerns. Turnbull also held talks with US Defence Secretary James Mattis, and he expected to visit the US in early May to meet President Donald Trump and commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF DEFENSE, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Report pans banks’ reform resistance

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Original article by Richard Gluyas
The Australian – Page: 21 : 26-Apr-17

The ANZ Bank is the only major Australian bank to have supported the key recommendations of the House of Representatives economics committee’s first report on increasing competition and governance in the industry. The recommendations included measures to make bank executives more accountable for the misconduct of employees. The Australian Labor Party still maintains the need for a royal commission into the banking sector.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STANDING COMMITTEE ON ECONOMICS, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN BANKERS’ ASSOCIATION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Abolish TV licence fees, tax Google and Facebook: Xenophon

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 26-Apr-17

The Australian Government’s May 2017 Budget is tipped to include a further reduction in TV broadcasting licence fees. Independent senator Nick Xenophon says the fees are "anachronistic" and should be scrapped for free-to-air networks. Xenophon supports increased restrictions on gambling advertisements during live sports broadcasts, but he rejects suggestions that he has struck a deal with the Government on the issue. Xenophon also favours imposing a turnover tax on Google and Facebook.

CORPORATES
NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY

Fifield targets budget for enhanced media package

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 24-Apr-17

Changes to the anti-siphoning list for sports and a reduction in TV broadcasting licence fees are expected to be included in the Australian Government’s revised cross-media ownership reform bill. The Government hopes to gain the support of independent senator Nick Xenophon for its media bill, while it is also seeking to ban gambling advertisements during live sports broadcasts. The proposed media reforms are expected to be included in the May 2017 Budget.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, THE EMIRATES MELBOURNE CUP, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Ciobo to chase Hong Kong FTA

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 2 : 24-Apr-17

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo says Australian services industries in particular would benefit from a proposed free trade agreement with Hong Kong. An FTA with Hong Kong is expected to focus on services industries such as finance and education. Ciobo notes that Asia’s middle-class is forecast to increase from 600 million people to three billion by 2035. Two-way trade in goods and services between Australia and Hong Kong totalled $A15.3bn in 2015-16.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

Government may step in, PM warns gas sector

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Original article by Sarah Martin
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 20-Apr-17

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull held further talks with energy industry CEOs on 19 April 2017, as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to resolve the gas crisis. However, the energy groups’ failure to offer new strategies to increase domestic gas supplies prompted Turnbull to raise the prospect of more government intervention in the sector. The Government has also asked the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission to use its inquiry powers to investigate the domestic gas market over the next three years.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

PM toughens citizenship test

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 20-Apr-17

The Federal Government will impose stricter rules for foreigners seeking to become Australian citizens, as part of sweeping changes to immigration and visa rules. Amongst other things, people applying for citizenship will have to demonstrate adherence with "Australian values", while they will be subject to stricter criminal background checks and have better English-language skills than required at present. People will also not be eligible for citizenship unless they have resided in Australia for a minimum of four years.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET