AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

AMA head rejects Shorten’s Medicare scare campaign

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Original article by David Crowe, Sean Parnell
The Australian – Page: 8 : 22-Jun-16

Australian Medical Association president Michael Gannon has rejected suggestions that outsourcing the Medicare payments system would constitute the privatisation of Medicare itself. He argues that the payments system technology is outdated and needs to be overhauled. Medicare has featured prominently in the Australian Labor Party’s recent election campaigning. Gannon says the AMA supports some of Labor’s health care policies, but it does not endorse the party’s claims regarding the future of Medicare.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, ST JOHN OF GOD HOSPITAL SUBIACO INCORPORATED, ACTU

Shorten’s policies ‘to cut house prices’

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Original article by Sid Maher
The Australian – Page: 1 & 8 : 21-Jun-16

Adept Economics has released the results of independent modelling which suggests that house prices would fall by an average of four per cent if the Australian Labor Party’s proposed changes to the negative gearing and capital gains tax regimes are implemented. The modelling also suggests that apartments in inner-city regions could fall be up to five per cent. The report, which was produced on behalf of Walshs Financial Planning, concludes that there are risks associated with the policy, and changes should be made if Labor wins the 2016 federal election.

CORPORATES
ADEPT ECONOMICS, WALSHS FINANCIAL PLANNING PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, GRATTAN INSTITUTE, URBAN DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

Plebiscite a mandate if Coalition wins: PM

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Original article by David Crowe, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 6 : 21-Jun-16

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten continues to favour a parliamentary vote on the issue of same-sex marriage. He has committed to introducing legislation within his first 100 days in office if the Australian Labor Party wins the 2016 election. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in turn aims to hold a plebiscite on the issue by the end of the year if the Coalition is returned to office. A recent survey by Griffith University showed that 70 per cent of respondents support a plebiscite.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY. CENTRE FOR GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC POLICY

Melbourne’s Batman set to turn Green at Federal Election

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 20-Jun-16

Roy Morgan’s 2016 seat-by-seat analysis of the Greens’ 20 best performing electorates at the 2013 Federal Election shows that the Greens will win the Inner Melbourne electorate of Batman from the incumbent David Feeney (Australian Labor Party) and the Greens’ one sitting Member, Adam Bandt, will retain his seat of Melbourne. Roy Morgan interviewed 6,283 Australian electors aged 18+ across the 20 electorates between January and 11-12 June 2016. Of the doubtful Labor seats it appears the Victorian seat of Wills has been saved following Labor’s preference swapping deal with the Liberal Party. In a seat being targeted by the Greens – the electorate of Grayndler in Sydney held by Labor’s Anthony Albanese – voting is similar to the 2013 election. His primary vote was in the high 40s in 2013 and the Greens were outpolled by the Liberals. Albanese is likely to retain his seat. In Melbourne Ports in 2013, Labor’s Michael Danby was outvoted by the Liberals but retained the seat because of Greens preferences. A switch in primary votes between Labor and the Greens could see the seat fall to the Greens, although Labor (33 per cent) retains a significant primary vote lead over the Greens (26 per cent) in Melbourne Ports.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Shorten pitches jobs growth

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 : 20-Jun-16

The Australian Labor Party officially launched its 2016 federal election campaign on 19 July. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten announced an additional $A3.1bn worth of spending commitments, including $A1.7bn for public transport projects. Labor has also revealed a $A257m program that will provide small businesses with tax breaks for hiring mature-age workers, mothers and carers who are seeking to re-enter the workforce, and people under the age of 25. Shorten also ruled out privatising Medicare.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Directors face new penalties

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 20-Jun-16

The Australian Government will increase the maximum civil penalty for breaches of the Corporations Act if wins the 2016 federal election. Company directors will face fines of up to $A216,000 for serious breaches of the Act, compared with $A200,000 at present. The registered organisations bill will also impose the same penalty on union officials, who can be fined a maximum of $A10,800 at present. Unions will also be prohibited from paying the fines of officials who breach the law.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, ACTU, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA

Labor forces Medicare retreat

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 : 20-Jun-16

The future of Medicare was on the agenda for both major political parties on 19 June 2016. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ruled out the privatisation of Medicare or any of its services. The Federal Government had previously flagged plans to outsource Medicare’s back-office functions. However, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten claims that the Government still plans to dismantle the existing Medicare system. He has also committed to blocking a proposal to reduce bulk-billing incentive payments for pathology and radiology services.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA POST, NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Roy Morgan State of the Nation 24: Focus on Politics the 2016 Federal Election

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: online : 17-Jun-16

Roy Morgan Research has presented the latest Australia State of the Nation, with the focus on the 2016 Federal Election. Economic issues are still the main concern for Australians. The 7-Eleven wage exploitation scandal and a Fair Work Commission ruling against Coles have made voters sensitive to problems related to industrial relations. Australia’s real unemployment level is much higher than suggested by official figures. Roy Morgan’s unemployment & under-employment rate is at 18.1 per cent, versus the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ unemployment figure of 5.7 per cent. Australians’ voting intentions suggest that Malcolm Turnbull will to be re-elected as Prime Minister on 2 July 2016.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, 7-ELEVEN STORES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, COLES GROUP LIMITED, REPUBLICAN PARTY (UNITED STATES), AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, VICTORIA. COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, PALMER UNITED PARTY, JACQUI LAMBIE NETWORK, GLENN LAZARUS TEAM, JOHN MADIGAN’S MANUFACTURING AND FARMING PARTY, DERRYN HINCH’S JUSTICE PARTY, FAMILY FIRST PARTY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY

‘Move Canberra to South Australia’

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: online : 17-Jun-16

Australia’s economic problems could be solved by shifting the country’s political centre from Canberra to South Australia. Michele Levine, the CEO of Roy Morgan Research, believes that the end of the mining boom is a serious challenge for Australian politicians. Regrettably, Federal politicians in Canberra are "detached from reality". The relocation of the capital to South Australia would open their eyes to the real issues facing Australians on a day-to-day basis. The Federal Government must increase workplace productivity, eliminate the cash economy, be tougher on government and corporate corruption, stimulate competition in the private sector, introduce more transparency in government tenders and improve government data collection.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, ARRIUM LIMITED – ASX ARI, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Nick Xenophon Team looks likely to nick L-NP seats of Mayo & Grey

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: online : 17-Jun-16

The popularity of the Nick Xenophon Team (NXT) in South Australia (SA) has changed the political scene in that state. NXT is likely to pose a serious challenge to bigger parties at the 2016 Federal election. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says extensive analysis of Roy Morgan voting trends in SA seats over the past two months shows NXT is likely to win two seats held by the Coalition – Grey and Mayo. NXT is also likely to influence the results in SA’s nine other seats.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS