AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Liberals lead in Canning as threat to PM grows

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 14-Sep-15

There is growing speculation that Prime Minister Tony Abbott will face a leadership spill either before or just after the 19 September 2015 by-election in the seat of Canning. A Fairfax Media/Ipsos poll has found that Liberal Party would have narrowly won the by-election if it had been held on 12 September, albeit with a swing against it of about 10 per cent. Some Liberal insiders have suggested that a leadership challenge is likely if the swing against the party is greater than five per cent.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, IPSOS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Abbott to bomb Syria, take in more refugees

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 9-Sep-15

The Australian Government has committed to increasing the nation’s intake of refugees from Syria’s civil war. This is expected to be in addition to the 13,750 refugees that the Coalition has previously agreed to accept each year. The Government has indicated that persecuted religious minorities such as Christians and Yazidis will receive priority, although some politicians have argued that religion should not be a factor. Meanwhile, Australian fighter jets stationed in the Middle East will soon commence airstrikes in Syria.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, UNITED NATIONS. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

Visa amnesty needed for all victims

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Original article by Stephen Clibborn
The Age – Page: 44 : 9-Sep-15

The Australian Government is said to be considering providing an amnesty to foreign students who have been allegedly cheated out of wages by 7-Eleven. While the Government should grant an amnesty to international students, it also needs to take action on the exploitation of all foreign workers by dodgy employers. Data from the Fair Work Ombudsman shows that migrant workers on temporary visas are also being underpaid by employers in many sectors of the economy. Any amnesty should apply to all of these employees.

CORPORATES
7-ELEVEN STORES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Betting review’s focus live wagers, tax

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 8-Sep-15

Former New South Wales premier Barry O’Farrell will undertake a review of the Interactive Gambling Act on behalf of the Australian Government. The review will examine factors such as technology issues associated with online gambling, including the growing popularity of in-play betting, as well as the extent of illegal overseas gambling. The review’s final recommendations are slated to be delivered to the Government in mid-December 2015.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF FAMILY STUDIES, WILLIAM HILL LIMITED, BET365 GROUP LIMITED, LADBROKES GROUP PLC, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE

L-NP (45%) well behind ALP (55%) on two-party preferred basis as Government Confidence down 5.5pts to 90, Greens at record high – 16.5%

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 7-Sep-15

A multi-mode Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention has found that support for Australia’s ruling Liberal-National Coalition on a two-party preferred basis has fallen by 0.5 per cent to 45 per cent. The poll, which was carried out on the weekends of 29-30 August and 5-6 September 2015, also shows that the Coalition’s primary vote has fallen by two per cent to 36.5 per cent, while the Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating has fallen by 5.5 points to 90 points. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says the nation’s high level of unemployment and under-employment is the biggest challenge facing the Federal Government as it deals with the end of the mining boom and the imminent closure of the Australian car manufacturing industry over the next two years.

CORPORATES
MORGAN POLL, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, KATTER’S AUSTRALIAN PARTY, PALMER UNITED PARTY

Gary Morgan – Solving the ‘cash economy’ is ‘too hard’ for Joe Hockey and Bill Shorten to tackle. Amnesty is the only solution to allow the economy to start afresh

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 4-Sep-15

The 7-Eleven Stores and now United Petroleum scandals confirm what we at Roy Morgan have been saying for years about the "cash economy". A few years ago I asked Opposition Leader Bill Shorten if he would tackle the "cash economy", Shorten’s answer – "too hard"! (Shorten was Employment and Workplace Relations Minister during the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Governments). Recently I asked Treasurer Joe Hockey the same question at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Business Leaders’ Summit. Hockey avoided the question and spoke to his talking points. Obviously the only viable solution to deal with cash "rorts" is to declare an amnesty and allow the economy to start afresh – taxes can be cut without putting up the GST. Unfortunately the issues created by Australia’s large "cash economy" are ignored by politicians and the Fair Work Judiciary – many of whom have reached their current positions following careers and close associations with the unions and the ALP.

CORPORATES
MORGAN POLL, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, 7-ELEVEN STORES PTY LTD, UNITED PETROLEUM PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, ALIBABA.COM CORPORATION, NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Shazam me some faith because I’m losing it with the Liberals

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Original article by Grace Collier
The Australian – Page: online : 29-Aug-15

It is frustrating to observe how the Coalition is wasting political credit given to it by voters. The federal Government has made many mistakes, including failing to appoint more women to influential positions and not doing enough for ordinary Australians. Big business has too much influence on politics. Under pressure from big companies, the Government made changes to the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Bill 2015 which made the bill meaningless.

CORPORATES
SKY NEWS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Australians complacent, unprepared for difficult future

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 26-Aug-15

Former Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson has criticised politicians for failing to warn Australians about tough times ahead. The lack of leadership is evident as politics is dominated by slogans. The short-term opportunism and complacency of the political elite make Australia ill prepared for future challenges.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

L-NP support increases after unions attack credibility of Trade Union Commissioner Dyson Heydon and the Abbott Government announces new policies on climate change and same-sex marriage

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 25-Aug-15

A Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention, which was carried out on 15-16 and 22-23 August 2015, has found that support for Australia’s ruling Liberal-National Coalition jumped to 45.5 per cent (up 2.5 per cent), compared with the Australian Labor Party (ALP) 54.5 per cent (down 2.5 per cent) following extensive union attacks on the credibility of Trade Union Royal Commission head Justice Dyson Heydon and following key Government announcements on policies involving climate change and same-sex marriage. However, if a Federal Election were held now the ALP would still win easily. Primary support for the Coalition has increased to 38.5 per cent (up two per cent) while ALP support is down one per cent to 36 per cent. Support for the Greens has fallen to 14 per cent (down 1.5 per cent), Palmer United Party 1.5 per cent (up 0.5 per cent), Katter’s Australian Party 1.5 per cent (unchanged), while Independents/ Others were 8.5 per cent (unchanged). Gary Morgan, executive chairman of Roy Morgan Research, says the Morgan Poll shows the attacks by the unions on the credibility of Heydon have had little impact on Australian electors.

CORPORATES
MORGAN POLL, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, KATTER’S AUSTRALIAN PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION

Abbott misses target in climate policy poll

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Original article by Ben Potter, Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 17-Aug-15

The latest Fairfax/Ipsos poll suggests that voters would like the Australian Government to be bolder in its emissions policy. The poll shows that the Government’s new target of reducing greenhouse emissions by 26 per cent to 28 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 is considered as too low. Only seven per cent of voters believe the government displays excessive zeal in its response to climate change, while 58 per cent of voters believe the government is not doing enough.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, IPSOS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORITY