AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Immigration to crack down on investor rort

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Original article by Fleur Anderson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 11-Sep-14

The Australian Government will make changes to the residency visa program for wealthy overseas investors. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says the Government is concerned that some foreigners have abused the significant investor visa scheme, which gives them access to Australian residency on the condition that they invest a minimum of $A5 million in Australia for four years. Morrison said some investors have shifted their money out of Australia once they received a visa

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), BANK OF CHINA GROUP

‘Death knell’ for community TV as Turnbull flicks the internet switch

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Original article by Mitchell Bingemann
The Australian – Page: 7 : 11-Sep-14

The Australian Government will reallocate the spectrum that is used by community TV stations. Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull says community stations will need to become internet-only broadcasters from the start of 2016. He says this will provide them with access to a much larger audience, noting that only about 2,000 people watch community TV stations during prime-time

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY TELEVISION ALLIANCE, CHANNEL 31, TELEVISION SYDNEY (TVS) LIMITED

L-NP closes gap on ALP following repeal of Mining Tax

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 8-Sep-14

A multi-mode Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention has found that support for the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis has risen by 1.5 per cent to 46 per cent. The poll, which was carried out on the weekends of 30-31 August and 6-7 September 2014, also shows that support for the Australian Labor Party has fallen by 1.5 per cent to 54 per cent. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan notes that despite the increase in support for the Coalition, it faces many challenges if it is to stand a real chance of winning the 2016 election

CORPORATES
MORGAN POLL, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Japanese subs on the way

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, John Kerin, Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 9-Sep-14

The Australian Government is believed to have decided to purchase a new fleet of submarines from Japan, in a major blow for the local shipbuilding industry. South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has warned that the state’s federal MPs will face an electoral backlash if the submarines are built overseas rather than by Adelaide-based shipbuilder ASC. The Federal Government’s 2013 election platform included a commitment to build the submarines in Adelaide

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, ASC PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, SYDNEY INSTITUTE, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20), AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, LIBERAL PARTY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, DCNS SA, THYSSENKRUPP MARINE SYSTEMS GMBH, SAAB AB

Mail losses widen

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Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 5-Sep-14

Australia Post has reported a 2013-14 profit of $A116.2m, including a profit of $A337.5m for its parcels business. However, its letters business posted a loss of $A328.4m, which is 15 per cent higher than previously. CEO Ahmed Fahour is seeking Federal Government approval to offer a two-tiered mail delivery service, with customers paying more for deliveries every weekday

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA POST, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS

Doctors warn on euthanasia

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The West Australian – Page: 15 : 1-Sep-14

There is opposition among Western Australian doctors to a federal private member’s Bill on euthanasia. The so-called "dying with dignity" bill is being introduced to federal parliament by Australian Greens senator Richard Di Natale. Dr Doug Bridges, the former head of palliative care at the Royal Perth Hospital, says the emphasis should be on giving terminally-ill patients good palliative care, adding that doctors should not be forced to kill people

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ROYAL PERTH HOSPITAL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

CEOs: Senate threat to growth

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Original article by James Thomson, Shaun Drummond, Simon Evans, Jamie Freed, Jessica Gardner, Jenny Wiggins
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 1-Sep-14

Wotif.com CEO Scott Bulme and Cochlear CEO Chris Roberts are among the executives who say the Senate should cease its resistance to the Australian Government’s Budget measures. Business leaders are concerned about the outlook for consumer and business confidence, arguing that it is being undermined by the impasse in the upper house. Many CEOs also believe that the Reserve Bank should not increase official interest rates while business confidence remains weak

CORPORATES
WOTIF.COM HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX WTF, COCHLEAR LIMITED – ASX COH, PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP LIMITED – ASX FLT, MEMBERS EQUITY BANK PTY LTD, TABCORP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TAH, NIB HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NHF, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, EXPEDIA INCORPORATED

Abetz walks away from ’40 jobs’ idea

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 28-Aug-14

The Australian Government has conceded that its demands on jobseekers may not be practical. Federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz said that there may be no purpose in getting people to apply for 40 jobs a month to retain the unemployment benefit. He admitted that it could be a burden to small businesses. There is speculation that other measures, such as the paid parental scheme, may be cut back

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Business chiefs push for medical research fund

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Original article by Jemima Whyte, Joanna Heath, Jessica Gardner
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 28-Aug-14

Some business leaders are publicly supporting the Australian Government’s $A20 billion Medical Research Future Fund. UBS CEO Matthew Grounds, Wesfarmers CEO Richard Goyder and ASX CEO Elmer Funke Kupper are concerned that the measure will not be passed by the Senate. They said that it will provide social and commercial benefits for Australia, attracting capital and making the health sector more profitable

CORPORATES
WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN MOTORING ENTHUSIAST PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, HEALTHSCOPE LIMITED – ASX HSO

ALP lead down slightly over L-NP (55.5%:44.5%)

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 25-Aug-14

A multi-mode Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention has found that support for the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis has risen by 0.5 per cent to 44.5 per cent. The poll, which was carried out on the weekends of 16-17 and 23-24 August 2014, also shows that support for the Australian Labor Party has fallen by 0.5 per cent to 55.5 per cent. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says Prime Minister Tony Abbott can show leadership by addressing Australia’s high level of unemployment and under-employment

CORPORATES
MORGAN POLL, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET