AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Dutton’s retail break-up plan ‘madness’: Kennett

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 3-Jul-24

The Coalition proposes to introduce legislation that would force companies in certain sectors to divest assets if they are found to have abused their market power. The divestiture powers would specifically target grocery and hardware retailers with annual turnover of more than $5bn, which would include Coles, Woolworths and Bunnings. The proposed laws have been criticised by former Victorian Liberal premier Jeff Kennett and Business Council of Australia CEO Bran Black. The introduction of divestiture powers was also rejected by former Labor MP Craig Emerson in his recent review of the food and grocery code of conduct.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, COLES GROUP LIMITED – ASX COL, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Albanese mulls reshuffle to re-energise troops

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Original article by Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 4 : 3-Jul-24

There is growing speculation that the federal government will use parliament’s five-week midwinter break to revamp its frontbench team. Labor has to date avoided any changes to cabinet since taking office in May 2022, although several ministers have come under intense scrutiny over the management of their portfolios in recent months. The possibility of an early election may also prompt Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to consider a cabinet refresh. Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles are widely tipped to be most likely to be shifted from their current portfolios.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Roy Morgan Poll: Federal two-party preferred voting intentions unchanged this week: ALP 51% cf. L-NP 49%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 2-Jul-24

The Albanese Government has retained a narrow lead over the Coalition on two-party preferred terms: ALP 51% (unchanged) cf. Coalition 49% (unchanged), the latest Roy Morgan survey shows. If a Federal Election were held now the result would be a hung parliament, with the ALP likely to form a minority government with the support of minor parties and independents. Primary support for the Coalition was down 0.5% to 36.5% while the ALP was unchanged on 31.5%, the Greens were unchanged on 13%, One Nation dropped 1.5% to 4.5%, Other Parties increased 1.5% to 5.5% and Independents increased 0.5% to 9%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY

Coalition outlines vapes plan

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Original article by Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 26-Jun-24

Shadow health minister Anne Ruston has outlined details of the Coalition’s policy on vaping products, following the federal government’s decision to weaken its own vaping regulations. The Coalition proposes to subject vapes to a similar regulatory regime as cigarettes, which would allow flavoured vapes to be legally sold at outlets such as supermarkets, service stations and convenience stores. In contrast, Labor intends to restrict sales of vapes to pharmacies, while people over the age of 18 will not require a doctor’s prescription to buy these products. The Coalition will also impose an excise tax on vapes and ramp up investment in a crackdown on organised crime.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Focus campaign on cost of living, PM tells party

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 26-Jun-24

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a meeting of Labor’s caucus on Tuesday that his government’s MPs must prioritise the cost-of-living crisis, arguing that it is the top issue among voters. A number of cost-of-living relief measures that were announced in the 14 May budget will take effect from 1 July, in addition to the stage-three income tax cuts and an increase in the minimum wage. Albanese has also warned the Coalition to expect a union campaign against its nuclear energy policy; he said unions know that the policy will destroy jobs, undermine the manufacturing industry and result in higher electricity prices.

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

Vapes to be sold behind the counter under watered-down ban

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Original article by Paul Sakkal, Natassia Chrysanthos
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 25-Jun-24

The federal government has been criticised for abandoning its plans to make e-cigarettes available only with a doctor’s prescription. Labor has agreed to the Greens’ proposed amendments to its legislation on nicotine vaping products, which will now be available to buy at pharmacies without a prescription. Health Minister Mark Butler says the new laws will protect young Australians and the broader community from the harms of recreational vaping. However, the Coalition has described the amendments as a "backdown", while the Pharmacy Guild of Australia has urged the Senate to reject the revised legislation.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH AND AGED CARE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, THE PHARMACY GUILD OF AUSTRALIA

CFMEU condemns ALP’s demerge laws

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 25-Jun-24

Federal government legislation that will allow the CFMEU’s manufacturing division to demerge is expected to be passed by the Senate with the Coalition’s support. Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke says many members of the division do not feel properly represented by the CFMEU, including workers in female-dominated industries such as textiles. However, the CFMEU’s national secretary Zach Smith has doubled down on his warning that the proposed laws would set a dangerous precedent that could be used by a future government to break up unions.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS

New governor-general’s $200k pay rise slammed as indefensible

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Original article by Rhiannon Down, Greg Brown, Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 25-Jun-24

Sam Mostyn will be officially sworn in as Australia’s 28th governor-general on 1 July. The federal government has revealed that Mostyn will receive an annual salary of $709,000 in her new role. Outgoing Governor-General David Hurley has been paid just $495,000 annually, although his salary was reduced because he also received a military pension during his five-year term. However, National Party MP Keith Pitt says the big pay rise for Mostyn is inappropriate during a cost-of-living crisis.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Coalition fury as former Liberal minister and new climate chair rejects nuclear power

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Original article by David Crowe
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 25-Jun-24

The federal government is under scrutiny after advising that Matt Kean will succeed Grant King as chairman of the Climate Change Authority. Kean is a former NSW Liberal treasurer and energy minister, who has expressed opposition to adding nuclear power to Australia’s energy mix. Kean says nuclear energy would have bankrupted his state due to the cost and length of time to build nuclear power stations. The federal Opposition is yet to disclose the likely cost of the seven nuclear power plants that it plans to build if it wins the next election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORITY, LIBERAL PARTY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Roy Morgan Poll: ALP edges ahead of Coalition on two-party preferred: ALP 51% cf. L-NP 49%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 25-Jun-24

The ALP Government is now ahead of the Coalition on two-party preferred after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton put nuclear energy at the centre of the Coalition’s policies for the Federal election.: ALP 51% (up 1%) cf. L-NP 49% (down 1%). If a Federal Election were held now the result would be a hung parliament with the ALP likely to form a minority government with the support of minor parties and independents, the latest Roy Morgan survey shows. The swing to the ALP was strongest in NSW (ALP: +3.5%), WA (ALP: +4.5%) and SA (ALP: +5%). There was no swing to either party in Victoria while in Queensland the LNP gained a swing of 3.5% against the national trend. Primary support for the Coalition was down 1% to 37% this week while the ALP closed the gap, up 2% to 31.5%. Support for the Greens was down 0.5% to 13%, support for One Nation increased 1% to 6%, support for Other Parties was down 1.5% to 4% and support for Independents was unchanged at 8.5%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY