AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Jakarta pact of strategic trust

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 21-Aug-24

The federal government has finalised a new defence agreement with its Indonesian counterpart during an official visit by president-elect Prabowo Subianto. Amongst other things, the two nations will hold more joint military exercises and increase maritime security co-operation, as part of a push to counter Chinese’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Prabowo, who is currently Indonesia’s Defence Minister, says he wants to strengthen the nation’s ties with its neighbours. Defence Minister Richard Marles will formally sign the agreement in Indonesia next week.

CORPORATES
INDONESIA. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE

CFMEU courts war on Labor

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 21-Aug-24

The CFMEU’s national secretary Zach Smith says federal government legislation to appoint an administrator to its state construction divisions is "dangerous" and undermines the democratic functioning of unions. He adds that the CFMEU is considering its options but has yet to decide whether to pursue a legal challenge. However, sources have indicated that the union is considering a High Court ­challenge on constitutional grounds. The United Firefighters Union’s Victorian secretary Peter Marshall says all unions should challenge the legislation in the High Court, and warns that other unions could potentially be targeted in the future. The Electrical Trades Union’ state secretary Troy Gray contends that Labor has betrayed the union movement.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, UNITED FIREFIGHTERS’ UNION OF AUSTRALIA, ELECTRICAL TRADES UNION, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Roy Morgan Poll: ALP (50.5%) marginally ahead of Coalition (49.5%), but too close to call

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 20-Aug-24

If a Federal Election were held now the result would be ‘too close to call’, with the ALP on 50.5% (up 0.5%) just ahead of the Coalition on 49.5% (down 0.5%) on a two-party preferred basis, the latest Roy Morgan survey finds. The ALP or Coalition would require the support of minor parties and independents to form a minority government. The result once again highlights the importance of preference flows to determine the overall two-party preferred result. The Coalition primary vote increased by 0.5% to 38.5% while ALP primary support was up 1% to 30.5%. Support for the Greens was down 0.5% to 13.5% and support for One Nation was down 1% to 4%. Smaller parties and independents lost support this week. Support for Other Parties increased 1% to 5% and support for Independents was down 1% to 8.5%.

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

GovERP IT flop the latest in $2.2b lost on projects

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Original article by Tom Burton
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 20-Aug-24

The federal government has cancelled the cloud-based GovERP project that had been commissioned by its Coalition predecessor. Nearly $341m has been spent on the all-of-government enterprise resource planning project since 2019, and an expert panel has concluded that the GovERP platform cannot be "repurposed" for use by government agencies such as Services Australia. The government has now cancelled about $2.2bn worth of IT projects that were initiated by the Coalition, including a business registry project for the Treasury that was set to be delivered five years and at a major cost blowout.

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AUSTRALIA. SERVICES AUSTRALIA

CFMEU headed for administration after Labor-Coalition agreement

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 20-Aug-24

Legislation to appoint administrators to the CFMEU’s state construction divisions was passed by the Senate on Monday, after the federal government agreed to several concessions sought by the Coalition. Amongst other things, the government accepted the Coalition’s push for a minimum administration period of three years and a maximum of five years, and for administrator Mark Irving to provide federal parliament with a progress report every six months. Irving has agreed that the CFMEU will not make any political donations or engage in "party politics" during the period of administration. Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has described the legislation as the strongest action a government has taken against a union in Australia’s history. The bill will be put before the lower house later this week.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS

Gold miner says $1b project unviable after Plibersek intervention

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 20-Aug-24

Regis Resources has indicated that it will consider all legal options after federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek effectively blocked its McPhillamy gold and silver project in NSW. Plibersek contended that her decision to place heritage protections over the headwaters of the Belubula River will only impact the proposed site of the mine’s tailings dam, and will not prevent the project from proceeding. However, Regis argues that there are no viable alternative sites for the tailings dam; the company adds that the approvals process would have to be restarted if it seeks a new site for the dam, which could delay the project by 5-10 years.

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REGIS RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX RRL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

ALP set to rush CFMEU law through Senate

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 14-Aug-24

The Coalition still has some concerns about the federal government’s legislation to appoint administrators to the CFMEU’s state construction divisions. However, it is ultimately expected to support the bill, although shadow employment minister Michaelia Cash will push for a Senate inquiry into the legislation. Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn contends that an inquiry is not necessary and the bill should be passed as quickly as possible. Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt intends to table a motion in parliament today for the bill to be passed by the Senate on Thursday, with a view to having it passed by the upper house either on the same day or early next week.

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

Giles ‘breached ministerial code of conduct’: Coalition

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 5 : 14-Aug-24

Former immigration minister Andrew Giles continues to attract scrutiny over his handling of the portfolio. Documents obtained via freedom of information laws show that Giles was aware that at least 83 immigration detainees had been released into the community without bridging visas in the wake of the High Court’s landmark NZYQ ruling. However, Giles had told question time in November that all detainees who were required to be released into the community were on bridging visas. Shadow home affairs minister James Paterson contends that Giles had breached the ministerial code of conduct and should resign for misleading parliament.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Roy Morgan Poll: ALP and Coalition are tied on 50% each two-party preferred in mid-August

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 13-Aug-24

If a Federal Election were held now the result would be ‘too close to call’ with the ALP on 50% (down 1.5%) tied with the Coalition on 50% (up 1.5%) on a two-party preferred basis, the latest Roy Morgan survey finds. Based on these results the ALP or Coalition would require the support of minor parties and independents to form a minority government. The result again highlights the importance of preference flows to determine the overall two-party preferred result. The Coalition primary vote increased 1% to 38%, ALP primary support was down 1% to 29.5%, support for the Greens increased 2% to 14% and support for One Nation was down 0.5% to 5%. Smaller parties and independents lost support this week. Support for Other Parties dropped 1% to 4% and support for Independents was down 0.5% to 9.5%.

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

Greens, Libs to play tough on CFMEU

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 13-Aug-24

The Coalition contends that the federal government’s bill to appoint administrators to the CFMEU’s state construction divisions is "weak" and should be referred to a Senate committee. The Greens will in turn decide their position regarding the proposed legislation on Tuesday, and expressed concern that it overrides the court process. Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt argues that forcing the bill to be scrutinised by a Senate inquiry would demonstrate that the Coalition is not serious about addressing the "criminality, bullying and thuggery" within the CFMEU. The Coalition has committed to deregistering the union if it wins the next election, although Watt believes that administration is a more practical option.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS