AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Delivery prices could soar under gig laws: DoorDash

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 18-Oct-23

Uber Eats recently estimated that the gig economy reforms in the federal government’s Closing Loopholes Bill could increase the cost of using food delivery services by up to 85 per cent. However, rival food delivery platform DoorDash has told a Senate inquiry into the legislation that prices could potentially rise by more than 260 per cent. The legislation would give the Fair Work Commission powers to set minimum pay and conditions for gig workers, but DoorDash has argued that these powers should be limited to setting minimum pay, insurance, portable leave and payment times. Nick McIntosh from the Transport Workers’ Union says there is broad support for the reforms among gig economy workers and companies.

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DOORDASH, UBER EATS, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, TRANSPORT WORKERS’ UNION

Teal MPs deeply polarised over Israel attack

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Original article by James Robertson
The New Daily – Page: Online : 18-Oct-23

The House of Representatives voted 107-7 on Tuesday to defeat the Greens’ proposed amendment to a motion condemning the attacks on Israel by Hamas on 7 October. Amongst other things, the Greens sought to amend the motion to refer to "war crimes perpetrated by the State of Israel" and remove a sentence stating that Australia “stands with Israel and recognises its inherent right to defend itself”. Teal MPs Kylea Tink and Sophie Scamps voted in favour of the Greens’ amendment, along with independent MP Andrew Wilkie. However, several other teal MPs distanced themselves from the vote.

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AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Doha views Qatar Airways flight block as national insult

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Original article by Robyn Ironside
The Australian – Page: 2 : 27-Sep-23

Australian Qatar Business Council chairman Simon Harrison has appeared before a Senate hearing into the federal government’s decision to reject Qatar Airways’ request for more flights to Australia. He said the decision has caused "sensitivities" in the local Qatar business community. He added that Qatar regards it as a "national insult" that the decision has been linked to an incident in which Australian women were strip-searched at Doha airport in 2020. Qantas chairman Richard Goyder and CEO Vanessa Hudson will appear before the committee on Wednesday; former CEO Alan Joyce may be summonsed to appear when he returns from overseas.

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AUSTRALIAN QATAR BUSINESS COUNCIL, QATAR AIRWAYS, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN

Economists rip into Labor’s white paper

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 27-Sep-23

The federal government’s employment white paper is continuing to attract scrutiny from economists and the Opposition. Labour economist Mark Wooden says the white paper lacks substantive measures to meet the government’s stated goal of making the economy more "productive, dynamic and competitive". The Centre for Independent Studies’ chief economist Peter Tulip doubts that the government’s policies will reduce the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment, adding that Labor’s industrial relations reforms may increase the NAIRU. Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor in turn says the government should focus on policies that result in low inflation and low unemployment.

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THE CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT STUDIES LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Business blasts flawed IR bill

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 2 : 27-Sep-23

The federal government has estimated that the proposed labour hire and gig economy changes in its Closing Loopholes bill would cost employers up to $9bn in extra wages over the next decade. However, the Business Council of Australia contends that this estimate is based on outdated, limited and flawed data; the employers’ group notes that the explanatory memorandum accompanying the bill acknowledges this fact. BCA CEO Bran Black says the flaws call into question the government’s estimates of the impact of the proposed changes on individual businesses.

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BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Pezzullo faces Home Affairs axe

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 26-Sep-23

Former Australian Public Service commissioner Lynelle Briggs will undertake an independent review into the conduct of Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo. This follows revelations that Pezzullo had sent hundreds of encrypted text messages to Liberal Party powerbroker Scott Briggs over several years. The federal government has advised that Pezzullo has agreed to step aside pending the outcome of the review, and senior public service officials believe that he will not return to the role that has a remuneration package of up to $928,340. The Greens contend that Pezullo’s position is untenable and that he should resign.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Business alarmed at Labor’s work goal

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Original article by Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 4 : 26-Sep-23

The federal government has attracted criticism over its employment white paper’s revised definition of ‘full employment’. The government’s goal is for ‘everyone who wants a job to be able to find one without searching for too long’. Treasurer Jim Chalmers say the technical definition of full employment – the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment, which is used by the Reserve Bank – is distinct but complementary to the government’s objective. However, Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Andrew McKellar contends that having dual definitions for full employment could undermine the RBA’s efforts to restore inflation to its target range. The white paper estimates that about 2.8 million people are either unemployed and looking for work or underemployed and seeking more work.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Tax bounty brings record $22b surplus

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 22-Sep-23

The federal government will confirm on Friday that the budget surplus for 2022-23 was $22.1bn. This represents a significant turnaround from the $77.9bn deficit that former treasurer Josh Frydenberg had forecast in March 2022. It will also be the first surplus since 2007-08 and the first under a Labor government since Paul Keating was treasurer more than three decades ago. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Labor has delivered a surplus while providing cost-of-living relief and investing in the long-term growth of the economy. The budget bottom-line was boosted by factors such as high commodity prices and rising income tax revenue due to a strong labour market.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Immunity for mates: PM’s Covid cop-out

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 22-Sep-23

The federal government has been widely criticised over the limited scope of its commission of inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay has questioned why the actions of state and territory governments during the pandemic will be excluded from the inquiry. She argues that this will make it harder to prepare for future pandemics. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of prioritising the interests of Labor premiers over those of the general public. Dutton wants the inquiry to be given the powers of a royal commission, including the ability to compel people to give evidence.

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AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Labor gets to work on jobs plan

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 4 : 20-Sep-23

Treasurer Jim Chalmers say the federal government’s employment white paper will outline Labor’s vision for a more "dynamic and inclusive labour market". The white paper to be released on Monday will outline five key objectives, including sustained full employment, productivity growth and sustainable wage growth. The ACTU used its submission to the white paper to call for a target of zero involuntary unemployment. The terms of reference for the employment white paper were released following the jobs and skills summit in 2022.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, ACTU