AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Australia and European Union fail to resolve trade deadlock

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Original article by Latika Bourke
The Age – Page: Online : 12-Jul-23

The federal government’s negotiations over a free-trade agreement with the European Union have reached an impasse after two days of talks. Trade Minister Don Farrell interrupted his European holiday to attend the talks in Brussels. Negotiations will resume in August, but Farrell has indicated that the government is prepared to abandon the proposed trade deal if it is not finalised by the end of 2023. The European Union wants access to Australia’s critical minerals, but Australian farmers’ access to Europe’s agricultural markets remains a key issue, along with the use of geographical indicators for products such as champagne and feta.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

Labor hints at further cost respite

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Michael Read
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 12-Jul-23

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the federal government’s bigger-than-expected budget surplus for 2022-23 is in addition to cost-of-living relief than than instead of it. Addressing an event hosted by the Brotherhood of St Laurence in Melbourne on Tuesday night, Chalmers said the surplus of around $20bn will give the government the flexibility to provide further cost-of-living relief if this proves to be necessary, after the 9 May budget included expenditure of $14.6bn on such measures over the forward estimates period. Meanwhile, independent economist Chris Richardson says the recent fall in commodity prices means that a second successive surplus in 2023-24 is now much less certain than on budget night.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, BROTHERHOOD OF ST LAURENCE

Gas code poised for release

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Original article by Colin Packham
The Australian – Page: 13 & 16 : 5-Jul-23

The federal government will shortly release the full text of its new mandatory code of conduct for the gas industry, which will require gas to be sold at a "reasonable price". Senex Energy and Cooper Energy are amongst the companies that have suspended or delayed gas projects due to concerns about the code, which is being introduced as part of the government’s controversial intervention in the gas industry. The Australian Consumer & Competition Commission recently concluded that the nation should have sufficient gas supplies for the next 18 months.

CORPORATES
SENEX ENERGY LIMITED, COOPER ENERGY LIMITED – ASX COE

Labor’s Voice box of priorities

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 5-Jul-23

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney will address the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday. Burney will identify health, education, jobs and housing as the four major policy priorities on which the proposed Indigenous Voice to parliament will be asked to privide advice. Burney will also state that unlike government, the Voice will focus on the next generation rather than the next election. Burney will argue that the Voice must be enshrined in the Constitution rather than merely legislated, to ensure that it cannot be abolished by a future government.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Albanese urged to cancel China trip as Hong Kong vows to pursue exiled democracy activists for life

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Original article by Daniel Hurst
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 5-Jul-23

The federal government has stated that it will not tolerate any foreign interference on Australian soil, in response to Hong Kong’s move to issue arrest warrants for pro-democracy advocates Kevin Yam and Ted Hui. Hong Kong’s CEO John Lee has warned that Yam, Hui and the other six activists will be "pursued for life" if they do not surrender, adding that Hong Kong authorities will continue to "monitor" their actions and behaviour while they are overseas. Shadow home affairs minister James Paterson says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should reconsider his proposed official visit to Beijing in the wake of Lee’s threats.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Calls to ban political donations from Australia’s big four consultancies after PwC scandal

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Original article by Henry Belot
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 5-Jul-23

Analysis by the Centre for Public Integrity shows that the four consultancy firms have donated $4.3m to Labor and the Coalition over the last decade. The value of government contracts held by these firms has increased by 400 per cent over the same period. James Guthrie of Macquarie University says major political parties should not accept donations from the "big four" firms in the wake of PwC’s tax leaks scandal, particularly if they have previously received large payments for public contracts. Greens senator Barbara Pocock has also called for large consultancy firms to be banned from making political donations.

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CENTRE FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY, MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Visa and minerals win for Indonesia

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Original article by Jess Malcolm
The Australian – Page: 5 : 5-Jul-23

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held official talks with President Joko Widodo in Sydney on Tuesday. The two leaders agreed to establish closer ties via business, education and security, as well as addressing climate change. Amongst other things, Australia’s business visas for Indonesians will be extended from three years to five, while the two nations will co-operate with regard to critical miners; the federal government will also provide $50m in funding to invest in clean-energy-focused Indonesian start-ups and small businesses.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Industry chiefs lash critical minerals plan

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 16 : 21-Jun-23

Mineral Resources MD Chris Ellison has described the federal government’s critical minerals strategy as "empty rhetoric" and a "missed opportunity" to attract international investment in the commodities that will be essential to the energy transition. He contends that measures such as tax incentives, fast-tracked approvals and financial assistance are needed if the government is serious about competing with countries such as the US and its ­Inflation Reduction Act. Resources Minister Madeleine King says the critical minerals strategy is aimed at setting out a framework to allow the government to give targeted support to industry in the future.

CORPORATES
MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX MIN, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES

Business to target Burke in IR battle

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 21-Jun-23

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has criticised an advertising campaign opposing the federal government’s proposed ‘same job, same pay’ law for labour hire workers. He says the advertisements’ claim that inexperienced labour hire worker would have to be paid the same as an experienced, full-time employee is false. However, the employers’ groups that are funding the campaign will persist with it; they intend to target Burke’s electorate of Watson in particular, via mobile and fixed billboard ads. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently stated that the labour hire reforms would be "limited and targeted".

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Business cuts a deal on workplace rules

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Original article by Jennifer Hewett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 15-Jun-23

The Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association still opposes the proposed ‘same job, same pay’ laws for labour hire workers. However, CEO Steve Knott says AREEA believes that the federal government will legislate the changes in some form, regardless of the widespread opposition. AREEA will therefore shift its focus to influencing how the policy is implemented. In contrast, AREEA had funded its own advertising campaign against the multi-employer bargaining provisions in the government’s first tranche of industrial relations reforms.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES AND ENERGY EMPLOYER ASSOCIATION