BANKS AND BANKING – TAXATION – SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Investor sells out as fear of bank tax grows

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Original article by Andrew White, Michael Owen
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 31-Oct-17

Jupiter Fund Management’s Asian Fund has sold down some of its Australian financial services investments, in part due to concern about South Australia’s proposed bank tax. If the tax is imposed, it has been estimated that it will cost the big four banks and Macquarie $A417 million over four years. The tax is due to be considered by South Australia’s upper house during the week ending 3 November, with the government needing the support of cross-bench MPs to get the tax approved.

CORPORATES
JUPITER MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, DIGNITY PARTY, AUSTRALIAN BANKERS’ ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, BUSINESS SA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

ANZ to take lead in state levy fight

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Original article by Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 21 : 29-Jun-17

ANZ Bank CEO Shayne Elliott says the South Australian Government’s bank levy is "unfair", as it will apply to bank customers in other states. He warns that the will adversely affect the state’s economy, when the government should be pursuing policies that encourage investment in SA. Elliott held talks with Premier Jay Weatherill and Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis on 28 June. Elliott also says the Federal Government’s bank levy is "wrong".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE

Xenophon’s revolt over SA bank tax

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Original article by Simon Evans, James Frost
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 27-Jun-17

The Australian Bankers’ Association has indicated that all of its member banks oppose the South Australian Government’s bank levy. They intend to campaign against the tax by targeting marginal seats. Meanwhile, Senator Nick Xenophon says the levy could deter investment in SA at a time when action is needed to bolster the state’s economy. Xenophon and federal Treasurer Scott Morrison argue that there is no need to impose a state levy on banks, noting that the federal levy reflects the Australian Government’s implicit guarantee on bank deposits.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BANKERS’ ASSOCIATION, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, SA BEST, GM HOLDEN LIMITED, ME BANK, LIBERAL PARTY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR ADVISORY COUNCIL, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, PEOPLE’S CHOICE CREDIT UNION

Canberra has legal doubts on SA bank tax

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 26-Jun-17

The South Australian Government’s levy on the big four banks and Macquarie Group is expected to raise around $A100 million per annum. The tax is additional to the levy that was recently announced by the federal government. Federal minister Christopher Pyne has attacked the SA levy on the grounds that the state government offers no form of guarantee to the banks, thus admitting that the federal levy is in return for it providing a guarantee to them.

CORPORATES
MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE AUSTRALIAN SMALL BUSINESS AND FAMILY ENTERPRISE OMBUDSMAN

Investors wary of copycat state bank levies

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Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 31 : 23-Jun-17

Shares in Australian banks rose on 22 June, although they failed to retain early gains after the South Australian Government moved to impose a levy on banks’ state liabilities. Bank stocks are likely to be sold down in the near-term amid concern that other states could seek to balance their budgets via a levy on the sector. However, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 has shed just 3.7 per cent during May and June 2017 – well below the five-year average loss of 4.4 per cent – and the local bourse traditionally performs well in July.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, MSCI INCORPORATED, MSCI ASIA-PACIFIC EX-JAPAN INDEX, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED