BILL DRAFTING – AUSTRALIA

Spy law imperils journalists, ex-judge warns

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Original article by Nicola Berkovic
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 2-Feb-18

Transparency International Australia chairman and former Supreme Court of New South Wales judge Anthony Whealy has warned about the potential effects of the Federal Government’s proposed foreign interference laws. He says the new secrecy laws could be used to prosecute journalists if they receive classified ­information. Whealy has called for the Government to provide an exemption for journalists if they are acting in the public interest. The media industry has expressed similar concerns about the proposed laws.

CORPORATES
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CENTRE LIMITED

Nats push much wider bank probe

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 7 : 24-Nov-17

Nationals senator Barry O’Sullivan released on 23 November details of his private members’ bill that calls for a commission of inquiry into the banking sector. Its release comes as efforts to have its tabling thwarted intensify. Former prime minister John Howard described the bill as "rank socialism", while Treasurer Scott Morrison met with the chairman of the big four banks, suggesting the need for them to come up with reforms that might reduce the impetus for an inquiry.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, SKY NEWS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Bernardi’s bid to lift bans on nuclear power

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Original article by Michael Owen
The Australian – Page: 6 : 13-Nov-17

Australian Conservatives leader Senator Cory Bernardi will table a bill on 13 November that would remove a ban on nuclear power plants, along with nuclear processing and enrichment. His bill follows on from a call by former prime minister Tony Abbott in October that the construction of nuclear power plants should be allowed. Bernardi notes that Australia has ample uranium supplies, but at the moment is just exporting it.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Tensions increase over rival SSM bill

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 6 : 10-Nov-17

Liberal MP Ian Goodenough has expressed concern about the limited focus of religious protections in a private members’ bill to legalise same-sex marriage. He says some Coalition MPs are developing a separate bill on same-sex marriage that will provide greater protection for religious freedoms if the majority of Australians support marriage equality in the postal survey. Meanwhile, Australian Conservatives founder Cory Bernardi says resolving parliament’s dual citizenship crisis should take priority over the issue of same-sex marriage.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, FREEDOM FOR FAITH, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY. UNITED STATES STUDIES CENTRE

Coalition rejects ACTU push to delay IR agenda

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 6 : 10-Nov-17

ACTU president Ged Kearney says the Federal Government does not have a mandate for industrial relations reform while doubts remain about the eligibility of some MPs to be in parliament. Five bills relating to unions are currently before the Senate, but Kearney argues that they should be shelved until the dual citizenship crisis is resolved. Unions have raised the prospect of a legal challenge if any of the bills are passed.

CORPORATES
ACTU, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

Cash plan to dam union ‘rivers of gold’

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 6 : 19-Oct-17

The Federal Government’s Proper Use of Worker Benefits Bill will be put before parliament on 19 October. The bill is aimed at preventing worker entitlement funds – which boast assets of about $A2bn – from making payments to either unions or employers. Some 14 unions have received an average of $A25m annually from worker entitlement funds over the last five years. Meanwhile, a bill that would enable the Government to block mergers between unions has been put on hold, as some senate crossbenchers have concerns about it.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Business gets two-year tax cut amnesty

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Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 19-Oct-17

The Federal Government has introduced legislation to clarify whether a company qualifies for the 27.5 per cent tax rate for small businesses. It hopes to end the uncertainty regarding the application of the lower tax rate to passive investment companies. The amendments introduced on 18 October state that a company will not qualify for the lower tax rate if it derives more than 80 per cent of its income from passive sources, which include interest and dividends. The new test for a passive investment company will apply from the start of the current financial year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, BDO CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AND ADVISERS, CPA AUSTRALIA

Senator baulks at Turnbull union bill

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 16-Oct-17

The future of the Federal Government’s Ensuring Integrity Bill is in doubt after Senator Nick Xenophon warned that union officials could be subjected to higher standards than company directors. The Opposition has expressed similar concerns regarding the bill, which would increase the government’s powers to deregister unions, block union mergers and disqualify union officials. The bill has also been criticised by ACTU secretary Sally McManus, who says it would result in lower growth in wages. Parliament will debate the bill in coming days.

CORPORATES
NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, ACTU, AUSTRALIAN MINES AND METALS ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED), MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

‘Union-basher’ bill under fire

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Original article by James Massola
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 6 : 13-Sep-17

ACTU secretary Sally McManus says the union movement will lobby Senate crossbenchers to vote against legislation aimed at cracking down on unions. Amongst other things, the Federal Government wants to subject union mergers to a public interest test and make it easier to deregister a union. McManus has described the reforms as an "attack on democracy", and she warns that they may breach the International Labour Organization’s convention regarding the right to organise and freedom of association.

CORPORATES
ACTU, INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Deal to bring on media reform

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 8 : 13-Sep-17

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has secured an agreement with the Nick Xenophon Team to support the Federal Government’s cross-media ownership reforms. The compromise deal includes measures aimed at ensuring media diversity, such as an innovation fund that will provide financial support for independent and regional news outlets. The Australian divisions of overseas-based media companies are not expected to be eligible for such funding. The reforms will require the support of the majority of Senate crossbenchers.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE GUARDIAN AUSTRALIA, CRIKEY.COM.AU