Gas exporters on notice to lock in more supplies for Australians

May 28, 2025roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Nick Toscano
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 28-May-25

Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King addressed the Australian Energy Producers conference in Brisbane on Tuesday. Amid growing fears of a looming gas shortage on the east coast, King said that Australians are tired of seeing the nation’s vast gas resources exported while paying high prices themselves. King added that while some Australian LNG producers are "doing the right thing" by ensuring that there is sufficient domestic supply, a lot of work still needs to be done on this issue. She added that the federal government plans to undertake a review of laws and regulations governing the LNG sector, to ensure that they are working as intended.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY PRODUCERS

Stokes slams ALP’s super tax hit

May 7, 2025roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Perry Williams, Jared Lynch, David Ross
The Australian – Page: 13 & 15 : 7-May-25

SGH Limited’s CEO Ryan Stokes has criticised the federal government’s proposal to tax the unrealised capital gains of superannuation funds. Stoke contends that while taxing profits is "entirely reasonable", taxing unrealised capital gains is dangerous and sets a far-reaching and concerning precedent, while it could also distort markets. The tax would initially apply to super accounts with a balance of more than $3m, but Stokes warns that it could potentially be extended to other asset classes. The Greens have advocated lowering the threshold to $2m, while the fact that the tax will not be indexed to inflations means that it will progressively apply to more people.

CORPORATES
SGH LIMITED – ASX SGH, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

National nightmare of teals on a Green pitch

February 26, 2025roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Paul Garvey, Perry Williams, Colin Packham, Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 26-Feb-25

Woodside Energy CEO Meg O’Neill says it would be bad for households, business and the environment if the Greens or the teals hold the balance of power after the federal election. Beach Energy CEO Brett Woods has expressed similar concerns, warning that a minority government could result in "exorbitant power" being given to a small collection of MPs who are focused solely on their own narrow agenda rather than the good of the nation. He contends that electors should vote for either Labor or the Coalition, as the consequences of giving the Greens or teals greater influence would include higher unemployment and severe energy shortages.

CORPORATES
WOODSIDE ENERGY GROUP LIMITED – ASX WDS, BEACH ENERGY LIMITED – ASX BPT, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

100 per cent sure Bowen knows best

February 5, 2025roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Glen Norris, Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 5-Feb-25

Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Resources Minister Madeleine King have defended the federal government’s ambitious renewable energy target, amid growing opposition within the business community. Bowen and King have stated that the government takes its advice on energy policy from experts. Infrastructure NSW chairman Graham Bradley is amongst the business leaders who contend that the target of generating 82 per cent of Australia’s electicity via renewables by 2030 is unrealistic and must be revised.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE NEW SOUTH WALES

Renewables target: 82 per cent of no chance

February 4, 2025roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 4-Feb-25

Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Andrew McKellar doubts that the federal government’s 2030 renewable energy target is realistic. He says Labor will need to reconsider its goal of having 82 per cent of the nation’s electricity generated via renewables by the end of the decade. McKellar contends that while renewables will be the ‘backbone’ of the energy grid in the medium to longer term, there will need to be a strong focus on gas exploration, production and supply in the near-term. Council of Small Business Organisations Australia CEO Luke Achterstraat agrees that the renewables target should be reviewed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED

ACCI warns of need for cap on spending

January 30, 2025roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 6 : 30-Jan-25

The Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry will call for federal government spending to be capped at 25 per cent of GDP. The ACCI’s pre-election Agenda for Business policy blueprint will also advocate tax reform, the abolition of stamp duty and changing the definition of a small business to 25 employees or less, compared with the current threshold of 15 employees. CEO Andrew McKellar will use a speech on Thursday to argue that rising government spending is pushing up interest rates and adversely affecting productivity. Data released in late 2024 shows that government spending has risen to a record high of almost 28 per cent of GDP.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

PM’s green tape tangle for miners

January 8, 2025roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Noah Yim, Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 8-Jan-25

The Minerals Council of Australia has expressed concern about key elements of the federal government’s proposed critical minerals production tax incentive scheme. The MCA contends that the ‘community benefit principles’ requirement of the tax incentive would create uncertainty for the nation’s critical minerals industry, which is already facing strong global competition. The government estimates that the tax incentive will cost about $7bn over a decade, but create secure jobs in Australia and diversify global supply chains by processing critical minerals onshore rather than exporting the raw materials overseas.

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MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Bosses reject ACTU’s new bargaining push

December 3, 2024roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 3-Dec-24

The Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association has called for restrictions on the use of multi-employer bargaining. Its submission to a review of the federal government’s ‘Secure Jobs, Better Pay’ laws has argued that it should only be available in workplaces where an employer has agreed to bargain collectively. AREEA also opposes the ACTU’s push to broaden the scope of multi-employer bargaining, while it has called for the intractable bargaining provisions to be wound back.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES AND ENERGY EMPLOYER ASSOCIATION, ACTU

ALP delays small business IR review beyond election

October 30, 2024roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 30-Oct-24

The federal government agreed to review small business exemptions from the Fair Work Act in return for the support of crossbench senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie for its second tranche of industrial relations reforms. Amongst other things, the proposed review will consider the definition of a small business, which is currently set at fewer than 15 employees. However, the government has advised that the review may be delayed until mid-2025. Council of Small Business Organisations Australia CEO Luke Achterstraat says the current definition of a small business is not ‘fit for purpose’, and the government needs to provide the sector with as much certainty and confidence as possible.

CORPORATES
COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED

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