GOVERNMENT SPENDING POLICY – AUSTRALIA

Fiscal stimulus is almost the world’s biggest

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 7-May-20

Analysis by BIS Oxford Economics shows that 46 advanced and emerging countries have spent a combined US8trn ($13trn) on direct stimulus measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Qatar tops the list, with its stimulus measures equating to 13 per cent of GDP; it is followed by Australia and Thailand, with stimulus worth 10.6 per cent and 8.9 per cent of GDP respectively. Gabriel Sterne of BIS Oxford Economics says Australia’s stimulus package was much bigger than the firm had expected, and he notes that the nation was in a strong fiscal position at the onset of the pandemic.

CORPORATES
BIS OXFORD ECONOMICS PTY LTD

Business cashflow assistance tops $6bn

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Geoff Chambers, Patrick Commins
The Australian – Page: 4 : 1-May-20

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the federal government’s tax-free cashflow payments have assisted employers to remain in business during the coronavirus pandemic. New figures show that some 343,211 small businesses and non-profit organisations had collectively received $6.09bn worth of cashflow payments by 28 April. Eligible businesses are entitled to receive payments of between $20,000 and $100,000; the average amount received to date is $17,700 per business. The government estimates that about 720,000 businesses will be eligible for the payments.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

It’s too little, too late: media lament aid deal

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Lilly Vitorovich, Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 13 & 16 : 16-Apr-20

The federal government has announced a $91m financial relief package for the media sector, which has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Amongst other things, the government will suspend content quotas for local drama and children’s programs for the rest of the year, while TV and radio networks will collectively receive $41m in tax rebates for spectrum fees. Regional media companies will also receive financial support totalling $50m. However, industry executives had hoped for a further relaxation of cross-media ownership laws and action to force digital companies to pay for content.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY MEDIA, ELLIOTT NEWSPAPER GROUP PTY LTD, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, HT&E LIMITED – ASX HT1

Free childcare in $3bn family relief package

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Geoff Chambers, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 3-Apr-20

Nearly one million families will be eligible to receive free childcare under a coronavirus package announced by the federal government. The package is expected to cost over $3 billion and run for six months, with children of essential workers, vulnerable children and parents with existing childcare placements to be given priority under the scheme. Liz Christie, the director of a Goodstart long daycare centre in Brisbane’s CBD, says the government’s announcement is a huge relief. She says the centre’s numbers have fallen from more than 200 to around 60, and that many of the parents are essential workers.

CORPORATES
GOODSTART EARLY LEARNING LIMITED

$1.1bn boost for GPs, Medicare

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Geoff Chambers, Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 6 : 30-Mar-20

The federal government has announced a $1.1 billion package aimed at dealing with the secondary impact of the health and economic crisis. The package comprises $669 million to be spent on Medicare support at home, $200 million for vulnerable Australians, $150 million for domestic violence support and $74 million for mental health support. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the package aims to help the many Australians who are currently enduring hardship.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Jobless rate could hit 13.8pc despite priming of the pump

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 23-Mar-20

The federal government and the Reserve Bank have now announced a combined $189bn worth of coronavirus stimulus measures. This includes cash payments for small businesses and non-profit organisations. However, many companies that operate in sectors that employ a lot of people will not be eligible for financial relief. The construction, retail, hospitality, recreation and education are major employers; it is estimated that the unemployment rate would rise from 5.1 per cent to 13.8 per cent if they shed just 25 per cent of their workforce, or about 1.2 million people.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Third bailout being prepared as $66b injected to help first blows

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 23-Mar-20

The second stage of the federal government’s stimulus package includes the introduction of a welfare wage for workers who lose their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. They will be eligible for a fortnightly payment of up to $1,100, while the existing Newstart allowance will be increased and renamed the Jobseeker Payment. Workers who are stood down will also be able to withdraw up to $20,000 from their superannuation fund. Meanwhile, businesses with annual turnover of up to $50m will be eligible for a cash payment of up to $100,000. The government and the nation’s banks will also jointly provide a $40bn loan facility for small and medium enterprises.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

PM looks to nationalise failing firms

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 20-Mar-20

The federal government may be forced to nationalise some companies as part of its response to the economic problems being caused by the coronavirus epidemic. Virgin Australia is cited as one company that the government cannot allow to fail, as having a domestic aviation network essentially dominated by one airline once the worst of the virus has passed would not be considered tolerable. Economist Chris Richardson notes that the government is going to have to spend huge amounts of money to fix the Australian economy "without batting an eyelid".

CORPORATES
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX VAH

Operation Covid: save jobs

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Geoff Chambers, Simon Benson, Ewin Hannan, Robyn Ironside, Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 18-Mar-20

The global death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 7,950; more than 197,000 people worldwide have been diagnosed with the respiratory illness, including 452 in Australia. The federal government will respond to the crisis with new measures aimed at supporting businesses and protecting jobs, in addition to the $17.6bn stimulus package that has previously been announced. Council of Small Business Organisations Australia CEO Peter Strong says many businesses could collapse without financial relief, with the potential loss of 500,000 jobs. The government will also provide a $715m financial assistance package for airlines, with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce warning that the virus is the "single biggest shock" the sector has ever seen.

CORPORATES
COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN

Boosted funding for at-risk industries

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Geoff Chambers, Simon Benson, Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 17-Mar-20

Legislating the federal government’s $17.6bn economic stimulus package will be a priority when parliament resumes on 23 March. The government will pursue additional stimulus measures that will target industries that will be hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic; the Budget in May is also tipped to include more government support for businesses. Meanwhile, the national cabinet will consider restrictions on gatherings in enclosed spaces such as cinemas and restaurants. The existing ban on gatherings of more than 500 people has resulted in the cancellation of many cultural and sports events.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET