GOVERNMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS – AUSTRALIA

PM pressed to broaden juvenile abuse inquiry

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Original article by Amos Aikman
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 27-Jul-16

Federal Attorney-General George Brandis says the royal commission into the juvenile justice system will focus on the Northern Territory, although some indigenous leaders argue that its scope should be nationwide. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Adam Giles has sacked the Northern Territory’s corrections minister in the wake of the "Four Corners" expose on the brutal practices used to restrain inmates at the Don Dale detention centre. There have also been demands for Giles to resign or for his government to be sacked by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NORTHERN TERRITORY. DEPT OF THE CHIEF MINISTER, NORTHERN TERRITORY. DEPT OF JUSTICE, AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, COUNTRY LIBERAL PARTY

News Corp in undisclosed $75m tax fight

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Original article by Neil Chenoweth
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 20-Jul-16

News Corp Australia’s submission to a Senate inquiry into tax avoidance in February 2015 stated that the media group believed that it fully complied with Australia’s income tax laws. Just days later the Australian Taxation Office issued a tax assessment regarding some $A75m in undeclared income from fiscal 2010. News Corp subsequently lodged an objection to the tax assessment, one day after former CEO Julian Clarke appeared before the Senate inquiry. The media group has since lodged a Federal Court appeal against the tax assessment.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Bank inquiry could spook foreign lenders, says Argus

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Original article by Anne Hyland
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 19-Apr-16

Don Argus, a former CEO of National Australia Bank, says there is no need for a royal commission into the Australian banking sector. He has accused the Australian Labor Party of politicising the issue of corporate culture in the banking sector and described its proposal for a royal commission as a "political witch hunt". In his view, the sector is already well regulated, and any further scrutiny of the sector could alienate foreign lenders.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB

Bank royal commission a drain on economy: Hirst

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Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 15-Apr-16

Bendigo & Adelaide Bank CEO Mike Hirst says there is no need for a royal commission into the banking industry. He told a strategy briefing in Sydney that a royal commission would be a waste of money as there is no evidence of systemic failure. He also said a royal commission would also have a negative impact on the economy. Hirst favours self-regulation, and he argues that the poor conduct of certain banking employees can be rectified by the banks themselves.

CORPORATES
BENDIGO AND ADELAIDE BANK LIMITED – ASX BEN, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

PM offers extra money to watch banks

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 12-Apr-16

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison has again stated that there is no need for a royal commission into banks. The Opposition claims that such a move is necessary and even some Coalition backbenchers share this view. Morrison said the banking system is already well regulated, although he expressed the willingness of the Government to provide the Australian Securities & Investments Commission with more resources if needed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Takeaways from 7-Eleven wage fraud inquiry must stop the rot

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Original article by Adele Ferguson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 40 : 25-Jan-16

The wage exploitation scandal has embroiled a number of franchise-based companies, including 7-Eleven, United Petroleum, Subway, Pizza Hut and Baker’s Delight. With a Senate inquiry due to release its recommendations in February 2016, the Australian Government should action to address the issue prior to the federal election. A range of reforms are needed, including changes to industrial relations laws, ensuring that financial penalties for wage fraud are sufficient to deter the practice, and increasing the powers of the Fair Work Ombudsman.

CORPORATES
7-ELEVEN STORES PTY LTD, UNITED PETROLEUM PTY LTD, SUBWAY SANDWICHES PTY LTD, PIZZA HUT AUSTRALIA, BAKER’S DELIGHT HOLDINGS LIMITED, DOMINO’S PIZZA ENTERPRISES LIMITED – ASX DMP, NANDO’S AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, EAGLE BOYS DIAL A PIZZA AUST PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, MAI PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, FEDERAL CIRCUIT COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Bosses want ban on union tactic

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Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 11-Jan-16

The final report of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption noted that pattern bargaining is a major issue in the construction industry. However, it not recommend a total ban on the practice as it does not seem to be widespread in other industries. Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch has urged the Federal Government to introduce laws to prohibit pattern bargaining in the building industry, arguing that it increases construction costs and undermines productivity.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Unionists face bans

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Original article by Annika Smethurst
Herald Sun – Page: 13 : 11-Jan-16

The Australian Government will resubmit the Registered Organisations Bill to the Senate when Parliament resumes in February 2016. The revised bill is expected to include measures aimed at union officials who breach the law, including financial penalties and bans on them holding office. They are among the recommendations of the final report of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA POLICE, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT

CFMEU will be spared delisting by the Turnbull government

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Original article by Troy Bramston
The Australian – Page: Online : 7-Jan-16

The Australian Government has ruled out any move to deregister the militant Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union, which boasts more than 100,000 members. The Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption made a number of adverse findings about the union, but did not recommend deregistration due to the impact on members who have not engaged in corrupt activity. Employment Minister Michaelia Cash says the Government’s priority in tackling corruption in the construction industry is to reinstate the Australian Building & Construction Commission.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, ACTU, BUILDERS’ LABOURERS’ FEDERATION, FAIR WORK BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Case for reform is overwhelming

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Original article by
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 38 : 4-Jan-16

The Australian Government should pursue major reforms to the union movement in response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption. While any such reforms will face resistance from unions and the Australian Labor Party, the report demonstrates the need for greater regulation of trade unions and for unions to be subject to the same governance standards as the corporate sector. Editorial.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, HEALTH SERVICES UNION OF AUSTRALIA, GROCON PROPERTY TRUST AUSTRALIA, BORAL LIMITED – ASX BLD, ACTU