GOVERNMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS – AUSTRALIA

Steely Gillard stares down corruption questions

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Original article by Marianna Papadakis, Hannah Low
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 11-Sep-14

Former prime minister Julia Gillard has appeared before the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance & Corruption. She told the commission on 10 September 2014 that she did not receive any financial benefit from a union slush fund which she helped to set up in 1992. Funds from the Australian Workers’ Union Workplace Reform Association were subsequently misused by Gillard’s then boyfriend, Bruce Wilson. Gillard told the commission that, in hindsight, she would have acted differently

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION – WORKPLACE REFORM ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED, HEALTH SERVICES UNION OF AUSTRALIA

Steely Gillard stares down corruption questions

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Marianna Papadakis, Hannah Low
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 11-Sep-14

Former prime minister Julia Gillard has appeared before the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance & Corruption. She told the commission on 10 September 2014 that she did not receive any financial benefit from a union slush fund which she helped to set up in 1992. Funds from the Australian Workers’ Union Workplace Reform Association were subsequently misused by Gillard’s then boyfriend, Bruce Wilson. Gillard told the commission that, in hindsight, she would have acted differently

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION – WORKPLACE REFORM ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED, HEALTH SERVICES UNION OF AUSTRALIA

BCA cautions against hasty bank reforms

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Original article by Annabel Hepworth
The Australian – Page: 19 : 9-Sep-14

The Business Council of Australia (BCA) has lodged its submission for the second round of the Federal Government’s new financial system review, conducted by ex-Commonwealth Bank of Australia CEO David Murray. The BCA argues against more stringent capital requirements for large banks, as this could have a knock-on effect on all enterprises via higher borrowing costs. The issue of how to handle banks deemed "too big to fail" will also be discussed at the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Australia

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20), MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED

Murray review could lift costs

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Original article by Kylar Loussikian
The Australian – Page: 18 : 4-Sep-14

JPMorgan banking analyst Scott Manning warns that wholesale funding costs in the banking sector may rise some $A2.2bn, if recommendations likely to be made by the Australian Government’s new financial system review are adopted. A major issue is potentially more stringent capital requirements to fund home mortgage lending. Interest rate discounts on such loans offered by the main banks have grown to between 1% and 1.4% from 0.2% in 2009

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Hit fixed-lines only: Telstra

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Original article by Mitchell Bingemann
The Australian – Page: 19 : 4-Sep-14

Telstra has lodged its submission to the Australian Government’s review of copyright infringement laws. The group argues that new requirements to warn off subscribers if they are caught illegally downloading content should apply to fixed-line services only, not to mobile ones. It also wants an exemption for business customers, claiming this will reduce the complexity of the new measures. Telstra seeks indemnity against any legal action by rights holders, and a contribution by them to the cost of the new scheme

CORPORATES
TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Agents deny Asian rorts in blue-chip buys

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Original article by Larry Schlesinger
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 2-Sep-14

The Australian Parliament’s housing inquiry has heard claims about overseas buyers in the residential real estate market trying to circumvent Foreign Investment Review Board regulations. However, this is being dismissed by McGrath Real Estate Agents founder and CEO John McGrath and First National Real Estate CEO Ray Ellis. They argue against any push to lift stamp duty rates for such investors. Melbourne-based buyers’ agent David Morrell had alleged that Asian bidders were inflating prices by as much as 30% and acting illegally as they were not permanent residents

CORPORATES
MORRELL AND KOREN PTY LTD, McGRATH REAL ESTATE PTY LTD, FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE GROUP, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, THE REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, PROPERTY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

FSI should focus on transparency, says fundie

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Original article by Jonathan Shapiro
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 2-Sep-14

The Australian Government’s financial system inquiry should focus on transparency and conflicts of interests. David Booth, co-founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors, says governments tend to over-react when the banking system is under strain. Over-regulation will not prevent future problems if the potential for conflicts of interests is not eliminated. Dimensional Fund Advisors does not pay commissions to financial advisers

CORPORATES
DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS INCORPORATED, THE VANGUARD GROUP INCORPORATED

APRA hints at shifting capital

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Original article by Michael Bennet
The Australian – Page: 16 : 1-Sep-14

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has lodged its submission to the Federal Government’s financial system review. The watchdog wants global rules for the banking sector that require greater capital reserves for mortgage lending to apply locally. It is also sharing concerns of the Reserve Bank of Australia that more liberal lending standards could create unsustainable prices in the residential real estate market. Banks using advanced systems can access public guarantees at a lower cost

CORPORATES
BENDIGO AND ADELAIDE BANK LIMITED – ASX BEN, MACQUARIE BANK LIMITED – ASX MBL, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, DEUTSCHE BANK AG

Murray focus ‘on capital reserve requirements’

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Original article by Michael Bennet
The Australian – Page: 19 : 29-Aug-14

Smaller regional banks have in their submissions to the Australian Government’s new financial system review called for less onerous rules on the capital requirements to back mortgage loans. At the same time the four major banks have argued against any increase to the levels that apply to them. However the latter is believed to be the more likely recommendation by the review, as the Reserve Bank of Australia is wary of further strong growth in an already booming residential real estate market

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, MERRILL LYNCH (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD

Reserve Bank takes aim at mortgages

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Original article by Michael Bennet
The Australian – Page: 17 : 28-Aug-14

The four major as well as smaller regional banks have lodged their submissions for the second round of the Australian Government’s financial system review. The main lenders are arguing against stricter capital requirement rules, while the minor banks want access to public guarantees on the same favourable terms enjoyed by their competitors. However both lobbying efforts have now been criticised by the Reserve Bank of Australia. It is concerned about any moves that would lead to even greater mortgage lending, as consumers may default when interest rates rise again

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIAN BANKERS’ ASSOCIATION, BBY LIMITED, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS, BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENTS. BASEL COMMITTEE ON BANKING SUPERVISION, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ