LABOR COSTS – AUSTRALIA

Union deals make project costs double US

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Original article by Rick Wallace
The Australian – Page: 5 : 12-Sep-16

A report produced by the Menzies Research Centre and the HR Nicholls Society highlights the impact that union influence has on construction costs in Australia. The report concludes that the cost of building infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and airports is typically much higher than in the US. It cites a range of factors, including high labour costs and excessive wage claims, the pattern bargaining system and rostered days off. The report supports measures such as reinstatement of the Australian Building & Construction Commission.

CORPORATES
THE MENZIES RESEARCH CENTRE LIMITED, HR NICHOLLS SOCIETY, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, BUSINESS COUNCIL (UNITED STATES), AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA

Sunday penalties hurt businesses, cost jobs

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 1-Oct-15

Federal Employment Minister Michaelia Cash stresses that any changes to weekend penalty rates will be entirely up to the Fair Work Commission. However, she says Australia’s ability to be globally competitive is being hindered by Sunday penalty rates, which force many businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector to remain closed on weekends due to high wage bills. Cash notes that many women and university students would welcome the opportunity to work on Sundays.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION

Workplace reform ‘must be a priority’

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Original article by Andrew White, Kylar Loussikian
The Australian – Page: 4 : 25-Sep-15

Washington H Soul Pattinson’s executive chairman Robert Millner has urged the Australian Government to pursue workplace reforms. He has identified the penalty rates system and high labour costs in the manufacturing sector as key issues that need to be addressed. Millner has also criticised the number of rostered days off in sectors such as manufacturing, as well the high level of leave entitlements for construction workers.

CORPORATES
WASHINGTON H SOUL PATTINSON AND COMPANY LIMITED – ASX SOL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, BRICKWORKS LIMITED – ASX BKW, NEW HOPE CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX NHC, LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA

Rinehart blames high costs on government

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Original article by Julie-Anne Sprague
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 & 24 : 12-Mar-15

Billionaire Gina Rinehart says high labour costs have a bigger impact on the profitability of Australian mining companies than low commodity prices. She stated on 11 March 2015 that the regulatory burden is too heavy and costly for companies. Roy Hill Holdings CEO Barry Fitzgerald revealed that the company had to seek more than 4,000 approvals for its iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia

CORPORATES
ROY HILL HOLDINGS PTY LTD, POSCO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MARUBENI AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CHINA STEEL AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INCORPORATED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, VALE SA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET