LAW REFORM – AUSTRALIA

Free-speech heat on Shorten

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by David Crowe, Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 9-Nov-16

The joint parliamentary committee on human rights will report the findings of an inquiry into the Racial Discrimination Act by 28 February 2017. Federal cabinet opted to refer the issue to the committee, which will examine the impact of sections 18C and 18D on freedom of speech. It will also consider possible changes to the way complaints are handled by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Meanwhile, AHRC president Gillian Triggs has indicated that she is open to changes to section 18C.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Censorship: editor, cartoonists attack Leak investigation

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sharri Markson
The Australian – Page: 5 : 19-Oct-16

Mark Knight, John Spooner and Warren Brown are among the newspaper cartoonists who have defended Bill Leak and his right to free speech. He is being investigated by the Human Rights Commission over a controversial cartoon that was published in "The Australian" in August 2016. Spooner says the Leak case demonstrates the need for changes to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. Brett McCarthy, the editor of "The West Australian", has also expressed support for Leak.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

MP rallies media in support of Leak

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Andrew Burrell
The Australian – Page: 2 : 18-Oct-16

Federal MP Andrew Hastie has criticised the Human Rights Commission’s decision to launch an investigation into Bill Leak over a controversial cartoon that was published in August 2016. The Liberal MP has stressed the importance of freedom of expression and urged media companies and journalists to support the cartoonist. Hastie also says the Leak case could prompt renewed scrutiny of section 18C of the ­Racial Discrimination Act.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, GUARDIAN AUSTRALIA

Ownership reforms still up for debate

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 15-Aug-16

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has indicated that proposed cross-media ownership reforms will be a priority for the Federal Government when Parliament resumes. However, media industry executives have criticised the Opposition’s push for the reforms to be subject to further review, while Ten Network CEO Paul Anderson and Nine Entertainment Company CEO Hugh Marks argue that broadcasting licence fees must be included in the reform process.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, AUSTRALIAN SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AND RADIO ASSOCIATION (ASTRA) INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, ONE NATION PARTY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM

Workplace laws rigid and out of date: report

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Lucille Keen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 29-Jul-16

Reforms are need in Australia’s employment laws in order to reflect the changing nature of work. Industrial relations expert Stephen Sasse states in a report written for the Institute of Public Affairs that flaws in the current employment system include rigidity, excessive interference from regulatory bodies and disregard for the efficacy of market forces. The report is titled "Your Right to Work".

CORPORATES
INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Harper slams effects test critics

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 21 : 26-Jul-16

Professor Ian Harper has expressed his support for the introduction of the "effects test" into Section 46 of the Competition & Consumer Act. He has accused critics of the proposed new regulation of misrepresenting its nature. Harper strongly objects to describing the test as a form of protectionism and rejects such criticism as "wilful distortion."

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

New ACCI head urges big workplace fix

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 31-May-16

Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO James Pearson has called for action on the issue of industrial relations reform. He says ACCI surveys show that over-regulation and the compliance burden are key concerns for its members, and he has called for both sides of politics to put workplace reform on their policy agenda. Pearson also notes that debate on workplace reform is constantly stifled by unions’ claims that it will result in a return to WorkChoices-style workplace laws.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), ACTU, SHELL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CHEVRON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY AND RESOURCES, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Senate vote reforms ‘will beat challenge’

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Rachel Baxendale, Phillip Hudson
The Australian – Page: 5 : 21-Mar-16

Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann is confident that the Australian Government’s changes to the voting system for the Senate will be upheld by the High Court. The Family First Party’s Senator Bob Day intends to challenge the validity of the reforms, which were passed by the Senate on 18 March 2016. Constitutional law expert Anne Twomey of Sydney University does not expect the High Court to support any challenge to the reforms.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, FAMILY FIRST PARTY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN MOTORING ENTHUSIAST PARTY

Big business takes hit to please Nats

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 13 : 17-Mar-16

The Federal Government has decided to introduce an "effects test" to competition law. The Business Council of Australia opposes the "effects test", but the new policy is supported by other organisations, including the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission and the Australian Industry Group. Wesfarmers CEO Richard Goyder expressed his disappointment with the decision at "The Australian Financial Review" Business Summit.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, COLES GROUP LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

Business v Barnaby in effects-test stoush

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 22-Feb-16

Australia’s new Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says the National Party favours making changes to competition law to introduce a so-called "effects test". However, many blue-chip companies oppose any move to introduce changes to the misuse of market power provisions in order to protect small businesses. They include Woolworths, Wesfarmers, Insurance Australia Group and Boral.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX IAG, BORAL LIMITED – ASX BLD, SYDNEY AIRPORT – ASX SYD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGK, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, IGA, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION