NEW SOUTH WALES – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Anger bottled up over botched deposit scheme

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Original article by Andrew Clennell
The Australian – Page: 3 : 30-Nov-17

A container deposit scheme is due to come into effect in New South Wales on 1 December, but Deputy Premier John Barilaro wants Premier Gladys Berejiklian to delay its introduction. Under the scheme, consumers get a refund of $A0.10 for each container they take back to collection points or reverse vending machines. However, Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton has been accused of failing to ensure that there are enough collection points available, particularly in regional areas, despite consumers already being charged at least $A3 more for a carton of beer.

CORPORATES
NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, SHOOTERS AND FISHERS PARTY INCORPORATED, LION NATHAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Premier stares down $2.3bn stadiums revolt

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Original article by Andrew Clennell
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 24-Nov-17

Not all members of the New South Wales cabinet are happy with plans to spend $A2.3 billion on upgrading two of Sydney’s biggest stadiums. The proposal to revamp Allianz Stadium and ANZ Stadium has been put forward by Sport Minister Stuart Ayres, and was strongly backed by Premier Gladys Berejiklian when she opened cabinet on 23 November. Seven ministers are understood to have voiced concern about the plan, particularly in regard to ANZ Stadium. However, it is believed cabinet was told the National Rugby League had threatened to take the grand final away from Sydney if ANZ Stadium was not upgraded.

CORPORATES
ALLIANZ AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF TOURISM, SPORT AND RECREATION, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Berejiklian to reap $10bn sell-off bonanza

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Original article by Andrew Clennell
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 5-Oct-17

The New South Wales Government has revealed plans for further asset sales ahead of the state election in 2019. It expects to gain about $A5bn from the sale of a 51 per cent stake in the WestConnex motorway, with the proceeds to be reinvested in development of the M4-M5 link project. The Government may consider divesting its remaining stake in WestConnex in the future. It also anticipates raising at least $A5bn from selling its 58 per cent stake in Snowy Hydro to the Federal Government.

CORPORATES
NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, NEW SOUTH WALES. THE TREASURY, WESTCONNEX, SNOWY HYDRO LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NEW SOUTH WALES. LAND AND PROPERTY INFORMATION SERVICE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, TRANSURBAN GROUP LIMITED – ASX TCL, VICTORIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE

Trump’s bid for Sydney casino killed off by his ‘mob connections’

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Original article by Tessa Akerman, Michael McKenna, Troy Bramston, Emily Ritchie
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 16-Aug-17

A consortium comprising Donald Trump and Kern Corporation submitted one of four bids to develop Sydney’s first casino in the 1980s. Cabinet minutes from May 1987 show that the New South Wales Police Board had recommended that the Trump consortium’s bid should be rejected. Amongst other things, the confidential report expressed concern about Trump’s alleged links to the mafia. A separate report by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Australia questioned whether the Trump bid was financially viable. Two of the other bidding consortiums also failed the police probity checks.

CORPORATES
KERN CORPORATION LIMITED, NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE BOARD, CANADA IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL HOTELS, SABEMO (NSW) PTY LTD, GENTING BERHAD, CIVIL AND CIVIC PTY LTD

Super funds $16b swoop on Ausgrid

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith, Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald, Geoff Winestock, Jenny Wiggins
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 12 : 21-Oct-16

The New South Wales Government’s deal to sell a 50.4 per cent stake in Ausgrid to AustralianSuper and IFM Investors without undertaking a competitive auction process may come under scrutiny. Some observers believe that the Government could have gained a better price for the electric power distributor if other interested parties had been allowed to bid. The Government opted to accept the unsolicited $A16.189bn offer from the two superannuation groups. The fact that they are both Australian companies was seen to be attractive, as the deal did not need to be approved by the Foreign Investment Review Board.

CORPORATES
AUSGRID PTY LTD, AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD, IFM INVESTORS PTY LTD, NEW SOUTH WALES. THE TREASURY, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA, CHEUNG KONG INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS LIMITED, QIC LIMITED, HASTINGS FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED, TRANSGRID, ENDEAVOUR ENERGY LIMITED, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS

National debate grows on racing

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Original article by James Thomson, Phoebe Newling
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 8-Jul-16

The New South Wales Government has banned greyhound racing in the state. Premier Mike Baird said the ban was the result of the widespread mistreatment of dogs. The ban will come into effect on 1 July 2017. Greyhound racing will also be banned in the Australian Capital Territory. The Greens have called for the sport to be banned in Queensland and Victoria.

CORPORATES
NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, GREYHOUND RACING VICTORIA, GREYHOUND RACING NEW SOUTH WALES, STARR KENNELS, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, TATTS GROUP LIMITED – ASX TTS, AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY. DEPT OF THE CHIEF MINISTER, TABCORP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TAH

Miners plead for no new tax slug in NSW budget

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Original article by Annabel Hepworth
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 26-May-16

The New South Wales Minerals Council has warned the State Government that imposing additional taxes on mining companies in the June 2016 Budget will deter investment and increase investor uncertainty. The Council’s pre-Budget submission has also urged Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian to provide more funding for the "Resources for Regions" infrastructure program.

CORPORATES
NEW SOUTH WALES MINERALS COUNCIL, NEW SOUTH WALES. THE TREASURY, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, SHENHUA WATERMARK COAL PTY LTD

Foreign TransGrid bidders face scrutiny

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 7-Aug-15

Bidders for the New South Wales Government-owned TransGrid will soon lodge indicative offers. Their bids will be closely scrutinised by the Foreign Investment Review Board, because of the involvement of foreign parties in the bidding process. Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian said the State Government will retain influence over the privatised entities through regulatory, planning and licensing powers.

CORPORATES
TRANSGRID, AUSGRID PTY LTD, ENDEAVOUR ENERGY LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, NEW SOUTH WALES. THE TREASURY, CHEUNG KONG (HOLDINGS) LIMITED, STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA, CHINA SOUTHERN POWER GRID COMPANY LIMITED, MACQUARIE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, CHINA INVESTMENT CORPORATION, GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS, ELECTRANET SA, NATIONAL ELECTRICITY MARKET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED, JEMENA LIMITED, AUSNET SERVICES HOLDINGS PTY LTD – ASX ANV, SINGAPORE POWER LIMITED

Seven storeys of shells start $40m art project

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Original article by Robert Harley
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 34 : 17-Jul-15

The Barangaroo precinct in Sydney will feature some $A40m worth of public art, which will be funded by the private sector. The New South Wales Government officially launched the Barangaroo Arts and Cultural Plan on 16 July 2015. Property developer Lend Lease will fund seven of the nine art and culture projects that will be completed by 2020.

CORPORATES
LEND LEASE CORPORATE FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, NEW SOUTH WALES. BARANGAROO DELIVERY AUTHORITY, MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (NEW SOUTH WALES), ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

NSW’s $13b power sale gets green light

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Original article by Will Glasgow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 4-Jun-15

The New South Wales Government will shortly begin the sale process for the electricity network, with the enabling legislation set to be passed by Parliament in early June 2015. The Government has secured the support of the Christian Democratic Party after agreeing to guarantee some 6,670 jobs for the next five years. However, Mark Lennon of Unions NSW says the Government should have included staff transfer payments in the privatisation bill.

CORPORATES
CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (FRED NILE GROUP), NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY REGULATOR, TRANSGRID, NETWORKS NSW PTY LTD, AUSGRID PTY LTD, ENDEAVOUR ENERGY LIMITED, UNIONS NSW, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD