POLITICAL PARTIES – AUSTRALIA – PLATFORMS

New public interest test just one part of Greens’ wide-ranging media reforms

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Original article by Samantha Maiden
The New Daily – Page: Online : 26-Mar-19

The Greens want to encourage public interest journalism by extending tax breaks for news media subscriptions. Its plans are part of a media reform package that would also involve a clampdown on false news on social media and the possible breakup of media companies such as News Corporation. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says regulators should be given stronger powers so that they can penalise broadcasters that provide proponents of hate speech a platform for their views.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, SKY NEWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

Living wage for 1.2m in Labor pitch

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 26-Mar-19

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has indicated that Labor’s living wage policy would boost the income of low-income earners from mid-2020. Details of the policy will be announced on 26 March, but Shorten has signalled that the living wage will apply only to people on the minimum wage rather than workers who are on award wages. Shorten also says Labor will legislate to require the Fair Work Commission to take into account a broader range of factors than at present in setting the living wage. Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox is among the critics of Labor’s living wage policy.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, ACTU

Tax cuts offset low wages: Libs

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 25-Mar-19

The federal government’s April 2019 Budget is expected to include an election sweetener in the form of billions of dollars worth of income tax cuts, in addition to those that were legislated in 2018. Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos says tax cuts that target low and middle-income earners will provide some relief from the rising cost of living until wages begin growing. However, shadow treasurer Chris Bowen argues that tax cuts are not a substitute for wages growth, adding that Labor’s policy will provide greater tax relief for people on low and middle incomes.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Mediscare campaign aimed at marginals

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 2 : 25-Mar-19

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has advised that Labor will resume indexation of some Medicare benefits from July if it wins the federal election. Labor imposed the Medicare freeze in 2013, and it has been extended twice by the Coalition government. Shorten has indicated that the health system will be Labor’s top priority at the upcoming poll. He claims that the Liberals’ spending cuts mean that Australians are now paying more than ever to see a GP or a specialist. The Medicare freeze was slated to remain in place until July 2020.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA

PM, Nats work on coal peace plan

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Aaron Patrick
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 7 : 25-Mar-19

The National Party performed poorly in the New South Wales election on 23 March. This appears likely to re-ignite tensions within the Coalition at the federal level over issues such as coal-fired power stations, with former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce calling for the federal government to support coal-fired power stations. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Nationals leader Michael McCormack are understood to be working on a "peace deal" over the issue.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Labor push on minimum wage will hurt those it’s meant to help

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Original article by Kurt Wallace
The Australian – Page: 14 : 22-Mar-19

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has committed to raising the minimum wage to become a "living wage" if Labor wins the 2019 election. The ACTU has stated that a living wage is needed so that no full-time worker is living in poverty, but under its definition of what is poor, someone earning $42,000 a year would be deemed to be living in poverty; many would take issue at this definition. Research based on the annual Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey suggests that poverty is on the decline, while introducing a living wage will result in less jobs and fewer hours worked.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS LIMITED, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE. INSTITUTE OF APPLIED ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH

Labor’s climate of catastrophe

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Original article by John Anderson
The Australian – Page: 14 : 21-Mar-19

Australia accounts for just 1.15 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet the nation is set to exceed its 2020 abatement target by 367 million tonnes. Meanwhile, global emissions are increasing at a rate of about two per cent annually. Labor’s proposal to reduce Australia’s carbon emissions by 45 per cent will in fact increase global emissions, as it will force industries such as aluminium manufacturing to shift production to countries that have lower efficiency standards. Labor’s policy would also have a much bigger negative impact on Australia’s GDP than the Coalition’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 27 per cent.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE

SQM urges phasing in of gearing reforms

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Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 35 & 38 : 21-Mar-19

SQM Research MD Louis Christopher says Labor should implement its proposed negative gearing and capital gains tax reforms gradually if it wins the federal election, to avoid a "shock" to the broader economy. Research by SQM suggests that Labor’s reforms could potentially result in a 12 per cent decline in residential property prices over three years, while rents could rise sharply as supply is reduced. SQM adds that two official interest rate cuts by January 2020 would see housing prices fall by just 4-8 over three years, as well as lower rent increases.

CORPORATES
SQM RESEARCH PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Business wants more detail on ALP’s emissions reduction policy

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Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 20-Mar-19

Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott has urged both major political parties to reveal details of how their greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets will be achieved. She notes that a report by former bureaucrat Brian Fisher shows that the policies of both Labor and the Coalition will have an impact on the economy. Minerals Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable has called for a measured response to meeting Australia’s emissions reduction target to avoid any negative economic impact.

CORPORATES
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY. CRAWFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY

Labor tax breaks not enough

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 18-Mar-19

Canadian economist Jack Mintz has produced a report on behalf of the Minerals Council of Australia. He concludes that reducing the company tax rate from 30 per cent to 25 per cent would do more to ensure that the nation remains internationally competitive than Labor’s proposal to provide businesses with a 20 per cent tax write-off for capital expenditure exceeding $20,000. The report also argues that the manufacturing sector would gain more benefit from Labor’s policy than industries such as mining.

CORPORATES
MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY