POLITICAL PARTIES – AUSTRALIA – PLATFORMS

Councils feel the heat over January 26

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Original article by Mohammad Alfares, Brendan Kearns
The Australian – Page: 5 : 14-Jan-25

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said on Monday that he would reinstate the requirement for councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day within the first 100 days of a Coalition government. Commenting on Dutton’s declaration, the Australian Local Government Association’s president mayor Matt Burnett said there were a number of reasons why councils did not hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, including costs and extreme heat. Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said it would comply with any government directive to hold ceremonies on Australia Day, but that it might need to ask for compensation to cover any additional costs.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Dutton, PM spar over power prices

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Original article by Greg Brown, Michael McKenna
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 8-Jan-25

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Cairns on Tuesday, as part of a tour of regional Queensland. He contended that Opposition leader Peter Dutton is not interested in capitalising on the job opportunities that will arise from the transition to net-zero emissions, arguing that he has a plan to stop investment in Australia rather than a plan for the future. Building seven nuclear power stations is a key element of the Coalition’s energy policy, and Dutton contends that nuclear power will be one-third of the current cost of electricity in Australia. He adds that Albanese is a "desperate prime minister" leading a "desperate government with no vision for the future". Dutton notes that Albanese has admitted that he has broken an election promise of a $275 reduction in households’ electricity bills by 2025.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Minority nightmare looms for mining best friends

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Noah Yim
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 11-Sep-24

Opposition leader Peter Dutton will deliver a keynote address at the Minerals Week conference on Wednesday. He will contend that the federal government’s "ideologically-driven" policies on industrial relations, the environment and energy show that it is hostile to primary industries such as mining. Dutton will state that if Labor achieves majority government at the upcoming federal election it will "double down" on its current policy platform; he will also warn that a minority Labor government would see the Greens or the teals hold the balance of power, which would have major implications for the resources sector. Dutton will add that in contrast, a Coalition government would be the best friend that the sector will ever have.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Coalition’s $100bn savings formula

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 27-Aug-24

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor says the Coalition will pursue a ‘back to basics’ economic agenda if it wins the next federal election. The Coalition has identified nearly $100bn worth of savings it can make by scrapping government programs and initiatives. They include the Housing Australia Future Fund, the Rewiring the Nation program and the Future Made in Australia policy. Taylor says the government’s excessive spending is driving up the longer term inflation rate, and notes this has been acknowledged by the Reserve Bank.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

ALP set to rush CFMEU law through Senate

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 14-Aug-24

The Coalition still has some concerns about the federal government’s legislation to appoint administrators to the CFMEU’s state construction divisions. However, it is ultimately expected to support the bill, although shadow employment minister Michaelia Cash will push for a Senate inquiry into the legislation. Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn contends that an inquiry is not necessary and the bill should be passed as quickly as possible. Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt intends to table a motion in parliament today for the bill to be passed by the Senate on Thursday, with a view to having it passed by the upper house either on the same day or early next week.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

Greens, Libs to play tough on CFMEU

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 13-Aug-24

The Coalition contends that the federal government’s bill to appoint administrators to the CFMEU’s state construction divisions is "weak" and should be referred to a Senate committee. The Greens will in turn decide their position regarding the proposed legislation on Tuesday, and expressed concern that it overrides the court process. Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt argues that forcing the bill to be scrutinised by a Senate inquiry would demonstrate that the Coalition is not serious about addressing the "criminality, bullying and thuggery" within the CFMEU. The Coalition has committed to deregistering the union if it wins the next election, although Watt believes that administration is a more practical option.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS

Nuclear lawyer says Australia would not be starting from scratch

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Original article by Clare Armstrong
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 9-Jul-24

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has contended that amongst other things, legal hurdles could not be overcome quickly enough for the Coalition to achieve its ambitious target of building the first of seven nuclear power stations by 2035. However, expatriate nuclear lawyer Helen Cook argues that agreements and safety regulations that are already in place would make it easier for parliament to pass the legislative changes that would be required to add nuclear to the energy mix. She notes that Australia has already ratified most of the treaties that would be required to build and operate nuclear reactors.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

Dutton’s retail break-up plan ‘madness’: Kennett

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 3-Jul-24

The Coalition proposes to introduce legislation that would force companies in certain sectors to divest assets if they are found to have abused their market power. The divestiture powers would specifically target grocery and hardware retailers with annual turnover of more than $5bn, which would include Coles, Woolworths and Bunnings. The proposed laws have been criticised by former Victorian Liberal premier Jeff Kennett and Business Council of Australia CEO Bran Black. The introduction of divestiture powers was also rejected by former Labor MP Craig Emerson in his recent review of the food and grocery code of conduct.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, COLES GROUP LIMITED – ASX COL, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Coalition outlines vapes plan

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Original article by Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 26-Jun-24

Shadow health minister Anne Ruston has outlined details of the Coalition’s policy on vaping products, following the federal government’s decision to weaken its own vaping regulations. The Coalition proposes to subject vapes to a similar regulatory regime as cigarettes, which would allow flavoured vapes to be legally sold at outlets such as supermarkets, service stations and convenience stores. In contrast, Labor intends to restrict sales of vapes to pharmacies, while people over the age of 18 will not require a doctor’s prescription to buy these products. The Coalition will also impose an excise tax on vapes and ramp up investment in a crackdown on organised crime.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Coalition MPs meet to sign off on proposed nuclear reactor locations

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Original article by Clare Armstrong, Jade Gailberger
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 19-Jun-24

A number of Coalition MPs have stated that they expect Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to unveil its nuclear policy on Wednesday. The policy – and the likely location of nuclear power stations – was discussed at a shadow cabinet meeting on Tuesday night; it will then be put to a full party room meeting ahead of an official announcement. A Coalition source has indicated that the Callide and Tarong coal-fired power stations in Queensland have been identified as future sites for nuclear reactors, while Victoria’s LaTrobe Valley is said to have been ruled out.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA