POLITICAL PARTIES – AUSTRALIA – PLATFORMS

One Nation seeks Qld deal in media laws

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 5-Jun-17

One Nation may be open to a compromise on the Federal Government’s cross-media ownership reforms. One Nation currently opposes the abolition of the "two-out-of-three" rule, but a spokesman says it would consider the reform if measures are put in place to prevent further concentration of media ownership in Queensland. The minor political party’s support may be crucial to the passage of the media bill, given that Labor and the Greens oppose scrapping the two-out-of-three rule.

CORPORATES
ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL MEDIA, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NICK XENOPHON TEAM

Both sides dig in for battle over top tax rate

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 1-Jun-17

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will reiterate his party’s stance on increasing the Medicare levy in an address to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia summit. Labor wants the income threshold for the 0.5 per cent increase in the levy to be set at $A87,000, rather than being applied to all income-earners. Shorten will also defend Labor’s own increase in the levy in 2013, arguing that there was strong growth in wages at the time, while there had also been a recent increase in the tax-free threshold.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Hanson holds out on reform package

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 15-May-17

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has indicated that her party will not support abolition of the "two-out-of-three rule", although it will back the rest of the Federal Government’s proposed media reform package. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield is holding negotiations with senate crossbenchers to secure support for the reforms, although the Opposition also intends to vote against scrapping the two-out-of-three rule.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN

Labor push for 49.5pc top tax hit

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 12-May-17

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has used his Budget reply speech to outline measures to provide funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. He advocated retention of the two per cent temporary deficit levy for high-income earners and increasing the Medicare levy by 0.5 per cent for people on incomes of more than $A87,000. This would increase the highest marginal tax rate to 49.5 per cent. Shorten also said the Opposition supports a proposed bank levy, although he stressed that the cost should not be passed on to customers.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE, DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD

Sugar the sweetener for One Nation to back media reform

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Original article by Mitchell Bingemann
The Australian – Page: 23 : 27-Mar-17

One Nation will not support cross-media ownership reforms unless the Federal Government agrees to back its push for a national code of conduct for the sugarcane industry. The Senate had been scheduled to debate the media bill in the week beginning 27 March, but One Nation will only support abolition of the "reach rule" and the "two-out-of-three" rule if the Government intervenes in a stand-off between Queensland sugarcane farmers and Wilmar International. The media reform bill requires the support of One Nation and the Nick Xenophon Team.

CORPORATES
ONE NATION PARTY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, WILMAR INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Reforms face stiff test from Hanson

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Original article by Mitchell Bingemann
The Australian – Page: 23 : 13-Feb-17

The Federal Government’s cross-media ownership reforms will require the support of Senate crossbenchers. However, One Nation senator Pauline Hanson is said to be concerned about foreign ownership of Australian media assets, while Nick Xenophon advocates imposing a "super profits" tax on Google and Facebook due to their growing dominance of the online advertising market. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield is tipped to introduce the media reform bill in the upper house in mid-February 2017.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, ONE NATION PARTY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Hanson set to scupper ownership laws

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 26 : 30-Jan-17

There is speculation that One Nation will vote against the Federal Government’s cross-media ownership reforms when Parliament resumes in February. One Nation founder Pauline Hanson has declined to comment on her party’s intentions, although the Government is likely to need its support to pass the bill in the Senate. Meanwhile, Senator Nick Xenophon will push for amendments to the bill, as well as the introduction of a "super tax" on digital players Google and Facebook.

CORPORATES
ONE NATION PARTY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Unions pressure Shorten on TPP

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Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 18-Jan-17

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull believes that the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal can proceed without the US. However, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has questioned why Turnbull is still supporting the TPP when it is unlikely to go ahead. ACTU president Ged Kearney has urged Shorten to state whether the Australian Labor Party will vote against the TPP legislation if it is put before Parliament. Shorten has only indicated that Labor will consider the bill.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, REPUBLICAN PARTY (UNITED STATES)

Turnbull lashes Shorten for TPP stand

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Annabel Hepworth
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 17-Jan-17

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will move to block a push to bring forward a parliamentary vote on ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Shorten argues that there is no point in proceeding with a vote on the TPP as the US will not ratify the 12-nation agreement under incoming President Donald Trump. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has criticised Shorten’s stance and indicated that the TPP could potentially proceed without the US. The Greens also oppose the TPP.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, JAPAN. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION. BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Turnbull lashes Shorten for TPP stand

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Annabel Hepworth
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 17-Jan-17

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will move to block a push to bring forward a parliamentary vote on ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Shorten argues that there is no point in proceeding with a vote on the TPP as the US will not ratify the 12-nation agreement under incoming President Donald Trump. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has criticised Shorten’s stance and indicated that the TPP could potentially proceed without the US. The Greens also oppose the TPP.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, JAPAN. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION. BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA