POLITICAL PARTIES – AUSTRALIA – PLATFORMS

Fifield turns to crossbench support to force media reform over the line

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 12-Jan-17

The Australian Government’s cross-media ownership bill was passed by the lower house in November 2016. However, the support of cross-benchers may be crucial to the Government’s chances of the bill being passed by the Senate. The Australian Labor Party opposes abolition of the "two out of three rule", but the majority of cross-benchers are said to be generally supportive of the bill in its present form. Cross-benchers may seek some compromises in negotiations with the Government.

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

PM rules out carbon price

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Original article by Sarah Martin
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 7-Dec-16

The Australian Government will proceed with its review of its Direct Action climate change policy, but Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg says introducing an emissions intensity scheme will not be on the agenda. A number of Coalition MPs have warned against the introduction of any policy that resulted in higher electricity prices, including a carbon tax or an emissions trading scheme. However, the Opposition has indicated that it supports an emissions intensity scheme.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY COUNCIL, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

Turnbull to mount fresh IR push in 2017

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 2-Dec-16

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has advised that the Federal Government proposes further industrial relations reform in 2017, after the Senate passed a bill to reinstate the Australian Building & Construction Commission. The Government intends to implement more of the recommendations made by the trade unions royal commission, as well as the Productivity Commission’s review of the industrial relations system. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says the Australian Labor Party will abolish the ABCC if it wins the next election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Morrison says no to Greens death tax proposal

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 28-Nov-16

Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale has proposed the introduction of an inheritance tax on residential properties, arguing that it would help to combat housing inequality. However, Treasurer Scott Morrison says the Opposition and the Greens should cease advocating higher taxes and support the Federal Government’s Budget repair measures.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE

Business forced to train locals

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 15-Nov-16

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will outline plans aimed at ensuring that employers give priority to hiring and training Australian workers rather than using the 457 visa system to fill labour shortages. Data shows that more than 95,000 temporary foreign workers are currently employed on 457 visas in 20 industries. The Opposition has also signalled that it will closely scrutinise any future free trade agreements to ensure that Australian workers are not disadvantaged.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP, ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION, ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Shorten ‘a serial liar’ on super, tax

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 1 & 8 : 10-Nov-16

Treasurer Scott Morrison is frustrated with the Australian Labor Party’s refusal to support his superannuation and tax reforms. The Government proposed a 19 per cent income tax on backpackers but Labor favours Senator Jacqui Lambie’s alternative plan for a 10.5 per cent tax. Labor also opposes allowing women to make "catch up" super contributions and the introduction of tax deductions for super contributions made by small business owners.

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

Free-speech heat on Shorten

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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

Super shapes as an election issue yet again

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 9-Nov-16

The Federal Government’s superannuation tax reforms are set to be passed by parliament, after the Australian Labor Party agreed to back the measures. However, Labor will seek a mandate for further super tax reform at the next election after Treasurer Scott Morrison refused to support the Opposition’s proposed changes to the Government’s reforms. Amongst other things, the Australian Labor Party had sought to have non-concessional contributions capped at $A75,000 per year, rather than $A100,000 as proposed by the Government.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL

Labor push for tougher cuts on superannuation

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 8-Nov-16

The Opposition will seek more changes to the Federal Government’s superannuation tax reforms in return for its support in parliament. Amongst other things, the Australian Labor Party wants non-concessional contributions to be capped at $A75,000 per year, rather than $A100,000 as proposed by the Government. The super legislation will be introduced into parliament during the second last sitting week for 2016, and the Government hopes the reforms will be passed by both houses before parliament rises for the year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE

Labor to back Coalition super changes

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 7-Nov-16

Sources within the Australian Labor Party have indicated that it is likely to support most of the Federal Government’s proposed superannuation reforms. The Government has made a number of compromises in order to gain support for its reforms; amongst other things, it agreed to abandon a push to introduce a $A500,000 lifetime cap on non-concessional contributions. Meanwhile, the Senate’s legislative agenda for the week beginning 7 November includes the bill to hold a plebiscite on same-sex marriage.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY