POLITICAL PARTIES – AUSTRALIA – PLATFORMS

Gearing proposal won’t hit renters

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Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 36 : 23-Jun-16

Research suggests that the Australian Labor Party’s proposal to impose restrictions on negative gearing would have limited impact on rents. A study conducted by SQM Research suggests that rents would remain largely unchanged for the next few years, due to extra supply. SQM Research MD Louis Christopher calculated that the proposed policy would result in a rise of 1.2 percentage points in average rental yields. An adjustment of either rents rising or prices falling would happen only after four years of the new rules being in operation.

CORPORATES
SQM RESEARCH PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

The boats v Medicare fear election

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 23-Jun-16

The future of Medicare was again under scrutiny on 22 June 2016, with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten describing the universal healthcare system as a "birthright" of Australians. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has reiterated that his government will seek to overhaul the Medicare payments system rather than outsourcing it. Turnbull has also attempted to divert attention from claims about the privatisation of Medicare by warning that the Australian Labor Party’s border protection policies would result in an influx of asylum seekers.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED

AMA head rejects Shorten’s Medicare scare campaign

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Original article by David Crowe, Sean Parnell
The Australian – Page: 8 : 22-Jun-16

Australian Medical Association president Michael Gannon has rejected suggestions that outsourcing the Medicare payments system would constitute the privatisation of Medicare itself. He argues that the payments system technology is outdated and needs to be overhauled. Medicare has featured prominently in the Australian Labor Party’s recent election campaigning. Gannon says the AMA supports some of Labor’s health care policies, but it does not endorse the party’s claims regarding the future of Medicare.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, ST JOHN OF GOD HOSPITAL SUBIACO INCORPORATED, ACTU

Shorten’s policies ‘to cut house prices’

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Original article by Sid Maher
The Australian – Page: 1 & 8 : 21-Jun-16

Adept Economics has released the results of independent modelling which suggests that house prices would fall by an average of four per cent if the Australian Labor Party’s proposed changes to the negative gearing and capital gains tax regimes are implemented. The modelling also suggests that apartments in inner-city regions could fall be up to five per cent. The report, which was produced on behalf of Walshs Financial Planning, concludes that there are risks associated with the policy, and changes should be made if Labor wins the 2016 federal election.

CORPORATES
ADEPT ECONOMICS, WALSHS FINANCIAL PLANNING PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, GRATTAN INSTITUTE, URBAN DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

Plebiscite a mandate if Coalition wins: PM

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Original article by David Crowe, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 6 : 21-Jun-16

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten continues to favour a parliamentary vote on the issue of same-sex marriage. He has committed to introducing legislation within his first 100 days in office if the Australian Labor Party wins the 2016 election. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in turn aims to hold a plebiscite on the issue by the end of the year if the Coalition is returned to office. A recent survey by Griffith University showed that 70 per cent of respondents support a plebiscite.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY. CENTRE FOR GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC POLICY

Shorten pitches jobs growth

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 : 20-Jun-16

The Australian Labor Party officially launched its 2016 federal election campaign on 19 July. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten announced an additional $A3.1bn worth of spending commitments, including $A1.7bn for public transport projects. Labor has also revealed a $A257m program that will provide small businesses with tax breaks for hiring mature-age workers, mothers and carers who are seeking to re-enter the workforce, and people under the age of 25. Shorten also ruled out privatising Medicare.

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

Directors face new penalties

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 20-Jun-16

The Australian Government will increase the maximum civil penalty for breaches of the Corporations Act if wins the 2016 federal election. Company directors will face fines of up to $A216,000 for serious breaches of the Act, compared with $A200,000 at present. The registered organisations bill will also impose the same penalty on union officials, who can be fined a maximum of $A10,800 at present. Unions will also be prohibited from paying the fines of officials who breach the law.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, ACTU, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA

Labor forces Medicare retreat

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 : 20-Jun-16

The future of Medicare was on the agenda for both major political parties on 19 June 2016. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ruled out the privatisation of Medicare or any of its services. The Federal Government had previously flagged plans to outsource Medicare’s back-office functions. However, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten claims that the Government still plans to dismantle the existing Medicare system. He has also committed to blocking a proposal to reduce bulk-billing incentive payments for pathology and radiology services.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA POST, NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Roy Morgan State of the Nation 24: Focus on Politics the 2016 Federal Election

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: online : 17-Jun-16

Roy Morgan Research has presented the latest Australia State of the Nation, with the focus on the 2016 Federal Election. Economic issues are still the main concern for Australians. The 7-Eleven wage exploitation scandal and a Fair Work Commission ruling against Coles have made voters sensitive to problems related to industrial relations. Australia’s real unemployment level is much higher than suggested by official figures. Roy Morgan’s unemployment & under-employment rate is at 18.1 per cent, versus the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ unemployment figure of 5.7 per cent. Australians’ voting intentions suggest that Malcolm Turnbull will to be re-elected as Prime Minister on 2 July 2016.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, 7-ELEVEN STORES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, COLES GROUP LIMITED, REPUBLICAN PARTY (UNITED STATES), AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, VICTORIA. COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, PALMER UNITED PARTY, JACQUI LAMBIE NETWORK, GLENN LAZARUS TEAM, JOHN MADIGAN’S MANUFACTURING AND FARMING PARTY, DERRYN HINCH’S JUSTICE PARTY, FAMILY FIRST PARTY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Labor’s proposed environmental approval laws a ‘disaster’

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Original article by Primrose Riordan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 16-Jun-16

The Federal Opposition has been criticised over its proposal to reverse reforms that gave state governments increased responsibility for granting environmental approval for major projects. Northern Territory Treasurer David Tollner warns that the policy would result in job losses in industries such as agriculture and construction. New South Wales Environment Minister Mark Speakman has also expressed concern about the policy, although it is supported by Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NORTHERN TERRITORY. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE PROTECTION, TASMANIA. DEPT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT