POLITICAL PARTIES – AUSTRALIA

Winnable seats for women still PM’s challenge

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 26-Feb-19

The federal government is already under criticism for the lack of female MPs within its ranks. However, it is possible that it could suffer from an even greater gender imbalance after the upcoming election. It has been suggested that just four of the 21 female Coalition candidates who have been endorsed for either the House of Representatives or the Senate since Scott Morrison became Prime Minister in August are considered to be guaranteed of winning their seat.

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

PM heads off revolt by Nationals

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 18-Feb-19

The National Party is very unhappy over the federal government’s shelving of legislation that would allow the forced divestment of energy companies’ assets. It is understood that some Nationals MPs were prepared to cross the floor of the House of Representatives and vote against the government on small business legislation. The government has moved to placate the Nationals by agreeing to support amendments to the legislation that will make it easier for smaller businesses to sue larger companies. The government has also indicated that it will support a Labor/Greens motion calling for a royal commission into the treatment of the disabled.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL

Huge taxpayer bill

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Original article by Rob Harris, Claire Bickers
Herald Sun – Page: 4 : 11-Dec-18

Analysis shows that the pension, travel and office entitlements of former Australian prime ministers have cost taxpayers about $19m in total since 2010. Meanwhile, new figures show that the ousting of ex-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in August has cost more than $4.5m in severance pay This includes nearly $1.9m in payouts for 35 staffers who opted not to remain in the prime minister’s office following the leadership spill.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Libs believe election is still winnable

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 11-Dec-18

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is among the senior Liberal MPs who are optimistic that the Coalition can win the 2019 federal election. He notes that the Coalition won an election under former prime minister John Howard despite a worse performance in public opinion polls than at present. He adds that Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be much more effective in campaigning than predecesser Malcolm Turnbull. The Coalition’s internal polling is believed to show that it is faring better than published polls suggest.

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

PM to end leadership turmoil

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 4-Dec-18

The federal government has announced changes to the Liberal Party’s leadership rules that will prevent a prime minister from being challenged during their term in office. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the government understands the frustration and disappointment of ordinary Australians when an elected prime minister is ousted in a partyroom ballot. Morrison sought the views of former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott regarding the reforms, although his immediate predecessor Malcolm Turnbull was not consulted. Labor implemented similar reforms under Kevin Rudd in 2013.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND

Deserter fuels Coalition chaos

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Original article by Simon Benson, Rosie Lewis, Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 28-Nov-18

The federal government will require the support of at least two crossbenchers to pass bills in the lower house after Victorian MP Julia Banks resigned from the Liberal Party to become an independent. Banks’ defection to the crossbench means the Coalition has just 73 seats in the House of Representatives. This could give Labor sufficient support to refer Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to the High Court over his eligibility to be in Parliament. The government in turn has questioned the eligibility of several Labor MPs. Banks has promised to support the government on issues of confidence and supply.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF JOBS AND SMALL BUSINESS, CENTRE ALLIANCE

Victorian rout a federal crisis

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Ben Potter
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 26-Nov-18

Moderates in the federal Liberal Party have urged the government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison to change its "hard-right" approach to issues such as climate change following the heavy loss suffered by the Liberals in the Victorian election. Up to six federal Coalition seats in and around Melbourne are considered vulnerable following the result. Victoria’s Labor government is on track to win 55 out of the 88 seats in the Lower House. Former premier Jeff Kennett has called on state Liberal president Michael Kroger to resign on the back of the result, which saw Labor achieve a six percentage point primary swing. A special SMS Morgan Poll on the eve of the election showed that Premier Daniel Andrews was set to be re-elected with an increased majority of the vote.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Crossbench chaos to thwart Shorten plans

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 2 : 19-Nov-18

Research conducted by the Australia Institute suggests that Labor will not be able to rely on a voting bloc with the Greens to get legislation passed by the Senate if it wins the next election. The Institute predicts that Labor and the Greens will have at best 38 senators between them, which is not enough for a majority. As a result, Labor would be required to enter into negotiations with crossbencher to get legislation passed in the same manner that the Coalition has had to do since 2013.

CORPORATES
THE AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY, CENTRE ALLIANCE

‘Blew up the government’: Malcolm Turnbull challenges plotters in defence of his government

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Original article by David Crowe
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 9-Nov-18

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has told a special edition of "Q&A" that he does not blame Prime Minister Scott Morrison for his downfall as Liberal leader. Turnbull named Peter Dutton, Tony Abbott and Mitch Fifield as being among the main "plotters" in the bid to oust him, while he said that Seven Network chairman Kerry Stokes had relayed a comment to him from News Corp executive chairman Rupert Murdoch that "Malcolm’s got to go". Turnbull called on those who conspired against him to explain why "they blew up the government", while he endorsed claims that some MPs had been "bullied and intimidated" to vote against him.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Voters will clip cocky Labor’s wings: Pyne

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Original article by Michael Owen, Luke Griffiths
The Australian – Page: 4 : 24-Oct-18

Defence Minister Christopher Pyne has accused Labor of being overconfident about its chances of winning the next federal election. Pyne holds the seat of Sturt in South Australia with a margin of 5.9 per cent. However, Labor senator Don Farrell believes that Pyne’s chances of retaining the seat have been significantly reduced following the ousting of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was popular in Sturt. Meanwhile, counting of votes in the Wentworth by-election is continuing; independent candidate Kerryn Phelps had 51.05% of the vote on a two-party preferred basis at 3.3pm on Tuesday.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA