POLITICIANS – AUSTRALIA

Rhiannon ‘disappointed’ in leader Di Natale

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 3-Jul-17

Australian Greens senator Lee Rhiannon says she wants to see her party become more democratic. Her comments follow a move by federal colleagues to ban her from attending important party room meetings. The ban resulted from claims that Rhiannon was undermining her colleagues over the party’s approach to the Federal Government’s schools funding package. Rhiannon says the decision effectively disenfranchises all members of the Greens’ New South Wales branch, and that she is "disappointed" with Greens leader Richard Di Natale.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN GREENS, THE GREENS NSW INCORPORATED

Greens at war over Rhiannon suspension

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 30-Jun-17

Australian Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has been banned her by federal colleagues from attending important party room meetings. The ban resulted from claims that Rhiannon was undermining them over the party’s approach to the federal government’s schools funding package. They will not lift the ban until the Greens’ New South Wales branch ceases telling its MPs how they should vote, but the NSW branch has refused to accept Rhiannon’s suspension.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN GREENS, THE GREENS NSW INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION UNION

Same-sex brawl fuels Lib turmoil

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 27-Jun-17

Leaked comments by Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne on the issue of same-sex marriage are causing major headaches for the Federal Government. Pyne’s comments appear to indicate that moderate Liberals could push for a conscience vote on the issue in the near future, despite Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull having previously committed to a plebiscite on same-sex marriage. Conservative Liberals have accused Pyne of "sheer stupidity" over his comments, contending that the issue has taken the spotlight off the Government’s successful passage of its schools funding package

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, SKY NEWS, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, NEWSPOLL

Unions need to argue wage rises drive growth, says Swan

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 26-Jun-17

Former federal treasurer Wayne Swan says the Australian Labor Party and the union movement need to better argue the case for improved wages for middle-class workers. Swan will tell the annual ACTU congress that he fears that the Australian middle-class will become like the fast-disappearing US middle-class if wages do not rise. Swan’s comments follow those recently made by Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe, who said employees need to be more forceful when it comes to asking for wage rises.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, DEMOCRATIC PARTY (UNITED STATES)

PM queried Robb’s China role

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Original article by Primrose Riordan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 16-Jun-17

Former Trade Minister Andrew Robb is said to have taken on a consulting role with Chinese firm Landbridge on 1 July 2016, the day before the federal election. With a recent television program having raised concerns over Chinese influence in Australia, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce claimed that "questions" need to be asked about the timing of Robb’s appointment. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Robb had assured Martin Parkinson, the head of Turnbull’s department, that he had not breached any ministerial standards in taking on the role with Landbridge.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, LANDBRIDGE GROUP COMPANY LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRADE, AUSTRALIA CHINA BUSINESS COUNCIL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ

Greens amid top spenders on flights

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 13-Jan-17

The travel expenses of federal politicians have come under further scrutiny amid revelations that Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale spent $A56,526 on travel during the first half of 2016. The Greens’ community services spokeswoman Rachel Siewert submitted claims for $A63,934 worth of travel expenses during the period. The Greens have criticised the high travel expenses of members of the major political parties, and Di Natale stresses that his team’s travel expenses were solely work-related.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION

Shorten family election travel bill triple PM’s

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 2 : 12-Jan-17

The travel costs of Australia’s political leaders has come under scrutiny in the wake of the expenses scandal that has embroiled Health Minister Sussan Ley. It has been revealed that Opposition Leader Bill Shorten claimed $A51,531 in travel expenses for himself and his family in the first half of 2016. In contrast, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was reimbursed just $A14,441 in travel expenses during the period. Meanwhile, Turnbull is tipped to receive the findings of the inquiry into Ley’s travel expenses in coming days.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE

Culleton to fight Senate axing

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 2 : 12-Jan-17

Former One Nation senator Rod Culleton has been formally disqualified from holding a seat in the upper house after a court ruled that he was an undischarged bankrupt. Culleton intends to challenge the ruling, arguing that he was not insolvent and a lawyers’ trust held sufficient funds to meet his debt obligations. Culleton was declared bankrupt over $A280,000 owed to businessman Dick Lester. His eligibility to contest the 2016 election is yet to be determined by the Court of Disputed Returns.

CORPORATES
ONE NATION PARTY, COURT OF DISPUTED RETURNS, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

New year headache hits PM

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Original article by Sid Maher, Simon Benson, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 10-Jan-17

Some Coalition MPs expect that embattled Health Minister Sussan Ley will be forced to resign over the controversy regarding travel expenses. Ley’s future is uncertain after she was temporarily stood down from the ministry pending two separate inquiries into her use of travel expenses. Cabinet Secretary ­Arthur Sinodinos will assume responsibility for her portfolio until the inquiries are completed. The Opposition has called for Ley to be sacked, while a number of Coalition MPs believe that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull should pursue a ministerial reshuffle.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIA. REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Jet-setting Ley fights to keep career flying

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 9-Jan-17

The future of federal Health Minister Sussan Ley remains under scrutiny amid new revelations about her reimbursement for travel expenses. It has been disclosed that Ley submitted claims for the cost of travelling to the Gold Coast on New Year’s Eve in both 2013 and 2014. Ley has agreed to repay the expenses she incurred in May 2015 for travelling from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, where she bought an apartment. She had been in Brisbane on official ministerial business at the time. The Opposition has argued that she should be sacked.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, THE PHARMACY GUILD OF AUSTRALIA