DOCSLIB.ORG

130917 New Government Insights

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
130917 New Government Insights Investor Relations. Corporate Communication NEW GOVERNMENT INSIGHTS OVERVIEW Tomorrow, the first Abbott Cabinet will be sworn in by Former Prime Minister Paul Keating rightly once said the Governor-General. While there are a few new faces, that when you change the government, you change the it is largely the same Shadow Cabinet which has been country. As much as governments may carry in place for the past three years, bringing to an end characteristics of those which have gone before them, what has seemed like the longest election campaign in each has its unique style, challenges and agenda. our nation’s history. On election night Tony Abbott told a television Though the September 7 election result delivered a audience that Australia was once again ‘open for solid victory for the Coalition, it was not the predicted business’ and smaller government and economic growth bloodbath that would have seen Tony Abbott secure a would be at the forefront of the first term policy majority in the Senate. The Coalition recorded a agenda. national swing of 3.5 per cent against Labor and is MAGNUS has summarised the key information for you currently forecast to win 90 seats in the House of and your business, to ensure you are on a positive Representatives to Labor’s 55 seats. The Coalition made footing to start building a relationship with the new significant gains in Tasmania and Victoria, but the administration. predicted sweep of seats in Western Sydney and Queensland failed to materialise. Regardless, the election of a majority government delivers greater political certainty. The incoming Government is made up of many former members of the Howard Government. Yet unlike that period of Coalition rule, there are a series of fiscal challenges which now confront the nation, such as declining revenue, partly due to some of the heat coming out of the mining boom. SYDNEY 1/71 Macquarie Street, East Circular Quay, Sydney NSW 2000 | +61 2 8999 1010 www.magnus.net.au PERTH Unit 13, Ground Floor, 38 Colin Street, West Perth WA 6005 | +61 8 6160 4900 1 Investor Relations. Corporate Communication THE ABBOTT APPROACH - Key Policy Initiatives Commission of Audit Exploration Development Incentive Scheme Top of the Abbott agenda will be the appointment of a The Government will introduce the Exploration ‘once-in-a-generation’ Commission of Audit to focus on Development Incentive Scheme (EDI), allowing public sector efficiencies. The audit will examine all investors to deduct expenses associated with mining aspects of the Commonwealth Government and exploration against their taxable income. The EDI will whether they can be done better and more commence in July 2014 and be capped at $100 million cost-effectively. While this process may bring over the forward estimates. A tax credit will be considerable angst in some quarters, it follows similar provided to Australian resident shareholders for ‘green processes which the private sector has undertaken in fields’ exploration expenditure in Australia. recent times, sending a strong message to the Company Tax Cut entrenched bureaucracy. The company tax rate will be cut by 1.5 per cent, which Repeal of Two Key Taxes will see Australian companies paying a new tax rate of In the coming weeks, the Government will also instruct 28.5 per cent from July 2015. This term the government the public service to prepare legislation to repeal the will also release a white paper on further tax reform. carbon tax. Within the first 100 days, this legislation will Infrastructure be presented to Parliament, along with legislation to abolish the mining tax. Whether they pass the upper Tony Abbott has declared he wants his legacy to be house is another matter. that of the ‘infrastructure Prime Minister’. The Coalition has mounted a case that the carbon tax Key initial priorities identified include the West Connex is a $9 billion a year impost on industry, detrimental to project in NSW, upgrading the Bruce Highway and the productivity and international competitiveness and has Gateway Motorway extension in Queensland, the East contributed to increases in gas and electricity prices West Link in Victoria and the Swan Bypass upgrade in across the country. Income tax cuts and fortnightly Western Australia. pension and benefit increases linked to the carbon tax The Coalition has also promised to strengthen the role will be retained and re-badged as ‘cost of living relief’. of Infrastructure Australia, including the appointment of The new Government remains committed to a 5 per a Chief Executive Officer and a requirement that all cent reduction in emissions by 2020 and will establish a Commonwealth Infrastructure exceeding $100 million $3 billion Emissions Reduction Fund for projects be subject to analysis by Infrastructure Australia, to test associated with achieving this goal. cost-effectiveness and financial viability. Repealing the mining tax aims to boost investor confidence and Australia’s sovereign risk profile, as well as reducing administrative and compliance costs for affected miners. The Minerals Resource Rent Tax on iron ore and coal profits has raised a fraction of what was forecast when first proposed. 2 Investor Relations. Corporate Communication Other First-term Priorities: • Introduction of a Paid Parental Leave Scheme granting • Introducing government-wide processes to reduce the working mothers six months' leave on full pay, capped cost of red and green tape, along with the at a salary of $150,000. The net cost of the scheme establishment of a ‘one-stop shop’ for environmental will be $6.1 billion, of which half will come from the approvals for major projects. 1.5 per cent levy on about 3000 Australian companies • Reinstatement of the Australian Building and earning more than $5 million in taxable income. This Construction Commission within three months. will be offset by a cut in company tax, from 30¢ in the • Commencing a Productivity Commission review into dollar to 28.5¢. the operation of Fair Work Laws within six months. • Reversing Labor’s recent tightening of fringe benefits • Reviewing current commercial progress for NBN Co tax rules related to novated car leases. and options to meet the Coalition’s broadband policy • Commencing a ‘root and branch’ review of Australia’s objectives, within six months. competition laws and frameworks within two months. EARLY CHALLENGES • With the Coalition falling short of a majority in the • When the new Senate takes effect from July next year, Senate, many of its flagship policies now face a the Coalition is likely to be forced to negotiate its potentially rough passage through the ‘House of legislative agenda with a collection of Review’. Despite a convincing win, Labor and the little-understood independents and minor parties, Greens appear to have rejected Tony Abbott’s claim including the Palmer United Party. Building positive of a mandate and have the ability to form a bloc, relations with these members as soon as possible will thwarting moves to repeal the carbon and mining be a top priority for the new Government. taxes. 3 Investor Relations. Corporate Communication KEY PLAYERS IN THE NEW CABINET Summarised below is information about some of the key Ministers in the new Cabinet. A full list of the new ministries is available by clicking here. TONY ABBOTT - Prime Minister • Tony Abbott has been the Leader of the Liberal Party since defeating Malcolm Turnbull in a leadership spill motion in December 2009. • First elected as Member for Warringah (NSW) at a by-election in 1994, he previously served in the Howard Government as the Federal Health and Ageing Minister from 2003 until 2007. • Before moving into politics, Mr Abbott worked as a journalist and was a feature writer for The Bulletin and The Australian. • A Rhodes Scholar, he holds a Bachelor of Law and Economics from the University of Sydney and a Masters of Politics and Philosophy from Oxford. An avid sportsman, Mr Abbott won two Blues in Boxing during his time at Oxford. • He was Executive Director of ‘Australians for Constitutional Monarchy’ from 1993-94. WARREN TRUSS - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure & Regional Development • Mr Truss was elected to the Queensland seat of Widebay in 1990. • He served as a Minister in the Howard Government in a range of portfolios - Customs and Consumer Affairs, Community Services, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Transport, Regional Services and Trade. • Prior to entering Parliament, Mr Truss was a farmer. JULIE BISHOP - Minister for Foreign Affairs • Julie Bishop is the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and holds the seat of Curtin in WA. • Ms Bishop previously served in the Howard Government in the portfolios of Ageing, Education, Science and Training and Women’s Issues. • Ms Bishop was born and educated in South Australia, where she completed a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Adelaide. • In 1983 she moved to Perth where she practised as a commercial litigation solicitor; later becoming the managing partner of Clayton Utz's Perth Office. • Ms Bishop attended Harvard Business School in Boston and completed the Advanced Management Program for Senior Managers. 4 Investor Relations. Corporate Communication KEY PLAYERS IN THE NEW CABINET (continued) JOE HOCKEY - Treasurer • Joe Hockey was first elected to the seat of North Sydney (NSW) in 1996. • Mr Hockey served as a Minister in the Howard Government in portfolios which included Small Business, Tourism, Human Services, Employment and Workplace Relations. • Before entering Parliament, Mr Hockey was a banking and finance lawyer. • He holds degrees in Arts and Law. MALCOLM TURNBULL - Minister for Communications • Mr Turnbull was elected to the seat of Wentworth, NSW in 2004. • He served as the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources in the Howard Government and as Leader of the Opposition from September 2008 to November 2009. • Mr Turnbull’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 2017 EABC Business Delegation to Canberra Mission Report
    2017 EABC Business Delegation to Canberra Parliament House, Canberra 24-25 October 2017 Mission Report Overview On Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 October 2017, a delegation of EABC Members visited Parliament House in Canberra to meet with members of the Federal Government and Opposition. The delegation provided opportunities for members to engage in direct dialogue on the broad economic and business agenda, as well as the preparations underway for launching negotiations for an Australia-EU FTA. Programme The delegation programme on Tuesday 24 October included roundtable discussions with the Hon Michael McCormack MP, Minister for Small Business and the Hon Darren Chester MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport; followed by a Cocktail Reception with Guests of Honour the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia; the Hon Keith Pitt MP, Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment; the Hon Chris Bowen MP, Shadow Treasurer; and Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. The programme continued with a working dinner with ministerial guests including the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP, Minister for Revenue and Financial Services; the Hon Craig Laundy MP, Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science; and Justin Brown, Deputy Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The programme on Wednesday 25 October included roundtable discussions with Tom Skladzien, Chief of Staff
    [Show full text]
  • 18 February 2015 the Hon Peter Dutton MP Minister for Immigration
    18 February 2015 The Hon Peter Dutton MP Minister for Immigration and Border Protection PO Box 6022 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Minister, I am writing to you out of a sense of frustration and as a last resort in relation to the Joint Review of Border Fees, Charges and Taxes (the Review) which was notified to industry on 7 September 2014. In relation to the Review, the Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia Inc. (CBFCA) represents its members who in the first instance, are the entities responsible for the payment of any costs, charges and/or taxes levied by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBP) in its cost recovery arrangements or by the Department of Agriculture in fee for service delivery. The CBFCA provided a commentary to the Review which is led by the ACBP and has, on a variety of occasions, communicated to the ACBP on issues referenced in discussion papers and industry forums. Correspondence and e-mails to the project lead on particular aspects and concerns as to the Review have failed to elicit any return communication. Not only does this wall of silence not give effect to any appropriate consultation, it fails the key test in stakeholder engagement. There are significant impacts, not only on service providers to international trade logistics and supply chain management, but also to importers of record, and eventually the impact on end consumers as to these charges. Some of the key determinations in the Review also relate to the current public debate on the low value imports driven out of online international sales via e-commerce transactions.
    [Show full text]
  • A History of Misconduct: the Case for a Federal Icac
    MISCONDUCT IN POLITICS A HISTORY OF MISCONDUCT: THE CASE FOR A FEDERAL ICAC INDEPENDENT JO URNALISTS MICH AEL WES T A ND CALLUM F OOTE, COMMISSIONED B Y G ETUP 1 MISCONDUCT IN POLITICS MISCONDUCT IN RESOURCES, WATER AND LAND MANAGEMENT Page 5 MISCONDUCT RELATED TO UNDISCLOSED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Page 8 POTENTIAL MISCONDUCT IN LOBBYING MISCONDUCT ACTIVITIES RELATED TO Page 11 INAPPROPRIATE USE OF TRANSPORT Page 13 POLITICAL DONATION SCANDALS Page 14 FOREIGN INFLUENCE ON THE POLITICAL PROCESS Page 16 ALLEGEDLY FRAUDULENT PRACTICES Page 17 CURRENT CORRUPTION WATCHDOG PROPOSALS Page 20 2 MISCONDUCT IN POLITICS FOREWORD: Trust in government has never been so low. This crisis in public confidence is driven by the widespread perception that politics is corrupt and politicians and public servants have failed to be held accountable. This report identifies the political scandals of the and other misuse of public money involving last six years and the failure of our elected leaders government grants. At the direction of a minister, to properly investigate this misconduct. public money was targeted at voters in marginal electorates just before a Federal Election, In 1984, customs officers discovered a teddy bear potentially affecting the course of government in in the luggage of Federal Government minister Australia. Mick Young and his wife. It had not been declared on the Minister’s customs declaration. Young This cheating on an industrial scale reflects a stepped aside as a minister while an investigation political culture which is evolving dangerously. into the “Paddington Bear Affair” took place. The weapons of the state are deployed against journalists reporting on politics, and whistleblowers That was during the prime ministership of Bob in the public service - while at the same time we Hawke.
    [Show full text]
  • P5048b-5048B Hon Darren West
    Extract from Hansard [COUNCIL — Wednesday, 22 August 2018] p5048b-5048b Hon Darren West FEDERAL COALITION GOVERNMENT Statement HON DARREN WEST (Agricultural — Parliamentary Secretary) [6.46 pm]: I note that other members also wish to make a member’s statement, so I will be brief. Hon Simon O’Brien has given me a couple of good segues for my statement tonight. I believe that there will be a special meeting, and votes will be counted, and at the end of that we could have a new Prime Minister of Australia. This has been an extraordinary week in Canberra. For those of us who take a particular interest in political happenings in our national capital, I guess we could say we have seen it all before. However, this time I think there is an extra level of division and dysfunction than what we have seen in governments previous. It is extraordinary that there is potential for a second leadership spill in two days in the Liberal Party in Canberra to determine who will be this country’s next Prime Minister. This seems to be spreading from the Western Australian branch of the Liberal Party, although there is not a formal coalition in Western Australia, to its federal counterparts. It is extraordinary. I believe there will be a leadership spill in Canberra. There probably should also be a leadership spill in Western Australia, if anyone had the courage to challenge the current Leader of the Liberal Party. I am sure that will happen in due course, members. There is also potential for a change of leadership in the federal National Party in the coming days as the dysfunction spreads throughout the federal government.
    [Show full text]
  • November 26, 2020 Kelly Greene, MLA Parliamentary Secretary for Environment Parliament Buildings Victoria, British Columbia
    November 26, 2020 Kelly Greene, MLA Parliamentary Secretary for Environment Parliament Buildings Victoria, British Columbia V8V 1X4 Dear Parliamentary Secretary Greene: Thank you for agreeing to serve British Columbians as Parliamentary Secretary for Environment, supporting the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. You are taking on this responsibility at a time when people in our province face significant challenges as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has turned the lives of British Columbians upside down. None of us expected to face the challenges of the past number of months, yet British Columbians have demonstrated incredible resilience, time and time again. We will get through the pandemic and its aftereffects by building on this resilience and focusing on what matters most to people. British Columbians voted for a government focused on their priorities: fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, providing better health care for people and families, delivering affordability and security in our communities, and investing in good jobs and livelihoods in a clean-energy future. I expect you – and the work of your ministry – to focus on the commitments detailed in our platform, Working for You, along with the following foundational principles: ● Putting people first: Since 2017, our government has focused on making decisions to meet people's needs. That focus drove our work in our first term and will continue to be our priority. British Columbians are counting on the government to keep them safe and to build an economic recovery that works for everyone, not just those at the top. Keeping people at the centre of everything we do means protecting and enhancing the public services people rely on and working to make life more affordable for everyone.
    [Show full text]
  • Reference Serv1ce
    Reference BRITISH INFORMATION • SERVICES Biog(aphy • L-------------------~ Serv1ce THE RT HON JAMES CALLAGHAN. MP PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY Mr James Callaghan was appointed Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury on Monday 5 April 1976, following his election as Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party and the resignation of Mr Harold Wilson as Prime Minister earlier that day. Prior to becoming Prime Minister Mr Callaghan had, since the return to office of the Labour Party in March 1974, served as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Mr Callaghan is Member of Parliament for Cardiff South East. James Callaghan was born in 1912, son of a Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy. He was educated at an elementary school and at the Portsmouth Northern Grammar School. In 1929 he entered the Civil Service as a Tax Officer in the Inland Revenue Department. He joined the Inland Revenue Staff Federation, became a branch secretary and sat on its Execu· tive, and in 1936 resigned his Civil Service appointment to become its Assistant Secretary- a post he held until 1947. He also lectured on industrial history for the Workers' Educational Association. In 1942 Mr Callaghan volunteered and joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman. I Later he was commissioned as a Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and served with the East Indies Fleet, then stationed at Ceylon. He also served at the Admiralty. He had joined the Labour Party in 1931, and in 1944 was adopted as prospective Labour candidate for Cardiff South, for which he was elected to Parliament in 1945.
    [Show full text]
  • Louise Clare Pratt
    MAKING A DIFFERENCE—A FRONTIER OF FIRSTS WOMEN IN THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT 1921–2012 David Black and Harry Phillips Parliamentary History Project Parliament of Western Australia 2012 Women in the Western Australian Parliament 1921–2012 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SALLY ELIZABETH TALBOT MLC South West Region from 22 May 2005 (ALP). Parliamentary Secretary 2007–2008. Shadow Minister from 26 September 2008. Member Standing Committee on Legislation from 2005; Parliamentary Services Committee from 2005; Joint Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation from 2011; Select Committee into Public Obstetric Services 2006–2007. Few, if any, of the many hundred of members, and more especially of women members, who have secured election to one House or other of the Western Australian Parliament since 1890 would have entered the legislature with the varied and broad academically based background which Sally Talbot brought to the Legislative Council when she began her first four-year term as an ALP member for the South West Region on 22 May 2005. Sally has been a classical musician and teacher, primarily of the cello, and a lecturer and tutor in philosophy for university students; she has completed a PhD in the seemingly rarefied area of epistemology (a work subsequently published with the title Partial Reason: Critical and Constructive Transformation of Ethics and Epistemology); and, she has also been a research officer with and assistant state secretary of a major political party. Sally has been a member of both the British and Australian Labor Parties since her mid teens. Given her background, it is hardly surprising that she was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary within two years of entering Parliament and from September 2008 served as a shadow Minister in the ALP Opposition.
    [Show full text]
  • Ministerial Staff Under the Howard Government: Problem, Solution Or Black Hole?
    Ministerial Staff Under the Howard Government: Problem, Solution or Black Hole? Author Tiernan, Anne-Maree Published 2005 Thesis Type Thesis (PhD Doctorate) School Department of Politics and Public Policy DOI https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/3587 Copyright Statement The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise. Downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367746 Griffith Research Online https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au Ministerial Staff under the Howard Government: Problem, Solution or Black Hole? Anne-Maree Tiernan BA (Australian National University) BComm (Hons) (Griffith University) Department of Politics and Public Policy, Griffith University Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy November 2004 Abstract This thesis traces the development of the ministerial staffing system in Australian Commonwealth government from 1972 to the present. It explores four aspects of its contemporary operations that are potentially problematic. These are: the accountability of ministerial staff, their conduct and behaviour, the adequacy of current arrangements for managing and controlling the staff, and their fit within a Westminster-style political system. In the thirty years since its formal introduction by the Whitlam government, the ministerial staffing system has evolved to become a powerful new political institution within the Australian core executive. Its growing importance is reflected in the significant growth in ministerial staff numbers, in their increasing seniority and status, and in the progressive expansion of their role and influence. There is now broad acceptance that ministerial staff play necessary and legitimate roles, assisting overloaded ministers to cope with the unrelenting demands of their jobs. However, recent controversies involving ministerial staff indicate that concerns persist about their accountability, about their role and conduct, and about their impact on the system of advice and support to ministers and prime ministers.
    [Show full text]
  • Foreign Policy Under the Coalition: Turbulent Times, Dwindling Investments
    Foreign Policy under the Coalition: Turbulent Times, Dwindling Investments Author Harris Rimmer, Susan Published 2019 Book Title From Turnbull to Morrison: The Trust Divide Version Version of Record (VoR) Copyright Statement © 2019 Melbourne University Press. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the publisher’s website for further information. Downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/10072/390099 Link to published version https://www.mup.com.au/books/from-turnbull-to-morrison-electronic-book-text Griffith Research Online https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au s, CHAPTER 5 Foreign Policy under the .get Turbulent Times, Dwindling Investments s, Susan Harris Rimmer and 1te L9), When Malcolm Turnbull was sworn in as Prime Minister in late 2015, there were expectations of an increased cosmopolitanism in Australian foreign policy. Pundits expected a touch of Davos after ty of Tony Abbott's insular term. Mr Abbott had greatness thrust upon him inforeign policyterms with Australia's United Nations (UN) Security • Trust Council term and the G20 presidency in the Brisbane 2014 summit ,D, securedby the Labor Government under Rudd and Gillard. However, vfrom Abbott never warmed to therole of globaldiplomat, more engaged in Jerra, at the foreign policy issues arising from boat turn-backs. By 2016, •Drum: Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had carved out a leading role in foreign policy that Malcolm Turnbull was happy to continue, due to �ering unrest within the party requiring his constant attention. Despite the more liberal internationalist tendencies of Turnbull, Bishop, the Coalition government continued a more transac­ al foreign policy than its predecessor.
    [Show full text]
  • LETTER from CANBERRA OM Canberraand Beyond
    LETTERSavingLETTERSaving you you time. time.LETTERSaving A A monthly monthly you time. newsletter newsletter A monthly distilling distilling newsletter public FROMpublicFROM distilling policy policy and andpublicFROM government government policy and decisions decisions government CANBERRACANBERRA which which decisions affect affect CANBERRA business businesswhich affect opportunities opportunities business in opportunitiesin Australia Australia and and in beyond. Australiabeyond. and beyond. LETTERSaving you time. A monthly newsletter distilling publicFROM policy and government decisions CANBERRA which affect business opportunities in Australia and beyond. 2323 JULY JULY to to 2313 13 JULYAugust August to 201013 2010 August Issue Issue 2010 No. No. 27: 27:Issue Campaign Campaign No. 27: EditionCampaign Edition Edition This week’s Morgan Polls suggest LetterLetter from from Canberra, Canberra,Letter established establishedfrom Canberra, 2008, 2008, established is is a asister sister publication 2008,publication is a sisterof of Leter Leter publication From From Melbourne, Melbourne, of Leter Fromestablished established Melbourne, 1994 1994 established 1994 ‘hung’ Parliament - Pages 9 - 12 OOUURR EXPECTATIONS EXPECTATIONSOUR EXPECTATIONS INSIINSIDDEE INSIDE EditorialEditorial by by Alistair AlistairEditorial Urquhart Urquhart by Alistair Urquhart PunchPunch and and counter counterPunch punch. andpunch. counter punch. WeWe have have raced raced to Weto get get have this this raced edition edition to to getto you you this at at editionthe the start start to of you of the the at last thelast week start week of of thethis this last five five week weekweek of federal thisfederal five election election week federalcampaign. campaign. election campaign. GillardGillard regains regainsGillard miner miner regains poll poll miner poll ThisThis edition edition could couldThis well well edition become become could something something well become of of a a keep-sake.something keep-sake.
    [Show full text]
  • Tuesday, 18 September 2012
    Article No. 6481 Available on www.roymorgan.com Roy Morgan Federal Electorate Profiles Measuring Public Opinion for over 70 Years Monday, 28 September 2015 New Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gives immediate Consumer Confidence boost across Australia and seeks to conclude China-Australia Free Trade Agreement New Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gave an immediate boost to Consumer Confidence across a range of key demographics this week. Overall ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence jumped by a one-week record 9.2pts – from 105.3 (September 12/13, 2015) to 114.5 (September 19/20, 2015) following Turnbull’s swearing in as Australia’s 29th Prime Minister on Tuesday September 15, 2015. This strong increase was repeated across the board. The increase to Consumer Confidence was broad-based with Consumer Confidence increasing strongly for both genders, across all age groups and all States & Capital Cities. In particular Consumer Confidence in Australia’s two largest commercial centres increased more strongly than other cities: Sydney – 107.6 to 117.4 (up 9.8pts) and Melbourne – 104.4 to 119.2 (up 14.8pts). E E This strong endorsement of the new Prime Minister from Australia’s consumers gives Turnbull a clear ‘mandate’ to pursue reforms to the Australian economy to ensure strong future growth and to make the structural adjustments necessary to make the Australian economy more competitive as it deals with the end of the commodities boom and the closure of legacy manufacturing industries – the manufacturing component of the Australian car industry is due to close entirely by the end of next year.
    [Show full text]
  • Australia and the Coronavirus Crisis a Keynote Speech by Hon Tony Abbott AC Chaired by Katy Balls
    Australia and the Coronavirus A Keynote Speech by Hon Tony Abbott AC Chaired by Katy Balls Australia and the Coronavirus Crisis A Keynote Speech by Hon Tony Abbott AC Chaired by Katy Balls Transcript How to deal with a potential pandemic was often on my mind during four years as health minister in the Australian government of John Howard. In those days, hundreds of people – nearly all in East Asia and living in close contact with poultry – contracted bird flu; and about a half died. The fear back then was that a pandemic variant could become an even more deadly form of the Spanish flu, that killed up to 50 million people, mostly between 20 and 40, in the wake of the Great War (including over half a million from a then-US population of just on a hundred million); or a supercharged version of the Asian flu that killed upwards of a million people world-wide in the late 1950s; or the Hong Kong flu that killed another million or more in the late 1960s. As things worked out, there was no pandemic on my watch as minister – but there was one, swine flu, in 2009, that’s thought to have killed about 300,000 people world-wide, including 191 from just under 40,000 cases in Australia. Perhaps surprisingly, that pandemic barely rippled the public’s consciousness. Still, as the minister who would have been blamed for any deficiency in Australia’s pandemic preparedness, I beefed up the National Medicine Stockpile (including one of the world’s largest holdings of anti-viral drugs), established the Australian Health Protection Committee, and made formal speeches laying out the initial plan to deal with any crisis.
    [Show full text]