ABIX - Roy Morgan Daily News Summary  |  Tweet  |  Like  |  Forward  |   |  Roy Morgan Social Media:    Instagram    Facebook    YouTube    LinkedIn    Twitter DAILY NEWS SUMMARY key-indicators government-education-health business-retail-telco-agriculture media-marketing-arts resources-energy FINANCIAL INDICATORS Australian Stock Indices (ASX) Australian Dollar & other currencies US Stock Indices UK FTSE 100 Index Gold Price Bitcoin Price Energy Commodities (incl. Oil, Gas & Coal) Copper Price (London Metals Exchange) Iron Ore Daily (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) Dalian Commodity Exchange - click for a detailed live Iron Ore trend (Yuan) key-indicators OIL, GOLD, COPPER, BITCOIN AND DOW FALL; BARACK OBAMA SAYS JOE BIDEN NEEDS TO RECONSIDER HIS ELECTION BID; DONALD TRUMP SET TO ADDRESS REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN FIRST SPEECH SINCE RALLY SHOOTING; COMEDIAN AND TV STAR BOB NEWHART DIES AT THE AGE OF 94 Latest updates on Key Economic Indicators - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Roy Morgan Summary Australian Dollar: $0.6703 USD (down 0.0027 USD) Iron Ore Aug Spot Price (SGX): $105.05 USD (unchanged) Oil Price (WTI): $82.42 USD (down $0.68 USD) Gold Price: $2,445.09 USD (down $13.60 USD) Copper Price (CME): $4.2660 USD (down $0.1505 USD) Bitcoin: $63,758.51 USD (down 0.68% in last 24 hours) Dow Jones: 40,665.02 (down 533.06 points on yesterday's close) All changes compared to 7am yesterday. Top government-education-health 'TIME TO GO' CRESCENDO ECHOES IN BIDEN'S EARS The Australian - Page 1 & 8 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Cameron Stewart Roy Morgan Summary Former US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi is among four senior Democrats who have warned President Joe Biden that he cannot win the presidential election and will lose both house of Congress. Some 25 members of Congress have now urged Biden to withdraw from the election race, while the US media has reported that former president Barack Obama has told Biden's allies that he "needs to seriously consider the viability of his candidacy". Biden has indicated that he would consider abandoning his bid for a second term in the White House if a doctor told him that he had a serious medical condition; Biden subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the Secret Service had been warned about Donald Trump's would-be assassin Thomas Crooks and designated him a 'threat' 10 minutes before the former president took the stage at a Republican Party rally in Pennsylvania. Top DUTTON PUTS FUTURE OF ROGUE UNION ON ELECTION AGENDA The Australian Financial Review - Page 5 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Phillip Coorey Roy Morgan Summary Opposition leader Peter Dutton says the Coalition will reinstate the Australian Building & Construction Commission if it wins the next election, accusing the federal government of doing the CFMEU's bidding when it abolished the ABCC. Dutton also said the Coalition would deregister the CFMEU, and it will put forward a private bill to deregister the union as a signal of its intentions. Meanwhile, Labor's national executive has indefinitely suspended the construction division of the CFMEU from its New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian and Tasmanian branches; Labor will not accept affiliation fees or donations from the construction division while the suspension is in place. Top LABOR-LINKED JUDGE IN GOVERNMENT SIGHTS TO TAKE OVER CFMEU The Sydney Morning Herald - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Paul Sakkal, Angus Thompson, Ben Schneiders Roy Morgan Summary Shadow workplace relations minister Michaelia Cash says the person who is appointed as administrator of the CFMEU must be "completely independent" and have no union or political affiliations. However, sources have indicated that the federal government is considering former Labor candidate Stephen Rothman for the role; Rothman is currently a NSW Supreme Court judge, and he often represented unions during his career as a barrister. Rothman's past links to Labor have previously forced the government to withdraw his nomination as a deputy commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Top CFMEU FACES THREE FEDERAL COURTS IN ONE DAY OVER INTIMIDATION ALLEGATIONS The Age - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by David Estcourt, Sean Parnell Roy Morgan Summary The Federal Court's Justice John Snaden has ordered the CFMEU to pay a $150,000 fine due to the actions of two union officials at a Melbourne construction site in December 2019. One of the officials was in turn fined $16,000 for halting work on the West Gate Tunnel project for more than six hours. The Federal Court has heard separate proceedings against the CFMEU in Queensland, with a site supervisor on the Cross River Rail project telling the court that he was intimidated by CFMEU members after crossing a picket line. Meanwhile, the Fair Work Ombudsman is pursuing legal action against the CFMEU's maritime division in Western Australia over an industrial dispute with Qube Holdings. Top ANGER AT BIG BUILD BACK PAY DEMANDS Herald Sun - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Alex White, Matt Johnston, Jade Gailberger Roy Morgan Summary The CFMEU has been accused of demanding that construction firms provide their workers with back-pay under a new four-year enterprise agreement that includes an annual wage rise of five per cent. Subcontractors who are working on the Victorian government's signature 'Big Build' projects allege that union delegates have warned that they will be removed from government projects unless they agree to backdate the wage rise to 1 March. However, the enterprise agreement has yet to be approved by the Fair Work Commission. A subcontractor has argued that the CFMEU's enterprise agreements should be renegotiated in the wake of the corruption allegations that have embroiled the union. Top DEFENCE 'IGNORED TOLL OF EXPOSURE TO EXPLOSIONS' The Australian - Page 1 & 5 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Ben Packham Roy Morgan Summary Adelaide University professor Alexander McFarlane is a leading expert in the area of military brain injuries, and he says that the issue of soldiers' brains being affected by the impact of explosions is not a new thing. With the Defence and Veterans' Affairs departments being accused of ignoring growing evidence of chronic brain injuries in soldiers, McFarlane notes the term 'shell shock' was coined in World War I to describe psychological injuries from explosive blasts. The issue of chronic brain injuries in soldiers from explosions in combat or training has been compared to the issue of concussion-related injuries on footballers, with such injuries potentially leading to the degenerative brain disease CTE. Top LABOR WORKS TO COOL FEAR OF ISRAEL-LEBANON WAR AS WONG LAMBASTS ISRAEL Brisbane Times - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Paul Sakkal Roy Morgan Summary Foreign Minister Penny Wong has used social media to attack Israel over Israeli Defence Force strikes that Hamas-run health authorities state killed 50 Palestinians. Wong called on Israel to accept a US-led ceasefire, saying that civilians caught up in the Israel-Hamas conflict need to be protected, hostages need to be released and humanitarian access must be increased. Her comments come amid concern within the federal government that a war between Israel and Lebanon could increase local tensions and inflame anti-Israel sentiment. Top JEWISH MEMBERS ABANDON GREENS OVER ANTI-SEMITISM The Australian - Page 1 & 4 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Alexi Demetriadi Roy Morgan Summary Jewish members of the Greens are leaving the party, claiming that its anti-racism 'mantra' has not helped to protect them against anti-Semitism since the 7 October attacks on Israel. A spokesman for Greens leader Adam Bandt said the party condemns anti-Semitism and racism "in all its forms", but one unnamed Jewish member of the Greens claims there is little solidarity towards the Jewish community and the party's opposition to anti-Semitism is "lip service". He suggests that the Greens' hard-line stance on the conflict in Gaza is an attempt to win votes. Top ALBANESE DENIES CANDIDATE DRIVE A SIGN OF EARLY POLL The New Daily - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Andrew Brown Roy Morgan Summary Labor has announced its candidate for another federal seat in Queensland. Edwina Andrew will contest the seat of Herbert, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says will be a key seat for the government at the next federal election. Labor also recently announced its candidates for Queensland electorates such as Ryan, Forde and Dickson, while its candidate for the seat of Leichhardt will be revealed on Friday. However, Albanese has downplayed suggestions that Labor is preparing for an early election, contending that its candidates will have a long lead-in time to connect with their community. [Click to view full article here] Top CHANCE OF RATE RISE GROWS AS JOBS BOUNCE The Australian Financial Review - Page 9 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Michael Read Roy Morgan Summary Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the nation's official unemployment rate edged up to 4.1 per cent in June, compared with four per cent in May. This is despite the economy adding about 50,200 jobs in June, including 43,300 new full-time positions. The workforce participation rate rose to 66.9 per cent, while hours worked increased by 0.8 per cent in May and by 1.4 per cent in the year to May. The latest jobs data has heightened expectations among investors that the Reserve Bank will increase the cash rate in August, while economists say that quarterly CPI data to be released on 31 July will be a key factor for the central bank. Top 'RECORD': CHALMERS FIFTH ON JOBS GROWTH The Australian - Page 2 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Patrick Commins Roy Morgan Summary Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the federal government has created nearly 930,000 jobs since it took office in May 2022. He contends that this is the biggest ever increase in the number of employed Australians. AMP's chief economist Shane Oliver says a government's record should not be judged on the raw number of jobs created during a term in office, given that the labour market grows over time. Indeed, analysis suggests that the current government has delivered the fifth-best growth in jobs relative to the size of the labour market. Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor says Labor's job creation claims merely reflect population growth since the last election. Top CARE SECTOR WILL HIT PRODUCTIVITY: WOOD The Australian Financial Review - Page 3 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Tom McIlroy Roy Morgan Summary Productivity Commission boss Danielle Wood notes it has always been hard to boost productivity in labour-intensive industries such as the aged and disability care sectors. With the care sector certain to form a larger part of the economy, Wood says that productivity in other industries will have to improve to combat the negative impact on productivity that will result from growth in the care sector. Wood says the health and education sectors are two areas where there is ample opportunity to improve productivity, while she says it is important to note the broader economic and social benefits that result from the expansion of the care sector Top NEW SWIPE AT CHINA TRADE AS LOBSTERS STILL ON ICE The Australian Financial Review - Page 10 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Andrew Tillett Roy Morgan Summary Australia's ambassador to the World Trade Organisation James Baxter says China should give up its claim to being a "developing nation", which get more favourable treatment under WTO agreements. Donald Trump made a similar call during his time as US president, and the issue of how the WTO treats China is likely to re-emerge if Trump is re-elected in November, while Trump is threatening to impose a 60 per cent tariff on imports of all Chinese goods to the US; Baxter's call comes as China is still to drop its remaining trade sanctions against Australian lobster and a handful of abattoirs Top LABOR URGED TO INCLUDE TAX HAVENS IN CRACKDOWN ON PROFIT SHIFTING The Australian Financial Review - Page 9 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Tom McIlroy Roy Morgan Summary The federal Labor government recently introduced updated legislation for so-called country-by-country tax transparency rules, with the legislation aiming to give the community a clearer understanding of how much tax multinational companies pay in relation to their activities in Australia. Labor flagged a crackdown on tax avoidance when it went to the 2022 federal election, with Labor estimating it loses out on $4.6 billion in tax from large corporations every year. EU Tax Observatory, an independent think tank based at the Paris School of Economics, contends there are loopholes in the new laws, and states they should be further expanded to cover known tax havens such as Cyprus, Malta and Luxembourg. Top PRIVATE SCHOOL CHARITY STATUS SACROSANCT DESPITE CALLS TO SCRAP IT The Age - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Shane Wright, Lucy Carroll Roy Morgan Summary The Productivity Commission has released its final Future Foundations For Giving report, with the Commission hoping its recommendations will boost charitable giving; the Commission contends the current charitable giving system is no longer "fit for purpose". One of the Commission's recommendations is that private school building funds should lose their tax-deduction status, claiming that it allows parents and students to gain a private benefit. However, Assistant Minister for Charities Andrew Leigh said the federal government would not support the proposal. Top AUSTRALIA'S $50,000 ARTS DEGREE IS HERE - PUTTING UNIVERSITY FEES ON PAR WITH THE UK AND US The Guardian Australia - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Caitlin Cassidy Roy Morgan Summary New figures from the federal Department of Education have revealed that the cost of an arts degree now exceeds $50,000 for the first time, putting them on par with the cost of arts degrees in the US and the UK. Harrison Brennan, who is president of University of Sydney's Student Representative Council and who is doing a politics and philosophy degree, says many students are angry about having to pay even more for an education that many in federal parliament got for free. [Click to view full article here] Top NUCLEAR EXPERTS DISMISS WATER FEAR The Australian - Page 4 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Charlie Peel Roy Morgan Summary Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt told a global food forum on Wednesday that the Coalition's plan to build seven nuclear reactors on coal-fired power station sites would result in water being taken from farmers; on Thursday, he rejected Coalition claims that he was scare-mongering. Watt's claims have been rejected by nuclear experts, with nuclear engineer and advocate Tony Irwin saying reactors using the latest technology require significantly less cooling water; he also says concerns regarding nuclear accidents on farmland are unfounded. Top HIGH COST OF RUDD'S COMPANY The Australian - Page 2 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Greg Brown Roy Morgan Summary Documents provided to the Senate reveal the charter flight to return Julian Assange home from Britain via a court hearing in a US territory in an island in the Western Pacific cost a total of $781,480. The flight itself was paid for by the Wau Holland Foundation, but taxpayers had to foot the bill for additional travel costs as a result of Assange being accompanied by Australia's ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd and Australia's high commissioner to Britain, Stephen Smith. Rudd's 'additional commercial travel costs' amounted to $29,268 while Smith's were $17,807, with Liberal senator Dave Sharma saying Assange's flight home "must be one of the most expensive staged photo ops ever undertaken". Top PORTAL NEEDED FOR VICTIMS TO REPORT AI DEEPFAKES, FEDERAL POLICE UNION SAYS The Guardian Australia - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Josh Taylor Roy Morgan Summary Legislation introduced by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus in June creates a new criminal offence of sharing, without consent, sexually explicit images that have been digitally created using artificial intelligence or other forms of technology. The Australian Federation Police Association has used a submission to a parliament inquiry to support the new legislation, contending that the current law is too difficult for officers to use. The Association also wants to see the creation of a portal that would allow victims of AI 'deepfakes' to report them directly to law enforcement agencies. [Click to view full article here] Top business-retail-telco-agriculture ASX SLIDES AS TRADE FEARS TRIGGER TECH ROUT The Australian Financial Review - Page 22 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Tom Richardson Roy Morgan Summary The Australian sharemarket lost ground on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 shedding 0.3 per cent to close at 8,036.5 points. The sell-off was prompted by bearish sentiment towards technology stocks following reports that the Biden administration may impose trade sanctions on companies that supply advanced semiconductors to China. Telix Pharmaceuticals was down 2.6 per cent at $19.47 and Domino's Pizza Enterprises finished 8.2 per cent lower at $33.12. However, Evolution Mining rose 2.8 per cent to $4.09 and Accent Group added 10.2 per cent to end the session at $2.16. Top ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY DOGS FLOATS The Australian - Page 15 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Glenda Korporaal Roy Morgan Summary Alcoa, Axel Ree, Bhagwan Marine and Ordell Minerals are currently the only companies that are slated to list on the Australian sharemarket in coming months. A report from accounting firm HLB Mann Judd notes that there were just 13 IPOs during the first half of 2024, compared with 14 for the same period in 2023. The report's author Marcus Ohm says says the wider economic environment - including inflation and interest rates - has weighed on the IPO market. However, a positive sign is that IPOs raised a combined $810m in the first half of this year, compared with $847m for the whole of 2023. Top 'LESS RESILIENT' BORROWERS STRUGGLE The Australian Financial Review - Page 9 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Michael Read Roy Morgan Summary Data from the Reserve Bank of Australia reveals that a growing number of homeowners are in arrears on their mortgage repayments. The research by RBA economists Ryan Morgan and Elena Ryan shows that about one in 40 owner-occupiers with a loan-to-value ratio of more than 80 per cent were more than 90 days behind on their repayments in May. Likewise, about 1.5 per cent of homeowners whose mortgage loan is more than four times higher than their income were at least 90 days in arrears. However, the overall arrears rate for all owner-occupiers with variable interest rate loans remains below one per cent. Top CBUS BRUSHES OFF CONCERNS OVER ITS TIES TO THE TROUBLED CFMEU The Australian - Page 15 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Cliona O'Dowd Roy Morgan Summary Industry superannuation fund Cbus is under pressure to sever its ties with the Construction, Forestry & Maritime Employees Union, following damning allegations of corruption and the union's links to organised crime. Three of Cbus's 14 directors are from the CFMEU, and Cbus paid the union $1.25m in the 2022-23 financial year. A spokesman for Cbus says it has strong governance processes, and that its directors have a duty to act in the best financial interest of its members. He adds that Cbus members can be assured that its focus on protecting and increasing their retirement savings is "unwavering". Top RETIREMENT PRODUCTS 'NEED LICENCE REGIME' The Australian - Page 15 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Glenda Korporaal Roy Morgan Summary Former Challenger executive Jeremy Cooper is now chair of the advisory board at The Conexus Institute, and co-author of a report by the Institute that calls for superannuation funds wanting to offer retirement products to be subject to a licensing regime. Despite a surge in the number of people nearing retirement, Cooper says there has been very little movement on the issue of retirement products since the introduction of the Retirement Income Covenant, due to regulatory uncertainty. Introduced around two years ago, the Retirement Income Covenant requires super funds to outline their strategy for helping members move into the retirement phase of their lives. Top HOW A $60M CRYPTO GROUP IN WATCHDOG'S CROSSHAIRS REBRANDED TO TARGET NEW CUSTOMERS The Age - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Sarah Danckert Roy Morgan Summary The Australian Securities and Investments Commission won a court order in April to freeze the assets of NGS Crypto, with NGS Crypto being a $60 million bitcoin mining scheme. It is accused of inappropriately encouraging Australians to take money out of their superannuation to invest in bitcoin-related products on the promise of stellar returns, despite not holding an Australian financial services licence since 2017. It has been revealed that NGP Crypto has closed down its website amid concerns it was directing potential customers to a new business selling similar products, and that an entity linked to two of the men behind the NGS Crypto scheme has purchased and is operating a large financial services group in Australia. Top PULLBACK FORREST PUSHES TAX CREDITS The Australian - Page 1 & 4 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Joe Kelly, Nick Evans, Rhiannon Down Roy Morgan Summary Fortescue has retreated from its target of producing 15 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030 under a restructure that will see 700 jobs cut, while its green energy arm has amassed more than $US1.44 billion ($2.1 billion) in losses over four years. However, despite scaling down his ambitions in the area, Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest says the federal government should continue with its plans for billions of dollars in tax ­incentives for green ­hydrogen producers. Forrest believes the feasiblity of a green hydrogen industry comes down to the cost of electricity. Top GREEN HYDROGEN TOO EXPENSIVE: FINKEL The Australian Financial Review - Page 14 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith, Peter Ker, Jessica Sier Roy Morgan Summary Australia's former chief scientist Alan Finkel says the cost of producing hydrogen means that it is unlikely to replace gas as an energy source for the nation's homes, given that the cost of storage batteries is falling sharply. Finkel adds that the use of 'green' hydrogen in Australia is likely to be largely restricted to producing decarbonised products for export, such as iron ore, ammonia and alumina. Hazer Group CEO Glenn Corrie agrees that green hydrogen is too expensive, and he contends that the focus of funding for the nascent industry should shift to 'clean' hydrogen. Top NO TIME TO WASTE ON ANOTHER CLIMATE WAR, BIG BUSINESS WARNS Brisbane Times - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Nick Toscano, Mike Foley Roy Morgan Summary Some 18 business, investment, conservation and community groups have signed a joint statement that contends that policy certainty is essential if the private investment needed to ensure reliable, affordable and lower-emission energy is to be forthcoming. The joint statement has been released ahead of a meeting of state and federal energy ministers scheduled for Friday, with the statement rejecting the call by the Coalition that it would abandon the 2030 climate targets if it wins the next election; the statement also supports the Australian Energy Market Operator's 25-year transition plan. Released in July, it calls for Australia's future energy grid to be dominated by renewable energy, and makes no mention of nuclear power. Top OFFSHORE WIND'S TRUE COST The Australian - Page 21 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Robert Gottliebsen Roy Morgan Summary Many might think that offshore wind power is cheaper than nuclear energy, but the opposite would appear to be the case. It has been estimated that the base cost for erecting an offshore wind plant amounts to $10 million for one megawatt, compared to $6.5 million for one MW for nuclear power. It suggests that nuclear power is significantly cheaper, even when allowing for some margin of error. States such as Victoria and NSW that are looking to install offshore wind power will find that their power bills are going to considerably increase as a result of the higher cost of offshore wind power when compared to existing coal fired-power and nuclear energy. Top AUSTRALIA'S PEAK RETAIL BODIES TACKLE RETAIL CRIME HEAD-ON Australian Retailers Association - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Roy Morgan Summary In response to the rise in retail crime across the country, the Australian Retailers Association and the National Retail Association are joining forces to call for major changes to improve the safety of retail staff and business owners. This includes stronger laws and deterrents for offenders, improved relationships between the retail sector and police, improved information sharing, increased focus on the human impact of retail crime, and increased adoption of technology. The push coincides with the 2024 Retail Crime Symposium held this week, which gathered leading experts with a common purpose to tackle retail crime, worker assaults and the infiltration of organised crime into stores and online environments. ARA CEO Paul Zahra says that retail crime is one of the most pressing issues facing the retail sector today. The symposium highlighted a number of key areas of concern for the retail sector and opportunities for further collaboration. Top CAR AUCTION SITE THAT MISLED BUYERS FINED $10 MILLION The New Daily - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Sophia McCaughan Roy Morgan Summary Car auction website Grays Online has been fined $10 million by the Federal Court over deceptive car listings, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission having launched legal action against Grays Online earlier in the year. The ACCC claimed that over 750 consumers bought a car from Grays that was incorrectly described, meaning they may have purchased a car they would not otherwise have bought or paid more than they would have had they known the correct details. Along with imposing a $10 million fine on Grays Online, Justice John Nicholas directed it to pay the partial costs of the legal proceedings. [Click to view full article here] Top THOUSANDS OF PHONE USERS NOT READY TO HANG UP ON 3G The New Daily - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Stephanie Gardiner Roy Morgan Summary The telecommunications industry has estimated that about 102,000 mobile phones are still in use nationwide that will shortly not be able to connect to the triple-zero emergency service. These handsets are configured to make standard calls using the 4G network, but still depend on the 3G network to make emergency calls because they lack Voice over LTE technology. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has urged all consumers to check their mobile phone ahead of the final shutdown of the 3G network. Telstra will switch off its 3G service at the end of August, and Optus will do so in September. [Click to view full article here] Top WOMEN REVEAL SECRET TO JOINING ASX 200 BOARDS The Australian Financial Review - Page 3 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Sally Patten Roy Morgan Summary Cloud connectivity provider Megaport chair Melinda Snowden is one of 11 women that were appointed chairman of an S&P/ASX 200 company between March and June this year, taking the total number of female chairmen of S&P/ASX 200 companies to a record 25. However, Australian Institute of Company Directors CEO Mark Rigotti notes the percentage of S&P/ASX 200 companies with female chairman is still too low, and that there are no women chairing top 20 companies. Another woman was appointed chairman of an S&P/ASX 200 between April and June was Jane Bell who was appointed chairman of biopharmaceutical company Mesoblast in April Top WORKERS' RIGHTS LAW FIRM OWES STAFF $300,000 The Australian Financial Review - Page 8 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Maxim Shanahan Roy Morgan Summary Class action law firm Slater & Gordon has hired KordaMentha to conduct an investigation into how it came to underpay staff more than $300,000 through the miscalculation of leave entitlements. Slater & Gordon, which promotes itself as a defender of workers' rights, has admitted to the underpayment, with CEO Dina Tutungi saying there were no excuses for it. The underpayment relates to the misclassification of leave accrual rates since 2011 for current and former staff who took leave at half-pay, and was first detected in 2023 by a payroll manager when training a new member of staff. Top MEDISECURE REVEALS 12.9 MILLION AUSTRALIANS HAD PERSONAL DATA STOLEN IN CYBER ATTACK EARLIER THIS YEAR abc.net.au - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Ange Lavoipierre Roy Morgan Summary eScript provider MediSecure has confirmed it was the subject of a large-scale data breach in May, and that 12.9 million Australians had their personal data stolen. The data stolen included people's full names, their home addresses, Medicare numbers, and Medicare card expiry dates, along with details relating to prescriptions, including the drugs they were being prescribed and instructions for taking the medication. Commenting on the revelations by MediSecure, National Cyber Security Coordinator Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinnes said there was no impact to the current national prescription delivery service, and that people should keep accessing their medications and filling their prescriptions. [Click to view full article here] Top INTERMITTENT FASTING OVER TWO DAYS CAN HELP PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES The Age - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Anahad O'Connor Roy Morgan Summary New research from China suggests that the 5:2 diet can prove more effective in lowering blood sugars in people with type 2 diabetes than drugs that are aimed at treating the disease, along with helping them to lower their blood pressure and lose weight. With China having more people with diabetes than any other country in the world, the research ran over 16 weeks and involved 330 overweight and obese adults who had recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Commenting on the study, Courtney Peterson, an associate professor of nutrition sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said its results of the were "exciting". Orginally published in the 'Washington Post'. Top IS THIS THE KEY TO LIVING LONGER AND DODGING CANCER? STUDY SAYS MAYBE The New Daily - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by John Elder Roy Morgan Summary UK researchers have discovered that 'switching off' a protein known as interleukin 11 (IL-11) increases the healthy lifespan of mice by more than 20 per cent on average. Cardiac sciences professor Stuart Cook, who was involved in the research, notes that the treated mice had fewer cancers, and were free from the usual signs of ageing and frailty, while the researchers also saw reduced muscle wasting and improvement in muscle strength. Commenting that "while these findings are only in mice", he said it raised " the tantalising possibility" that anti-IL-11 treatments could have a similar impact in ageing humans. Top STAR 'LACKS REMEDIATION EXPERTISE' The Australian - Page 13 & 16 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Glen Norris Roy Morgan Summary Queensland's Office of Liquor and Gaming has made public a report sent by Nicholas Weeks to NSW and Queensland regulators in October, with Weeks being the special manager of Star Entertainment Group's Sydney and Queensland casinos. With Weeks being appointed as a result of Adam Bell SC's first inquiry into Star's suitability to keep its Sydney casino licence, Weeks said in his report that Star did not seem to have made much progress in addressing adverse findings made by previous inquiries, and that it was underesourced in terms of senior leadership. Bell is now holding a second inquiry into Star's suitability to keep its Sydney casino licence, and is expected to report his findings by the end of the month. Top media-marketing-arts AFL WEIGHS OPTIONS FOR KICKING MORE RATINGS GOALS The Australian - Page 22 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Jon Ralph Roy Morgan Summary The AFL is believed to be considering changes to its finals format, including the introduction of a wildcard playoff. The potential changes have been discussed with a view to introducing them when the Tasmanian Devils joins the league in 2028. A wildcard system would keep more teams in contention for the finals during the home-and-away season, while providing additional matches for the official AFL broadcaster. Other options that the league canvassed at a recent meeting with club CEOs included the possible relaunch of a pre-season competition. Top OLYMPIC SPORT IN APOLOGY FOR ABUSE The Australian - Page 3 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Jacquelin Magnay Roy Morgan Summary Volleyball Australia has issued an apology to players who were at the Australian Institute of Sport as members of the Australian Women's Indoor Volleyball team in the lead up to and after the Sydney Olympics, specifically between 1997 and 2005, for the way that they were treated. Players as young as 14 were subjected to coercive control, with a review by Sport integrity Australia finding that some are still suffering up to a quarter of a century later as a result of what happened to them. Complaints about the way that the women were treated were first raised four years ago, and the fact that it has taken Volleyball Australia so long to issue a public apology has further angered the players involved. Top The Guardian Australia - Page Online : 19 July 2024 Original article by Josh Taylor Roy Morgan Summary Google introduced a new health and medicines policy in May that requires providers of telemedicine services globally to be certified and compliant with local laws. As from August, providers in Australia must be registered with LegitScript, a certifications provider based in the US state of Oregon, in order to keep advertising their services. Australian abortion and contraception provider MSI contends it will have to pay over $4,700 a year to be registered with LegitScript, while MSI's director of clinical excellence, Dr Catriona Melville, said it was concerned Google was making decisions influenced by the current US political climate around reproductive rights; a Google spokesperson has responded to this claim by saying the policy covers all telemedicine ads and was not specific to abortion providers. [Click to view full article here] Top resources-energy ELEMENT ZERO EXECS BURNT BRIDGES: FORREST The Australian Financial Review - Page 17 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Peter Ker Roy Morgan Summary Fortescue is pursuing three of its former executives in Federal Court action, accusing Michael Masterman, Bart Kolodziejczyk and Bjorn Winther-Jensen of taking work Fortescue had done on 'green iron' and seeking to commercialise it through their Element Zero start-up. Fortescue's action rose to prominence earlier in July when it was disclosed that it had engaged private investigators to follow and photograph the Element Zero executives and their families. Fortescue chairman Andrew Forrest has denied prior knowledge of the plan to use private investigators, while defending Fortescue's decision to take legal action against the former executives. He claims they had burned their bridges behind them "like the Nazis pulling out of Poland", with it being alleged by Fortescue that Winther-Jensen had sent technical documents about green iron research from his Fortescue email to a personal email account. Top LNG EXPORT EARNINGS SLUMP 25PC The Australian Financial Review - Page 15 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith Roy Morgan Summary Data from EnergyQuest shows that Australia shipped 81.7 million tonnes of LNG in 2023-24. However, the nation's export earnings fell to $69.5bn, which is 25 per cent lower than previously. EnergyQuest notes that the record export earnings of $92.2bn for 2022-23 was underpinned by a rise in the global LNG price in response to the invasion of Ukraine. EnergyQuest also notes that shipments totalled 6.7 million tonnes in June. Meanwhile, global LNG prices are expected to face downward pressure from 2026 as supply increases. Top SANTOS CARBON 'IN FINAL STAGES' The Australian - Page 16 : 19 July 2024 Original article by Glen Norris Roy Morgan Summary Oil and gas group Santo has reported sales revenue of US$1.3bn ($1.9bn) for the June quarter, which is in line with the same period in 2023. Santos produced 22.2 million barrels of oil equivalen during the three months to June, which is two per cent higher than previously. Meanwhile, Santos has advised that its Barossa gas project in the Timor Sea is now 77 per complete, while its Pikka oil project in Alaska is 56.2 per cent complete. Its Moomba carbon capture and storage project in South Australia in turn is at the final commissioning stage; Moomba will have the capacity to store up to 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. Top NICHOLAS CHEVALIER: THE ROY MORGAN COLLECTION AT THE GALLERY OF FITZROY - BY APPOINTMENT Nicholas Chevalier, recognised as the first Australian Impressionist, created a wide array of artwork consisting of Paintings, Sketches, Etchings, Wood-cut engravings and Lithographs during his career. Chevalier began his artistic life in Europe in 1848 and continued during his time in Australia from 1854-1869. Chevalier departed Australia in 1869 with the Duke of Edinburgh travelling to New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Hawaii, Japan, China and Asia before settling in Hyde Park, London in 1871 where he became the Royal Artist for Queen Victoria. Amongst the most well-known works of Chevalier works was The Marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh in St Petersburg in January 1874 - the only artistic recording of the wedding of the son of Queen Victoria - which she did not attend herself. Nicholas Chevalier, The Roy Morgan Collection, is now on display at The Gallery of Fitzroy, 87-89 Moor Street, and showcases 12 oil and watercolour paintings of Chevalier plus many original sketches and etchings published in his 1848 Bavarian Sketchbook, Melbourne Punch (1855-1861), The News Letter of Australasia (1856-1861) and The Illustrated Journal of Australasia (1858). To learn more or view the works of Nicholas Chevalier, see the review of the Chevalier Exhibition where it was displayed for a short period in the East Melbourne Library by renowned historian Geoffrey Blainey available here. Viewing by group appointment is available by calling Ryan Lowery on 0425 773 177. View Nicholas Chevalier: The Roy Morgan Collection catalogue covering Melbourne, Country Victoria, New Zealand/Pacific Islands, Egypt and Tunisia from 1855-1869 available here. Nicholas Chevalier You are receiving this email on [email protected] as a part of your Daily News Summary subscription. 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