McDonald's fights landmark union bargaining victory
The Australian Industry Group, which is trying to halt the spread of bargaining to workplaces that have never been unionised, has backed an appeal by the franchisees for the Federal Court to review the June 30 Fair Work Commission ruling.
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The Age
29 minutes ago
- The Age
Signs are already not good for Chalmers' productivity testament
This week, the festival of productivity kicked off in Canberra. The quasi-religious ritual will culminate in a productivity roundtable, at which an anointed few will gather to chant the catechism of economic reform. Policy festivus is celebrated in Australia when a political party is ascendent but its courage is in retrograde. This cargo cult-style ceremony mimics the Accord, a revered moment in Australian political lore when the Hawke-Keating government brought together the heads of the unions and business to reach a groundbreaking arrangement which, it is widely agreed, set Australia on the path of prosperity. The Albanese government has shown itself to be a great devotee of the Cult of the Accord. In its first term, it held the Jobs and Skills Summit, which lined up all the key players and ideas to simulate the process. Thanks to meticulous planning, the Rites of Full Employment performed at the summit confirmed the government in its conviction that it is the key player in creating jobs. Those who lack faith say that it is doubtful that the summit has led to actual employment outcomes. Aglow from its success, Treasurer Jim Chalmers launched his next project, ' Measuring What Matters', or the wellbeing budget. But Measuring What Matters had a problematic feature: it opened a window into a deeper theology. Namely, the question of what exactly wellbeing might be. If there is one thing the Albanese government, dominated by Labor Left, will not tolerate, it is the idea that there might be different conceptions of wellbeing than the one which it preaches. By the October 2022 out-of-cycle budget, wellbeing had been reduced to a tiny addendum. The following May, it was gone entirely, and the addendum from October had been scrubbed from the previous year's budget papers online. In July 2023, Treasury put the completed paper up online without fanfare. Measuring What Matters was shrunk and sunk. Not to be deterred – and it is quite refreshing to see a politician doggedly attempt to do his actual job rather than just play politics – Chalmers requested that the Productivity Commission produce a set of proposals for improving Australia's prosperity. This week the first of these dropped, marking the official start of the festival of productivity. Loading It's a doozy. The interim report on ' Creating a more dynamic and resilient economy' is brief (under 100 pages), simple and bold. It proposes lowering the tax on companies with revenue below $1 billion from 30 per cent to 20 per cent, replacing the resulting decrease in tax take with a 5 per cent tax on cashflow. Companies with a turnover above $1 billion would continue on the 30 per cent tax rate, as well as paying the cashflow tax. Regardless of size, all companies could immediately deduct capital investment – for instance in equipment needed to grow the business – against the cashflow tax. The genius of the cashflow tax, which would be the first of its kind in the world, is that it would encourage companies to buy what they need in Australia, creating a further benefit to the economy. In particular, overseas companies with revenue over $1 billion – those that could undertake their procurement anywhere in the world – would have an incentive to make their acquisitions in Australia in order to reduce their tax bills.
Sydney Morning Herald
29 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Signs are already not good for Chalmers' productivity testament
This week, the festival of productivity kicked off in Canberra. The quasi-religious ritual will culminate in a productivity roundtable, at which an anointed few will gather to chant the catechism of economic reform. Policy festivus is celebrated in Australia when a political party is ascendent but its courage is in retrograde. This cargo cult-style ceremony mimics the Accord, a revered moment in Australian political lore when the Hawke-Keating government brought together the heads of the unions and business to reach a groundbreaking arrangement which, it is widely agreed, set Australia on the path of prosperity. The Albanese government has shown itself to be a great devotee of the Cult of the Accord. In its first term, it held the Jobs and Skills Summit, which lined up all the key players and ideas to simulate the process. Thanks to meticulous planning, the Rites of Full Employment performed at the summit confirmed the government in its conviction that it is the key player in creating jobs. Those who lack faith say that it is doubtful that the summit has led to actual employment outcomes. Aglow from its success, Treasurer Jim Chalmers launched his next project, ' Measuring What Matters', or the wellbeing budget. But Measuring What Matters had a problematic feature: it opened a window into a deeper theology. Namely, the question of what exactly wellbeing might be. If there is one thing the Albanese government, dominated by Labor Left, will not tolerate, it is the idea that there might be different conceptions of wellbeing than the one which it preaches. By the October 2022 out-of-cycle budget, wellbeing had been reduced to a tiny addendum. The following May, it was gone entirely, and the addendum from October had been scrubbed from the previous year's budget papers online. In July 2023, Treasury put the completed paper up online without fanfare. Measuring What Matters was shrunk and sunk. Not to be deterred – and it is quite refreshing to see a politician doggedly attempt to do his actual job rather than just play politics – Chalmers requested that the Productivity Commission produce a set of proposals for improving Australia's prosperity. This week the first of these dropped, marking the official start of the festival of productivity. Loading It's a doozy. The interim report on ' Creating a more dynamic and resilient economy' is brief (under 100 pages), simple and bold. It proposes lowering the tax on companies with revenue below $1 billion from 30 per cent to 20 per cent, replacing the resulting decrease in tax take with a 5 per cent tax on cashflow. Companies with a turnover above $1 billion would continue on the 30 per cent tax rate, as well as paying the cashflow tax. Regardless of size, all companies could immediately deduct capital investment – for instance in equipment needed to grow the business – against the cashflow tax. The genius of the cashflow tax, which would be the first of its kind in the world, is that it would encourage companies to buy what they need in Australia, creating a further benefit to the economy. In particular, overseas companies with revenue over $1 billion – those that could undertake their procurement anywhere in the world – would have an incentive to make their acquisitions in Australia in order to reduce their tax bills.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Green light for cable, but premier's path to power dims
A "transformative, nation-building" energy project has been given the environmental green light to proceed, but risks dimming a premier's electoral hopes. The multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link cable will boost electricity transmission between Tasmania and Victoria and is seen as pivotal in increasing green energy investment. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff signed up to the joint Victoria and Commonwealth investment contract on Friday, while in caretaker mode and a day before the deadline. The federal government on Sunday lifted another hurdle for the construction and operation of the 1500 megawatt undersea electricity and fibre optics cable. "The Albanese government has given environmental approval to a transformative, nation-building project which will generate jobs and investment for Tasmania and Victoria while unlocking clean and reliable energy," Environment Minister Murray Watt said in a statement. Construction of stage one, a 750-megawatt undersea cable, is expected to start in 2026 and finish in 2030. It will have enough power to supply 750,000 homes and enhance internet connectivity. It comes as the final makeup of Tasmania's parliament was decided after a snap election, with 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP and five independents elected. Major parties are intensifying negotiations with the crossbench to form another minority government as they attempt to secure the required 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern. But Labor, the Greens and several independents have lashed Mr Rockliff over what they say was a "sham" process to green-light the Marinus Link. Non-Liberal MPs were given a confidential briefing on the project on Tuesday, while the whole-of-state business case was not released before the deal was signed. Craig Garland, one of four independents on the cross bench, has ruled out supporting a Liberal government over their "secret" rushed decision. Independents Kristie Johnston and Peter George were also critical of the process, with the latter saying Mr Rockliff was undermining the prospect of a full-term, well-run minority government. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the premier's decision to proceed with one of the nation's biggest projects with little consultation showed he was incapable of genuinely working across the parliament. Labor's Sarah Lovell said the decision was at odds with the premier's promise of transparency. Mr Rockliff said the deal had capped Tasmania's equity share at $103.5 million - 4.27 per cent of the project's cost. However, the business case forecasts an increase in state net debt to $19 billion in 2031/32 as a result of the project. A "transformative, nation-building" energy project has been given the environmental green light to proceed, but risks dimming a premier's electoral hopes. The multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link cable will boost electricity transmission between Tasmania and Victoria and is seen as pivotal in increasing green energy investment. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff signed up to the joint Victoria and Commonwealth investment contract on Friday, while in caretaker mode and a day before the deadline. The federal government on Sunday lifted another hurdle for the construction and operation of the 1500 megawatt undersea electricity and fibre optics cable. "The Albanese government has given environmental approval to a transformative, nation-building project which will generate jobs and investment for Tasmania and Victoria while unlocking clean and reliable energy," Environment Minister Murray Watt said in a statement. Construction of stage one, a 750-megawatt undersea cable, is expected to start in 2026 and finish in 2030. It will have enough power to supply 750,000 homes and enhance internet connectivity. It comes as the final makeup of Tasmania's parliament was decided after a snap election, with 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP and five independents elected. Major parties are intensifying negotiations with the crossbench to form another minority government as they attempt to secure the required 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern. But Labor, the Greens and several independents have lashed Mr Rockliff over what they say was a "sham" process to green-light the Marinus Link. Non-Liberal MPs were given a confidential briefing on the project on Tuesday, while the whole-of-state business case was not released before the deal was signed. Craig Garland, one of four independents on the cross bench, has ruled out supporting a Liberal government over their "secret" rushed decision. Independents Kristie Johnston and Peter George were also critical of the process, with the latter saying Mr Rockliff was undermining the prospect of a full-term, well-run minority government. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the premier's decision to proceed with one of the nation's biggest projects with little consultation showed he was incapable of genuinely working across the parliament. Labor's Sarah Lovell said the decision was at odds with the premier's promise of transparency. Mr Rockliff said the deal had capped Tasmania's equity share at $103.5 million - 4.27 per cent of the project's cost. However, the business case forecasts an increase in state net debt to $19 billion in 2031/32 as a result of the project. A "transformative, nation-building" energy project has been given the environmental green light to proceed, but risks dimming a premier's electoral hopes. The multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link cable will boost electricity transmission between Tasmania and Victoria and is seen as pivotal in increasing green energy investment. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff signed up to the joint Victoria and Commonwealth investment contract on Friday, while in caretaker mode and a day before the deadline. The federal government on Sunday lifted another hurdle for the construction and operation of the 1500 megawatt undersea electricity and fibre optics cable. "The Albanese government has given environmental approval to a transformative, nation-building project which will generate jobs and investment for Tasmania and Victoria while unlocking clean and reliable energy," Environment Minister Murray Watt said in a statement. Construction of stage one, a 750-megawatt undersea cable, is expected to start in 2026 and finish in 2030. It will have enough power to supply 750,000 homes and enhance internet connectivity. It comes as the final makeup of Tasmania's parliament was decided after a snap election, with 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP and five independents elected. Major parties are intensifying negotiations with the crossbench to form another minority government as they attempt to secure the required 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern. But Labor, the Greens and several independents have lashed Mr Rockliff over what they say was a "sham" process to green-light the Marinus Link. Non-Liberal MPs were given a confidential briefing on the project on Tuesday, while the whole-of-state business case was not released before the deal was signed. Craig Garland, one of four independents on the cross bench, has ruled out supporting a Liberal government over their "secret" rushed decision. Independents Kristie Johnston and Peter George were also critical of the process, with the latter saying Mr Rockliff was undermining the prospect of a full-term, well-run minority government. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the premier's decision to proceed with one of the nation's biggest projects with little consultation showed he was incapable of genuinely working across the parliament. Labor's Sarah Lovell said the decision was at odds with the premier's promise of transparency. Mr Rockliff said the deal had capped Tasmania's equity share at $103.5 million - 4.27 per cent of the project's cost. However, the business case forecasts an increase in state net debt to $19 billion in 2031/32 as a result of the project. A "transformative, nation-building" energy project has been given the environmental green light to proceed, but risks dimming a premier's electoral hopes. The multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link cable will boost electricity transmission between Tasmania and Victoria and is seen as pivotal in increasing green energy investment. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff signed up to the joint Victoria and Commonwealth investment contract on Friday, while in caretaker mode and a day before the deadline. The federal government on Sunday lifted another hurdle for the construction and operation of the 1500 megawatt undersea electricity and fibre optics cable. "The Albanese government has given environmental approval to a transformative, nation-building project which will generate jobs and investment for Tasmania and Victoria while unlocking clean and reliable energy," Environment Minister Murray Watt said in a statement. Construction of stage one, a 750-megawatt undersea cable, is expected to start in 2026 and finish in 2030. It will have enough power to supply 750,000 homes and enhance internet connectivity. It comes as the final makeup of Tasmania's parliament was decided after a snap election, with 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP and five independents elected. Major parties are intensifying negotiations with the crossbench to form another minority government as they attempt to secure the required 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern. But Labor, the Greens and several independents have lashed Mr Rockliff over what they say was a "sham" process to green-light the Marinus Link. Non-Liberal MPs were given a confidential briefing on the project on Tuesday, while the whole-of-state business case was not released before the deal was signed. Craig Garland, one of four independents on the cross bench, has ruled out supporting a Liberal government over their "secret" rushed decision. Independents Kristie Johnston and Peter George were also critical of the process, with the latter saying Mr Rockliff was undermining the prospect of a full-term, well-run minority government. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the premier's decision to proceed with one of the nation's biggest projects with little consultation showed he was incapable of genuinely working across the parliament. Labor's Sarah Lovell said the decision was at odds with the premier's promise of transparency. Mr Rockliff said the deal had capped Tasmania's equity share at $103.5 million - 4.27 per cent of the project's cost. However, the business case forecasts an increase in state net debt to $19 billion in 2031/32 as a result of the project.
