Australian Economy

But I’m sure that it is an isolated case: PappaRich manager-operator Loke Cheng Wong will face fines of up to $75,600 in the Federal Court for allegedly underpaying staff, a number of which were migrant workers on students or working holiday visas.

Via Martin North: Meh.

By Leith van Onselen For years business lobbyists have argued that Australia needs to run a mass immigration program to counter chronic skills shortages across the economy.

Thanks to the CBA: Shame it’s not a longer time series but it’s not a pretty trend.

The rat wheel has stopped spinning, from CBA: Business activity stabilised in the Australian private sector at the end of the first quarter of the year following a decline in February.

By Leith van Onselen The ABS has released its Australian Demographic Statistics for the September quarter of 2018, which revealed that Australia’s population continues to grow rapidly led by turbo charged net overseas migration (NOM), mostly into Sydney and Melbourne.

By Leith van Onselen Yesterday’s ABS labour force release for February revealed a steady Australian youth labour market – i.e.

Via Westpac: Employment growth slowed in February lifting 4.6k less than what the market was looking for (median +15k) but a touch better than Westpac’s forecast of –5k.

By Leith van Onselen As summarised earlier, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today released its labour force report for February, which registered a small 4,600 increase in total employment and a 0.1% fall in the headline unemployment rate (to 4.9%) because of a 0.2% rise in labour force participation.

Via the excellent Damien Boey at Credit Suisse: Our argument is as follows: Policy makers clearly feel that easing is necessary, but question the means by which it should be delivered.

February ABS Labor Force is out and the news is a weakening market: TREND ESTIMATES Employment increased 20,600 to 12,762,800 persons.

By Leith van Onselen For years, MB has questioned the efficacy of the Migration Council of Australia, which purports to be an “an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit body established to enhance the productive benefits of Australia’s migration and humanitarian programs”.

By Leith van Onselen Earlier this week, MB attacked the Coalition’s fake cut to Australia’s immigration intake, noting that it has been more than offset by opening multiple pathways for foreign workers to gain entry into Australia, as well as an explosion of migrants on bridging visas while they await claims for permanent residency.

We know she has one because from time to time it is glowing, usually when she escapes the clutches of the lunatic RBA.

By Leith van Onselen MB has gone to great lengths highlighting the many contradictions of vocal mass immigration booster, Professor Peter McDonald (for example here and here).

By Leith van Onselen Languishing in the polls and under attack over the federal government’s mass immigration ‘Big Australia’ policy, the Coalition is planning to announce several fast rail projects in next month’s Federal Budget.

Via The Economist Intelligence Unit: The Economist Intelligence Unit (The EIU) today launches the latest findings of its Worldwide Cost of Living Survey.

Some nice work from Greg Jericho: 2018 saw a surge in people working in secondary jobs that has led to the first time there being more than one million people working multiple jobs.

By Leith van Onselen Master Grocers Australia (MGA) have demanded a 1.2% minimum wage increase, which would result in real pay cuts for low-paid workers if endorsed by the Fair Work Commission (FWC).

By Leith van Onselen The Australian Bureau of Statistics yesterday released its overseas short-term arrivals and departures figures for January, which continued to show a trend rise in the number of inbound visitors, with both Chinese arrivals and student arrivals hitting an all-time high.

Via Credit Suisse: The price of Australian thermal coal sold to China (5500kcal high-ash) is being hit relative to competitors, at odds with assurances by the Chinese and Australian Governments that there is no ban on Australian coal at China ports.

Via Westpac: Total employment lifted a solid 39.1k in January, well clear of the market median of 15k.