DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Australians to reject Indigenous Voice in referendum - final YouGov poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

More than 4 million people have already cast their ballot after early voting began on Oct. 2. With less than two days to go before voting day on Oct. 14, those opposed to the proposal lead the 'Yes' camp by 56% to 38%, according to the final poll by YouGov published on Thursday. "Our final poll indicates a sweeping ‘No’ victory – with nearing six in 10 voters intending to cast a ‘No’ vote," said Amir Daftari, YouGov Director of Polling and Academic research. Support for the referendum, the first since voters rejected a 1999 proposal to become a republic, has ebbed over the past few months. Supporters argue the Voice will bring progress for Indigenous Australians, while some opponents say enshrining one group in the constitution would be divisive.

Persons: Rita Wright, Loren Elliott, YouGov, Yougov, Amir Daftari, ”, Praveen Menon, Stephen Coates Organizations: Australian, REUTERS, Rights, Aboriginal, Indigenous, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Torres

REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Phone lines at 13Yarn, a national Indigenous helpline in Australia, are ringing off the hook. Australians will vote 'Yes' or 'No' to a single line question, asking whether they agree to alter the 122-year old constitution to recognise the First Peoples. It will also create a body, called the Voice to Parliament, that can advise the government on matters affecting the Indigenous community. Supporters believe the change will unite Australia and usher in a new era with its Indigenous people, who continue to be the most marginalised people in Australia. Ian Hamm an Aboriginal man who chairs the First Nations Foundation, an Aboriginal rights organisation, said he felt his community’s voice was at risk of being silenced.

Persons: Jaimi, Marjorie Anderson's, Anderson, they've, Nathan Allen, Gilbert, Tobin, Allen, Surya Deva, Deva, Price, Anthony Albanese, Ian Hamm, Praveen Menon, Kat Stafford, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Australia, United Nations, Development, UN, Indigenous Peoples, First Peoples ., Authorities, Indigenous, Nations Foundation, Thomson Locations: Todd, Alice Springs, Australia, 13Yarn, Torres, Australia's, Sydney, Canada, New Zealand

☆ Explainer-What Is Australia's Indigenous Voice to Parliament Referendum?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Here's what you need to know about Australia's Voice to Parliament campaign:WHO ARE AUSTRALIA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE? Australia's Indigenous population plummeted after British colonisation began in 1788 as they were dispossessed of their land, exposed to new diseases, forced to work in slave-like conditions, and killed by colonisers. The country also created Maori seats in parliament, allowing the Indigenous population to choose to vote for candidates for these seats or participate in the general election. HOW DID THE VOICE REFERENDUM COME ABOUT? In 2022, Labor's Anthony Albanese became prime minister and said Australians would have their say in a referendum to include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

Persons: Praveen Menon SYDNEY, colonisers, Labor's Anthony Albanese, Lidia Thorpe, Praveen Menon, Alasdair Pal, Stephen Coates Organizations: WHO, Torres Strait, Nations, Te reo, Torres Strait Islander, Albanese's Labor Party, Greens, Independent, Green, Liberal Party, Party, Liberals, Nationals Locations: Australia, Canada, Waitangi, Uluru, New Zealand, Sydney

☆ Australians to reject Indigenous Voice in referendum, final YouGov poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

More than 4 million people have already cast their ballot after early voting began on Oct. 2. "Our final poll indicates a sweeping ‘No’ victory – with nearing six in 10 voters intending to cast a ‘No’ vote," said Amir Daftari, YouGov Director of Polling and Academic research. Support for the referendum, the first since voters rejected a 1999 proposal to become a republic, has ebbed over the past few months. Supporters argue the Voice will bring progress for Indigenous Australians, while some opponents say enshrining one group in the constitution would be divisive. Referendums are difficult to pass in Australia, with only eight referendums being approved since it became a country in 1901.

☆ Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart accumulates 19.9% stake in Albemarle target Liontown
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Gina Rinehart poses in Western Australia in this undated handout photo obtained January 23, 2018. Hancock Prospecting/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart has taken a 19.9% stake in lithium miner Liontown Resources (LTR.AX), her company Hancock Prospecting said on Wednesday, potentially hindering a takeover bid launched by U.S. mining giant Albemarle Corp (ALB.N). Hancock has steadily built its stake since September, when Albemarle Corp lodged its bid for Liontown. The U.S. miner needs 75% support from Liontown investors who vote on the deal to succeed with its bid. Under Australian takeover rules, a single shareholder must declare its intention if its stake moves above 19.9%.

Persons: Gina Rinehart, Hancock, Albemarle's, Scott Murdoch, Jacqueline Wong, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Corp, Albemarle Corp, Liontown, Australian, Thomson Locations: Western Australia, U.S, Albemarle

☆ Australian journalist Cheng Lei back home after China release
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] Australian journalist Cheng Lei poses for a selfie at an unknown location in this undated picture obtained by Reuters on August 11, 2023. Nicholas Coyle/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who had been detained in China on national security charges for more than three years, returned home on Wednesday after being released, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. Cheng, who was tried in secret in March 2022, arrived in Melbourne and has been reunited with her two children and family, Albanese told a press conference. Albanese said he expected to visit China this year and told reporters dialogue with China was "a good thing". Albanese said Australia "continued to advocate" for another detained Australian journalist, Yang Hengjun, who has been held since January 2019.

Persons: Cheng Lei, Nicholas Coyle, Handout, Anthony Albanese, Cheng, Albanese, Penny Wong, I've, Xi Jinping, Ryan Neelam, " Albanese, Yang Hengjun, Yang, Adam Ni, Kirsty Needham, Laurie Chen, Alasdair Pal, Clarence Fernandez, Miral Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Australia's, Lowy Institute, Independent, Thomson Locations: Australian, China, Melbourne, Australia, Beijing, Independent China, Canberra, Sydney

☆ Australia police says pro-Palestinian protest plans 'unauthorised'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People take part in a pro-Palestinian rally outside the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, October 9, 2023. Australian officials said the new task force would help coordinate police actions. Hudson urged people not to take part in the protest rally planned in Sydney on Sunday. Israel's embassy in Washington said the death toll from the weekend Hamas attacks had surpassed 1,000. Australian woman Galit Carbone had died in the Hamas attacks, the first known Australian casualty, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Wednesday.

Persons: Dean Lewins, Israel, David Hudson, Hudson, Galit Carbone, Penny Wong, Renju Jose, Michael Perry Organizations: Palestinian, Sydney Opera House, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Hamas, New South Wales Police, Australian Jewish Association, Sky News, Police, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Palestinian, New, Gaza, Washington

☆ Australia unveils draft law to regulate digital payment providers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A smartphone with Apple Pay and Google Pay logos is placed on a laptop in this illustration taken on July 14, 2021. Apple Pay, Google Pay and China's WeChat Pay, which have grown rapidly in recent years, are not currently designated as payment systems, putting them outside Australia's financial regulatory system. The proposed rules would enable the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to monitor digital wallet payments in the same way as credit card networks and other transactions. The draft law would expand the definitions of "payment system" and "participant" in Australia's existing laws, treasury documents showed. Payments infrastructure and the regulatory framework have not kept pace with transitions in finance, particularly in Australia's digital economy and payments.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jim Chalmers, Renju Jose, Stephen Coates Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, Rights, Google, Reserve Bank of Australia, Australian Banking Association, Thomson Locations: Sydney

☆ Yields fall, stocks jump after Fed official comments; oil eases
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Caroline Valetkevitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., January 10, 2022. Atlanta Fed Bank President Raphael Bostic on Tuesday said the U.S. central bank does not need to raise rates any further, and sees no recession ahead. Late on Monday, top-ranking Fed officials indicated that rising yields on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds, which directly influence financing costs for households and businesses, could keep the Fed from further increases in its short-term policy rate. U.S. Treasury yields fell on the comments but also partly in reaction to continuing violence in the Middle East. In late morning trading, U.S. 10-year yields were last down 10.6 basis points (bps) at 4.676%.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Raphael Bostic, Israel, Stan Shipley, Brent, shekel, Amanda Cooper, Kane Wu, Stella Qiu, Christina Fincher, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Companies, Treasury, Federal, Nasdaq, Atlanta Fed Bank, Cash Treasury, Columbus Day U.S, Fed, ISI, Dow Jones, U.S, Garden Holdings, HK, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, East, Israel, Gaza, New York, London, Hong Kong, Sydney

☆ Stocks ride wave of risk appetite; Israel conflict rages on
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Staff/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Global stocks rose on Tuesday, as a wave of risk appetite swept through markets after Federal Reserve officials signaled the recent yield surge could justify caution on interest rates, while oil eased, but violence in Israel made for nervy trading. "Based on Monday's comments from the Fed, the market is starting to think that the central bank does take greater notice of bond yields after all," ING strategist Chris Turner said. "However, we suspect that this may not be a defining story for the bond market in that no central bank likes being backed into a corner over what bond yields mean for monetary policy." Oil prices eased after climbing more than 4% on Monday.

Persons: Treasuries, Kallum Pickering, Chris Turner, Brent, Kane Wu, Stella Qiu, Kim Coghill, Christina Fincher, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, Federal, Hamas, Fed, ING, Garden Holdings, HK, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Israel, Europe's, U.S, Palestinian, Gaza, Hong Kong, Sydney

☆ Asia shares pick up after Fed rate comments; oil dips
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Kane Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. stocks ended higher on Monday, with energy shares rising along with oil prices. The S&P 500 energy index (.SPNY) ended up 3.5%. Oil prices eased after climbing more than 4% on Monday. "The unrest and volatility in the near-term suggest that upside risks to oil prices will persist," said OCBC economists in a note. This will lead to some volatility in oil prices during intense periods of conflict but should see prices normalize, following the knee-jerk reaction."

Persons: Androniki, Kerry Craig, Australia's, Brent, Kane Wu, Stella Qiu, Edmund Klamanhn, Kim Coghill Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, dovish, Top Fed, Hamas, Asset Management, Garden Holdings, HK, National Bank of Australia, U.S, West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, HONG KONG, East, Europe, U.S, Asia Pacific, China, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Hong Kong, Sydney

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. Country Garden, China's largest private property developer, has not defaulted so far, but has missed coupon payments on some dollar bonds since last month and faces the end of 30-day grace periods for making payments from next week. In a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday, Country Garden said that its sales and financing were facing "significant challenges", and its available funds have continued to decrease. Country Garden was due on Monday to pay $66.8 million in coupons on 2024 and 2026 dollar bonds, although the payments have a 30-day grace period. ($1 = 7.8284 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Xie Yu in Hong Kong; additional reporting Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru and Clare Jim in Hong Kong; Editing by Rashmi Aich, Lincoln Feast, Jamie Freed and Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, homebuyers, Houlihan Lokey, Sidley Austin, Jeff Zhang, Sandra Chow, CreditSight's, Scott Murdoch, Xie Yu, Rishav Chatterjee, Clare Jim, Rashmi Aich, Lincoln, Jamie Freed, Kim Coghill Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, HK, Hong, China International Capital Corporation, Asia, China Evergrande, Investment, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, Sydney, Bengaluru, Clare

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. Companies accounting for 40% of Chinese home sales - mostly private property developers - have defaulted on debt obligations since a liquidity crisis hit the sector in 2021, leaving many homes unfinished. The developer had been working towards announcing a restructure of its offshore debt, Chinese media reported on Monday. Country Garden faces another big test next week when its entire offshore debt could be deemed in default if it fails to pay a $15 million September coupon by Oct. 17. "The difficult situation shows that Chinese developers face severe liquidity pressure from weak home sales, and repayment to bondholders is still a lower priority," said Gary Ng, senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Bank.

Persons: Aly, Houlihan Lokey, Sidley Austin, Morningstar, Jeff Zhang, Sandra Chow, CreditSight's, Gary Ng, Scott Murdoch, Xie Yu, Rishav Chatterjee, Rashmi Aich, Lincoln, Jamie Freed 私 Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, Garden Holdings, HK, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, China International Capital Corporation, Asia, Natixis Corporate, Investment Bank Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Asia shares rise after Fed comments, markets' eyes on Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Kane Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MSCI's gauge of Asia Pacific stocks outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was up 1.2% at 0135 GMT. Japan's benchmark Nikkei average (.N225) rose 2.4% while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 (.AXJO) rose for a fourth straight session to gain 1.2%. Top Fed officials indicated on Monday that rising Treasury yields could steer the Fed from further rate increases, helping to spur a rise in bond prices after those markets had been closed the previous day in the U.S. and Tokyo. The markets' initial reaction to the major geopolitical developments in the Middle East was a bout of risk aversion, analysts from National Bank of Australia said in a note. Ten-year Treasury yields , which have been surging, fell more than 13 basis points to 4.6% at the open in Tokyo as bond prices rallied after Monday's holiday.

Persons: Androniki, Australia's, Kerry Craig, Brent, Kane Wu, Stella Qiu, Edmund Klamanhn Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, dovish, Top Fed, Tokyo ., Hamas, Asset Management, Garden Holdings, HK, National Bank of Australia, U.S, West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, HONG KONG, Asia Pacific, U.S, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Hong Kong, Sydney

[1/4] Participants of a pro-Palestinian rally react outside the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, October 9, 2023. AAP Image/Dean Lewins via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Australian police said on Tuesday they were investigating a pro-Palestinian protest outside Sydney Opera House, after footage emerged of a small group appearing to chant anti-Semitic slogans at the demonstration. Around 1,000 pro-Palestinian supporters marched through downtown Sydney on Monday evening to the city's iconic Opera House, which the government had illuminated in the colours of the Israeli flag following Saturday's attacks by Hamas which Israel says killed over 900. Unverified footage shared by the Australian Jewish Association and featured on Sky News appeared to show a small group outside the Opera House lighting flares and chanting "gas the Jews". Protest organiser Palestine Action Group Sydney defended its right to protest "apartheid" in Israel but said a small number of "vile antisemitic attendees" had no place in their movement.

Persons: Dean Lewins, Israel, Anthony Albanese, Lewis Jackson, Alasdair Pal, Michael Perry Organizations: Sydney Opera House, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Sydney, Opera House, Gaza's Health, Australian Jewish Association, Sky News, Opera, Palestine, Group Sydney, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, South Wales, Israel

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. Country Garden, which missed two dollar interest payments last month, has two coupons totalling $66.8 million coming due on Monday. Country Garden has $10.96 billion offshore bonds and 42.4 billion yuan ($5.81 billion) worth of loans not denominated in yuan. "Until then, the base case is that China Evergrande Group will be liquidated at the next winding up hearing on October 30, 2023." Shares in Country Garden fell more than 6% on Monday, while Evergrande Group shares tumbled 11%, compared to a 1.9% fall in the Hang Seng Mainland Properties Index (.HSMPI).

Persons: Aly, Cailianshe, Evergrande, Clare Jim, Scott Murdoch, Lincoln Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, HK, China Evergrande, . Media, Reuters, UBS, China Index Academy, Garden, Evergrande Group, Mainland Properties, Energy Vehicle Group, U.S, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, BEIJING, Beijing, Hang, Hong Kong, Sydney

The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 9 (Reuters) - China Evergrande Group's (3333.HK) offshore bondholder group said on Monday it was surprised by the property developer's recent announcement that its offshore debt restructuring plan failed to meet regulatory requirements. In a statement, the ad hoc bondholder group said it had not been given any documents or filings from Evergrande despite repeated requests. Evergrande announced in late September that Chinese regulators said it would be unable to issue new debt due to an investigation into its main unit, throwing its offshore debt restructure plans into disarray. "Until then, the base case is that China Evergrande Group will be liquidated at the next winding up hearing on October 30, 2023."

Persons: Aly, Evergrande, Scott Murdoch, Clare Jim, Kim Coghill, Lincoln Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, China Evergrande, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, HK, Hong Kong, Sydney

☆ Origin Energy shares surge after regulator clears Brookfield's $9.8 bln bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Scott Murdoch | トムソンロイター | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australian Super, the largest investor, raised its stake to 14% last month and called the shares undervalued. Perpetual, a major Australian fund manager and Origin shareholder, has pushed Brookfield and its partner, U.S. private equity firm EIG, to consider raising their offer to win Origin, according to local media reports. Origin shares jumped to A$9.19 in early trading, well above the A$8.91 per share price of the consortium bid lodged in March, on speculation a higher offer could be forthcoming. Under the consortium deal, Origin will be broken up into two businesses, with its energy markets arm including its electricity generation and electricity and gas retail businesses to be acquired by Brookfield. Brookfield would also be prohibited from selling more than 10% of either Origin or AusNet in the future to one party.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Max Vickerson, I'm, Vickerson, Newmont, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Brookfield, Scott Murdoch, Jamie Freed 私 Organizations: Brookfield, REUTERS, SYDNEY, Origin Energy, Brookfield Corp, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, stockbroker Morgans, Perpetual, Newcrest Mining, Energy, ACCC, AusNet Services Locations: Australian, Brookfield, Australia, Victoria

☆ Australia PM 'optimistic' of long-shot win in Indigenous rights referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I'm optimistic," Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) on Sunday morning, according to a transcript. "Whether it be Shepperton or Sydney or Brisbane, Melbourne, the places I've been, Hobart, Adelaide in the last week, have been extremely positive." Albanese's centre-left Labor government backs the referendum, while the opposition Liberal-National conservatives urge a "No" vote on Oct. 14. If the "Voice to Parliament" referendum is approved, it would constitutionally enshrine Indigenous people and set up an advisory body for their input on policies that affect them. Last month, thousands rallied in state capitals to support the yes campaign, which sees the measure as necessary to boost outcomes for the nation's Indigenous people.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, I've, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia's, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Labor, Liberal, Thomson Locations: Shepperton, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Australians, Australia's, New South Wales

☆ Australia Voice referendum: Far from uniting the nation, the vote has revealed its priorities and prejudices
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

There would be a referendum within his first term to recognize Indigenous Australians in the constitution and create a permanent body – a Voice to Parliament – to allow them to speak directly to government. Yes voters are much younger, live in the inner-city and voted for the Labor Party or Greens. Paul Smith, Director Government and Social Australia, at YouGov says the young-old divide in this referendum indicates a generational difference in world view. Daniel Morrison-Bird has been door-knocking for months in Perth, Western Australia to convince people to vote Yes. Gerber said far from dividing the country, the Voice is an invitation from Indigenous Australians to form a closer relationship.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, –, ” Albanese, “, ”, Paul Strangio, Bianca De Marchi, Strangio, they’re pigeonholed, ’ ”, Paul Smith, Smith, Axel Bruns, Bruns, Asanka Ratnayake, D’sa, D’Sa, Daniel Morrison, Bird, they’ve, Morrison, “ You’ll, I’ve, He’s, “ I’ve, it’s, Paula Gerber, ” “, Gerber, “ We’ve Organizations: Australia CNN —, Australian, Monash University, Qantas, Liberal, National Party coalition, Labor Party, Greens, Government, Social Australia, Torres Strait Islanders, Digital Media Research, Queensland University of Technology, Sky News, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, Voice Advisory Group, Corporation, Wungening Aboriginal Corporation, Indigenous Locations: Brisbane, Australia, United States, Britain, Sydney, Corporates, YouGov, Melbourne, United Kingdom, Portuguese, Australian, Perth, Western Australia

Night-shift workers at Chevron's Gorgon and Wheatstone facilities voted to restart strikes in the afternoon meeting, the Offshore Alliance, a coalition of two unions, said in a statement. The unions accuse the U.S. oil giant of reneging on a deal that ended strikes last month. Reuters reported on Thursday, the bulk of workers at the facilities had voted to strike. Chevron must be given seven business days notice before strikes can begin and unions said they plan to file the notice on Monday. A union representative who declined to be named said there are no talks currently scheduled with Chevron.

Persons: Wheatstone, “, Brad Gandy, Nilutpal, Lewis Jackson, Mark Potter, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Offshore Alliance, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, U.S, Bengaluru, Sydney

☆ Australia PM Votes in Struggling Referendum on Indigenous Rights
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese voted on Saturday in a referendum to recognise the country's Indigenous people in the constitution, a week from a national polling day on the measure that is trailing in opinion surveys. Albanese's centre-left Labor government backs the change, while the opposition Liberal-National conservatives urge a vote of "No". Most Indigenous people favour the referendum, but some say it is a distraction from achieving practical and positive outcomes and would not fully resolve the issues affecting them. "I cast my vote today for Yes and I did so proudly in the knowledge that this is the request of Indigenous Australians," Albanese told reporters, according to a transcript. Marginalised by British colonial rulers and not mentioned in Australia's 122-year-old constitution, Indigenous Australians face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Nathan Albanese, " Albanese, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia's, Labor, Liberal, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Locations: Albanese's, Sydney, Marrickville, Australia's, New South Wales, Australia

☆ Light Plane Crashes in Rural Australia, Four Killed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

Sydney (Reuters) - A light plane crashed in a rural area of Australia's New South Wales state on Friday, killing the male pilot and three children who were on board, police said late on Friday. The Cirrus SR22 took off from Canberra and crashed about 3 p.m. local time (0400 GMT) near the town of Queanbeyan which is roughly 290 kilometres (180 miles) from Sydney. Emergency services responded to reports that a plane had crashed and was in flames, with firefighters extinguishing the blaze but there were no survivors, police said. (Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Persons: Sam McKeith, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Sydney Locations: Australia's New South Wales, Canberra, Queanbeyan, Sydney

Chevron/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Chevron Corp FollowOct 5 (Reuters) - Chevron (CVX.N) has "reneged" on commitments made to Australia's industrial tribunal, unions representing workers at its two local liquefied natural gas (LNG) sites said on Thursday, weeks after both sides struck a tentative deal to end major strikes. Workers called off strikes less than two weeks ago after unions and Chevron accepted proposals on pay and conditions proposed by the country's industrial arbitrator. However, the Offshore Alliance, a coalition of two unions, said Chevron had "reneged" on its commitments. Members would meet on Thursday and Friday to discuss the issue, according to a statement posted on Thursday to social media. A union representative who declined to be named said they would recommend workers serve Chevron notice of intent to resume strikes.

Persons: Lewis Jackson, Urvi, Kim Coghill, Sonali Paul Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Companies Chevron Corp, Workers, Offshore Alliance, Commission, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, Sydney, Bengaluru

A general view of Chevron's Wheatstone LNG facility in Pilbara coast, Western Australia, as seen in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on September 8, 2023. Workers called off strikes less than two weeks ago after unions and Chevron accepted proposals on pay and conditions proposed by the country's industrial arbitrator, the Fair Work Commission. However, the Offshore Alliance, a coalition of two unions, on Thursday said Chevron had "reneged" on its commitments. A union representative who declined to be named said they would recommend workers serve Chevron notice of intent to resume strikes. Chevron and unions had made progress drafting the agreement, but differences remained over issues like reimbursement for meals or travel for training, according to a second union representative involved in the negotiations.

Persons: Weeks, Lewis Jackson, Urvi, Kim Coghill, Sonali Paul Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Companies Chevron Corp, Workers, Offshore Alliance, Commission, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, U.S, Sydney, Bengaluru

Search resuls for: "In Sydney"

25 mentions found