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A 3D printed natural gas pipeline is placed in front of displayed Chevron logo in this illustration taken February 8, 2022. Workers on Thursday voted to authorize the Offshore Alliance of unions to call a strike at Chevron's Gorgon and Wheatstone projects. In a Facebook post on Friday, the union alliance said of Chevron's senior management team: "Their stupidity is about to cost them $billions in lost production and profit." The Offshore Alliance, which combines the Maritime Union of Australia and Australian Workers' Union, must give Chevron seven working days' notice before a strike. The Offshore Alliance announced on Friday that workers had "overwhelmingly endorsed" the draft agreement in a meeting the previous evening.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Wheatstone, Saul Kavonic, Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson, Cynthia Osterman, Kim Coghill Organizations: Chevron, REUTERS, Rights, Workers, Offshore Alliance, North West Shelf, Maritime Union of Australia, Australian Workers ' Union, South, Taiwan . Energy, West Shelf, Woodside, Thomson Locations: Chevron's, Australia, Woodside, Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Woodside's, Dutch, Sydney

SYDNEY, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell has dangled easier access to the country's vast critical minerals sector as part of negotiations over a free trade agreement with the European Union ahead of possible further talks as soon as next week. Farrell told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that a free trade agreement would simplify European investment in the country's burgeoning critical minerals sector, in part by smoothing access through mandatory Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) screening. "One of the big advantages we've got in this relationship is our access to critical minerals, rare earths, hydrogen and ammonia," Farrell said. "Other countries are looking to invest in our critical minerals and other renewables. Australia was an especially attractive place for critical minerals investment from the United States under U.S. Inflation Reduction Act rules because it was one of the few countries to have both mineral deposits and a free trade agreement with the U.S., said Farrell.

Persons: Don Farrell, Farrell, China, we've, they've, Annalena Baerbock, teleconference, Dombrovskis, Lewis Jackson, Kirsty Needham, Michael Perry Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia's Trade, European Union, Reuters, Investment, Board, Foreign, U.S, EU, Trade, Thomson Locations: Australia, Germany, China, Sydney, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, United States

SYDNEY, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Australia's economy is projected to grow more slowly over the next 40 years as an aging population and slower population growth shrink the workforce, according to long-range economic forecasts set to be published by the government on Thursday. The economy is expected to be around 2.5 times larger in real terms 40 years hence. The report, part of a series which periodically examines how trends in demography or technology will affect Australia's economy, will also flag a changing tax base. Fuel and tobacco excise taxes are expected to fall as people quit smoking and switch to electric cars, while taxes on companies and goods and services will track the growth slowdown. Income taxes will increase as a share of the economy and total tax receipts are expected to hit 24.4% of GDP in fiscal 2034.

Persons: Jim Chalmers, Lewis Jackson, Sharon Singleton Organizations: SYDNEY, Reuters, Thomson

REUTERS/Florence Tan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Unions at Woodside Energy Group's (WDS.AX) North West Shelf offshore gas platforms on Sunday announced plans to strike as early as Sept. 2, which could eventually disrupt shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from top global exporter Australia. The strike threat escalates a long-running dispute between Woodside and workers over pay and conditions on its North West Shelf gas platforms, which feed Australia's biggest LNG plant. Unions in Australia are required by law to give companies seven working days' notice before any industrial action but can elect to call off any action before then. "Offshore Alliance members don’t take industrial action lightly, but Woodside is really leaving them with little choice here." Workers there on Friday began voting on whether to grant unions permission to call for strike action, with the first results due by Thursday.

Persons: Florence Tan, Woodside, Brad Gandy, Alasdair Pal, Lewis Jackson, Sonali Paul, William Mallard Organizations: Woodside Energy, World Gas, REUTERS, Rights, West, Sunday, Australia, North West Shelf, Unions, Offshore Alliance, Maritime Union of Australia, Australian Workers ' Union, Woodside, Workers, Thomson Locations: Daegu, South Korea, Woodside, Australia, Sydney

The property industry globally, and office building owners in particular, are struggling as working from home and e-commerce lead tenants to reconsider floor space just as higher interest rates reduce building values and raise debt servicing costs. Dexus sold the 18-story A-Grade office for A$293.1 million ($188 million), a 16.3% discount to its December 2022 valuation, according to company filings. Quintessential Equity, an Australian property developer and investor, announced itself as the buyer on its website without elaborating. Dexus will own a A$50 million stake in the trust that will hold the property, it said in a statement. In June, Dexus sold another premium office building in Sydney's central business district for A$393.1 million, a near 17% discount to an independent valuation made in December.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Dexus, Darren Steinberg, Lewis Jackson, Rishav Chatterjee, Subhranshu Sahu, Rashmi Aich, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Equity, Thomson Locations: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Australian, Bengaluru

Chevron and Woodside negotiated with unions on Tuesday to avert potential industrial action over pay and conditions at Australian facilities that supply about 10% of the LNG market. Meanwhile, workers at three Chevron facilities, Gorgon, Wheatstone platform and Wheatstone downstream, will vote on potential industrial action after the industrial umpire approved the ballots. Even if members vote for industrial action, the unions will still have discretion over whether to call for any. Possible industrial action could range from 30-minute work stoppages all the way to complete strikes. Employers must be given seven days' notice before industrial action.

Persons: Florence Tan, Saul Kavonic, Lewis Jackson, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Woodside Energy, World Gas, REUTERS, Chevron, Woodside Energy Group, Woodside, Reuters, Workers, West Shelf, Offshore Alliance, Credit Suisse, Thomson Locations: Daegu, South Korea, Woodside

☆ Australia regulator allows union to ballot workers for strike at Chevron LNG platform
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A 3D printed natural gas pipeline is placed in front of displayed Chevron logo in this illustration taken February 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationSYDNEY, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Australia's labour regulator cleared the way for strike action at Chevron's (CVX.N) Wheatstone platform if workers vote in favour of such a step, fuelling concerns the country's exports could be cut. The Fair Work Commission last week ruled workers at Chevron's downstream Wheatstone facility and its Gorgon facility can ballot workers for strike action. Reporting by Lewis Jackson in Sydney Editing by Alasdair PalOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lewis Jackson, Alasdair Pal Organizations: Chevron, REUTERS, SYDNEY, Thomson Locations: Sydney

☆ They had a teenage summer romance. Here’s what happened when they reunited years later
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

The summer Andrea first crossed paths with Lewis Kelly. He seemed aloof, “a loner,” as Andrea thought back then. When Andrea didn’t hear from him, she assumed he’d forgotten about her. “We’re so cute.”Then, as the date of his arrival got ever closer, Andrea started doubting herself. “I just want to make it work and be with you.”At this, Andrea started crying.

Persons: Andrea Camila, Andrea, Lewis Kelly, Lewis, –, She’d, ” Andrea, Niall, ’, Direction’s Niall Horan, ”, daydreaming, “, ” Lewis, “ Andrea, wasn’t, Andrea giggled, ’ ”, he’d, she’d, Imani Lee, Andrea didn’t, Lewis “, I’m, wouldn’t, It’s, hadn’t, We’re, ’ ” Andrea, Lewis didn’t, they’d messaged, Andrea messaged, they’d, They’d, it’s, he’s, sobs, “ We’re, Lewis wasn’t, “ They’d, didn’t, let’s, Andrea welled, “ It’s, Lewis Kelly “ Organizations: CNN, Sunshine State, CNN Travel, Facebook, Skype, Dublin City University, YouTube, Imani Lee Creative Locations: Clearwater Beach , Florida, Florida, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Europe, TikTok, Mexican

REUTERS/Lewis Jackson/File PhotoSYDNEY, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Australia will drastically tighten penalties for promoters of dodgy tax schemes and beef up the power of regulators as part of reforms announced on Sunday in response to a scandal over the use of leaked tax plans by PwC Australia. PwC Australia was not fined for the breach under the existing rules, and the changes will not applied retroactively, a Treasury spokesperson told Reuters. "The PwC scandal exposed severe shortcomings in our regulatory frameworks," said the statement from the ministers for treasury and finance and the attorney general. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) foiled several attempts by companies to subvert the 2016 Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law but was frustrated in its subsequent investigation by "highly ambitious if not false" legal privilege claims from PwC Australia. Collins and PwC Australia were not sanctioned until late 2022 by a separate agency that regulates tax agents, the Tax Practitioners Board, after police said there was insufficient information for them to act.

Persons: Lewis Jackson, Peter Collins, Collins, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, PwC, Facebook, Bills, Reuters, Australian Tax, Thomson Locations: Barangaroo, Australia, PwC Australia

☆ China to lift tariffs on Australian barley as trade ties improve
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Dominique Patton | Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

FILE PHOTO: Bottles of Australian wine are seen at a store selling imported wine in Beijing, China November 27, 2020. Australian Grape & Wine CEO Lee McLean said the barley decision was a very positive step for the country’s relationship with China. “We hope this may provide a template for removing the duties on Australian wine,” he said. Those trade flows are likely to shift again after China drops the tariffs, with its barley buyers expected to begin purchases of the new Australian crop harvested in October for arrival by year-end. ($1 = 1.5223 Australian dollars)($1 = 1.5232 Australian dollars)((This story has been corrected to change the value of Australian barley exports to A$1.5 billion, not A$2 billion, in paragraph 11)

Persons: Florence, Dennis Voznesenski, ”, Colin Bettles, Lee McLean Organizations: China’s Ministry of Commerce, REUTERS, World Trade Organization, Rabobank, “, Grain Producers Australia, WTO, Labor, & Wine Locations: BEIJING, SYDNEY, Beijing, China, Australia, Canberra, WTO, Canada, France, Argentina

☆ Australia calls for China to end trade curbs as barley tariffs lifted
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Lewis Jackson | Dominique Patton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell said on Friday that Chinese restrictions affecting roughly A$20 billion of annual trade as of last May had shrunk to hit about A$2 billion of exports. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office, which has sided with Australia in the trade dispute, declined to comment on China’s move to reduce barley tariffs. FILE PHOTO: Bottles of Australian wine are seen at a store selling imported wine in Beijing, China November 27, 2020. Wine producer Treasury Wine Estate’s shares reversed earlier declines to close 2.7% following the barley decision against an otherwise flat market. Chinese buyers had turned to Canada, France and Argentina to replace Australian barley supplies over the last three years, while Australian sellers shifted exports to feed barley markets in the Middle East.

Persons: Don Farrell, ” Farrell, Anthony Albanese, Florence, Lee McLean, Dennis Voznesenski, ”, Colin Bettles Organizations: SYDNEY, China’s Ministry of Commerce, World Trade Organization, Australian Trade, Labor, U.S . Trade, REUTERS, Wine, WTO, Rabobank, “, Grain Producers Australia Locations: BEIJING, Australia, normalisation, China’s, Canberra, China, Beijing, Canada, France, Argentina

New Zealand's Defence Minister Andrew Little poses for a picture in Wellington, New Zealand, March 30, 2023. Launching the country's first national security strategy, Defence Minister Andrew Little said New Zealand faced more geostrategic challenges than it had in decades. The inaugural security strategy underscores how China's rise is upending old norms and behaviours even 9,000 kilometres (5,592 miles) away in Wellington. Chinese state-sponsored actors had exploited cyber vulnerabilities in ways that undermined New Zealand's security, said another document that did not provide further details. "The changes in the domestic and international security environment mean our response and preparedness must change too," Little said.

Persons: Andrew Little, Lucy Craymer, Little, Kevin Short, Lewis Jackson, Simon Cameron, Moore, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Zealand's, REUTERS, Defence, Zealand, New, Labour, New Zealand Defence Force, Thomson Locations: Wellington , New Zealand, New Zealand, Wellington, China, New, Australia, U.S, Vietnam

Sydney office buildings and commercial real estate appear behind Sydney waterfront properties in the suburb of Birchgrove, Australia, November 3, 2016. The national CBD vacancy rate rose to 12.8% from 12.6, the data showed. "We are confident that the Australian office sector will stabilise and rebound strongly over the next few years," Curtain said in a statement. However, a review of past reports showed vacancy rates for prime offices in Sydney and Melbourne have increased over the past two years. In the case of Sydney, vacancy rates for prime and secondary offices are almost identical, at around 11%.

Persons: Jason Reed, Lewis Jackson, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, Property Council of Australia, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Birchgrove, Australia, Melbourne, Perth, Angeles, New York, CBRE

SYDNEY, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Australia's largest pension fund, AustralianSuper, has appointed senior executives to its London office as part of the rapidly growing fund's push to expand its presence overseas. The A$300 billion ($201.39 billion) fund on Tuesday appointed six executives to investment, risk and corporate affairs roles, including Carl Astorri to Head of Investments, Europe; and John Normand, formerly head of cross-asset strategy at J.P. Morgan, to Head of Investment Strategy. Deputy chief investment officer Damian Moloney, who is based in London, said the office was an "important investment engine" for AustralianSuper. AustralianSuper expects to grow to A$500 billion in member assets within five years and will deploy roughly 70% of its inflows to global markets. The fund plans to triple its global team to 300 within three years, spread across its London and New York offices plus a small contingent in Beijing.

Persons: Carl Astorri, John Normand, Morgan, Damian Moloney, Lewis Jackson, Gerry Doyle Organizations: SYDNEY, Investments, Investment Strategy, Thomson Locations: Europe, London, Australia, New York, Beijing

☆ Australian lawmakers recommend potential WeChat ban on govt devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Aug 1 (Reuters) - A senate committee investigating how foreign powers use social media to interfere in Australia has recommended a swathe of rules and restrictions for social media platforms, including potentially banning Chinese messaging service WeChat on government devices. Tuesday's report contains 17 recommendations including new transparency rules enforceable by fines, expanding an existing TikTok ban on government devices to contractors and investigating a ban on WeChat on government devices. "Platforms like TikTok and WeChat that are subject to the control of authoritarian regimes illustrate the broader cyber security risk to sensitive government information," he said in a statement. The committee also recommended that Australia helps developing countries in the Indo-Pacific resist "malicious information operations" by authoritarian states. While many recommendations singled out Chinese social media platforms, a set of 11 transparency rules would require all large social media platforms to label state affiliated media accounts, and disclose when governments direct content moderation and actions against accounts of elected officials.

Persons: WeChat, Paterson, James Paterson, Lewis Jackson, Ed Osmond Organizations: SYDNEY, HK, Liberal, Labor, Home Affairs, Thomson Locations: Australia, China

The parliamentary deadlock revolves around the centre-left Labor government's A$10 billion ($6.7 billion) housing package, which The Greens party is refusing to pass through the upper house without changes to increase spending and cap rents. Governments can dissolve both houses of parliament if the upper house twice blocks a bill passed by the lower house. The Greens in June voted with the opposition centre-right Liberal Party to delay the housing bill. Speaking on Monday as parliament resumed, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he preferred the bill passed the Senate but if it did not, the trigger for a double-dissolution election could focus attention on the policy. "What it does is mean that can be a focus, and then you have a joint sitting after a double-dissolution election is held."

Persons: Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, Lewis Jackson, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, Labor, Greens, Liberal Party, ABC, Thomson Locations: Australia

LONDON/SYDNEY, July 31 (Reuters) - Commercial real estate investors and lenders are slowly confronting an ugly question - if people never again shop in malls or work in offices the way they did before the pandemic, how safe are the fortunes they piled into bricks and mortar? WALL OF DEBTGlobal banks hold about half of the $6 trillion outstanding commercial real estate debt, Moody's Investors Service said in June, with the largest share maturing in 2023-2026. U.S. banks revealed spiralling losses from property in their first half figures and warned of more to come. Borrowers in the UK real estate holding & development category were 4% more likely to default. But the whale could be commercial real estate in the U.S.".

Persons: Richard Murphy, Jeffrey Sherman, Charles, Henry Monchau, Bank Syz, Jones Lang LaSalle, Savills, JLL, Dhara Ranasinghe, Huw Jones, Clare Jim, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Employers, UK's Sheffield University, Reuters, Investors, Moody's Investors Service, Fed, Federal, Bank, Suisse, Washington D.C, HSBC, Capital Economics, Thomson Locations: SYDNEY, London, Los Angeles and New York, U.S, New York, Beijing, San Francisco, Tokyo, Washington, Shanghai, North America, Hong Kong

☆ The 5 deadliest Western-provided weapons Ukraine is using to fight Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The West has been sending Ukraine weapons and armed vehicles since the start of the war. Now, as Ukraine is in the midst of its counteroffensive to regain crucial territory from Russia, many of these weapons are proving useful. Insider spoke to three military experts about which of the Western-provided weapons have been the most effective for Ukraine in the war. Only time will tell how useful the weapons really areIt is still unclear how Ukraine's counteroffensive will unfold, and how long the Western weapons will hold until Ukraine will need more. A top Ukrainian general told the BBC on Thursday that because Russia has littered the frontlines in south Ukraine with multi-layered minefields, Western tanks are proving ineffective.

Persons: Serhii, Ben, that's, Zelenskyy, Fabrizio Bensch, Oleksii Reznikov, Huseyn Aliyev, Javelin, of, Cave, Lewis Joly, Marina Miron, Bradley, Hanna Maliar, Aliyev, Alivey, Alivey said.It, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Tarnavskyi Organizations: Shadow, Service, Leopard, US, Patriot, Challenger, Ukraine, High, Artillery, Getty, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, RAND Corporation, Patriot Missile Systems, Army MIM, Defense, Research Center, East European Studies, Patriots, Ukrainian Defense Ministry Press Service, Javelin, AP, Military Times, Kyiv, Paris Air, Department of, King's College London, Soviet, Bradley Infantry Fighting, Bradley, BBC Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Germany, Russia, Donetsk Oblast, Ben Caves, Russian, Kherson, Rzeszow, Jasionka, Poland, Moscow, of Ukraine, Le Bourget, Paris, France, Ukrainian, Europe

☆ Australian state bans gas to new homes from 2024 in push to cut emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Exxon Mobil Corp FollowSYDNEY, July 28 (Reuters) - The Australian state of Victoria will ban natural gas connections to new homes from next year as part of a plan to cut emissions and lower energy bills, the state climate action minister said on Friday. Australia's second-most populous state is the country's largest consumer of natural gas with around 80% of homes connected but also has ambitious plans to reach net zero emissions by 2045, five years ahead of the federal government. Minister for Climate Action Lily D'Ambrosio said on Friday that new homes requiring planning permits must connect to all-electric networks. The changes will apply to all new public buildings yet to reach the design stage, including housing, schools, and hospitals. Australia last month finalised a package of rules for the domestic gas market including a cap on wholesale prices that was first introduced in December.

Persons: Australia's, Lily D'Ambrosio, ” D'Ambrosio, Lewis Jackson, Stephen Coates Organizations: Exxon Mobil Corp, SYDNEY, Thomson Locations: Australian, Victoria, Australia

SYDNEY, July 28 (Reuters) - Foreign bank lending to Australian office real estate hit a record high in the first quarter as overseas lenders continued to stump up cash for a struggling corner of the property market out of favour with local banks. The data does not identify individual banks, however a separate dataset covering overall corporate lending showed European, Japanese, Singaporean and Chinese banks had led the increase in foreign lending since 2019. Loans from Australia's biggest banks fell A$2.3 billion to A$83 billion over the same period, similar to levels in late 2021, the data showed. So, as Australian lenders have retreated to the relative safety of retail mortgages, foreign banks have stepped up. Sydney was the worst-performing major Asian office market in the first quarter, according to research from global property services firm Jones Lang LaSalle.

Persons: Jonathan Kearns, Kearns, Jones Lang LaSalle, Lewis Jackson, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, prudential, Australia's, Challenger, Reserve Bank of Australia, Reuters, Sydney, Investment, Thomson Locations: Australia, Asia, Europe

SYDNEY, July 24 (Reuters) - Australia Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Monday the country's first budget surplus in 15 years would be even larger than first forecast. Chalmers said the budget surplus for the financial year just past was likely to be a little over A$20 billion dollars, well up from the A$4.2 billion projected in the May budget as first flagged last month. The surplus will be short-lived, with deficits forecast this financial year and next due to rising interest bills and spending on disability care, health and defence. Chalmers reiterated forecasts for economic growth to slow this year. Barrett was an ambassador to the OECD, and, like Chalmers, served as chief of staff to former Treasurer Wayne Swan.

Persons: Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Chris Barrett, Barrett, Wayne Swan, Lewis Jackson, Alasdair Pal, Sonali Paul Organizations: SYDNEY, Commission, OECD, Thomson Locations: Canberra, Australia, China, Sydney

Added to valuations from December, major REITs, which build, own and operate property assets, have marked down office portfolios by roughly a tenth or less over the past year. Dexus shares have fallen 28% since 2022, while Charter Hall has nearly halved. "Buyers aren't willing to pay the price from the last valuations," said Winston Sammut, an investment manager at Sequoia Financial Group and a former executive at Charter Hall. Dexus and Charter Hall did not respond to requests for comment. "We're looking to see whether the fund managers, the Charter Halls, the Centurias, the Dexus are also getting large redemptions."

Persons: Tom Westbrook, Buyers, Winston Sammut, it's, REITs, Centuria, Grant Berry, Dexus, Ping, Blackstone, Amy Pham, Sammut, Australia's, Hostplus, that's, Pham, Lewis Jackson, Scott Murdoch, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Charter Hall, Sequoia Financial Group, Charter, Reuters, SG Hiscock, Company, Blackstone, Sydney, Pengana Capital, Thomson Locations: Epping, Sydney, Australia, SYDNEY, Canberra, United States

Charter Hall did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. On its website Charter Hall said the fund would "only sell assets for prices that reflect fair value and given the lower sales volumes in the office investment markets, sales have proved challenging". Another REIT and Australia's largest office landlord Dexus (DXS.AX) last month sold a premium downtown Sydney office block for a 17% discount on a valuation made six months earlier. The Australian and U.S. REIT benchmark indexes are down roughly a fifth since highs at the end of 2021. But unlisted fund valuations have declined more slowly, creating an incentive for investors to pull money out while a chunky premium over listed equivalents remains, according to fund managers with investments in REITs.

Persons: Australia's, Hall, Dexus, Blackstone, Lewis Jackson, Byron Kaye, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: SYDNEY, Investors, PFA Fund, Charter Hall, KKR, Australian, Income, Thomson Locations: Australian, Sydney, REITs, BlackRock

SYDNEY, July 14 (Reuters) - Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Michele Bullock will take over from Governor Philip Lowe in September and has already flagged that leading the country's central bank through a period of change will be a major priority. Bullock, the first woman to helm the country's central bank, will have the task of leading the bank through its biggest internal shakeup in decades while also maintaining the fight against inflation. "I wasn't sure I would ever be in this position," Bullock said in a 2022 interview with her alma mater. "I never thought that Guy Debelle, who was the deputy governor, would leave the Bank. A review into the central bank published in April recommended sweeping changes including the setup of a separate specialist board to manage monetary policy, less frequent meetings and more public communication.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Philip Lowe, Bullock, Anthony Albanese, Jim Chalmers, Michele, Jonathan Kearns, Bullock's, Guy Debelle, Lowe, Su, Lin Ong, Lewis Jackson, Stella Qiu, Praveen Menon Organizations: SYDNEY, Reserve Bank, University of New, London School of Economics, Challenger, RBC Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: University of New England, Armidale, Sydney, Lincoln

SYDNEY, July 11 (Reuters) - Social media giant Meta Platforms (META.O), owner of Facebook and Instagram, plans to label government-affiliated accounts on its new Twitter-like platform Threads, an executive told an Australian inquiry on foreign interference on Tuesday. The disclosure comes less than a week after Meta launched Threads, which is widely seen as similar to the microblogging site Twitter. Twitter has removed tags from government-affiliated accounts since billionaire Elon Musk took it private in 2022, bringing complaints about degrading users' media literacy. Asked if Russian state-affiliated broadcaster RT or Chinese government-affiliated publisher Xinhua News Agency would be tagged accordingly on Threads, Machin said, "that's our aspiration". "To the effect that any state-affiliated media are violating our policies, we would remove them," he told the inquiry.

Persons: Josh Machin, Meta's, Elon Musk, Machin, James Paterson, Meta, Meta's Machin, Byron Kaye, Lewis Jackson, Jamie Freed Organizations: SYDNEY, Facebook, Meta, Twitter, RT, Xinhua, Agency, Reuters, Australian Communications, Media Authority, Thomson Locations: Australia, Russia, China, Lincoln

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