Banking royal commission examines dodgy financial advice as shareholders consider rolling AMP board
The ABC reports that the financial services royal commission will continue hearing evidence about many instances of inappropriate financial advice given to customers, with ANZ, AMP and NAB scheduled to appear. Meanwhile they report, pressure is building on the AMP board following the resignation of the company's chief executive, with shareholders threatening to vote against the incumbent directors. The ABC writes that as we enter the second week of royal commission hearings about financial advice misconduct and errors, AMP's board is under shareholder pressure to explain itself or resign. The Australian Shareholders Association reports the ABC has warned that it may use its votes to oust existing directors after revelations that the board repeatedly amended an "independent report" by a law firm into its fee-for-no-service scandal. AMP's chief executive Craig Meller already resigned at the end of last week in the wake of the scandal writes the ABC. The company's chair Catherine Brenner is under particular pressure to explain her role in relation to the report and the company's handling of its fee-for-no-service problems.
Marijuana moguls optimistic about legalisation of recreational cannabis in Australia
A Four Corners investigation into Australia's booming medical marijuana industry writes the ABC reveals that major players are optimistic about the legalisation of recreational cannabis in Australia. The ABC reports that Bruce Linton is the founder of Canopy Growth Corporation, one of Canada's biggest cannabis companies. His expectations for the Australian market are high. Mr Linton said Canopy's view is that once a country allows medicinal cannabis, it is inevitable that legalisation of recreational use will follow writes the ABC.
Centrelink customers promised reduced wait times as Government hires 1,000 extra call centre operators
The ABC reports that the Federal Government has promised to hire an additional 1,000 call centre operators this year. Human Services Minister Michael Keenan they write said that wait times for customers were too long and change was needed.
"We want to make sure that when you deal with the Government you get the best possible service," he said.
"We know the service that people have been receiving isn't satisfactory and we've been doing things to address that."
The decision to outsource jobs to private providers is a growing trend among government departments. The government reports the ABC, insists that the privacy issue is not cause for concern. Last year reports the ABC the Government contracted Serco, a multinational company, to provide an additional 250 call centre staff and Mr Keenan is again looking to the private sector.
"There is no reason why private operators can't do it as efficiently as permanent staff and we've trialled this with the 250 people that we've already employed to do it and we've had independent evaluations done that show this is an effective way to enhance our service delivery," he said.
'We've put customers first': PM defends not setting up banking royal commission sooner
SBS News reports that Malcolm Turnbull says that he didn't hold a banking royal commission two years ago because he wanted to ensure reforms such as penalties were in place first. Malcolm Turnbull says starting a banking royal commission two years ago would have helped him politically but he wanted to fix the laws rather than wait for a report writes SBS News. They report that the prime minister originally strongly rejected the need for the investigation into Australia's financial service sector before eventually relenting when Nationals MPs threatened to cross the floor. After shocking evidence of financial abuse was uncovered, Mr Turnbull has faced criticism for not starting the commission sooner.
Turnbull punching China in the face with EU trade move: Rudd
SBS News reports that former prime minister Kevin Rudd says PM Malcolm Turnbull is publicly punching the Chinese in the face with gratuitous insults to China. Kevin Rudd they write, has accused Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of punching China in the face and taking a flame thrower to Australia's relationship with Beijing. It is reported that the former prime minister has accused Mr Turnbull of derailing the Australia-China relationship in favour of trade deals with Europe following comments he made in Beijing last year. Mr Rudd says he supports trade with Europe.
"(Mr Turnbull) seems to think to do that automatically means it's a smart thing to then publicly punch the Chinese in the face, which is what he did with his extraordinarily ridiculous statement to Beijing that the Australian people had finally 'stood up' to confront the Chinese," he told Sky News on Monday.
'Canberra's a weird place': Joyce says politicians' partners should be allowed to work for MPs
SBS News reports that disgraced former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce thinks partners of federal politicians should be allowed to work for MPs in Canberra. Barnaby Joyce reports SBS News, is trying to be the best dad he can be to his new son Sebastian despite the hoopla surrounding his conception. And he thinks partners of federal politicians should be allowed to work for MPs in Canberra as it could help keep families together. Mr Joyce quit as deputy prime minister in February after 16 days of scandal over his affair with Ms Campion, his former media adviser reports SBS News. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull later introduced a ban on ministers having sexual relations with their staff they write.
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Image 2 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318854.php
Image 3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrelink
Image 4 https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/11/19/malcolm-turnbull-couldnt-name-his-favourite-ac-dc-song-on-triple-m_a_23282409/
Image 5 https://www.sbs.com.au/comedy/article/2016/10/10/kevin-rudd-informs-gop-hes-ready-replace-trump
Image 6 https://www.mamamia.com.au/barnaby-joyce-baby-boy-vikki-campion/