Boscutti Report

CANBERRA (Boscutti Report) — Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has promised to give the Catholic school sector an extra $250m under a new Labor government. Mr Shorten said the money would be used to fund their legal campaign against historical and ongoing sexual offences. Mr Shorten wrote to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference chairman, Denis Hart, promising the sector would be $250m better off in the first two years of a Labor government and billions over the decade. ‘We are committed to funding legal campaigns based on a proper ­assessment of their need, while also supporting their choice of legal strategies...

CANBERRA (Boscutti Report) — Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has pushed for a minimum wage rise for working Australian CEOs. Mr Turnbull said many CEOs in Australia were doing it tough. “My economic advisers tell me that some CEOs are having to make do earning only a 100 times more than workers,’ he said. ‘This is resolutely unfair and, frankly, unAustralian,’ he said. ‘American CEOs enjoy earning around 270 times more than the average worker.’ Mr Turnbull said it was obvious Australian CEOs needed a minimum wage rise to ensure they earn at least 200 times more than workers. ‘It’s just...

CANBERRA (Boscutti Report) — Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has pushed back against a minimum wage rise for Australian workers. Mr Turnbull cited a litany of disproved economic theories to bolster his stance. ‘Of course, everyone knows that wage rises don’t negatively affect businesses,’ he said. ‘Higher wages lead to higher consumption which lifts company sales and company profits.’ ‘But we’re committed to a scare campaign where even a small wage rise will bankrupt thousands of companies and put millions of Australian workers out onto the street.’ A spokesman said it was important to confuse the issue with a litany of...

HOBART (Boscutti Report) — Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman has declared he has a mandate to keep 200 policies secret that were released to interest groups and not made available for public scrutiny during the state election campaign. Mr Hodgman said he wanted to be transparent with the voters of Tasmania. ‘They deserve to know that secrets deals are being done behind their backs that are not in their own interests,’ he said. ‘Of course they’ll never find out what those deals are.’ A spokesman said most secret backroom deals were bound by confidentiality agreements. ‘Will is all about law and...

MELBOURNE (Boscutti Report) — Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has pledged to ‘revolutionise’ regional rail service by replacing existing diesel-hauled trains with camels. Mr Guy said the upgrade would also improve passenger comfort, leg room and safety. ‘We take regional infrastructure seriously,’ he said. ‘We’re willing to put our money where our mouth is with a projected investment of $63,300.’ In total there will be 96 new camels. The train of camels will operate on lines running to Warrnambool, Shepparton, Albury, Bairnsdale and Swan Hill. The election pitch comes as Victorians head to the polls in November. Mr Guy said...