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ASIC sues First Guardian-linked auditors
ASIC has commenced proceedings against Auditeo Australia and two auditors for their involvement in the First Guardian Master Fund failure.
Acclime acquires Melbourne's Polar 993
Acclime, a provider of corporate, governance, advisory and fund services across Asia Pacific and global markets, has signed an agreement to acquire the independent trustee and fund administration business from Melbourne.
Platforms are not solution providers: AZ NGA
AZ NGA group chief executive Paul Barrett warned platforms should stay in their lane rather than overstep to improve financial adviser productivity, reiterating that it is the advice business' responsibility to do so.
Nesta pulls $247m mandate from Northern Trust over climate stance
UK research and innovation foundation Nesta Trust has transferred £120 million ($247m) of assets from Northern Trust Asset Management to Amundi after the US manager withdrew from major global climate initiatives, highlighting the growing commercial consequences of fund managers stepping back from climate ...
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Featured Profile
Hugh Killen
MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY LIMITED
AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY LIMITED
For Hugh Killen, several life lessons came from spending time on pastoral properties stretching across northern New South Wales and South-West Queensland.
The Financial Standard podcast Tune in each week as we discuss the latest developments in Australia's wealth management industry. |  |
Dr Newman has advocated the Australian minimum wage falling to levels comparable with the US.
Business should advocate for tax reform to encourage greater employment, but dropping the minimum wage would be an enormously damaging move.
One may well ask Dr Newman how he obtained the wealth necessary to own a cattle property that is "wonderfully relaxing and gives us the opportunity to regularly enjoy fresh air and simple pleasures with our children and grandchildren".
Why then, would you bring us down to the level of the US, where many of those who are less fortunate stay on the treadmill for their entire working life?
Dr Newman spoke of Australia's high minimum wage as something of a curse. From my perspective, we should all take great pride in providing a living wage to our fellow citizens.
When comparing the wages structure in Australia to Europe and, heaven help us, the United States, he overlooks the enormous social cost of the poverty created by these "competitive wage structures." And by quoting annual incomes at the minimum wage, he totally ignores the fact that a large proportion of these workers have only part time work.
Rather than wring our hands over the high cost of labour, why don't we emulate the Japanese in the 1980's when faced with an overvalued Yen. They called on the general population and the business community to strive for measured productivity increases, and succeeded in maintaining and improving their economic position.