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Content Type:
Media Release
24 Apr 2013
The relationship between business and the Federal Government has further deteriorated, according to a survey of company directors which has found that only 8 per cent of directors (down from 12 per cent) agree with the statement ‘the Federal Government understands business.’ Conversely, 50 per cent ...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
Jac Nasser, described as a chairman of chairmen, talks to Tony Featherstone about succession planning, leadership development, board composition and other governance matters at the world’s biggest mining company.
It is easy to judge boards only on big events: the CEO appointment, successi...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
Martin Kriewaldt explains why he has enjoyed working on Company Directors’ National Conference Committee.
Company Director (CD): What are your current directorships?
Martin Kriewaldt (MK): I am chairman of Hyne Timber (a 130-year-old family-owned private company) and InteriorCo (an unl...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
Kathleen Conlon talks to Tony Featherstone about boardroom diversity, the risks of policy-on-the-run, strategy formation and how emerging directors can find their first board position.
A constant danger for boards is the potential for "groupthink" if directors agree too easily with the co...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
Gustaf Sorman-Nilsson argues that a "head in the sand" approach to social media will no longer be accepted by shareholders and stakeholders alike.
When faced with a social media storm in October 2012, chairman of Macquarie Radio Russell Tate admitted that "boards are not at all well prepa...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
Ahead of the upcoming federal election, Phil Ruthven outlines the more urgent and overdue reforms he believes a true Australian leader should tackle.
Respect for once-admired occupations is in short supply so far in this new century.
The ranking of a cross section of occupations is reve...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
John M Green argues that an Asian century requires China to engender greater trust in the West.
The "Asian Century" beckons. Yet Australia’s Chinese-chequered history – over a century and a half long – suggests we’re already in our second Asian century.
As mid-20th century kids slapp...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
Christopher Niesche provides some tips to help SME directors walking the blunt and blurry line between solvency and insolvency.
It’s truly frightening when you’re going through it, says Paul Cooper of entering what receivers call "the twilight zone".
"It’s very intense – it consumes v...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
Listed companies have jumped many hurdles to improve their executive pay practices and avoid falling foul of the "two-strikes" law. Now, as Domini Stuart reports, a new wave of pay reforms are heading their way.
The second reporting season since the introduction of the "two-strikes" rule l...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
Many not-for-profit (NFP) organisations, were heading into a "perfect storm", if they weren’t already in it. That was the view of Dr John Harte FAICD, the founder and principal of Integrity Governance, when addressing the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ NFP Forum:13 in Sydney last month –...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
A monthly review of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ policy and advocacy team’s key projects and issues.
Director Sentiment Index
Our latest Director Sentiment Index (DSI), released in April, reveals that overall director sentiment has increased 15 points on the la...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
Australian directors are feeling gloomy about our economy and the Government’s understanding of business, but as Zilla Efrat reports, a silver lining has started to appear among the clouds.
In the run-up to the September federal election, Australian directors are pessimistic about the eco...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
John H C Colvin details how Company Directors works as a “federation” to advocate better policy outcomes for directors and Australia in general.
Like our nation, Company Directors is, in some respects, a "federation". It is made up of seven state and territory divisions, led by presidents...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
Mark Easton explains why directors need to be mindful of their duty to act fairly between shareholders and consider carefully the effect their decisions could have on minority shareholders.
The Corporations Act 2001 provides far-reaching remedies for oppressed minority shareholders.
Direct...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
In early April, we asked a range of directors and other experts what they would most like to see in the Federal Government’s May Budget, what they would least like to see and what they expect to see.
FIONA BALFOUR FAICD
Director of Metcash, Salmat and TAL Australia. Cou...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Apr 2013
Professor Bob Baxt examines a recent court case that demonstrates how the courts are becoming more comfortable with the idea of shareholders taking derivative action against a company and its directors.
When the statutory business judgment rule (section 180(2)) of the Corporations Act 200...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Mar 2013
Dr Ken Henry talks to Tony Featherstone about Australia’s role in the Asian century, how our tax system should be reformed and life outside of the public service.
From high above Melbourne, Dr Ken Henry AC provides a glimpse of how great Australian business can become and a scale of natio...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Mar 2013
Fiona Baron investigates how companies are bedding down the carbon tax and coping with its compliance requirements.
The introduction of the Federal Government’s carbon tax in July 2012 was bound to be something of an anti-climax.
For directors in particular, once the politics surround...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Mar 2013
The Prime Minister has announced that Australia’s federal election will be held on 14 September. We ask a range of directors whether knowledge of the election date so far in advance will boost or reduce business uncertainty and what key questions directors need to ask in the run up to the election.
...
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Content Type:
CDM Article
01 Mar 2013
A monthly review of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ policy and advocacy team’s key projects and issues.
THIS MONTH:
Improving diversity through mentoring
Global leadership in board diversity
Human rights and anti-discrimination
Reform of NFP gov...