CEO of 99designs, Patrick Llewellyn - RMIT economist Sinclair Davidson - Talking Business 2012 - Ep29

Summary: Interview with Patrick Llewellyn, CEO of 99designs Interview with RMIT economist Sinclair Davidson on corporate tax Leon and Garry discuss issues including: Eurostat figures showing that Europe is edging closer to recession, dragged down by the crippling debt problems of the 17-country euro bloc The Greek economy contracting 6.5 per cent in the first quarter A senior German MP declaring that Germany will block any new aid to ailing Greece if Athens does not fully comply with the terms of previous rescue packages, even if other countries support unlocking funds Good signs coming out of the US with US retail sales rising by a better-than-expected 0.8 per cent in July, breaking a three month losing streak and offering hope of faster growth in the third quarter Chinese business leaders urging Beijing to rethink its government-led overseas investment strategy in light of a brewing political backlash against it in countries including the US and Australia A global survey of executives from multinational corporations showing a growing reluctance to invest in Australia due to the cumulative impact of the carbon tax, spiking labour costs, the rising Australian dollar and political uncertainty An NAB survey showing confidence surging in July, snapping a two-month streak of heavy falls But cash rate cuts and government pay-outs fails to lift the confidence of Australian consumers, according to another monthly survey. The Westpac/Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment fell 2.5 per cent to 96.6 in August, from 99.1 in July Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing the Australian wage price index lifted 0.9 per cent, in trend terms, over the three months to June. This brought the index's full-year increase to June 30 to 3.7 per cent for all jobs Sales of new motor vehicles in Australia falling in the month of July, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Business lending lifting in June, while personal finance also gained, according to the ABS. The Gillard government's business tax review – which has recommended that billions of dollars worth of company tax breaks be targeted to help fund an across-the-board company tax cut – looks dead in the water. Industry groups say they’ll pull support. Moody’s warning it could yet strip Victoria of its prized triple-A credit rating. The man who audits the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) saying he wants the public and businesses to tell him the issues he should focus on over the coming year The federal government securing a big win over big tobacco with the High Court ruling Labor's world-first plain packaging laws are constitutionally valid The government planning to scrap the $15 a tonne floor price on carbon emissions trading from 2015 and replacing it with a link to the European ETS, where permits are sell for less than $10 The ACCC declaring that large companies failing to remove false and misleading comments from their brands' Facebook pages within 24 hours face potential court action Alesco Corporation Ltd confirming it is talking with suitor DuluxGroup Ltd about a higher takeover offer