Archived News for Professionals in Federal Government - April, 2013
The Queensland Government has announced that the state’s councils have applied for nearly $1 billion worth of funding from the $80 million Betterment Fund initiative.
Housing prices drop after March rally
Housing prices have recorded a 0.5 per cent drop in April following a solid 2.8 per cent gain over the first three months of 2013.
Act now on budget problems urges Grattan Institute
The Federal Government could soon be facing budget deficits of up to $60 billion a year, according to a new Grattan Institute report into the health of the nation’s finances.
Government appoints Services Leaders Group
A number of top executives from the nation’s business, unions and research community have been appointed to the Australian Government’s Services Leaders Group, with the mandate to provide expert advice on enhancing the international competitiveness of Australia’s services sector.
Manufacturing slump deepens
The manufacturing sector has posted more lacklustre figures, with seven out of eight major sub-sectors recording a contraction in April according to the Australian Industry Group’s Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).
Sydney named Australia's densest
Sydney is home to all four of the nation’s most densely populated areas, all surrounding the city’s central business district according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
ACCC calls for airport rethink
The nation’s airports will need a drastic increase in infrastructure investment in order to cater for the projected booms in passenger number, a new report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has found.
Government scuppers trawler bid again
The bid to see the super trawler Abel Tasman operate in Australian waters has taken another blow after the Federal Government barred two large complementary commercial fishing vessels from operating in the Small Pelagic Fishery for two years.
Government doesn't get business say leaders
The relationship between the nation’s businesses and the Federal Government has plunged new depths, according to the latest survey of company directors.
Government extends reef rescue plan
The Federal Government has announced it will provide a further $200 million for the extension of a plan that provides landholders and farmers with funding to stop the flow of chemicals into the Great Barrier Reef.
Government welcomes new OECD education report
The Federal Government has welcomed a new international report that it claims gives its education reforms the ‘tick of approval’ from the Organisation for Economic Co-Development (OECD).
Household savings triple finds ING
Low interest rates and controlled inflation have failed to dampen Australians’ new found love of savings, with the average household savings rising to $15,427 from $5,155 over the last two years.
Tourism in boomtime finds ABS
Tourism grew faster than the total of the economy last financial year, contributing over $112 million dollars a day to the Australian economy, outpacing industries such as agriculture, forestry and fishing, construction, and transport, postal and warehousing according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Clock strikes 23 million
Australia’s population has hit the magic 23 million for the first time, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Population Clock striking 23 million at 9:57pm on 23 April.
Commission tracks workforce evolution
The Productivity Commission has tracked the ever-changing nature of the Australian workforce, publishing a report into the different arrangements of employment over the 2001-11 period.
CPI posts 0.4 per cent rise
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 0.4 per cent in the March quarter, following on from a 0.2 per cent increase in December, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Government outlines NRM funding
The Federal Government has announced it will continue to support Natural Resources Management organisations (NRMS), with $669 million to continue work over the coming five years.
NSW signs up to Gonski
New South Wales has become the first state to sign up to the Federal Government’s contentious Gonski reforms of school funding.
SA and Victoria push for local car fleet
The South Australian and Victorian Governments have formed a united front at the recent Council of Australian Government meeting in an effort to get Federal and State governments to use a majority of Australian made vehicles in their fleets.
Virgin given the all clear on Tiger bid
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced it will not oppose Virgin Australia’s bid to take a 60 per cent stake in rival budget carrier Tiger Airways.
Consumer spending continues rally
Consumer spending has recorded its seven straight month of growth, posting a healthy 0.4 per cent increase in March according to the Commonwealth Bank’s latest Business Sales Indicator (BSI).