Archived News for Professionals in Federal Government - February, 2014
The Federal Government will investigate events at its detention centre on Manus Island, which left one asylum seeker dead and dozens wounded.
News Corp's eighties paper push takes taxpayer millions today
A series of currency transactions in 1989 have led to an $882 million government payout to media giant News Corp.
Target review could find opposite result to last time
The Federal Government is moving its review of the Renewable Energy Target into full-swing, releasing the terms of reference and announcing who will lead the inquiry.
Health rating site derailed by junk food insider
What seemed like an innocuous error has become a scandal in the healthcare bureaucracy after a potential conflict of interest in the Health Department.
Hockey shows off size of his cuts to inspire smaller nations
Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey has let a Wall Street Journal reporter in on the scale of cuts, sales and savings the Government intends to make, which may soon see the nation's power poles in foreign hands.
New limits to stop snooping on public promotions
The Australian Information Commission has changed the rules over disclosure of personal information for a successful applicant in Australian Public Service (APS) recruitment.
Some gaps move with few improvements in annual report
The Prime Minister has pledged to do better, and Indigenous ministers are crying out for more, with the release of this year's Closing the Gap report.
Tax and charities taste first cuts, offers to use the door
Staff members in sections of federal departments have been offered voluntary redundancies, which some say shows the ineffectiveness of ‘natural attrition’.
India invests in solar switch to soak farms for less
India has embarked on an ambitious plan to replace its 26 million groundwater irrigation pumps with solar-powered versions.
Probe launched for deep look into unions
The Prime Minister has launched a Royal Commission into union governance and corruption across a range of industries, with terms of reference set to string up dodgy workplace practice nationwide.
Authority says get building or risk missing out in Asia
A former senior member of the Treasury says Australia may miss the boat to the ‘Asian Century’ if it doesn’t start building on a big scale.
Better deals to build apprenticeship base
Changes to pay rates for apprentices have come into effect, which will mean increases for many young workers.
Abbott's policy of silence to stop the Tweets
The Federal Government has placed itself under tight new controls for using social media sites.
$70 mil for self-owned schools seen as unhelpful distraction
Seventy million dollars will be spent in an effort to convert 25 per cent of public schools to the Independent Public School model, with Federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne now announcing a special ambassador to help make it happen.
ACCC moves to unnatural funds after numbers fail to fall
Leaders of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission are feeling strapped for cash, admitting that ‘natural attrition’ has not thinned its numbers, and it needs more money for redundancies.
Baby tax change could bring bonus on return
The Tax Institute of Australia says there are a range of benefits that would come from making child care tax deductible.
Cadets cut from Feds, spies and Defence intake
Some young graduates with eyes on career in spying or policing will be looking for a new life’s ambition, after budget cuts meant their cadetships were cut short.
Gender reporting costs money, but more is lost without it
The federal government is considering removing the requirement for larger companies to lodge an annual report with the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
Talks of more help to tiny town caught short by closure
An assistance package offered by a mining company to a small town in NT may be expanded with extra Federal Government help.
$6 billion dollar industry at risk from cheap environmental choice
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has, after “rigorous assessment”, approved the disposal of dredge spoil within the Marine Park, making only minor requests in the granting of the dredge permit.
Seeds planted for farm bank plan, no word on sprout times
A Federal Government Minister is pushing for billions of dollars to help workers toiling in some of the worst conditions for decades, and it looks like the Prime Minister is keen to help too.