Archived News for Professionals in Federal Government - April, 2014
Amnesty International has slammed the secrecy surrounding Australia’s offshore asylum seeker facility on the island of Nauru.
Cuts justified in storm of fake money fear
An Australian economist says the federal budget crisis does not actually exist, but has been made up to sell broad government cuts.
Call for federal change to cut dark toll
The South Australian Government is calling for change in the way penalties are paid after workplace injury and death.
Great minds turn inside to seek out negativity
CSIRO has set up an internal unit to tackle accusations of bullying and workplace harassment.
Combination knocking out millions from health budget
A new report says the Federal Government is wasting millions on combination medications.
Emissions plan will pay low, expect high, deliver little
The Federal Government has unveiled its white paper on the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), a main component of the Direct Action plan to combat climate change.
Ex-PM taking global ed. head on
Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard has given a speech on the future of education in the world’s poorest nations, in her new role at RMIT.
Uni fee fiddling foreshadowed
The Federal Government may be considering allowing universities to charge higher fees.
Fifty-eight fighter jets could be $12 bil "dud"
Australia will buy dozens of fighter jets at a cost of more than $12 billion, despite a raft of concerns about their design and abilities.
Inkling of cuts and increases ahead of actual word
The Federal Treasurer says further increases to the pension age are inevitable, and that people should “work as long as they can”.
Latest ranking shows local internet advance slowing
Analysts have ranked Australia poorly in terms of internet access, affordability and investment.
UN brings questions and perspective on boat policy
The United Nations refugee agency says it continues to get no response from the Australian government for its questions over the asylum seeker ‘turn back’ policy.
Shorten's push for reform to bring more into non-union fold
The Australian Labor Party is set to take on a new form with less union involvement and backroom dealings, if leader Bill Shorten has his way.
Tide of budget cuts could take National Water Commission
There is speculation this week that the Federal Government will look to axe a major water policy advisory body in the effort to cut costs.
Ai says insurance insistence hurts workers
A key employers’ lobby group has accused various unions of receiving big payoffs by selling expensive yet inferior income protection insurance.
Cuts could come from closer look at young pensions
As the government’s ‘razor gang’ sought out more budget cuts over the weekend, Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews said tightening up checks on claims for the Disability Support Pension (DSP) would be a good start.
Local health projects tremble under cost-cutting axe
Reports today say some Medicare Local executives have been warned that the Federal Government plans to shut down the current system.
Brandis calls for climate views with a relaxed relation to reality
Federal Attorney-General George Brandis says ignoring people who deny climate science is “medieval”.
Debt deal for North Korea helps Russia move gas south
Russia has waived about $10 billion of North Korean debt in exchange for a gas pipeline through the secretive country to South Korea.
Renewable review stalls green works in Tassie
Clean energy companies say the threat of changes to the renewable target scheme is spooking investors.
Australia Network signs deal to stream into Chinese homes
Australian public broadcaster the ABC has been given permission to broadcast its Australia Network content to the entire Chinese population.