Archived News for Professionals in Federal Government
The Federal Government’s preoccupation with delivering a balanced Budget is ringing hollow with the country’s businesses, who increasingly want a renewed focus on productivity and competitiveness according to a new survey published by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group).
NBN Co adds 1.3 million to rollout
The National Broadband Network Co (NBN Co) has added over 1.35 million premises to its rollout schedule across 190 towns and suburbs.
Voters disengaged, suspicious and dissatisfied
A new research report has published what many of the general public, and most likely politicians, already suspected; Australian voters are disengaged, disillusioned and distrustful.
$22 million for Tasmanian logistics capacity
The Federal Government has announced it will invest over $22 million to boost Tasmania’s freight capacity in the north of the state and improve the skills base of the state’s maritime workforce.
Government pledges to improve worker rehabilitation
The Federal Government has outlined its response to the recent Review of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, with Minister for Workplace Relations saying the Government has prioritised 21 recommendations of the report.
National business conditions soften finds report
A cooling off of the resources boom, growing uncertainty and a weaker consumer spending rate have all failed to make a dent in Queensland’s Business Confidence, according to the new Westpac/CCIQ Survey of Business Conditions.
Services sector slips in April
A weakening in business-related services has driven a significant fall in the national services sector, according to the latest Australian Industry Group/Commonwealth Bank (Ai Group) Australian Performance of Services Index (PSI).
Tasmania signs up to NDIS
The Tasmanian Government has announced it has signed up to the full National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and will be funded from proceeds from the recently announced Medicare levy increase.
Flood repair applications nears $1 billion
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).