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The performance of the Australian services sector continues to be uninspiring, with political uncertainty surrounding Australia’s hung parliament impacting on demand in August.

Many Australian businesses are not protecting themselves against the risk their customers might go insolvent, according to a joint survey by the Institute of Internal Auditors – Australia (IIA) and credit insurer, Atradius.

Many business owners currently considering selling their businesses have assumed that with the economy strengthening and credit becoming more available, banks will be more willing to lend to their potential buyers.

Dun & Bradstreet Corp has bought the privately held Dun & Bradstreet Australia Holdings Ltd in a deal worth $233 million ($AU).

Corporate travel was one area that felt the full brunt of the economic crisis. Unlike essential expenses such as rent and mandatory overheads, it was one cost that could be reduced, or even eliminated, simply by taking employees off the road.

Commonwealth Bank customers now have access to an additional layer of security when shopping online, the NetCode SMS or token – a one-time password issued by the bank.

National Australia Bank is relaunching nab.com.au alongside official NAB profiles on Twitter and YouTube in order to reach customers in the time and place they find most convenient rather than force customers to use a single contact method.

Small businesses are allegedly using the Australian Taxation Office as a bank, using the ATO as a psuedo-lender by putting off tax liabilities using payment agreements in order to pay other commitments first.

Dynamic Business, as the voice of Australia’s small businesses is conducting its inaugural SME credit and debt survey and wants to hear from you. (There are prizes too!)

Virgin Blue Holdings Limited, who run both Virgin Blue and V Australia and Etihad Airways PJSC today signed an agreement to enable V Australia to fly into Abu Dhabi from 2011.

Online travel sites and discount flight aggregators may not be the cheapest option for business travellers if the latest research from The Online Travel Benchmarking Group holds true.

ClearView Wealth Limited today announced a statutory net profit after tax of $8.0 million and plans to acquire small-medium financial planning practices in South and Western Australia.

Australian businesses are finally lifting travel bans placed on employees during the global financial crisis, with travel agents recording substantial growth in corporate bookings.

Almost half of Australian businesses have ignoring environmental concerns as they snub energy efficiency and energy reduction measures.

It’s been a busy few weeks in the Azure Group offices. Unusual for most accountants, but for us, it’s a time when our tax team and accounts teams combine to work on reconciling our client’s accounts, record year-end tax journals as well as collecting and collating compliance files for our clients.

While your business may not need the services of a travel management company, here are three immediate steps you can take to save on your business travel:

Whatever minority government is formed after Saturday’s election and hung Parliament, tax and superannuation need to be a priority to give business certainty about the future.

Direct Factory Outlet (DFO) will be split up store by store and sold off to repay almost $1 billion owed to banks after development of the DFO South Wharf outlet stalled when cash dried up.

Australian surfwear brand Billabong has suffered terribly as a result of the appreciation of the Australian dollar, with international sales up, but profit down 4.5 percent.

Australia’s Superannuation industry has come out to slam Tony Abbott’s super policy on the eve of the election in a joint statement issued today.