News
A new report has found that major telecomunnications companies Telstra, Optus and AAPT improved their connection services in the 2008-09 financial year, but were still forced to hand over more than $1 million in compensation to customers for some slow services. The ACMA’s Telecommunications Performance Bulletin 2008-09 found that Telstra, Optus and AAPT all made […]
Employers must do more to hold on to good staff this year as the economy continues to improve and workers look for better opportunities, analysts warn. With latest ABS figures revealing the unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent, and the latest ANZ jobs survey pointing to a six percent growth in jobs advertised in December, […]
The latest ABS jobs data released this week, highlight the resilience of the Australian economy, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said. Figures reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Thursday, showed the economy added 35,200 jobs in December, with the unemployment rate dropping to 5.5 percent. Gillard told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday […]
We heard before Christmas that voluntary tax returns won’t be far away as it is one of the key recommendations of the much anticipated Henry Tax Review.
The Australian Industry Group is urging employers to hire more apprentices to avoid a skilled labour shortage. “While skill shortages were less evident during the global economic and financial crisis, as we start to see a return to growth it’s clear that the shortages were just below the surface,” Ai Group chief executive Heather Ridout […]
Personal loans for cars, boats and travel have jumped 38 percent since November 2008, according to the latest ABS figures. In the year to November, loans for new cars jumped 8 percent, loans for boats increased by 19 percent, and unsecured loans for blocks of land skyrocketed by 50 percent. Banks have captured all of […]
A British study has found that telling the boss what you think of them is good for your health and can help to reduce stress and improve communication in the workplace.
Aussie workers are being urged to get active, after a corporate health program revealed participants in the program registered 41 percent less sick days then their non-participating colleagues. The Global Corporate Challenge (GCC) is aimed at encouraging corporations to help their employees to get active and healthy, through a four-month pedometer-based exercise event that encourages […]
Australia’s unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent last month, as the labour market gathered strength, latest ABS figures reveal. The unemployment rate eased to 5.5 percent in December, defying analysts’ predictions that the jobless rate would remain unchanged at 5.7 percent for the month. The economy added 35,200 jobs last month, much more than the […]
Senior US banking executives admitted making costly mistakes in the lead-up to the global financial crisis (GFC) as they came under intense scrutiny at an inquiry designed to establish the cause of the economic disaster. A congressionally mandated 10-member commission, which has been compared to the panel that studied the September 11, 2001 terror attacks […]
Australians are being urged by Lifewise, the risk insurance education campaign, to make a financial New Year’s resolution to review their personal insurances, including life, income protection and trauma insurance. Recently released industry claims figures show that Australians continue to be underinsured. Australian families received an average life insurance payout of $91,000 in 2008 following […]
The Greens are urging the Australian government and businesses to boycott China after an alleged attempt by Chinese spies to hack into internet search giant Google.
Analysts are predicting unemployment to remain unchanged at 5.7 percent, when the latest job figures for December are released today. The Australian Bureau of Statistics is set to reveal its labour force data for December, and most experts are expecting a rise of around 0.1 percent in employment, which would mean the unemployment rate would […]
Economists are tipping a fourth consecutive interest rate rise next month, despite a large drop in housing finance commitments. The latest ABS figures on housing finance commitments revealed a 5.6 percent fall in lending November, seasonally adjusted, to 59,516. ICAP economist Adam Carr said the fall was the result of first home buyers dropping out […]
As the economy continues to grow, property analysts are predicting rental prices will start to rise.
New figures released today by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) into the trend of illegal software downloads by businesses have revealed that crime does not pay.
Aussie cricket fans can now watch live coverage of their favourite matches on their iPhone with the introduction of the new Cricket LIVE iPhone application.
The winding down of stimulus programs around the globe, high unemployment and a continuation of subdued bank lending are likely to result in a global slowdown during the course of 2010, according to a new report. Dun & Bradstreet’s 2010 Economic & Risk Outlook Report, released today reveals that growth in 2010 may be quite […]
First home buyers are leaving the property market at a record pace as a result of rising interest rates and the withdrawal of the Federal Government grants, latest figures show. Official ABS figures yesterday showed the number of new home loans issued in November dropped by 5.6 percent after the First Home Owners Boost was […]
Shadow Minister for Small Business, Bruce Billson, has hit out at the Rudd Government over its new Fair Work regime, after the results of an Australian Retailers Association (ARA) survey revealed that many small business retailers still do not understand their obligations under the new workplace regime, with many believing it will place a financial burden on their business.
