News
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd fears it is unlikely that an agreement will be reached at the climate change summit in Copenhagen, telling delegates attending the conference that previous attempts from a number of nations to work on a new agreement have so far failed. Rudd said the summit has highlighted a major divide between developing […]
Telstra is expecting little to no sales growth in 2009/10, off the back of a higher local currency and stronger competition. In a statement, Melbourne-based Telstra said the strength of the Australian dollar, tough operating conditions in Hong Kong, and strong domestic competition driven by ULL (unconditional local loop) growth and very competitive mobile offers […]
The 2008-09 financial year was the most volatile for Australian petrol prices, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reports. The competition watchdog says Australian petrol prices have been much more stable in 2009 than the wild swings last year, but overall the 2008-09 financial year was the most volatile on record, with prices hitting […]
Up to 600,000 commuters across Sydney and Newcastle were left stranded this morning, after bus drivers walked off the job. The 24-hour stoppage began at 4am (AEDT) this morning, following demands from the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) for bus drivers to be given a pay rise without award conditions being taken away. On […]
ANZ Banking Group Ltd expects bad debts to fall in 2010, with more significant falls predicted for the following year. ANZ’s retiring chairman, Charles Goode, told the bank’s annual general meeting on Friday that net profits ‚”should be higher‚” in the coming year. “The financial markets are also recovering and the volume of lending should […]
Opposition leader Tony Abbott and Shadow Small Business Minister Bruce Billson, have both called for an official inquiry into restrictions on small business financing. Tony Abbott has claimed that large numbers of small businesses are being denied capital because the banks are refusing to lend on reasonable terms to good businesses. “I know that the […]
The festive season is in full swing, which means Christmas parties – lots of them! This leads to the inevitable Christmas drink (or two… or three…. or four…). Once this happens, things get a little fuzzy and spatial awareness goes out the door.* I am sure that the below photos will look all too familiar! […]
Business owners ready for a profitable 2010 A new survey has found that not only have the majority of Australia’s small and medium business owners survived through the global economic crisis but they are expecting a profitable 2010. According to Reckon’s 2009 Annual Business Survey, 63 percent of business owners said their business performance was […]
Qantas, Jetstar engineers walk off the job First it was Australia Post workers, then it was Queensland rail employees, and now a number of Qantas and Jetstar engineers have walked off the job over a pay conditions dispute. The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia (APESMA) said a small group of heavy maintenance […]
Postal strike slows down mail The postie strike expected to continue until Friday will slow down mail delivery, the union representing postal workers warns. Up to 20,000 postal workers across Australia walked off the job or were involved in rolling stoppages on Wednesday in an effort to secure a better wage deal. CEPU NSW state […]
Graduates get savvy with job search Job savvy graduates step up With the news that employers are using social networking sites and search engines to research job applicants, university graduates are taking to the web to actively monitor and screen their online identity for private information, before they embark on a job search, a survey […]
Mortgage market will grow in 2010 The CEO of Australia’s largest independently-owned mortgage broker, Mortgage Choice, Michael Russell has welcomed the findings contained in Deloitte Australian Mortgage Report: 2010, as they paint a positive picture for the mortgage market in 2010. The report found that mortgage lending will grow by up to 10 percent in […]
New Shadow Small Business Minister Bruce Billson has called into question the Federal Government’s new employment regime and its impact on Boxing Day employment conditions.
Stimulus still needed: Swan The Australian economy will remain reliant on Federal Government stimulus next year, Treasurer Wayne Swan said following yesterday’s national accounts report that showed growth of just 0.2 percent in the September quarter. The Australian Bureau of Statistics report found that the main drivers of economic growth for the September quarter were […]
Aussie employers keen to hire more mums More than half of Australian businesses are intending to hire more mothers returning to work in the next two years, according to a global survey. The survey conducted by workplace solutions provider, Regus, of over 11,000 corporates across 13 countries, found that 44 percent of businesses plan to […]
YouTube announces most watched videos of 2009 YouTube today announced its first official most watched videos lists, revealing the moments that entertained and connected the world in 2009 from singing sensation Susan Boyle to that crazy wedding entrance. “From a new singer’s debut on the world stage to newly-weds dancing down the aisle, YouTube offers […]
The economy grew by 0.2 percent in September quarter, well below the 0.4 percent growth tipped by many economists, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows.
US body approves Kraft’s bid for Cadbury US competition authorities have approved a bid by Kraft Foods to acquire UK confectioner Cadbury, the US food giant said in a note to the London Stock Exchange. Earlier this month, Kraft appealed directly to shareholders with details of its cash and shares bid, now worth STG9.9 billion […]
Rudd warns climate talks could fail Just hours after touching down in Copenhagen for the climate change summit, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd warned that the high-profile UN summit could fail. Rudd said with 190 countries involved and more than 100 heads of government attending, it would be hard to seal the deal on a new […]
Westpac still trying to justify rate rise Westpac is still trying to justify its recent increase to home loan rates, after it was slammed for almost doubling the interest rate rise set down by the Reserve Bank at the beginning of the month. Addressing shareholders at the bank’s annual general meeting today, Westpac chairman Ted […]
