News
The Australian economy will shrink this year, according to the latest Reserve Bank revision, released today. Gross domestic product will shrink by 1.25 percent by the end of the June quarter, and contract a further one percent by the end of the December quarter. Previous forecasts predicted growth at 0.25 percent for June and 0.5 […]
There have been a lot of questions flying around about the effect of the Government’s announcement of a paid maternity leave scheme in the Federal Budget tomorrow, on small business. The maternity leave scheme will include 18 weeks of paid leave at the minimum wage, equating to $544 a week, and will be available for […]
Aussies are stepping up their contributions to charities, with not for profit volunteer sharing organisation goodcompany reporting a 20 percent jump in volunteer numbers in recent months. The recession is not getting people down, with the jump in volunteer numbers indicating that Aussies are ready to give back to others. According to Andrew Coogan, General […]
Many Australian businesses are turning to the internet to drive business, utilising the web as a promotional tool. In the case of Melbourne-based naturopathy clinic Mass Attack, the business was turned into a fully integrated online operation. Narelle Stegehuis established Mass Attack in 1999, initially as a ‘shop-front’naturopathic clinic that specialised in hormonal imbalance and […]
In order to de-stress and perform better at work, finance professionals are turning to extreme sport and creative hobbies. According to Aequalis Consulting’s latest survey of 250 employees and candidates in the finance sector, 78 percent turn to extreme sports such as skydiving and creative hobbies such as blogging in order to de-stress from work […]
In tough times, corporate philanthropy is usually one of the first things to be cut from the budget. But there is one industry planning to buck this trend – media and advertising. Media Assisting Youth are set to auction $1 million worth of advertising packages at their annual MAYDAY event, with the intention to raise […]
Consumer watchdog ACCC is waiting for new powers to clamp down on telcos, after numerous complaints about telecommunications company Dodo ripping off customers with misleading advertising. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced last week that Dodo, a frequent target of false advertising complaints, had misled customers who signed up to its “free offer plans” between […]
This isn’t the first time I’ve blogged on maternity pay. Last time, it was to say how horrified I was when I first found out—coming from a country with generous maternity leave provisions—that Australian women didn’t have the same luxury. But is it a luxury? As editor of a magazine for small business owners, I’m […]
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has estimated that there are as many as 800,000 taxpayers that are eligible for the $900 tax bonus but have yet to submit a tax return for last year. With stimulus payments flooding into accounts this month and last, the ATO have distributed 6.5 million tax bonus payments already, with […]
A survey by the Australian National Retailers Association confirms that Australians want the Federal Government to cut personal taxes in the Federal Budget. A pre-budget survey of 1,000 people shows tax cuts will help boost consumer confidence more than increased Government spending or further cash handouts. According to ANRA chief executive Margy Osmond the […]
It seems the stimulus payments are not being spent as intended, with one in two Australians planning to save the cash bonus or use it to pay down debt. The Australian National Retailers Association have been surveying consumers since October as to how they will spend the payments and the response has been consistent with […]
With unemployment dropping, and the Aussie dollar climbing, Australians are becoming more optimistic about the future, with a recent report conducted by Eye On Australia indicating 63 percent are satisfied with the economic situation. The report released by marketing communications agency Grey, has shown that despite 60 percent of respondents believing the economic situation will […]
Over the past few months I have heard many people complain about the perceived lack of value they have received from their adviser in regard to their investments. I believe this is because many advisers fail to adequately manage portfolio risk, instead preferring to advise their clients to ride out the market volatility. The problem […]
Developed countries should increase their aid budgets during this global economic downturn to prevent economic asylum seekers from attempting to enter more stable economies, says Deakin University research expert Jonathan Ritchie. “The collapsing world economy, with its dire consequences especially for developing countries, will see more and more people taking a chance on a better […]
Tourism Queensland has named British candidate Ben Southhall the new caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Southall fended off 15 other contenders at the final stage and 34,000 applicants worldwide. The former charity worker will receive $150,000 to take care of the islands over six-month contract. His duties include ‘feeding the fish’, […]
Victorian businesses are set to suffer more payroll tax pain, after the Victorian Government announced plans in the budget to increase payroll tax to nearly 20 percent over the next four years, despite rising unemployment. The increase will see the payroll tax amount increase from $4.08 billion to $4.73 billion, despite the fact that unemployment […]
Research conducted by recruitment specialists Robert Walters has shown that professional workers are turning to the public sector as the more desirable working environment over the private sector. In an online web poll, professionals from over 17 countries were asked whether they would consider moving from private to public sector employment. Globally, of 2,785 respondents, […]
While the global economy has slowed substantially in the past couple of months, The Westfield Group has remained strong, reporting on the completion of nine major developments at a cost of $5.6 billion. While chairman of Westfield Frank Lowy acknowledges that they are not immune to the crisis, the group planned ahead, repositioning the company […]
The recession has never been a better time to innovate; something Management Consultancy International have taken on board, beating a strong line up of large training businesses to win the highly coveted Australian Institute of Training & Development, Excellence in Australian Leaning Innovation Award. As a small company, Managing Director Denise Meyerson felt they were […]
In some surprise and welcome news, the unemployment rate fell from 5.7 percent to 5.4 percent in April. Economists have long been predicting the unemployment rate will continue to rise over the next year, reaching as high as 7 percent by 2010. However, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows total employment increased by […]
