News
In it’s board meeting, the RBA decided to leave interest rates unchanged as widely predicted by analysts. Official interest rates are at a 49 year low of three percent, with the RBA cutting 425 basis points from interest rates since September in an effort to stem to effects of the recession. In a statement, RBA […]
Tourism Queensland will announce the new caretaker for Hamilton Island on Wednesday, after interviews and competency tasks for the 16 candidates have been completed. The job advertisement has been a boon for Hamilton Island tourism with media from around the world following the candidates as they complete tasks, such as a swimming test. Tourism Queensland […]
Austrade chief economist Tim Harcourt believes Australia and New Zealand may become one market in the near future, if the two federal governments can agree on a single legal and tax system. “Harmonisation of the legal and tax systems will help reduce costs and improve trade inefficiencies,” he said. “Closer Economic Relations (CER) between Australia […]
It seems the global financial crisis won’t stop people spoiling their mum this Mother’s Day with Retail Decisions latest survey of gift buying habits revealing more than 62 percent of people will still spend big this Mothers Day. The survey of over 221 people across the country, also revealed that despite shoppers belief that the […]
Research conducted by IRD Group has revealed that over 6,800 new sales leads were created in the first quarter of 2009, creating up to 68,000 new business opportunities. Matt Skinner, Managing Director of IRD Group said the results show that there are still a number of great opportunities out there for business in the current […]
It seems Baby Boomers are showing signs of resilience in the face of the global financial crisis, by taking a more hands on approach when it comes to their retirement savings. The Commonwealth Bank Retire Ready survey of 392 baby boomers has shown that while many are concerned about the downturn, they are not letting […]
Telstra has joined forces with ShoreTel Inc, a leading provider of Pure IP Unified Communications solutions, to expand the availability of its cost-effective IP technologies for business through the Telstra Business System program. With the addition of ShoreTel to its portfolio, the Telstra Business System program offers businesses of all sizes a scalable and reliable […]
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy has announced a plan for Australian youth to advise the Government on online issues including privacy, cyber-bullying and illegal content. A group of 305 Australians from the Youth Advisory Group will contribute to “policy development by advising the Government on cyber-safety concerns and […]
Auditors will closely monitor the financial statements of small business this year, as the economic crisis has led to a lack of available credit for business, says the National Institute of Accountants. NIA chief executive officer Michael Carmody said not all businesses are viable in the present economic climate, and auditors will have to look […]
The Rudd Government have announced plans to delay the emissions trading scheme by one year, winning support from business groups, but angering the Greens. The delay, which has the support of the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Climate Institute and […]
It seems the majority of small and medium businesses remain optimistic about the economy, and feel that the pessimistic reporting of the financial crisis from the media and government has contributed to declining sales.
Here we go again with another way to save money in tough economic times/the GFC/the current climate. Bear with me. The latest PR cost-cutting initiative comes from agency Handle Communications, which has set up the website Handle Your Own PR. It’s designed to help cash-strapped small businesses do their own PR by buying media contact […]
Leading business strategy experts Sharon Williams, CEO, Taurus Marketing and Barry Porter, CEO of Quantum Shift are set to join forces to host a seminar on how businesses can harness the opportunities a downturn presents. Open to businesses of all sizes, the seminar will cover off ways that businesses can use sales and marketing techniques […]
Demand for staff has dropped substantially over the past couple of months as the Australian economy enters a recession, and unemployment rises. According to the ANZ, job advertisements online and in newspapers dropped by 7.5 percent, off the back of an 8.5 percent slump in March. Many businesses are shelving their hiring plans, a move […]
It will come as little surprise to people, that first home buyers are being lured into the market by the first home owners grant. Research released by independent market analyst Datamonitor has shown that four out of every five people thinking of buying their first home have cited the government grant as an important factor […]
It has been reported that the Federal Government will announce plans to delay its emissions trading scheme by one year, amid growing pressure from the Coalition, the Greens and various industry groups to put the scheme on hold. An official inquiry was launched into the scheme last month, with the Greens claiming the scheme would […]
Increasing overdraft rates are pushing many small business to seek out more flexible cash flow products such as debtor finance, says Bibby Financial Services. As cash rate drop, business overdraft rates remain higher than ever. Business lending data from credit research service CANNEX shows the major banks increased rates on the most common secured overdrafts […]
In response to the overwhelming uptake of the Total Business Cap for small and medium businesses, Optus have announced they are extending the Total Business Cap to now include fixed voice, internet, wireless broadband and mobile services under one plan, on one bill. According to Phil Offer, Marketing Director, Optus Small and Medium Business (SMB), […]
Coalition finance spokeswoman Helen Coonan has said that tax cuts would have been a better way of stimulating the economy than the Rudd Governments $900 cash handouts as part of the $42 billion stimulus package. Coonan told Sky News that tax cuts would have been more beneficial to the economy in the long run. “We […]
The Government’s recent commitment to an annual 3 percent increase in defense spending for the next decade has been harshly criticised by the Greens citing it will drain billions of dollars from schools, hospitals and the war on climate change. Greens leader Bob Brown said that there was no reason for an increase in defence […]
