News
Cisco is calling on all small and medium businesses to participate in their “Cisco Changing the Game” Competition, by sharing the types of business communication challenges they face, and how Cisco could solve them. Entry is open to Australian businesses with between one and 250 employees, with participants given the chance to win 1 of […]
According to the March Australian Retailers Index released today, almost one quarter of small to medium retailers have downsized their staff numbers in the last three months. However, 65 percent have kept up staffing levels and 11 percent have hired more staff in the same period. Although lower consumer confidence is hurting the retail sector, […]
Woolworths has been awarded the accolade of Australia’s most valuable brand, according to Brand Finance’s valuation of the world’s top 500 consumer names. Woolworths beat out previous leader the National Australia Bank, to rank 143rd best global brand as of December 2008. Brand Finance valued the Woolies name at $US4.6 billion, a gain of 5 […]
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has urged business leaders to be more charitable and not to cut down on corporate philanthropy during the economic downturn. At the Australian Davos Connection’s Philanthropy Summit in Sydney over the weekend, Mr Rudd said corporate charity would help to boost the economy along with aiding struggling communities. “There is unfolding […]
A new survey commissioned by Optus Business has found that size really does matter when it comes to business wireless access, with large organisations more likely to provide staff with laptops, while small business employees are given smartphones. The survey of over 250 Australian businesses, found that 37 percent of large businesses will provide employees […]
China’s 4 trillion Chinese Yuan (AUD 905 billion) stimulus package is doing wonders for the economy, said China’s Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday at the Boao Forum, despite the fact that the Chinese economy is slowing. According to the Premier the stimulus package is working “better than expected” and he is confident that China can […]
Treasurer Wayne Swan has urged banking executives to take a pay cut in order to get back in the good books with the Australian public. Australians are quickly losing faith in the banks, as credit for small business dwindles, with the big banks refusing to pass on the recent cut to interest rates made by […]
A recent report conducted by the Productivity Commission has shown that paid maternity leave would boost economic activity and create thousands of jobs. Labor is under increasing pressure to fund paid maternity leave in the next budget, after the report backed 18 weeks taxpayer-funded leave, paid at the minimum wage of $544 a week. An […]
The weakening global economy is having a severe affect on Australian exporters, with export prices declining by six percent in the March quarter hurting both national income and economic growth. The decline is the fastest since June 2003, with terms of trade (the ratio between export and import prices) falling by nearly two percent in […]
As part of the ‘No Leave, No Life’ program encouraging Aussie workers to use up their accrued leave on a local Aussie holiday (read full story here), Tourism Australia have developed an Employer Toolkit, giving employers advice and information on how they can help their staff find a balance between work and life. The Employer […]
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has called on the big banks to do more to support small business. The big banks have been under the spotlight in recent weeks following their refusal to pass on the latest cuts to interest rates to consumers and business. Business lending remains tight, and the ARA believes that the […]
Australia’s fascination with Telstra has continued despite the news that the company may not be involved in the National Broadband Network being proposed by the government. People love to own this stock yet for the life of me I cannot understand why. Telstra floated in November 1997, and while the stock rose over the first […]
Asserting it’s dominance as the leader in the search engine market, Google has reported a rise in quarterly net profit, at $US1.42 billion ($A1.95 billion) compared with $US1.31 billion ($A1.8 billion) in the corresponding quarter last year. However the internet search giant says that revenue has declined for the first time in consecutive quarters. Google […]
The majority of small business have indicated in a survey conducted by accounting and finance recruitment practice Aequalis Consulting that they will retain the majority of their staff in the downturn, and will instead cut back on employee incentives to save money. The results suggest employers are remaining positive in the current market. The results […]
The number of insolvencies in small- and medium-sized businesses has increased in recent months, however Mr Andrew Needham, director of business recovery at HLB Mann Judd Sydney, says the economic crisis is not to blame as the majority of businesses were going to run into trouble sooner or later. “It is only in the past […]
The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) has announced its state and territory winners and national finalists for the prestigious 2009 iAwards, which recognises Australia’s most outstanding information and communications technology (ICT) innovators. Awards were distributed to winners in the categories of Communication, eGovernment, eHealth, eInclusions & ecommunity, eLearning, eLogistics and supply chain, Financial Industry Application, […]
A recent survey conducted by Unisys Security Index has shown that many Australians believe the economic downturn will increase the risk of identity theft and financial fraud, with 63 percent of respondents concerned about their online security. “The latest Unisys Security Index shows an increase in concerns about the security of online activities such as […]
It seems the financial crisis has Australians thinking about more than just their money, with dating website rsvp.com.au reporting a 31 percent increase in new membership in the previous three months. Love is in the air, with RSVP customer service director Lija Jarvis believing the jump in members reflecting, not only a trend in online […]
Small Business Minister Craig Emerson has called on the big banks to support small business during the economic downturn, by providing adequate credit flows to the sector. In follow-up meeting to the Small Business Roundtable held in Melbourne on March 6, Minister Emerson pointed to the Reserve Bank’s lowering of interest rates, and how the […]
Treasurer Wayne Swan has warned China’s slumping economy could have a major affect on the Australian budget, in terms of deficit and growth. The Treasurer said China’s growth report “provides stark evidence of the impact of the global recession on the mining boom, which supercharged Australia’s economy in recent years”. According to Swan, as a […]
