News

The High Court has ruled the stimulus payments are valid and that the payments of $900 to 8.7 million tax payers can proceed as planned.

National Australia Bank is set to axe 113 positions across its branches in an attempt to cut costs. The bulk of the job cuts will come from NSW, where 75 branch staff are expected to lose their jobs. Finance Sector Union national secretary Leon Carter has said that the bank was initiating a “slow death” […]

Taxpayers will still receive their stimulus payments in spite of the fact they are being challenged in the High Court, says senior law lecturer at the University of New South Wales, George Williams.

Research in Motion has launched a new online store for its Blackberry applications, Blackberry App World, which offers a range of applications for business and consumer use. The online store will be available from today for Blackberry users in the UK, US and Canada, with more country launches to follow, including Australia. The store was […]

The CEO Institute’s latest survey of 226 chief executives has found that 75 percent of the nation’s CEOs feel that the Rudd Government is not doing enough to support businesses. The Institute’s chairman, Ken Gunn believes that many CEOs are critical of the Rudd Government’s $42 billion stimulus package, and want to see fewer cash […]

The Coalition has today announced a six point action plan for small business, in an effort to provide some much needed support for small business to equip them to lead the economic recovery. The Coalition recently held 23 Jobs for Australia forums around the country, with many small business unhappy with the Rudd Government. The […]

Japan is offering cash to jobless migrants of Japanese descent who are willing to go back home, in order to boost the economy and reduce unemployment levels. The labour ministry has started offering Y300,000 ($A4,370) to each migrant worker of Japanese descent to return home. The Government has estimated than more than 192,000 non-regular workers […]

The financial crisis has seen a drop in retail sales, with consumers holding on to their money, it would seem. But for eBay, profits have increased as people turn to online shopping during the recession for cheaper goods and great bargains. The auction site analysed millions of transactions by casual home-sellers and found that in […]

The ACCC has called into question the proposed merger between telecommunication companies Vodafone and Hutchinson, believing it could affect competition in the industry, and lead to increased retail prices on mobile phones and broadband services. “The ACCC is concerned that the removal of Hutchison as a vigorous and effective competitor will lead to increased prices […]

The manufacturing industry continued to deteriorate in March, with manufacturing activity falling in all states expect Tasmania. Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout said the manufacturing industry continues to feel the impact of the economic downturn. “The Australian PMI® suggests that economic conditions have not bottomed in the economy and that the outlook remains […]

Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr yesterday unveiled a $20 million Clean Energy Innovation Centre, in an effort to educate small and medium businesses to become more energy efficient. The centre offers a range of hands-on services to small and medium businesses in the clean energy sector including free business reviews and supporting grants to help […]

In yet another blow to the NSW Government and Opposition, the president of the Business Council of Australia, Greig Gailey has come out saying that NSW’s economic problems could have been avoided if the state opposition was stronger. The dire state of the NSW economy, including the various problems with the rail system is something […]

Signalling that the stimulus package cash bonus is needed now more than ever, retail sales have taken a dive, falling two percent in February across all segments. Consumers are keeping their money close to them, with department store figures down by almost 10 percent, while food retailing has eased 0.4 percent, and household goods spending […]

Four out of five small businesses are not ready for the new workplace laws to take effect on 1 July, according to the AMR Interactive research report, commissioned by Telstra Business. The research revealed that 45 percent of small businesses were either unprepared or uncertain about the changes to IR laws and their potential impact. […]

Telstra has today announced a number of new online software applications available to Australian small business through the Telstra T-Suite® Software as a Service platform. According to Telstra Business Group Managing Director, Deena Shiff, the T-Suite applications will enable small businesses to better manage risk. “In the current economic climate, those small businesses are looking […]

Written by Rab Memari Many Australian businesses with foreign operations do not currently consider the US market as a safe place to invest or do business in. With the international economic crisis in full swing, businesses are holding back on foreign investments and reducing their exposure to foreign markets. The tendency of businesses to ‘pull […]

Despite a 0.5 percent increase in retail sales in January, retail sales fell more than expected in February, as consumer confidence dropped. Retail sales fell by 2 percent in February, showing that as the economic slowdown takes hold, consumers are preferring to save their money. The drop signals the largest monthly decline since July 2000. […]

April 1st. The day when all the pranksters are out in force, hoping to play cruel yet amusing jokes on their friends, colleagues and the world. Australia’s media and marketing website Mumbrella got their users going this morning when they revealed a secret plot by the Government to tax Twitter. The article quotes, “Mumbrella understands […]

The health industry is set for a shake-up as Medibank private merges with Health Services Australia, private health insurance premiums rise, and the government plans to cut the cost of the Medicare safety net. The Government has announced plans to cut the costs of the $300 million-a-year- medicare safety met which covers more than 1.5 […]

Telstra has recently announced the opening of 67 new Business Centres around Australia designed to provide local face-to-face help for small business. Telstra Business Group Managing Director Deena Shiff said the new regional Business Centres would demonstrate the latest technology solutions for small business, and help them to become more efficient. “Telstra knows from our […]