News
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 […]
The OECD has announced what we have all feared – the world economy is in recession, the worst in 50 years, and has called on governments to step up stimulus spending to spark a recovery in 2010. “The world economy is in the midst of its deepest and most synchronised recession in our lifetimes, caused […]
The latest Access Economics report on the contribution of overseas students to the Australian economy has revealed that they are vital to the economy in propping up jobs. A drop of 5 percent in the number of overseas students to our colleges and universities would cause 6300 Australians to lose their jobs. The report has […]
Symantec’s latest March 2009 MessageLabs Intelligence Report has revealed that close to 3,000 potentially harmful websites were blocked in March, with the percentage of viruses on the net rising to 20.3 percent, up from 16.5 percent on last year. According to MessageLabs intelligence senior analyst Symantec, Paul Wood, cyber criminals are turning their attention towards […]
Skype has announced its new application Skype for iPhone, will now be available on the Apple App Store. Users can now access Skype from their iPhone and iPods, with the ability to use calling and instant messaging on the devices. Scott Durchslag, Skype’s Chief Operating Officer is thrilled that many Apple iPod and iPhone users […]
With redundancies being felt across the country, employers are being warned to focus their attention on the their remaining staff to avoid creating an ‘aggressive’ workplace culture. A report released by Human Synergistics of over 1,700 businesses across Australia and New Zealand has found that the majority of businesses are suffering from an aggressive, blame-ridden […]
The latest MYOB small business survey has shown that small businesses are increasingly becoming frustrated with the state of the economy, and quickly losing faith in the Rudd Government, with close to two-thirds expecting the economy to slide into recession in the next 12 months. MYOB chief executive Tim Reed points towards a decline in […]
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) are encouraging workers to take leave, believing it could actually help to boost the local economy. According to the ACCI, 123 million days and $33.3 billion of annual leave in Australian businesses is going unused and workers should be taking their accrued leave. Many companies are now […]
Virgin Blue has been voted as Australia’s best overall airline in a poll of more than 4000 flyers, conducted by Choice, the leading consumer group. The poll looked at 4,307 passengers who had recently flown domestically in the last three years, and Virgin Blue took top billing with an overall satisfaction rate of 68 percent. […]
A decision is expected to be made today in the High Court on whether 7 million Australians will be able to receive the Government’s promised $900 stimulus package cash bonus. Legal academic Bryan Pape is challenging the stimulus package cash handouts, claiming they “exceed the government’s taxation powers” and are simply “a gift.” Pape believes […]
The ACCC has proposed authorising an agreement between members of an ATM sub-network not to charge each other’s cardholders a fee for transactions at ATMs owned by members. The reforms allow sub-networks to operate where financial institutions continue to charge each other for their cardholders’ transactions, rather than charging the cardholder directly. The sub-network, branded […]
Treasurer Wayne Swan has put pressure on the RBA to further drop interest rates believing it will help cushion the economy from the global financial crisis. The RBA last month kept the cash rate at 3.25 percent, the lowest in 45 years, but Swan believes the bank has “room to cut rates further if necessary.” […]
The switch is on for young and old. The Federal Government’s $6.7 million advertising campaign to educate consumers about digital TV and encourage people to make the switch before the 2013 deadline; is set to begin this week on free-to-air TV and radio. Speaking at a digital TV conference in Sydney yesterday, executive director of […]
Japan’s economy is in trouble yet again, with figures showing automobile production and industrial output plunged in February. Figures released from the country’s Industry and Economy Ministry revealed automobile production in Japan dropped 56.2 percent in February from a year earlier, the fifth straight monthly fall as the global recession hits; with industrial production falling […]
A report conducted by The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) of the performance of Australia’s airports, has found that Sydney airport is the worst performing in the country. Sydney has ranked the ‘worst performer’ for service and value for the third year in a row. The assessment was conducted by passengers, airlines and government […]
Pitch Club, a business networking event designed to help entrepreneurs pitch their ideas from a miniature boxing ring to an audience of potential investors, is calling on all entrepreneurs to participate in its upcoming events. In its second year, PitchClub has received national acclaim for its successful events, aimed at “energising Australia’s entrepreneur and investment […]
The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson has today launched Tourism Australia’s No Leave, No Life campaign to encourage Australians to use their accrued leave and $900 stimulus bonus on a local Aussie holiday. The No Leave, No Life program has been developed in conjunction with the business community to offer employees and employers the tools […]
Bankwest has confirmed it will slash 400 jobs, in an effort to keep the company afloat during the downturn. The subsidiary of Commonwealth Bank is set to cut 250 jobs in Western Australia, and the rest on the east coast. The decision comes after four years of rapid expansion that has seen Perth-based Bankwest increase […]
Treasure Wayne Swan has said that Australia will survive the world financial crisis and will come out of it more prosperous. Mr Swan believes that Australia’s strong financial system will put the economy in a better position than other nations. “While there are no quick fixes to this global recession, with the right action globally […]
