News
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 […]
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 […]
