News

The Federal Government has announced a tax law amendment allowing small businesses a 20 percent reduction in PAYG (pay-as-you-go) obligations. This will result in reduced quarterly payments for most businesses.

A survey conducted by consulting firm Grant Thornton has found that while a third of the Australian businesses surveyed indicated that decline in demand was an obstacle to growth, more than half were diversifying to capture new markets and 37 percent were developing new services. “Although a shortage in customer orders might derail the growth […]

The issue of paid maternity leave (or lack thereof) has been back in the news this week and I have to say, as a woman without kids, I have only just looked into what all the fuss is about. Surely a civilised, developed country like Australia has adequate paid maternity leave provisions? (I should remind […]

Business leaders across the country are being invited to apply for the highest accolade in business, the 10th annual Chartered Accountants Business Leaders Awards. The Business Leader of The Year award recognises leaders who demonstrate visionary leadership, exhibit best practice, show innovation and take risks, foster positive employee relations and contribute to the community. CEO […]

US President Barack Obama has signed The American Recovery and Investment Act, a US$787 billion (A$1.2 trillion) economic stimulus package that will combine new infrastructure spending and tax breaks for the purposes of creating more than 3 million jobs. But the bill includes a Buy American provision that will affect US trading partners. The Buy […]

With the economic downturn affecting business, company CEOs and senior managers have highlighted the need to increase their focus on enhancing customer loyalty. According to the CCS Business Leadership Survey, conducted by The Corporate Behavioural Specialists of 140 leaders across Australia, CEOs and senior managers found that the top 5 areas of focus for their […]

Telstra has heralded in a new era in real-time mobile communications, announcing the world’s fastest mobile broadband service—The Turbo 21 modem—today in Sydney.

Japan’s economy shrank at a rate of more than 12 percent per annum in the last quarter of 2008, with fears that the decline of Australia’s largest trading partner by revenue will adversely affect the Australian economy. The world’s second largest economy recorded a 3.3 percent decline in the three months to December 2008. Japan […]

Peak retail industry body, The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has called on the Federal Government to replace the $900 stimulus package cash handout for low to middle income earners, in favour of a debit card or voucher system. The ARA, who represent about 5000 small and medium sized businesses, believes that the cash bonus will […]

The Federal Government will join with commercial banks as part of the Australian Business Investment Partnership in a $4 billion project to support the commercial property sector. Australia’s four biggest banks will provide $2 billion, matched by the government’s $2 billion, to go to a variety of projects including office, retail and factory developments. The […]

2008 was a horror one financially for most of us.  Alot of people have asked me for a few ideas for creating their own list of New Year’s resolutions to help put their finances in better shape in 2009. With the Christmas cheer gone, now is the best time to get serious about your finances.  […]

I’m in a bit of a dilemma. I have just returned from the latest Business Chicks breakfast at the Westin in Sydney. Business Chicks is an Australia-wide organisation for women in business and a very successful one at that. As one of few female editors of a business magazine, I have always had a fundamental […]

Kevin Rudd’s controversial stimulus package has finally been passed by the Senate. A deal was brokered between Independent South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon and the Government, with $900 million now being promised for the Murray Darling Basin, along with $500 million for the drought-ravaged area.

Australian businesses and students are being encouraged to apply for the iAwards, the leading annual technology awards honouring the efforts of Australian business success in the ICT (Information, Communication, Technology) industry. Organised by the Australian Information Industry Assosciation (AIIA), the 2009 iAwards is designed to showcase and launch Australia’s new national and global technology success […]

The latest ABS Labour Force Data figures have indicated the pressure currently being felt in the Australian jobs market, with the unemployment rate soaring to 4.8 percent.

Results from a study conducted for American Express Global Commercial Card by Accenture, shows that businesses have begun to hold staff more accountable for business spending. This includes implementing a policy around spending, educating staff about the consequences of their expenditure, and enforcing the policy. Other strategies included data analysis—benchmarking expenditure against other businesses and […]

The number of women in accounting has almost doubled since 1998, according to the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Women now account for 30 percent of Chartered Accountants in Australia, jumping from a mere 19.7 percent in 1998. According to senior member for accounting and financial services firm Azure Group, Jacqueline Butler, there has been a […]

Businesses across Australia are banding together to donate money to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal. The Red Cross has indicated that it has received pledges of support from over 50,000 people across the country, and millions of dollars have so far been provided by the corporate sector from organisations such as 7-Eleven, Telstra, Commonwealth […]

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has encouraged business owners to contact the government if they believe their bank is treating them unfairly. Because of the government guarantee, banks should ensure a sufficient flow of credit, he believes. “If there are viable businesses that have an adequate income and are profitable into the future, then they should […]

Kevin Rudd has come under fire for hinting that the Government will provide relief for the Victorian bushfire victims through the $42 billion stimulus package. The government was forced to clarify what they meant after Federal Opposition MPs came forth expressing their anger at the proposal, believing the Government is putting pressure on parliament to […]