Government looks to overhaul points test for skilled migrants
The federal government has flagged it is looking to reform the points test for skilled migrants, which determines who gets to come to Australia, following a decision to reduce immigration numbers. The...
View ArticleAI-powered productivity is pointless if no one will be left to buy stuff
Increased productivity offered by AI is ultimately pointless if there is no market for the goods and services being produced. The post AI-powered productivity is pointless if no one will be left to buy...
View ArticleMinimum wage: ACTU calls for 9% hike in ‘feminised’ industries in annual review
Workers in key feminised industries should get at least a 9% pay rise in the Annual Wage Review, according to the Australian Council of Trade Unions. The post Minimum wage: ACTU calls for 9% hike in...
View ArticleLow-risk foreign investments to be fast-tracked under reworked rules
Treasurer Chalmers announced new resources will be added to screen foreign investment proposals that may pose a national security risk, while allowing low-risk foreign investments to be fast-tracked....
View ArticleWA posts sixth consecutive surplus budget with $400 energy credit for SMEs
WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti's first budget delivered a $3.2 billion windfall for the current financial year, with a further $2.6 billion surplus projected for 2024-25. The post WA posts sixth...
View ArticleBudget predictions show inflation to return to target soon
Australians could soon breathe a sigh of relief as federal budget forecasts reveal inflation may temper a year earlier than previously predicted. The post Budget predictions show inflation to return to...
View ArticleFuture Made in Australia unveils $1.7 billion innovation fund
Surprise, the Future Made In Australia policy includes $1.7 billion for an innovation fund aimed at early-stage development. The post Future Made in Australia unveils $1.7 billion innovation fund...
View ArticleBudget support measures will put Chalmers’ economics to the test
While the federal government says its budget will lower inflation, analysts counter that broad cost of living relief, such as energy rebates and tax cuts, could make things worse. The post Budget...
View ArticleFighting inflation with subsidies? It’s been done before, successfully
One big fight in this budget is going to be whether the government’s policies to reduce inflation are legitimate. Jason Murphy explains why the measures could work. The post Fighting inflation with...
View ArticleFuture Made in Australia a missed opportunity to drive women entrepreneurship
For a budget centred around big spending for “investing in a Future Made in Australia,” it’s disappointing to see no new specific spending initiatives allocated for women’s entrepreneurship and women...
View ArticleSmall business ombudsman ‘disappointed’ with government’s procurement report...
Small business and government are both getting a raw deal on procurement because of systematic risk aversion, according to a new report. The post Small business ombudsman ‘disappointed’ with...
View Article“Time of survival”: Aussies taking on second jobs as cost pressures bite
One in five Australians are working a second job to keep up with rising costs and almost half are afraid they will be let go. The post “Time of survival”: Aussies taking on second jobs as cost...
View ArticleAustralia’s domestic manufacturing gets a $523.2 million boost with Battery...
Australia has a new National Battery Strategy, unveiled last week as a key part of the government’s Future Made in Australia agenda. The vision is for this country to be making batteries with secure...
View ArticleFuture Made in Australia will create jobs but it doesn’t go far enough
Expanding the Future Made in Australia program to include other critical industries such as agriculture, food processing and health manufacturing and their supply chains will enhance Australia’s...
View Article‘Abandoned, disrespected’: Rural branch closures inquiry calls for more...
The Senate inquiry into branch closures across rural Australia released its final report, after the committee spent a year travelling across the country hearing about the effects on everyday life and...
View ArticleMelbourne Lord Mayor: Docklands businesses “deserving of attention”
As Melbourne's Firelight Festival prepares to illuminate the city, Lord Mayor Sally Capp has indicated the event will be more than just a spectacle of lights, but rather a beacon of hope for struggling...
View ArticleThis regional pizzeria’s community-first marketing can’t be topped
Earth and Soul Pizza in Victoria's regional town of Bairnsdale is using community-focused marketing strategies to increase its sales. The post This regional pizzeria’s community-first marketing can’t...
View ArticleMillennials lead mass migration from capital cities to regional areas
Millennials are leading the exodus from capital cities to regional areas, continuing a trend that began during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and has been fuelled by high housing and living costs. The...
View ArticleThe $84 billion question: How the skilled migration test should be reformed
The skilled migration points test allocates points to potential migrants depending on characteristics such as their age, proficiency in English, education, and work experience. The post The $84 billion...
View ArticleExtra increase to the minimum wage on the cards for childcare and health...
In a year’s time, next July, the Commission has offered hope of extra increases for workers in industries including childcare, where work is largely done by women and has historically been undervalued....
View Article