Archived News for Industry Professionals - December, 2013
The Federal Government has unveiled a $28 million scheme to provide 400 truancy officers to schools across remote parts of Australia.
Rich officials told to hold back on big send-offs
As millions of Chinese starve and suffer in a toxic atmosphere, the government has told its high-ranked officials to tone down increasingly extravagant funerals for the sake of austerity.
Sex doesn't sell in matters of the heart
The advertising game is often one of subtlety, suggestion and subliminal messaging – other times the formula is just to place a scantily-clad person next to the thing you want to sell, but research at the University of Queensland is investigating whether sex really is the best way to make a sale.
Slight bump to welfare to catch CPI
Over a million Australian students, young jobseekers, carers and young people with a disability will see a small increase to their Centrelink payments from next year.
Talks planned to ease axing in NT
Discussions are planned which may yield a deal for the future of the town of Nhulunbuy, which will have its economy decimated when a nearby Rio Tinto refinery is closed.
Uranium miner fined for lacklustre lodging
An Australian uranium exploration and mining firm has been fined for lodging virtually no financial documents, and not even holding an AGM.
Plan shoved ahead to fight ailing employment
The Federal Government has bumped forward a program in response to the high unemployment rate in Tasmania.
Unions says billion worth of goodbyes just the start
The redundancy payments for planned public sector job cuts will hit $1 billion before 2017, and could be higher if the federal axe swings deeper, reports say.
Australia claims another NZ icon
New Zealand’s kiwi bird may join a list which includes pavlova, Weetbix, Crowded House and Russell Crowe – all things Australia liked so much it pinched them from its neighbour.
Budget brings grey future for green farmers
This week’s Federal Government Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) indicates changes on the way for several agricultural schemes and funds but not a lot of detail on what, if anything, will replace them.
Farmers continue push to high-level pastures
Scientists and environmental authorities are standing against plans to allow cattle grazing in Victoria’s High Country.
Million dollar hosing after Newcastle spill
An oil spill in the Newcastle Harbour has cost one company over a million dollars.
Tests to help victims of snore war
Many will be intimately aware of the compounding effect of a snorer sleeping on their back, but researchers in Adelaide are conducting trials of a new pillow that could silence the annoyance.
ATA turns overseas for drivers as local supplies dry
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) says there is a dangerous shortage of capable drivers in Australia, and is pushing to expand 457 visas to allow skilled migrants to take up the spots.
Audit app update brings more safety to mobiles
An Australian company has released the latest version of a smartphone app to help all kinds of workplace safety auditing.
Heavy vehicle changes charging ahead from COAG
The recent meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) saw the launch of renewed efforts to create an improved heavy vehicle charging scheme.
Light way to split H20 could yield super-fuel
Researchers are working on a way to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using some special nanoparticles and light.
Local group out-designs dusty dumps
An engineering firm in New South Wales is testing its new dust-suppressing dump truck, which is aimed at reducing the amount of harmful and valuable material flying loose from the back of loads.
Old mistakes patched-over with big road spend
The Federal Government has announced just under $1 billion in funds for road projects it says were left in planning purgatory by Labor.
Rep says put up prices to fight rising costs
A transport industry body says labour and fuel are pushing up the cost of doing business and operators must lift their prices or risk collapse.
Sound barrier could break bugs' reign on screens
Windscreen wipers are alright, but in the future we may be annihilating the rain with a force field of high-intensity sound.