Industry News

The Federal Government has ratified the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, paving the way to promote international corporation between national revenue authorities to assist in enforcing national tax laws.

Recent findings published by AFG show that the country’s non-major lenders have increased their market share of the mortgage market from the Big Four banks, rising from 19.6 per cent in October last year to 24.3 per cent last month.

Leighton Holdings has confirmed Marcelino Fernández Verdes, the Chief Operating Officer of parent company HOCHTIEF, as the company’s new Non-executive Director.

A team of researchers from Murdoch University have published a study which categorically proves that DNA could not survive any longer than 6.8 million years in an optimal environment.

The feeling of dreading coming to work and the stressing out at the prospect of another day of unhappiness in the workplace is one of the driving factors for the increasing number of mental health claims, according to new findings released by Comcare.

A survey of attitudes towards mental health issues has revealed some startling results, showing that many Australians still hold stigmatising attitudes towards people with depression.

The Victorian Government has announced the reappointment of the Chairperson and members to the Victorian Catchment Management Council (VCMC).

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has commenced the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health survey which will improve our knowledge of the health issues affecting this group of Australians.

Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased 0.3 percentage points to 5.4 per cent in September, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

Australia Post has announced that the company will invest over $2 billion to transform its national logistics network and create a ‘universal digital platform’ to deliver the for the increased services Australians are demanding.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced it will oppose the proposed acquisition by Seven Group Holdings of Consolidated Media Holdings (CMH).

The Federal Government has announced it has approved the joint GVK/Hancock Coal proposed new coal terminal at the existing Port of Abbott Point.

The Launceston City Council has launched a new online survey aimed at helping develop a new vision for the future of greater Launceston.

The Western Australia Local Government Association (WALGA) has called for the State Government to introduce a Cash for Containers scheme to combat the high rates of litter in the state.

If local government bodies are to perform to their fullest extent, the capacity of the executive arm must be significantly strengthened according to new research released by the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government.

The ‘Australian Mayors: What can and Should They Do?’ research paper focuses on the changing role of Mayors in Australia, examining how that might role might be strengthened.

The paper found that as the office of the mayor is the highest executive body in local government, more should be done to enhance the power.

“In Australia, specification of the responsibilities and authority of mayors varies greatly both within and between the states and Northern Territory, but apart from Queensland, attitudes to the role of mayors could fairly be described as ambivalent,” the ACELG concluded in its research.

“However, recent legislation to further enhance the role and authority of Queensland mayors, and to introduce a directly (popularly) elected mayor for the City of Geelong in Victoria, appear to reflect a growing belief that more effective civic leadership is needed, and can be seen as emblematic of a broader shift in that direction.”

The full research paper can be found here

The Victorian Government has announced the appointment of philanthropist and long-standing supporter of the arts Bruce Parncutt has been appointed as the new President of the Council of Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).

The reform of Local Government in NSW must be built on the strengths of the industry and acknowledge the vast and diverse services that councils supply on limited budgets, according to the submission made by the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW (LGSA) in the first round of consultations led by the Independent Local Government Review Panel.

The New South Wales Minister for Local Government, Don Page, has urged the State’s newly elected councillors to ‘hit the ground running’ and attend a series of of Councillor Workshops to beld across the State.

The New South Wales Government has announced the State’s councils can now bid for interest subsidies to build on greenfield sites under round two of the Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme.

The Queensland Government has announced it has written to over 25 consumer groups asking for their input on how to enhance participation in key aspects of policy and decision making in regards to the electricity market.