|
|
|
| 2006 |
December |
Highest fertility rate in 10 years -
THE national fertility rate is at its highest level since 1995,
according to the latest detailed births statistics released by the
Australian Bureau of Statistics. more...
|
|
|
More choice in health insurance - FROM 2007, private healh funds will be able to offer broader health insurance. more...
|
|
|
Good report for Victoria -
THE Victorian Department of Education and Training's annual report has
revealed that average class sizes continue to go down and students are
meeting or exceeding literacy and numeracy benchmarks. more...
|
|
|
Boost to job skills programme -
THE State Government has announced a boost to a highly successful
skills programme which matches up thousands of South Australians each
year with regional industry needs. more...
|
|
|
Code aims to cut credit problems -
THE Consumer Credit Code was developed in response to business and
consumer concerns as a national initiative to standardise credit
practice in Australia. more...
|
|
|
Maternity leave used by third of mothers -
PAID maternity leave was used by one-third (34 per cent) of employed
mothers-to-be, according to the first detailed survey y the Australian
Bureau of Statistics on the employment circumstances of women who had a
child under two years of age. more...
|
|
|
Rental property scarce in NSW -
BIS Shrapnel's claim that residential rents in Sydney will rise by 40
per cent over the next four years, coupled with the Real Estate
Institute of New South Wales's (REINSW) own Vacancy Rate Survey showing
that rental properties in the city are scarcer than at any time in the
past six years, should be ringing alarm bells REINSW President Cristine
Castle said. more...
|
|
|
Get help with all the latest technology -
WITH the increasing reliance on mobile phones, home phones, computers
and the internet, there are new issues to consider and decisions to
make before you buy any of these products or services. more...
|
|
|
Giant lake has plenty to offer -
CANBERRA'S Lake Burley Griffin is named after the Chicago-born
architect, Walter Burley Griffin, who was responsible for designing the
national capital. more...
|
|
November |
Pension increase to benefit nearly 4m -
AROUND 3.9 million Australians will receive an increase in their
pensions, allowances and supplementary payments following the 2.5 per
cent increase in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) for the six months to
June 2006. more...
|
|
|
Interest rates remain on hold -
HOME owners have been spared the pain of another interest rate rise and
the crippling drought and lower oil prices may even see mortgage
repayments fall in the new year. more...
|
|
|
It's been a super year for workers -
AUSTRALIAN workers have made the most of the Government's new
superannuation co-contribution scheme in its first year of operation. more...
|
|
|
Investment in skilled workers - SOUTH Australia is investing heavily in skilled workers to benefit the state in years to come. more...
|
|
|
Record student numbers - STUDENT numbers at Australian universities reached a record high in 2005, according to latest statistics. more...
|
|
|
Rural broadband gets a major boost -
THE Australian Government will invest up to $600 million in rural,
regional and remote Australia to encourage private sector rollouts of
broadband infrastructure. more...
|
|
|
More drugs added to benefit scheme list -
THE Australian Government has extended the listing of several drugs on
the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for the treatment of breast
cancer, diabetes and hepatitis B. more...
|
|
|
Good report for WA police -
FASTER response to general and emergency calls, improved services and
more police are headline results listed in the 2005-06 annual police
report. more...
|
|
|
Hobart turns city ways upside down - GETTING the measure of Tasmania's capital, Hobart, calls for a new way of looking at city life. more...
|
|
September |
Top employers are named - WITH high demand for skilled workers showing no signs of ceasing, debate is strong on the hottest employers. more...
|
|
|
Economy gets good report-
THE 2006 Economic Survey of Australia released by the OECD provides a
strong endorsement of the Government's economic management and
Australia's economic performance. more...
|
|
|
Check Australia's driving rules -
BONA fide tourists with a valid UK driver's licence for the same class
of vehicle can drive in Australia. You should carry your licence with
you at all times. more...
|
|
|
Health insurance rebate available -
FAMILIES and individuals that pay private health insurance premiums are
eligible for the Federal Government 30 per cent rebate on prvate health
insurance. more...
|
|
|
Wide range of homes available -
AUSTRALIAN cities offer a wide range of housing options. The range is
from a single house on a block of land in the suburb of a big city or a
flat in a high-rise block in an inner-city area to a house on a large
block of land in a rural area. more...
|
|
|
Number of unemployed now at 30-year low -
LABOUR force figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics
(ABS) show that Australia's unemployment rate fell to 4.8 per cent in
July 2006, its lowest level since August 1976. more...
|
|
|
New laws modernise education -
QUEENSLAND'S Parliament has formally approved the introduction of the
new Prep Year in 2007 and an increase in the State's school starting
age in 2008. more...
|
|
|
Australians are still confident -
IN THE face of another interest rate rise announced and growing
concerns about the state of the local economy, Australian consumers are
still among the world's most confident and ranked the seventh highest
globally. more...
|
|
|
North offers slice of real Australia -
THE Northern Territory is the quintessential Australian experience.
It's an enormous wedge of dramatic landscape, roughly the combined size
of Spain, France and Italy, which hosts a diverse profussion of
wildlife. more...
|
|
August |
Broadband use rising rapidly -
MORE Australians than ever before are now taking advantage of broadband
Internet access, Minister for Communications, Information Technology
and the Arts Senator Helen Coonan has said. more...
|
|
|
New migration plan launched
- THE Department of Immigration (DIMA) has launched the DIMA Plan for
2006/07, one year after the appointment of its new Secretary, Andrew
Metcalfe and following the recruitment of more than 30 new senior
executives. more...
|
|
|
Warning goes out to new drivers -
OVER 40,000 'L' and 'P' plate drivers have received letters in the post
warning them of tough new penalties for those who break the road rules.
more...
|
|
|
Regional airports get security upgrade -
THE Australian Government has announced more than $145,900 from the
Regional Airport Funding Programme to upgrade security at Griffith
Airport. more...
|
|
|
Money not leading to happiness -
THE saddest federal electorate is in the heart of Sydney, the richest
and most expensive city in the country, while the happiest voters live
in one of the nation's poorest rural electorates. more...
|
|
|
More adults now learning new skills -
MORE than 10 per cent of the Australian adult population is
participating in some form of vocational or technical education, a new
report reveals. more...
|
|
|
Internet revolution hits real estate -
WITH so much to do and so little time in which to do it, it isn't
surprising that a growing number of people are opting to do business
via the Internet. more...
|
|
|
Vaccines will improve lives -
THE Queensland Government will deliver savings to the Queensland health
system and improve the lives of Queenslanders by offering free
vaccinations to all eligible school students next year, Health Minister
Stephen Robertson said. more...
|
|
|
Something for all on North Coast -
THERE'S no place like the North Coast of New South Wales - from
Terrigal to the Tweed you'll find a range of holiday experiences to
enjoy: from its golden beaches abd sparkling waterways, to its national
parks and mouth-watering food and wine. more...
|
|
July |
Take time to consider life changing move - MIGRATION to Australia. Do we really think about what it means. more...
|
|
|
Skill assesment gives no guarantee of job - IN AUSTRALIA no single authority assesses or recognises all overseas qualifications. more...
|
|
|
Parents play big part in learning -
RESPONSIBILITY for education is divided between State and Territory governments and the Australian Government. more...
|
|
|
More skilled needed in SA - MORE than 25 trades and professions in South Australia are struggling to find skilled workers, a report has revealed. more...
|
|
|
Plenty of winners in Budget -
THE biggest cuts to personal tax since the introduction of the GST are
the centrepiece of Peter Costello's $48 billion budget giveaway to
singles, families, businesses and retirees. more...
|
|
|
WA unemployment levels now at a record low - WESTERN Australia has again set a record for low unemployment at just 3.5 per cent for May 2006. more...
|
|
|
Going still tough for home buyers - HOME loan affordability improved slightly across Australia in the March quarter 2006, but for many, the going is still tough. more...
|
|
|
Care round clock -
THOUSANDS of Australian families will have improved access to
after-hours care from local doctors following a substantial investment
under the Round the Clock Medicare initiative. more...
|
|
|
Easy to relax in tropical Darwin - DARWIN is the tropical capital city of Australia's Northern Territory. more...
|
| |
June |
Workers
gain from Budget tax cuts -
THE paypacket of the average workers in Australia will be bolstered by
$10 a week, but better benefits from broad income tax cuts have been
directed at both ends of the workforce.more...
|
|
|
Parents can join family in Aust
- PARENTS migrating to Australia must be sponsored by their family. The
family must also prove that they are willing to support their parents
when they arrive. more...
|
|
|
Check on credit deals -
CONSUMERS need to be wary of terms and conditions on interest-free
loans and low-credit deals, according to the Australian Securities and
Investments Commission. more...
|
|
|
2005 was
warmest year on record
- AUSTRALIA has officially recorded its warmest year on
record. more...
|
|
|
Parties
split on nuclear debate - PRIME Minister John Howard
says Australia should look at using nuclear power if it becomes
economically viable. more...
|
|
|
Number of first-home buyers rising
- THE number of first home buyers entering the national property market
is at the highest point for nearly four years. more...
|
|
|
GP numbers fall - THE
proportion of solo practices across Australia has more than halved in
the past 14 years, according to a snapshot of general practice reported
in the newspaper Australian Doctor. more...
|
|
|
Overseas intake faces downturn
-
UNIVERSITIES have perhaps a two-year breathing space before they feel
the fiscal squeeze as international students take their business
elsewhere. more...
|
|
|
Top skifields cater for all
- IT'S
just a two hour scenic drive from Canberra to the Snowy Mountains where
you'll discover beautiful alpine flowers, top ski resorts, wild
brumbies, fishing, trekking, horse riding and much more. more...
|
|
January |
Migrants face tougher English test rules -
Australia is to lift the bar on English language tests for skilled
migratns after finding many fail to land jobs in sectors experiencing
sever albour shortages. more...
|
|
|
A second chance
- A PERSON who has applied for a general skill migration visa, while in
Australia, and has been refused, can now re-apply in certain
circumstances. more...
|
|
|
Plan to test the under-5s
- FIVE-year old children will be tested for basic reading skills twice
a year under a national plan to help struggling students. more...
|
|
|
Adelaide - a top city -
ADELAIDE has been ranked equal with Sydney when it comes to rating the
most livable cities in the world. According to a survey of 127 cities
by the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit, Adelaide ranked equal
fifth with Sydney and perth. more...
|
|
|
Huge shortage of tradesmen
- SKILLED workers will be protected by increasing bargaining strength
in the new deregulated jobs market, but the downside is people could
struggle to find a dentist or plumber. more...
|
|
|
Migrants keen on Perth
- A WESTERN Australian Government migration delegation of business,
skilled and regional representatives had an overwhelming response to
its visit to Ireland and the United Kingdom during October 2005. more...
|
| |
|
|
