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| 2007 |
December |
Increase in wealth-
THE average wealth of an Australian household in 2005-06 was $563,000,
up 14 per cent from 2003-04, according to figures released by the
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).more...
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Economic growth is strong -
THE ALL Groups Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.7 per cent in the
September quarter 2007, to be 1.9 per cent higher than a year ago. more...
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All have right to work and earn - EVERYONE in Australia has the right to share in and enjoy the Australian lifestyle.more...
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Demand for houses at record high -
AUSTRALIA's housing needs have risen to a new record higho of 182,000
new dwellings per annum, according to the latest estimates from BIS
Shrapnel, substantially above the 151,000 new dwellings actually
commenced in 2006.07. more...
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Private health insurance vital-
PRIVATE health insurance is a important component of funding of health
care in Australia, providing about 11 per cent of total national health
care funding. more...
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Support for P-Plate restrictions -
AUSTRALIAN motorists believe P-Plate drivers should have greater
restrictions placed on them in a bid to lower the high crash rates
among young drivers. more...
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Standards hit new highs in NSW
- NEW South Wales Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca
has announced primary school literacy, numeracy and writing standards
were at a record high following the release of the 2007 Basic Skills
Test (BST) results. more...
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Broadband performance continues to improve-
THE Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's 2007
international broadband rankings demonstrate that Australia's broadband
performance continues to improve compared to the rest of the world. more...
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Cairns offers a true taste of the tropics-
CAIRNS is a truly tropical city... a modern, sophisticated destination
that is an ideal base to explore the wider region with front door
access to World-heritage listed Reef and Rainforest, islands and
Outback.more...
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Get a taste of the country life -
AN authentic slice of country life. If there's one word that people use
to describe South Australia's Clare Valley, it's 'authentic'.more...
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Queensland joins STNI scheme - QUEENSLAND has, of October 23, 2007, joined the State and Territory Nominated Independent Skilled Visa Programme (STNI).more...
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November |
Unemployment at 33-year low -
NEW Australian Bureau of Staristics (ABS) data shows Australia's
unemployment rate fell to 4.2 per cent in September 2007, its lowest
level in almost 33 years. more...
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Victorian economy is strong -
VICTORIA'S Treasurer John Lenders has released the 2006-07 Annual
Financial Report, saying it confirmed the ongoing strength of the
Victorian economy. more...
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University enrolments reach record level -
NEW statistics show a record number of students at Australian
universities. The 2006 Higher Education Students Statistics summary
report shows there were 984,146 university students enrolled in 2006,
almost 27,000 more than 2005. more...
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Initiatives address skill shortages -
TWO reports released by the National Centre for Vocational Education
Research (NCVER) show the success of the Australian Government's
initiatives to address Australia's skills and labour shortages. more...
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Go West proves a big success -
AN OVERWHELMING response was received recently from workers in the
Eastern States following recent televison coverage of Western
Australia's booming employment opportunities. more...
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Medicare claiming is now easier -
THE Australian Government is pleased that peak medical bodies share its
commitment to making life easier for patients through electronic
Medicare claiming. more...
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Take care when shopping online - SHOPPING over the internet is becoming increasingly popular and means we can buy a range of gifts from around the world. more...
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Broadband guarantee for all - EIGHT further broadband providers have been approved under the $163 million Australian Broadband Guarantee. more...
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Affordability is still falling - DECLINING housing affordability is prompting more and more people to consider alternative ways of entering the housing market. more...
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Migration still has a vital role to play -
THE Secretary for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC),
Andrew Metcalfe, addressed the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA)
at their national conference in October. more...
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Aussies pay eighth lowest rate of tax -
AUSTRALIA is the eighth lowest taxing country in the 30 member OECD
according to the latest edition of OECD Revenue Statistics. more...
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October |
Economy gets positive report -
NATIONAL Accounts data released released by the Australian Bureau of
Statistics (ABS) show strong and sustained economic growth. Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 0.9 per cent in the June quarter to
be 4.3 per cent higher through the year. more...
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Tax free super for terminal patients -
THE Australian Government is to exempt people with a permanent illness
who access their superannuation under the age of 60 from the tax on
their lump sum benefit. more...
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Practice makes perfect -
A NEW report into the attitudes of Australians towards money has been
released by the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, Peter
Dutton. more...
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Fewer now able to buy their own home -
HOME loan affordability is close to the lowest point recorded by the
Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) in the 22 years it has
published affordability data. more...
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Major skill shortages -
KEY regional stakeholders in the Goldfields-Esperance region have
formed an alliance with the aim of tackling the region's critical
workforce and skill shortage. more...
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New survey reveals health of the nation -
A HEALTH survey conducted by the Neilsen Company has found that
headaches, sleeping problems and back ache are the most common ailments
of Australians. more...
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Interest rates to be capped -
QUEENSLAND will soon have new legislation capping the exorbitant
interest rates and fees and charges which are being levied by some
lenders. more...
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Motorists' concerns -
AUSTRALIAN motorists are spending more time worrying about the
behaviour of other drivers, according to the latest research into
driver attitudes and concerns released by the Australian Automobile
Association. more...
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1000 jobs each day - THE latest Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force figures show more than 1000 jobs a day were created in August. more...
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New national testing -
STATE and Territory Governments will participate in national testing
for literacy and numeracy in 2008, as required by the Australian
Government under the current schools funding agreement. more...
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Senate debates new points scheme -
THE upper house of the Australian Federal Parliament, the Senate,
considered a debate by the opposition parties who attempted to disallow
the changes that removed points for Australian families prepared to
sponsor their relatives under the skilled visa programme as from
September 1. more...
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September |
New initiative to save water -
WESTERN Australia's Premier Alan Carpenter has launched a new
initiative designed to help Western Australian householders reduce
their water use and save money. more...
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High speed broadband framework -
DRAFT guidelines from the Expert Taskforce for the competitive
assessment process to build a high speed broadband network in
Australia's capital cities and major regional centres have been
released for public comment. more...
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New stats for income and wealth -
AVERAGE real household incomes in 2005-06 are 10 per cent higher than
in 2003-04 and 34 per cent higher than in 1994-95, according to the
latest survey results released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.more...
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Healthy start for students -
MORE than 130 Victorian primary schools will be able to install bicyle
sheds, create cafe-style school canteens, establish kitchen gardens,
and upgrade their playgrounds in the first round of a $3.5 million
State Government programme. more...
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Number claiming benefits falling -
LATEST figures show that the number of people receiving unemployment
benefits nationally fell by 28,906 people (5.3 per cent) between June
2006 and June 2007. more...
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Aussies won't pay to look good -
WHILE over two thirds of Australians (69 per cent) say the pressure to
look good is much greater now than for previous generations, this
pressure isn't translating into action. more...
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Overweight, marrying less and buying more
- AUSTRALIANS are more likely to be overweight, less likely marry, and
consuming more goods and services, according to the Australian Bureau
of Statistics (ABS) flagship publication, Australian Trends 2007. more...
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Crackdown on organised crime -
THE Australian Government has announced funding of $600,000 for 40
ten-day residential schools in gifted education for teachers and
$600,000 for 50 new workshops for parents of gifted children across
rural, regional and low socio-economic metropolitan areas throughout
Australia. more...
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Alcohol top of treatment list -
A PROPOSED new Health Care Bill 2007, aimed at streamlining governance
structures across the South Australian public health system, has been
released for public comment before being introduced to State Parliament. more...
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Buying a home is set to become even harder -
GERALDTON is the regional hub of Western Australia's entire Mid West.
Located about 450km north of the capital, Perth, the city is perched
near beautiful coastline to the west and rolling hills to the east. more...
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Big fall in jobless -
THE Canberra Government has attracted more than 360 skilled workers
from overseas over the past year to help tackle the local effects of
the national skills shortage. more...
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August |
Australian society is changing -
ACCORDING to the 2006 Census of Population and Housing, Australia's
population is decoming older and family structures are changing.more...
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$4m to drive regional development growth -
SOUTH Australia's regional communities will benefit from a new $500,000
State Government programme aimed at implementing South Australia's
Strategic Plan in country areas. more...
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Tax cuts for all payers -
EVERY Australian taxpayer received a tax cut on July 1. The tax cuts
amounted to $1,100 per year for a person on a wage of between $30,000
and $40,000, and $850 per year for a person on the average wage of
$46,239. more...
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Coldest June since 1950 - JUNE
2007 was the coldest June recorded in Australia since at least 1950,
according to the Bureau of Meterology's National Climate Centre. It
comes close on the heals of the warmest May in many parts of Australia
and the warmest Autumn on record in eastern Australia. more...
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Property market is still a mixed bag-
GROWTH in residential property prices is forecast to vary
region-by-region in 2007/08, with Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and
Canberra expected to show a modest pick-up in growth, according to
leading industry analyst and economic forecaster, BIS Shrapnel. more...
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Stronger net for workers
- THE Workplace Authority and Workplace Ombudsman are getting on with the job of helping working Australians. more...
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More protection for homebuilders-
MORE Western Australians building homes will be better protected
against construction delays and cost increases under new reforms.more...
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Funding gives boost to gifted students -
THE Australian Government has announced funding of $600,000 for 40
ten-day residential schools in gifted education for teachers and
$600,000 for 50 new workshops for parents of gifted children across
rural, regional and low socio-economic metropolitan areas throughout
Australia. more...
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New Bill backs better health -
A PROPOSED new Health Care Bill 2007, aimed at streamlining governance
structures across the South Australian public health system, has been
released for public comment before being introduced to State Parliament.more...
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Geraldton offers a scenic paradise -
GERALDTON is the regional hub of Western Australia's entire Mid West.
Located about 450km north of the capital, Perth, the city is perched
near beautiful coastline to the west and rolling hills to the east.more...
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Tackling shortages -
THE Canberra Government has attracted more than 360 skilled workers
from overseas over the past year to help tackle the local effects of
the national skills shortage.more...
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| 2007 |
July |
Second highest birth rate on record -
THE latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics
(ABS) show that the number of births registered last year was the
second highest on record. more...
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Skilled benefit regions -
A JOINT Australian and New South Wales government study of regional
migration in the New South Wales Riverina shows positive outcomes for
employers, employees and the community through skilled workers settling
in regional areas. more...
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Economy showing strong growth -
THE Australian economy showed robust growth in the March quarter 2007,
National Accounts data resleased by the ABS last month show that GDP
increased by 1.6 per cent to be 3.8 per cent higher than a year ago.
This is the strongest quarterley growth since the December quarter
2003. more...
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Admissions to hospitals rise -
HOSPITAL admissions are up again according to a report released by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). more...
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Young are healthy -
YOUNG Australians are generally healthy and well, with over 90 per cent
rating their health as excellent, very good or good, according to a new
report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). more...
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Budget boost for Canberra
- THE Australian Capital Territory's Chief Minister and Treasurer Jon
Stanhope has delivered the State Government's sixth consecutive surplus
as part of the 2007-08 Budget, which takes the Territory forward by
investing in areas of greatest need and importance. more...
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Tax reform major part of WA State Budget -
THE West Australian Government has rejected several ideas convassed by
some members of its independent State Tax Review Reference Group
calling for a State income tax, increases to the GST and a labour
services tax. more...
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Universities set to get extra funding -
A MAJOR funding boost willow allow universities across Australia to
undertake a range of capital works projects. The funding of $62.1
million is being made available under the Capital Development Pool
(CDP) allocations for 2008 and 2009 as part of the current round of CDP
funding. more...
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Tax on air travel remains unlikely -
AUSTRALIA had already demonstrated the aviation industry could minimise
greenhouse emissions in practical ways without a ticket tax, the Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and regional Services, Mark
Vaile, said recently on World Environment Day. more...
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Call for more to be Employers of Choice -
AUSTRALIA'S Minister for employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon
Joe Hockey MP, has recognised the growing number of Australian
businesses that are creating flexible and equitable workplaces for
women. more...
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Good news for buyers -
STABLE interest rates proved to be good news for home loan
affordability in the March 2007 quarter, according to the Deposit
Power/Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) Home Loan Affordability
Report. more...
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Taste of the Outback in NSW
- THERE'S no place like New South Wales to experience the Outback. With
its mining towns and underground motels, Aboriginal heritage and quirky
local characters, the New South Wales Outback is an amazing and
memorable place to visit. more...
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Tough laws protect sponsored workers
- AUSTRALIA'S skill shortage in recent years has led to many employers looking to employ overseas skills in large numbers. more...
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May |
WA looks to the UK in search for teachers -
THE West Australian Government recently embarked on an ambitious
teacher recruitment campaign in the United Kingdom as part of a wider
strategy to attract more teachers to country Western Australia. more...
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More choice on way for pensions -
THE Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, Peter Dutton, have
announced that regulations have been made to implement a number of the
Government's Simplified Superannuation reforms which will give
Australians greater control over their superannuation savings. more...
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Vital to plan for retirement - ONE housing issue that needs more discussion in the community is how the growing need for retirement options is addressed. more...
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Qld women helped back to work -
THE Queensland Government will work with employers to help women
re-enter the workforce John Mickel, the State's Minister for State
Development, Employment and Industrial Relations has said. more...
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Students are failing to meet standards -
THE Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop
MP, has expressed concern that recently-released results from literacy
and numeracy tests conducted in 2005 show that the number of students
failing to meet benchmarks increased the longer they were at school. more...
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Climate change addressed -
WESTERN Australia's Premier Alan Carpenter has urged the Commonwealth
Government to be part of the solution to climate change by working with
the States on a national emissions trading scheme. more...
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Smoking ban for cars with kids -
A BAN on smoking in cars where children under the age of 16 are
passengers will come into effect in South Australia from May 31 this
year following legislation passed in the house of assembly. more...
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Net proving popular for insurance info -
THE proportion of online consumers accessing insurance information
online is up nine percentage points in the past six months and more
than 20 percentage points in the past two years. more...
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More seek out speciality shops -
RISING patronage of speciality and traditional fresh food outlets
(green grocers, fish markets, butchers and bakeries) is threatening to
eat away at supermarkets' 'share of stomach' as consumers increasingly
shop around in search of the freshest food offer, reveals a report
released by The Nielsen Company. more...
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Discover Tasmania's Wild West - ON THE wild west coast of Tasmania lies a water system that's a natural treatment for the planet. more...
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April |
Capital's economy is strong -
THE ACT economy is delivering strong sales for Canberra businesses and
strong sustainable wages growth for Canberra's highly skilled and
innovative workforce, figures released by the Australian Bureau of
Statistics show. more...
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Employment at record high -
THE Australian government's economic credentials received yet another
strong endorsement with the release of February's ABS Labour force
numbers. more...
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Help with cost of LPG conversion - THE Australian Government will provide assistance to people who wish to convert their private motor vehicle to LPG. more...
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Workers want more hours -
JUST over half a million (544,600) workers were ready and willing to
work more hours in September 2006, according to the latest figures
released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. more...
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Own house still popular -
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...
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Funding boost for facilities -
FACILITIES from sporting fields to medical centres will be built at
universities across the country as the Minister for Education, Science
and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, announced funding of more than
$58 million for universities to provide new or improved services for
students and their local communities. more...
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More childless households -
HOUSEHOLDS without children will become more common than the
traditional family-with-kids residence in Queensland over the next five
years. more...
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Broadband network is expanding -
THE Australian Broadband network continues to grow rapidly despite the
current "noise and bluster" about telecommunications competition and
access regulation, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, has said. more...
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Explore Broome's natural beauty -
BROOME is a picture postcard come to life. Located at the southern
gateway to the Kimberley, one of the last great unexplored wilderness
areas on earth. Broome is a small town where the bush meets the sea. It
is full of history and characters born out of isolation and initiative
and has a heritage unlike that of any other town in Australia with the
beauty of the surroundings to match its remarkable story. more...
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Extra flights boost tourist numbers -
EMIRATES Airlines has received approval to fly 35 additional services
and Etihad Airways 21 services to Australia each week, bringing up to
200,000 additional tourists to Australia. more...
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March |
Culture more popular
- IN 2005-06, 85 per cent of Australians (13.5 million) aged 15 years
and over attended at least one cultural venue or event in the previous
12 months. more...
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Parents on welfare helped to find work -
THE Australian Government is determined to give the nearly 233,000
parents currently dependent on welfare a leg up in gaining skills and
employment, once their children reach school age, Minister for
Workforce Participation Dr Sharman Stone has said. more...
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New campaign aims to boost tourism in WA - INTERNATIONAL and interstate tourists are being enticed to Western Australia in a new $4.5 million campaign. more...
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NT jobless at new low - THE Northern Territory has achieved the lowest level of unemployment in history, said Treasurer Syd Stirling. more...
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Changes ahead for Credit Code -
SOUTH Australia's Minister for Consumer Affairs Jennifer Rankine has
indicated the State Government's support for a range of amendments to
the national Consumer Credit Code. more...
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New standards for behaviour -
STATE schools across Queensland will place a stronger emphasis on
discipline in 2007 with the introduction of the Code of School
Behaviour. more...
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Aged get more protection -
NEW legislation will give new protection to aged care residents,
including compulsory reporting of abuse, protections for those who
report and improved arrangements for investigating complaints. more...
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Safer hours for doctors -
AUSTRALIAN Medical Association (AMA) President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal.
has launched a unique web-based tool designed to cut the number of
doctors suffering fatigue, and make hospitals safer for patients and
doctors. more...
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Migrants supported -
PARLIAMENTARY Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Teresa Gambaro has reinforced the government's commitment to a strong
and cohesive Australia through effective migration. more...
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February |
Big increase in broadband access
- THE take-up of broadband Internet connections by Australian
households almost doubled in the year to June 2006 according to the
latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures. more...
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Temporary migration vital -
"TEMPORARY skilled migration is playing a crucial role in the
Australian future economy," Minister for Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs Amanda Vanstone has said. more...
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Vouchers to boost Australia's skills -
THOUSANDS of Australians will now have the opportunity to expand their
skills base and job opportunities through the Australian Skills
Vouchers programme which is now open for business. more...
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Improve your financial fitness-
THE Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) is urging
consumers to make a postive start to 2007 by taking small steps to
improve their financial position. more...
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Scheme aims to cut bullying-
THE Bullying. No Way! project is developed and managed by all
participating Australian education authorities: State and Territory
government education systems, the National Catholic Education
Commission, the National Council of Independent Schools' Associations
and the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training. more...
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Mature jobseekers are given more support -
THE mature aged unemployed are being given even greater support with a
new kit that brings together all of the Australian Government's
programmes to help mature aged jobseekers to find a job. The Mature Age
Support Workers' Kit was released by the Minister for Workforce
Participation, Dr Sharman Stone. more...
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Health programmes get major boost-
THE Australian Government has announced funding of more than $545
million for breast cancer, preventative health care and health
protection programmes to 2010-11.more...
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Market remains buoyant - THOSE scouring rental advertisements for somewhere to live are telling one story across Australia: it's a full house. more...
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Friendly Aussies are proud of success -
SPORTING success, straight talking, mateship and a sense of community
in times of national hardship have been identified as the
characteristics which set Australians apart, according to a survey
released by the Commonwealth Bank, the major sponsor of the Australian
of the Year Awards.more...
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January |
Australians living longer than ever -
LIFE expectancy in Australia is the highest on record, according to the
latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. more...
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More help to find work -
TWO point five million Australians of working age receive welfare
payments in Australia. Of this number, over 510,000 receive the dole
(Newstart and Youth Allowance), over 700,000 receive a disability
support pension and almost 600,000 receive a parenting pension. That
is, one in 20 working age Australians are not, in fact, in work. more...
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Low earners get housing boost -
DESPITE the recent interest rate rise, the economic rate in Queensland
is strong, according to CEO of Harcourts Queensland, Aaron Brooks. more...
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More homebuyers going solo -
FEWER Australians are buying property with a partner and more are
choosing to go solo when entering the property market, a new report
revealed. more...
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Survey will check on Perth skill shortages -
THE West Australian Government is conducting a survey of Western
Australian businesses to find out which skills are in demand across the
Perth metropolitan area. more...
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Major upgrades for science -
AUSTRALIAN science infrastructure will be significantly upgraded by
$500 million in Australian Government funding announced by the Minister
for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP. more...
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$2.2 million boost for regional skills -
THE Australian Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, the Hon
Gary Hardgrave MP, has announced Australian Government funding of $2.2
million for thirteen new projects aimed at enhancing skills capacity in
target regions across Australia. more...
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New smoking bans proving effective -
AN ESTIMATED 14,000 Queensland smokers may have kicked the habit as a
direct result of the State Government's ban on smoking inside pubs and
clubs. more...
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Reform for PBS -
THE Australian Government is making changes to the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme (PBS) to give Australians continued access to new and
expensive medicines while ensuring the PBS remains economically
sustainable into the future. more...
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