Revised UK tax treaty - NEGOTIATIONS have commenced on a revised tax treaty between Australia and the UK. more...

Interest rates to drop to new low in 2009 - THE weakening global economic outlook has prompted the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) to slash its forecast for the official cash rate to a new low point of 3.50 per cent towards the end of 2009. more...

Faulty mobiles top complaints - MOBILE phone warranties have topped the list of consumer complaints collected during a recent Consumer Affairs phone-in. more...

Paperless school proves a success - A QUEENSLAND school is pioneering the idea of a paperless classroom, so far wih great success. Manildra Public School Principal Steve Wilkinson now knows it's one thing to dream of a paperless classroom and quite another to achieve it. more...

New 12 month prescriptions - MANY patients with chronic illnesses will benefit from the added convenience of some PBS prescriptions now being able to be prescribed by doctors for a 12 month period. more...

Call for fuel tax to be abolished - AUSTRALIA'S peak motoring organisation, the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), has called on the Federal Government to abolish fuel tax and replace it with a universal road user charge. more...

Warm welcome in Rockhampton - ROCKHAMPTON is a city full of opportunity, where you will always be greeted with a friendly smile. more...

Investment bond issue resolved - AUSTRALIAN skilled visa applicants who have been waiting for the resolution on the AU$100,000 investment bond issue can now proceed to make the investment. more...

Strong surplus a boost for infrastructure - VICTORIA'S economy continues to be robust with the fundamentals remaining strong, with the state government again delivering on its financial objectives, Treasurer John Lenders said. more...

NSW  students shine in new tests - THE results for the first ever nationwide literacy and numeracy tests have been released. more...

Unemployment remains low despite pressures - THE latest labour force figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistcs (ABS) show that unemployent remained low in September, despite the biggest upheaval on global financial markets since the Great Depression. more...

Good report for Vic hospitals - VICTORIAN hospitals improved their performance on key measures of emergency department treatment, elective surgery and bypass depite increased demand and a record number of patients, the latest Your Hospitals report shows. more...

Young drivers taking risks - A DISTURBING number of young drivers may be engaging in very risky business on Victoria's roads, according to results of a recent Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) survey. more...

Credit crisis is yet to hit Australia - IT HAS been 12 months since Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) closed pathway D, the pathway that allowed experience trained only tradespeople to apply for a migration skills assessment. more...

Immigration blueprint - AUSTRALIA'S Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has announced its strategic direction for the next three years with the launch if the DIAC Strategic Plan 2008-11. more...

Victorian economy remains resiliant - VICTORIA has recorded a healthy 4.9 per cent economic growth rate over the last 12 months according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures, which show that economic fundamentals remain strong despite the state of the global economy. more...

Bank customers are satisfied - CUSTOMER satisfaction with Australia's five largest banks appeared to be stablilising in the June 2008 quarter, as the average of 'very' or 'quite satisfied' customers remained unchanged from last quarter at 61.9 per cent. more...

Gov't unveils plan to help job seekers - AUSTRALIAN'S Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor, has outlined how the Government's new employment services would help job seekers  off income support and into sustainable employment. more...

Affordability improves for first homeowners - THE Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government has welcomed a new industry report showing that first homebuyer affordability increased by 10 per cent in the June quarter of 2008, compared to the same quarter in 2007. more...

Steady rise in life expectancy - NEW research that by 2060, Australian women could expect to reach 90 and by mid-century most Australians can expect - on average - to live to their mid-to-late-80s.. more...

Govt's work together to build service hub - THE Australian and New South Wales Governments have pledged to work with industry to build Australia's capability as a global financial services centre, following a succesful financial services hub summit in Sydney. more...

Elective surgery boost for NSW - MORE than 4,500 additional New South Wales (NSW) patients have undergone elective surgery procedures in the past six months as part of a nationwide blitz on elective surgery waiting lists. more...

New medicines available through PBS - THOUSANDS of Australians will benefit from medicines that have been added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, has announced. more...

New services to help jobseekers - AUSTRALIA'S Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor, has announced the release of the Exposure Draft of the new purchasing arrangements for AU$3.9 billion new employment services. more...

Small cars can still be safe - MOTORISTS looking to downsize their vehicles becuase of high fuel prices don't have to compromise on safety, according to the latest Used Car Safety Ratings results. more...

Take care close to home - PEOPLE tend to worry about having a crash when they are travelling long distances. However, most car accidents happen on familiar roads, within a five kilometre radius of their home. more...

NSW has highest housing costs and slowest growth - NEW South Wales has the highest housing costs while its economy has been growing more slowly than Australia's, according to an annual snapshot of the state released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. more...

Federal minimum wage to increase in October - THE Australian Fair Pay Commission (AFPC) has announced an increase of AU$21.66 per week to the Federal Minimum wage. more...

New range of services for families - AUSTRALIAN families now have access to a whole range of new health services - including a AU$150 voucher for teen dental care; a free health check for kids about to start school; and a guide to kids' health and development for parents. more...

Major revamp of skill assessment - THE long awaited announcement from Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) regarding the assessment of on-the-job trained tradespeople looking to migrate to Australia has been made. more...

PATHWAY D MAY RETURN - THE Controversial pathway D, which deals with the trade assessment of those with on-the-job training looks set to return on August 1, according to a recent statement by the Migration Institute of Australia. more...

SA jobs reach new high - THE number of South Australians in work has reached another new record high. more...

Big fall in median house prices - THE Australian weighted average median prices for houses and other dwellings have experienced their largest quarterly fall compared with previous quarters for the past five years, according to the Mortgage Choice/Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) Real estate Market Facts. more...

Budget tackles demand on hospitals - AN UNPRECEDENTED package worth AU$680 million will target pressure points in Queensland's public health system such as emergency departments, surgery theatres, maternity and oral health. more...

Bid to get kids healthy and active- AUSTRALIA'S Sports Ministers have agreed to undertake an ambitious reform agenda to secure Australia's sporting future and get more Aussie kids healthy and active. more...

More help for first homebuyers - SOUTH Australia's State Budget provides significant help for first home buyers with a new AU$4,000 bonus grant to replace the current first homebuyer stamp duty concession. more...

Fossil fuels are here to stay- DESPITE high world oil prices and major efforts to develop alternative fuels, the world's car fleet will continue to be powered predominately by fossil fuels over the next 40 to 50 years, an internationa Climate Change Summit in Canberra has been told.more...

New centres of excellence - THE Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) have announced that they will be introducing Centres of excellence for the processing of the Temporary Business (Long Stay) (subclass 457) visas, amongst others, as of July 1, 2008. more...

More nurses needed in Qld - THE Queensland Government will ramp up its efforts to attract new nurses to the profession with a state-wide marketing campaign. more...

Vic needs more skilled - VICTORIA'S Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation, Jacinta Allan, has announced ten regions to be targeted as part of of a AU$3.96 million skills migration programme. more...

NSW leaving age to rise - STUDENTS in New South Wales will stay as school until at least the age of 16 under legislation proposed by the State Government. more...

Population rising in capital cities - AUSTRALIA'S capital cities experiences strong population growth in the 12 months to June 30, 2007, according to population estimates released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. more...

Climate change to be tackled - IN A Northern Territory first, dedicated funding will be allocated to combatting climate change as part of Budget 2008. more...

Major commitment to the future - CHIEF Minister and Treasurer of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Jon Stanhope, has handed down a Budget theat commits to the largest ever capital investment in the Territory since self-government - and does so while delivering Labor's eight consecutive surplus. more...

Hard work to be rewarded  - WESTERN Australia's record building and infrastructure programme will help sustain the State's economic growth while continuing to contain debt, the State's Premier Alan Carpenter. more...

Broadband programme extended - THERE will be an extension of the Australian Broadband Guarantee programme to safeguard the broadband opportunities for all Australians, while the Government continues to implement its broader broadband policy agenda. more...

More jobs on MODL - CHANGES have been made to the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) that have resulted in one occupation being removed and several new occupations added. more...

WA charges kept below inflation - FOR the eigth consecutive year, the Western Australia Government has kep the combined impact of government fees and charges on Western Australian households to below the rate of inflation more...

Cheaper rentals on the way - THE Australian government has announced plans to formally establish a significantly expanded National Rental Affordability Scheme. more...

Low interest rates in the past - LEADING independent economic forecaster and industry analyst, BIS Shrapnel, forecasts inflation will remain above three per cent for the rest of 2008, through 2009 and into 2010. more...

Cold call crackdown - THE South Australian Government has introduced legislation entitling all South Australians to a 10-day cooling-off period on contracts for goods and/or services that result from a trader making unsolicited contact with people via telephone. more...

Students on the rise - THE number of students in higher education in Australia continues to grow strongly, reaching nearly 900,000 in the first half of 2007. more...

Trade schools now open for business - THE first school students are taking uo high-level apprenticeships in engineering, construction and plumbing as South Australia's new AU$29.5m Trade Schools for the Future open for business. more...

Used car buyers snub old bombs - AUSTRALIAN motorists buying a used car are prepared to spend more on newer, fuel efficient models, rather than on traditional cheap old bombs, according to new research by National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA) CarWise. more...

Health messages getting through - NEW South Wales' Minister for Health, Reba Meagher, said the latest health messages are hitting the mark, with the number of people smoking or engaging in risk drinking behaviour at the lowest level in 10 years. more...

New simulator to help train ambulance staff - AUSTRALIA'S first simulated road accident scene for training ambulance staff has been launched in Hobart, Tasmania. more...

A different way of learning - AUSTRALIA provides a unique kind of education and a learning style that encourages students to be innovative, creative and think independently. more...

Consumers are opting to dine out - SUSTAINED consumer confidence in 2007 has translated into continued growth in out-of-home dining and a loss of 'shared of stomach' for Australian supermarkets and grocery stores, a report by Nielsen has revealed. more...

New bid to lift organ and tissue donation - THE Australian government has joined with all Australian state and territory governments to reform national efforts to help life Australia's low rate of organ and tissue donations. more...

Unemployment is still falling - THE latest labour force figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show Australia's unemployment rate fell to 4.1 per cent in January 2008. more...

RAC questions new driver penalties - THE Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) questioned the state government's 'knee-jerk reaction' to road safety problems in light of new laws which saw a signigicant increase in penalties for the non-use of seat belts, as well as other new driver penalties. more...

Solar power plan for Canberra - THE Canberra Government and ActewAGL are to jointly fund a feasibility study into large-scale solar power plant for the region. more...

Hunter is top spot for holidays - THE Hunter region stretches from the serene Lake Macquarie in the south, noth to Newcastle and Port Stephens and inland to the west across to Maitland, Cessnock and the famous wine district of the Hunter Valley. more...

Belts will need to tighten - QUEENSLAND Treasurer Andrew Fraser has warned caution needed to be taken in the wake of the latest Consumer Prince Index figures that show inflation strengthened in the December quarter. more...

Education revolution - AUSTRALIA'S Minister for Education has written to all Australian secondary school principals inviting their participation in the Federal Government's $1 billion Digital Education Revolution. more...

Qld hospitals set new records - QUEENSLAND public hospitals set new records in 2007 for the most number of people admitted to hospital and the most number of patients treated in emergency departments in a year. more...

More payment options for online shoppers - WITH the introduction of different methods of payments for online purchases, online shoppers are now not just restricted to credit cards - according to the latest Online Consumer Report by leading research company, Nielsen. more...

Homeowners hit with rate rise - AUSTRALIAN homeowners have been slugged with another 25 basis point rate increase as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted the official cash rate to 7 per cent, forcing many struggling homeowners closure to foreclosure. more...

Mortgage sales down on 2007 - PROPERTY buyers are staying away from the market as interest rates continue to march upwards, new data from Australian Finance Group (AFG) has revealed. more...

SA top for self-drive holidays - BECAUSE of its location, Adelaide is an easy starting of finishing point for self-drive itineraries and from other Australian cities. more...

Labour market remians strong - LABOUR force figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that the labour market remains strong. more...

Date for digital switchover - THE first firm steps have been taken on the road to completing switchover by the end of 2013. more...

First homes now less affordable - TWO distinct markets emerged during 2007 as housing prices continued to rise across much of Australia. more...

Australia lagging on road safety targets- AUSTRALIA'S peak motoring body, the Australian Automobile Association, has warned Australia was falling well behind the targets set by the Commonwealth's National Road Safety Strategy. more...

New high for retention - SOUTH Australia's school retention rate has reached its highest level in 12 years. more...

Get the facts on the weather - LIKE all countries in the southern hemisphere (the hemisphere south of the equator) Australia's seasons follow the sequence: Summer: December to February; Autumn: March to May; Winter: June to August; Spring: September to November. more...

Life is a beach in the west - WESTERN Australians are not known for their modesty when it comes to discussing beaches. more...

Demand for skilled remains - FOLLOWING on from the dramatic oversupply of Information Technology (IT) graduates in 2001, the Australian Computing Society is now predicting big skills shortages in the second half of 2008/2009. more...

New Chief Minister for NT - THE Northern Territory's new Chief Minister, Paul Henderson, said he is committed to working with Territorians to keep the Territory the best place to live. more...

Peel to be next tech hub - A SURVEY conducted by businesses in the Mandurah and Peel region has revealed the area has existing technology capabilities and the potential to be the Western Australia's next technology hub. more...

No place in the world like Sydney - WITH its sun-drenched beaches and shady parks, Sydney consistently rates as the world's best city to visit. more...

GOOD NEWS FOR PARENTS - OVER the period that the previous Coalition Government held office, there were many decisions taken concerning immigration that the opposition parties expressed strong objection to. more...