New priorities for processing - IN A surprise announcement Senator Chris Evans, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announced new priority processing arrangements for certain Skilled Miggration visas. The new priority processing Direction took effect on September 23, 2009. more...

Major boost for jobs in Victoria - THE Victorian Government has again cleared the path for significant development in a fourth round of fast-tracking that will create more than 831 jobs and boost the Victorian economy by more than AU$162 million. more...

NSW planning system delivers 62,000 jobs - SINCE September 2008 the New South Wales Government has approved 447 Major Projects, creating nearly 62,000 jobs and more than AU$19 billion worth of investment in the state. more...

Home sales volume surge - THE number of properties sold all over Australia jumped by a hefty 32 per cent for the 12 months ending June, thanks to strong activity from first homebuyers and investors according to rpdata.com. more...

Major literacy drive in SA schools - A NEW Literacy Secretariat will spearhead South Australia's biggest ever push to improve the literacy achievements of the state's school children. more...

More support for GPs and patients - THE final report of the Australian Capital Territory Government's GP Taskforce offers thirty recommendations for supporting patients and the profession as Canberra struggles with a significant workforce shortage. more...

Nature at its most accessible - SOME people talk about getting back to nature. In South Australia they never left it. From the botanic gardens of Adelaide to the national parks and forests, nature has never been more accessible. more...

More citizens to call Aus home - IT ISN'T often that Australia makes it easier for applicants to call Australia home, but citizenship rules were adjusted in September to relax a number of requirements that unfairly disadvantaged certain residents from becoming citizens. more...

Boost for young children in Vic - PROVIDING children with 'transition' statements summarising their abilities, achievements and interests when they move to their first year at school is a key element of a draft early learning and development framework. more...

Planning for SA's future health - THREE plans to improve health services for older South Australians, those affected by stroke and people receiving palliative care have been published. more...

Help for seniors to stay safe - A WEB-based questionaire that helps Queensland's older motorists assess their driving skills is now avalailable from the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ). more...

Major boost for for biofuel in SA - SOUTH Australia's Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minster, Paul Caica, has welcomed a Federal Government grant of AU$2.724 million awarded to the South Australian led Algal Fuels Consortium (AFC). more...

National response to crime - A NEW range of measures have been introduced to support a comprehensive national response to combat organised crime in Australia. more...

NSW employers given warning - NEW South Wales employers and workers in the hospitality, retail and service industries have been reminded about their rights and obligations under NSW industrial relations laws. more...

Increase not enough to warrant rate rise - THE latest increase in housing finance shouldn't bee seen by the Reserve Bank as a green light to raise interest rates, according to the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales (REINSW). more...

Capital has plenty to offer - CANBERRA was established in 1911 to create a capital for the newly federated country of Australia. more...

Shift in focus is due for MODL late 2009 - A REVIEW of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) is scheduled for completion by late 2009. more...

Extra rebate for Qld seniors - A 15 per cent increase to the state electricity subsidy will mean an extra AU$25 for up to 700,000 eligible Queensland seniors and pensioners. more...

Cost of running car drops in 2009 - WESTERN Australia (WA) motorists are emerging as the big winners this year with the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia's (RAC) annual vehicle operating costs survey revealing it's cheaper to run a car today than the same time last year. more...

Continued record numbers in work - THE latest unemployment figures continue to show a record numbner of South Australians in jobs, which has now reached 105,000 new jobs since the current State Government came to office in 2002. more...

RBA leaves interest rate unchanged - THE Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) decision to leave interest rates unchanged for the third consecutive month is a mixed blessing for home buyers according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA). more...

Tougher stance on violence - QUEENSLAND state schools are stepping up the fight against violence and bullying under a statewide review of student disciplinary processes announced by Education and Training Minister, Geoff Wilson. more...

Boost for elective surgery in WA - THE Western Australian (WA) Government is to provide funding of AU$13.3m to upgrade five hospitals in the state to boost elective surgery performance. more...

Don't forget to pack your partner - MANY Australians living in the UK are looking at returning to Australia in light of the current economic climate. more...

Tasmania retains the title of safest state - LATEST Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing Tasmania had strengthened its position as the safest state in Australia have been welcomed by the state's Minister for Police and Emergency Management, Jim Cox. more...

National accounts show growth - WESTERN Australia's Treasurer Troy Buswell has handed down the first Liberal-National Government Budget, which supports jobs and begins to position the state to capture the benefits of the next economic upswing. more...

Recovery wipes out losses - A RECOVERY in home values hasn't taken long in Australia. Gains in home values over the first four months of 2009 have virtually eliminated any losses seen in 2008, according to the latest index on home values in the country. more...

Record investment in health - THE New South Wales (NSW) Treasurer, Eric Roozendaal, has announced a record AU$62.9 billion building programme over the next four years, with jobs the number one priorityof the the New South Wales Budget. more...

More jobs for South Australians - SOUTH Australia's 2009-10 State Budget will support nearly 14,000 jobs as the state government presses ahead with a record investment in capital works in public transport, water security, roads, schools and hospitals. more...

White goods stores turned green - WHITE goods stores have become QUeensland's latest army in the campaign to reduce energy use and save more water in households. more...

Strategy to secure future - QUEENSLAND'S Treasurer, Andrew Fraser, said the 2009-10 State Budget puts in place a clear strategy to restore Queensland's finances to balance while creating jobs and maintaining the services required to cater for a growing population. more...

Qld to tackle motorcycle deaths - A LONG-term safety strategy intended to stem the alarming rise in road deaths among motorcylists has been launched in Queensland by the state's transport minister, Rachel Nolan and Main Road Minister, Craig Wallace. more...

World class beaches in NSW - THE beaches of New South Wales (NSW) are one of the state's crowing glories. They come in all possible forms, from giant crescents where booming waves unfurl onto golden sands, to tiny, sheltered, secret coves cradled between rocky headlands. more...

No more split parent applications - CONTRIBUTORY Parent split visa applications granted on or after July 1, 2009 will be faced with a five-year ban before being able to sponsor partners to Australia. more...

National education agenda follows SA - AUSTRALIA'S peak intergovernmental body has agreed to follow in South Australia's steps with a national agreement to help keep all young people in 'learning or earning'. more...

WA prepared for next upswing - WESTERN Australia's Treasurer Troy Buswell has handed down the first Liberal-National Government Budget, which supports jobs and begins to position the state to capture the benefits of the next economic upswing. more...

National security strengthened - AROUND $100 million in funding over four years has been announced to strengthen Australia's national security framework as part of the Government's $AU685 million investment in national security. more...

More health funding to meet growing demand - THE Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government is responding to growing demand for health services, allocating AU$54 million over four years to health services in the 2009-10 Budget. more...

Nowhere to hide for unregistered drivers - ROAD traffic cameras around South Australia (SA) have begun detecting unregistered and uninsured vehicles. more...

Rail funding welcomed - AUSTRALIA'S Prime Minister and the Premier of Victoria have welcomed the announcement of funding for the new AU$4.3 billion Regional Rail Express - the biggest single investment in the metropolitan rail project since the city loop was built and the first major new rail line for a metropolitan Melbourne in 80 years. more...

Record infrastructure investment - THE Northern Territory Government is delivering an unprecedented AU$1.3 billion infrastructure spend that will support 2500 jobs across the economy. more...

NSW care enters the digital age - THE New South Wales (NSW) Government has started rolling out new electronic medical records (eMR)s technology into public hospitals across the State to help improve patient care and safety. more...

Massive investment in schools - AUSTRALIAN states and territories may be able to help skilled visa applicants to have their visas processed faster under the changes to Australia's immigration programme. more...

Now is good time to buy - AUSTRALIAN states and territories may be able to help skilled visa applicants to have their visas processed faster under the changes to Australia's immigration programme. more...

Changes for business visa - AUSTRALIAN states and territories may be able to help skilled visa applicants to have their visas processed faster under the changes to Australia's immigration programme. more...

Campaign targets drugs - HARD-hitting ads targeting ice, ecstasy amd marijuana are being rolled out in Australia, as part of an AU$18 million national campaign. more...

Vic consumers empowered to reclaim their money - VICTORIANS have been warned against unnecessarily paying agents to recover superannuation and other unclaimed money. more...

First Home Owners Boost success - NEW Figures show that the South Australian Government's National Building and Economic Stimulus Plan has delivered a major boost to the housing sector with 3,351 South Australians taking up the First Home Owners Boost by the end of February. more...

Steel project to create jobs - Queensland Coordinator General Colin Jensen has declared a new steel making facility proposed by Boulder Steel Limited at Gladstone a 'significant project'. more...

Social issues to be tackled - NEW school guidelines to help address student behavioural issues before they become broader social problems will be introduced into Victorian schools. more...

Overhaul for Tasmania's FOI laws - A MAJOR overhaul of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in Tasmania has been recommended. more...

Blind spots are driving hazzard - DRIVERS could be encountering dangerous blind spots in many new cars, according to visability testing by the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria. more...

Top food and wine countrywide - GREAT food experiences are a measure of a great holiday for many people and the beginning of a new direction in life for those attuned to food's transformative powers. more...

States may hold key for skilled workers - AUSTRALIAN states and territories may be able to help skilled visa applicants to have their visas processed faster under the changes to Australia's immigration programme. more...

AU$50m clean energy programme - AUSTRALIA'S Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Frerguson, has announced the release of draft guidelines on the Clean Energy Programme for public consultation. more...

Investment up in Vic despite economic cuts - BUSINESSES have continued to invest strongly in Victoria despite the challenge of the global financial crisis according to the latest capital expenditure figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. more...

NSW makes changes to HSC - QUALITY rather than quantity is the key message for changes announced to the 2010 New South Wales (NSW) Higher School Certificate (HSC). more...

New Qld homes must be green - ALL NEW houses in Queenslandwill now be required to achieve a minimum five starts (out of 10) energy equivalent rating under a new sustainable housing regulations. more...

WA facing tough Budget process - THE Western Australia (WA) December quarter budget results vindicated the State Government's three per cent efficiency drive and the need for further savings in the future, Treasurer Troy Buswell said. more...

Rise in private insurance costs - PRIVATE health insurance premiums will increase by an average of 6.02 per cent from this month. more...

Power and water boost for NT - THE next step has been taken to ensure the best power and water services are delivered in the Northern Territory. more...

Call for more local labour - AUSTRALIA'S Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Evans, has said that the Queensland meat industry should employ locals ahead of overseas workers as the economic downturn increases pressure on unemployment. more...

Falling fuel prices lead to drop in CPI - THE latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) result provides further evidence of the impact of the global recession and falling commodity prices on the Australian economy. more...

Skilled workers are welcomed - THE Skill Stream of Australia's Migration Programme is specifically designed to target migrants who have skills or outstanding abilities that will contribute to the Australian economy. more...

More are now staying in to eat - AS CONSUMERS eel the pinch of rising costs, more are opting to entertain friends and family at home rather than dining out, which has seen the share of food spend in Australian chanelled into supermarkets and away from cafes, restaurants and take-aways, a new report from research company Nielsen has revealed. more...

New speed cameras for ACT - POINT-to-point speed cameras, which can determine whether a driver has been speeding at any point along a stretch of road, will be installed in the Australian Capital Territory. more...

SA Police top of the class - A NATIONAL report released last month reveals the South Australian Police foce continues to be one of Australia's highest performing jurisdictions. more...

One-off bonus to support jobs - THE Australian Government has announced five key AU$950 one-off payments for low and middle income households and individuals. more...

Buyers are waiting for bargains - WITH predictions of a looming economic recession, and escalating unemployment rates, many property buyers are scared of venturing into the property market even as interest rates fall to record lows and bargains begin to emerge. more...

Boost for rural patitents in WA - THE Western Australia (WA) Government has announced a complete overhaul of the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) to increase support to country residents needing to travel away from their homes to access specialist medical services. more...

New agents body from this July - ON JULY 1, 2009 the role of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), which is managed by the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA), will be relocated to a new Agents Registration Authority, within the Department of Immigration. more...

Vital to develop skills - VICTORIA'S SKills and Workforce Participation Minister Jacinta Allan has provied an overview of the 2009 first round and early round offers to Victorian tertiary education and training institutions. more...

Gender divides revealed - AS THE world grapples with a global recession and financial markets remain volatile, many people are reminding themselves that money can't buy happiness. Men however, beg to differ. more...

Good news for buyers but bad for renters - DUE to the recent decreasing of interest rates, housing affordability is improving for homeowners at the same rate it is declining for renters, according to the Managing Director of Harcourts International, Mike Green. more...

Unis to get extra AU$580m - AUSTRALIA'S Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, and Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Kim Carr have announced AU$580 million would be fast-tracked into universities through the Education Investment Fund. more...

Bid to boost regional jobs in Qld  - THE Queensland Government will bring forward AU$25 million in funds to boost employment in regional areas affected by the mining downturn caused by the global economic crisis. more...

NSW advances fair trading across Aus - NEW South Wales is to lead the development of a comprehensive model for consumer protection enforcement across Australia and New Zealand. more...

Road spending is welcomed by AAA - AUSTRALIA'S peak motoring body, the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), has welcome dthe Federal Government's announcement to bring forward more than AU$700 million in road infrastructure spending to provide an economic stimulus. more...

New guidelines for accountants - ACCOUNTANTS have been coming to Australia under the skilled migration programme for some years, particularly since the occupation was placed on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). more...