Industry News

The Federal Government has announced a $12.4 million program to improve the quality of university training and preparation for future maths and science pedagogues.

Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained steady at 5.4 per cent in February, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a draft report on the final access determination (FAD) for the declared wholesale ADSL service that will seek to regulate the prices that Telstra can charge retailers for accessing key infrastructure.

The Independent Local Government Review Panel has announced it is nearing the end of the second round of consultations with councils and key stakeholders, with the final draft findings due for release in April.

The Queensland Government has announced the formation of an $80 million 'betterment' fund aimed at ending the 'madness of replacing vulnerable infrastructure'  with replicas that are destroyed in flooding.

The City of Melbourne has announced it has thrown its full support behind the key findings of a comprehensive knowledge industries report, which concluded that the city's 'knowledge economy' has reached $28 billion in worth.

The Victorian Government has confirmed the planned route for the construction of the new Melbourne Airport rail link after assessing 80 proposals for the project.

Beleaguered Northern Territory Chief Minister, Terry Mills, has announced he has stepped down from the job after Local Government Minister Adam Giles successfully orchestrated the coup following a chaotic week in the Territory.

The Federal Government has announced the release of a new cultural policy, which it claims will create jobs and encourage a new generation of artists and creative industry businesses.

Online retailers have dodged the traditionally lacklustre January post to post a 27 per cent annual growth to $13 billion for the 12 months to January 2013.

Business confidence and conditions have both edged down in February, with a high Aussie dollar and weak performance of non-mining demand weighing heavily on most sectors.

The Federal Government has outlined its response to the Convergence Review and Finkelstein Inquiry, with Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, saying it will secure a strong, vibrant media sector that will produce more Australian content.

Consumer confidence has continued to build on previous gains, posting a 2.0 per cent increase in March from 108.3 in February to 110.5 per cent in March in the Westpac Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment.

The Victorian Government has welcomed the results of the State’s 2012 council elections, which saw women secure the largest percentage of female candidates delivered to local office.

Community consultations with an aim to improve regional governance in the Northern Territory have begun.

The Victorian Government has released the Independent TAFE Review Panel’s final report on vocational education and training, as well as the Government’s response.

The Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition has handed down its final report on the issue of financial recognition of the nation’s local government sector in the Australian Constitution, concluding that the issue should be put to a referendum on 14 September, the same day as the federal election.

The Federal Government has tabled the final plans for the world’s largest network of marine reserves, which will aim to protect 2.7 kilometres of the nation’s ocean environment.

While Australia continues to be a solid contributor to global research efforts, more must be done to ensure that we keep up the good work, according to a research report released by the country’s top scientist.

Effective anti-ageing drug therapy may be available within five years, following a research breakthrough by the University of NSW (UNSW).