Industry News

Housing affordability has continued to trend upwards in the September quarter, according to the latest HIA-BA Housing Affordability Index.

Four wind-powered, four gas-fired and one hydro electricity generation projects have come online in the year to October, adding a total of 1,546 megawatts to the country’s electricity grid at a cost of $2.5 billion, according to a new report prepared by the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE).

The Federal Government has convened leading industry, public sector and education representatives to share innovative approaches to developing, attracting and retaining ICT skills in the national workforce.

The Federal Government has passed legislation through Parliament which it says will deliver the strongest protections for worker’ entitlements in the country’s history.

The Queensland Government has announced the appointment of board members for the bulk water authority that will manage the newly merged south east Queensland bulk water businesses.

Governments should act courageously to counter mental health problems and ensure a continued focus on mental health support, according to the inaugural annual mental health report released by the National Mental Health Commission (NMHC).

Gas giant Santos has announced a ‘significant gas discovery’ at its Crown-1 exploration well in the Browse Basin off the coast of Western Australia.

Iron Ore Holdings (IOH) has announced it has secured a Native Title Land Access Agreement with the Kuruma Marthudunera (KM) Native Title claimant group, which provides consent for the company’s exploration, mining and infrastructure activities in the KM claim area.

Perth-based miner Crusader Resources has been granted approva by the Brazilian Governmentl to proceed with its Posse Iron Ore project.

The Tasmanian Freight Logistics Co-ordination Team has conducted its inaugural meeting, with members discussing future strategies of the State’s logistics and freight sector.

Deakin University’s $55 million Centre for Advanced Design in Engineering Training (CADET) is set to proceed after the Federal Government announced it will receive $21.5 million in funding under the Regional Priorities round of the Education Investment Fund.

Fortescue Metals has broken the record for the largest single shipment of iron ore to depart from Port Hedland, after the Herb Elliot Port facility leaded 254,010 tonnes of iron ore onto the vessel Abigail N last week.

BHP Billiton has sold its diamonds business after the company announced it has signed agreements with Harry Winston Diamond Mines for a reported US$500 million.

The uncontrollable and erratic shift patterns in the mining and energy sector is beginning to exact a toll on the mental and physical health of the industry’s workforce, according to a new report released by Griffith University.

The House of Representatives Standing committee on Education and Employment has handed down its long awaited report on workplace bullying.

Regional and rural train services in Victoria are set to receive a boost after the State Government announced a $200 million order for 40 new V/line carriages.

The Northern Territory has announced amendments to the Classification of Publications, Films and Computer Games Bill which will see video games rated along the same lines as films, with the availability of an R18+ rating.

The Federal Government has announced that Murray-Darling Basin communities will share in $100 million in funding for economic diversification projects to assist them in transitioning to a ‘more sustainable water future’.

The Ord River irrigation expansion project has been greenlighted following an agreement between the Federal, Northern Territory and Western Australian Governments.

The Federal Government is calling for companies interested in completing survey and geotechnical investigations of the upgrade of the Pacific Highway between Glenugie and Ballina.