Pickard wins Australian Local Government Association presidency

First WA chief for 30 years expected to take fight up to Canberra.

13 November, 2014

Australian Bureau of Statistics says Aussie men living longer

Life expectancy breaks octogenarian barrier for the first time

6 November, 2014

Fifield counterattack on axed dementia supplement

Keeping $780m promise would mean more cuts

1 September, 2014

Online ads now a permanent fix for Bureau of Meteorology

Cash positive forecast for heavy weather traffic

5 August, 2014

Recriminations fly over axing of $16 daily dementia payment

Shorten and Payne play the blame game over blowout, cancellation

31 July, 2014

Electoral Commission denies citizenship ceremony staff cuts

On the spot enrolment to continue for new voters

29 July, 2014

SA councils fear Budget hit to pensioner rates concessions

The South Australian Local Government Association has warned that council revenue could be hit by Federal Budget cuts to state concessions, with a flow on to reduction to pensioner discounts on council rates.

27 May, 2014

Costs and taxes proposed to be shunted back to states under Commission of Audit wish list of cuts

After months of anticipation, the Treasurer and Finance Minister have released a review that is so ambitious, that many of its recommendations are unlikely to make it into policy.

1 May, 2014

Engineers claim $200bn in risky coastal assets urgently need climate change plan

Design standards and asset management plans will have to change with the weather say works experts.

2 April, 2014

Treasury head issues warning over scale of APS cuts

Australia’s number-cruncher-in-chief has cautioned expectations around cuts and services are unsustainable and that any attempts to think smarter or differently prioritising resources are being crowded out.

24 March, 2014

NICTA scores extra $42 million funding

By Julian Bajkowski The Rudd government has announced that cornerstone research and development body National Information and Communications Technology Australia (NICTA) will get a further $42 million in funding over 2015 to 2016 as Labor moves quickly to press home its perceived electoral advantage on technology and skills development. Minister Assisting for the Digital Economy, […]

7 August, 2013

Queensland councils spared big cuts in State Budget

By Julian Bajkowski Queensland councils have cautiously welcomed the Newman government’s second budget for the state, breathing a collective sigh of relief that local governments appear to have been spared much feared spared funding cuts after natural disasters and falling revenue receipts depleted Treasury coffers. After a tumultuous first year that saw massive public service […]

5 June, 2013

Abbott reaffirms 12,000 Commonwealth jobs to go

By Julian Bajkowski Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott has used his Budget reply speech to reaffirm a previous promise to eliminate 12,000 Commonwealth jobs from the public service if elected. The recommitment to slash public service positions comes just one night after Treasurer Wayne Swan allayed fears of mass redundancies by announcing that only around […]

16 May, 2013

Budget 2013-14 delivers $18 billion deficit but spares big cuts

By Julian Bajkowski Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has delivered a Budget crowned by a gaping $18 billion deficit and underpinned by future “responsible, targeted” savings projections of $43 billion to be delivered by Finance Minister Penny Wong in what could become a largely decorative set of numbers following the federal election in just four-months. After […]

14 May, 2013