Local roads and bridges facing ruin hits $11.6bn

By Julian Bajkowski If you ever thought the number of problem potholes and bumpy bridges on regional roads just seems to keep growing, you’re in good company. At least $11.6 billion in roads and bridge infrastructure maintained by cash-strapped councils across Australia are now in a poor to very poor condition according to the latest […]

More public sector sackings expected in Budget

 By Julian Bajkowski   Federal public servants are bracing for a fresh round of job cuts after pre-Budget scene setting by the Gillard government confirmed around $580 million savings aim to be extracted from the bureaucratic machinery.   The projected savings have triggered warnings from the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) but are understood […]

Turnbull declares transfer pricing laws an online revenue dud

By Julian Bajkowski In a strong sign that bipartisan support is mounting for a crackdown on transfer pricing tax schemes, Opposition Communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull has come out swinging against multinational technology companies that generate billions of dollars of revenue in Australia but pay proportionally miniscule amounts of tax here through transfer pricing arrangements. The […]

Tune calls Department of Finance restructure

By Julian Bajkowski The Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation, David Tune, has announced a wide-ranging restructure of executives and senior positions as the government’s money management machine pursues a consolidation of functions aimed at improved performance and efficiency. The moves have resulted in Finance slimming down the number of Deputy Secretaries from […]

SA councils will recover roads

Local road funding will be delivered to South Australian councils over five years from 2014 to 2019. The funding from the federal budget will deliver more than $350 million per annum as a five year extension to the Roads to Recovery program. Minister for State and Local Government Relations, Russell Wortley said the South Australian […]

Federal Budget a ‘mixed bag’ for APS

By Angela Dorizas The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) said the 2010/11 Budget is a “mixed bag” for Australian public servants. CPSU national secretary, Nadine Flood, said the sector welcomed funding for Defence and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, but was concerned at the scale of cuts in Customs, Centrelink and the Department of […]

Early return to surplus could provide local infrastructure boost

By Angela Dorizas With the Federal Government planning to restore the budget to surplus in the next three years, investment in local community infrastructure should be high on its agenda, the Australian Local Government Association has said. ALGA president Geoff Lake said local government welcomed the early return to surplus foreshadowed in the 2010/11 Budget […]

Budget must include assistance to unemployed: ACOSS

Unemployed Australians must not be forgotten in tonight's Budget, the community services and welfare sector has said. As Treasurer Wayne Swan prepares to deliver the 2010/11 Budget, the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) has urged the government to introduce a paid work experience scheme and increase unemployment payment rates. ACOSS chief executive officer, Clare Martin, said more […]

Union calls for review of APS wages

By Staff Writer The Federal Government must undertake a joint review of public servant wages and classifications, according to the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU). The CPSU’s Federal Budget submission has called for the Government to conduct a joint review with the CPSU into Australian Public Service (APS) wages and classifications, negotiate a pay and […]

Outlook grim, recession will hit this year: Access Economics

By Adam Coleman Leading economic forecaster, Access Economics released its Business Outlook for December 2008 today which warns Australia will fall into recession this year. The forecaster suggests NSW is already in recession and that Queensland and Western Australia will be hit hardest by the global economic downturn. “NSW is already in recession, Victoria is […]

BUDGET 09: Funding boost to local government

By Rob O’Brien Federal funding commitments including a renewal of disaster mitigation programs, new investment in roads and support for drought-affected rural communities, have been welcomed by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) in its response to the Federal Budget. The Roads to Recovery program will be funded to the tune of $350 million per year […]

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