Women ascend in Shorten’s Shadow Cabinet reshuffle

Women the winners in revamped Labor front bench.

13 October, 2015

Auditor slams risky GST reporting systems

By Julian Bajkowski Legacy computer systems at the Australian Taxation Office that extract crucial reporting data on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) have again been found to have serious shortcomings that pose a threat to the quality of data the taxman produces for the government. In a new report […]

13 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

Digital dividend delivers Conroy another $2b

By Julian Bajkowski Telstra, Optus Mobile and TPG internet have emerged as the winners in the federal government’s lucrative auction of former analogue television spectrum after the carriers plumped almost $2 billion to secure their slice of recycled airwaves. Telstra paid by far the largest amount, shelling out $1.3 billion for two lots of 10 […]

7 May, 2013

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 […]

21 February, 2013

Prospect of NBN training for Adelaide

Training services on the National Broadband Network will be provided through a Digital Hub through Adelaide City Council and the City of Prospect. The Digital Hub will assist in training communities and helping local people and businesses take advantage of the opportunities the NBN offers. From the federal government’s $23.6 million NBN Digital Hubs and […]

17 July, 2012

Federal budget takes care of local government

By Lilia Guan The Federal Government is determined to return budget to “surplus”. In its 2012-2013 budget, the government’s National Health Reforms will provide an additional $19.8 billion in Commonwealth funding for public hospitals by 2019-20.   According to Treasurer Wayne Swan, this Budget delivers 76 new health infrastructure projects to upgrade regional hospitals and […]

8 May, 2012

Budget 2011 all about health and jobs

By Lilia Guan   Australian deputy prime minister and treasurer, Wayne Swan has released the 2011-2012 budget, with the promise of getting the country back into the black.   Mr Swan stated the floods and Cyclone Yasi will cost our economy $9 billion in lost output and reduce real gross domestic product growth by half […]

10 May, 2011

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 […]

11 May, 2010

Australia to face ageing population pressures

By Angela Dorizas Australia’s ageing population will increase government spending and slow economic growth over the next 40 years, according to the 2010 Intergenerational Report, Australia to 2050: Future Challenges. Treasurer Wayne Swan said the report demonstrated just how critical it will be for governments to plan for the future and invest in productivity. “Big challenges lie […]

2 February, 2010

Governments face population pressures: Swan

By Rob O’Brien All levels of government will be impacted by Australia’s surging population growth, the Treasurer Wayne Swan has warned. Among other projections he announced in a speech to launch the Australian Institute for Population Ageing Research (AIPAR) at the University of New South Wales today, he said over 65s would jump more than 20 […]

18 September, 2009