Financial hardship creeping into higher income brackets
29 November
Lower-income households continue to bear the brunt of the cost of living crisis although more families in higher income brackets are starting to feel the pinch A National Australia Bank survey found a sharp jump in the number of higher-income...[Read More]
Criminals target government with record cyber attacks
29 November
Australian government agencies have become growing target for cyber attacks worldwide, with a report revealing attempts to steal official information have soared by more than 60 per cent. The BlackBerry Global Threat Intelligence Report, released on...[Read More]
Reserve Bank board shake up outlined in new laws
29 November
The next phase of a major shake up to the Reserve Bank of Australia has kicked off with Treasurer Jim Chalmers introducing changes to parliament. A dual-board set up is one of the major reform items, with the plan to have one for making interest...[Read More]
Labor deal with Greens to pass vacant homes tax reforms
29 November
A deal to strengthen taxes on empty homes has been struck between the Victorian government and the Greens. An upper house vote on changes to Victoria’s vacant residential land tax was put on ice earlier this month when the Greens and the coalition...[Read More]
Retail sales dip as shoppers hold on to cash for sales
29 November
Spending weakened last month and by more than expected as consumers hung back to pounce on deals during the Black Friday sales. Retail sales as measured by the Australian Bureau of Statistics fell 0.2 per cent in October, a softer result than the...[Read More]
Australia confident subs deal would survive under Trump
29 November
Australia is confident nuclear-powered submarines will be delivered and an AUKUS security pact can outlast a potential Trump administration. Speaking at the National Press Club on Tuesday, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said he believed the...[Read More]
Government takes action on ‘help to buy’ housing laws
29 November
Thousands of Australians seeking to buy a home will soon get assistance with laws due to go to federal parliament. The “help to buy” laws to be introduced this week will support 40,000 eligible home buyers with an equity contribution of up to 40...[Read More]
MS breakthrough could mean treatments halt progression
29 November
A treatment for progressive multiple sclerosis could be on the horizon after a researchers found injecting stem cells into the brains of patients could potentially stop the disease advancing. The study said the procedure was “safe, well tolerated...[Read More]
Cultural stigma holds workplaces back as pay gap falls
29 November
Australia’s gender pay gap has had its biggest single-year drop in almost a decade, but women are still earning much less than their male colleagues. In its annual update, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) revealed the average total...[Read More]
Vehicles caught using more petrol in real-world tests
29 November
Early results from a $14 million program to test the real-world efficiency of cars on Australian roads has found more than half use more petrol than lab tests indicate, with some exceeding promises by 13 per cent. Two vehicles also produced more...[Read More]
New media laws to ‘level the playing field’ for free TV
29 November
Free-to-air channels will be guaranteed front of place on smart TVs under new laws designed to “level the playing field” of Australia’s media landscape. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland brought forward prominence laws which would allow...[Read More]
More rent protections likely for NT, SA and WA tenants
29 November
A suite of renting reforms designed to protect South Australian and Northern Territory tenants is set to pass their respective parliaments. Western Australia is also seeking to modernise its tenancy laws, with an amendment bill introduced to its...[Read More]
Netball Australia makes pay offer to Super players
29 November
Netball Australia has made a pay offer to the sport’s elite players that would allow contracting to begin for the 2024 season while negotiations continue between the warring parties. The deal would mean all players receive an 11 per cent pay rise...[Read More]
Consumers hitting delete after bad experience with apps
29 November
Australians’ bad experience with apps includes crashing devices, draining phone batteries and making it difficult to sign in – and more are hitting delete. An index released on Wednesday by tech firm Cisco shows the majority of Australians...[Read More]
Ban on disposable vapes imports to kick in soon
29 November
Australians will soon find it harder to access vapes, as the government attempts to prevent the industry creating a new generation of nicotine addicts. About one in seven 14- to 17-year-olds and roughly one in five 18- to 24-year-olds vape. While...[Read More]