Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said on Friday that the state government is set to absorb losses of at least $5 billion due to the recent flood disaster and most likely reduce its economic growth prospect for the rest of the year.
The rebuilding of infrastructure in flood-ravaged areas should not overshadow the need for ongoing funding in the Federal Budget for local roads, active transport, and community infrastructure to address Australia’s growing infrastructure backlog, according to the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA).
The Gusmao government's apparent decision to cancel talks with the Australian petroleum company Woodside (ASX: WPL) may undermine efforts to win the right to process gas from the Greater Sunrise field in Timor-Leste, former Prime Minister of Timor-Leste and Secretary General of Fretilin, Dr Mari Alkatiri, warned today.
Slashing investment in climate change solutions to fund the clean-up of the worst floods in Australia’s history makes no sense, according to the peak renewable energy industry body.
Even a tightening budget due to upcoming flood rehabilitation programs on areas ravaged by the disaster would not convince the federal government to at least delay its $37 billion national broadband network project.
The Charles Sturt University has extended some leeway to students affected by the "epic" flooding, particularly in Australia's eastern states. In a statement, CSU said the school is extending sympathy and support to affected students and their families.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on Monday her proposal for a one-off flood levy that would raise some $1.8 billion to help finance the reconstruction program in areas devastated by the flooding disaster.
Business chief Heather Ridout has thrown her support for the federal government’s flood recovery package announced today, but reiterated the need for transparency and oversight.
Queensland government authorities have yet to provide the definite numbers but they hinted otherwise that the cost of the recent flooding disaster to state’s economy would be enormous in its scale.
Out of the disasters that ravaged Australia in the past three years, remarkable feats emerged and buoyed the spirit of the nation and Prime Minister Julia Gillard is bent on conferring honours to these modern day heroes.
Australian competition regulator Graeme Samuel says the proposed rules unveiled by Treasurer Wayne Swan last month on increasing competition in the banking sector would bring Australia into line with similar pro-competition regulations in Europe and the US.
Kimberly-Clark Australia (KCA) said on Tuesday that its ongoing global business review forces it to put two ageing tissue machines at the Millicent mill out of commission by May this year.
Twelve former Australians of the Year have banded together to call for a new national flag.
Former federal treasurer Peter Costello believes that the government has enough revenue bases and in-place taxes to fund its rehabilitation program for areas heavily damaged by the recent flooding, that imposing a flood levy may prove to be an overkill.
A group of Australians on Wednesday called for the preservation of Australian English accents to safeguard the nation's identity despite the influx of electronic media and cultural icons from overseas. However, just as society changes, so too does accent as it constantly evolves to meet the changing needs of its users.
Students from the University of Queensland on Wednesday unveiled a blueprint with the aim of promoting Brisbane as a world class city.
While Australians are still smarting from the damages left behind by the Queensland floods, another deluge may be forthcoming as the federal government sent warnings of rising food costs, particularly for fruit and vegetable prices.
Veteran broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson says it is only a matter of time before Australia became a republic.
Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown expressed his support on the federal government’s proposal of a one-off levy that will fund a big chunk of its rehabilitation program for a large swathe of areas hit hard by the flooding disaster.
A study by the Policing Just OUtcomes (PJO), in collaboration with Edith Cowan University and the Victoria Police has revealed alarming insights into Australians view on rape and sexual assault victims.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard urged the country’s corporate giants to go the extra mile in helping the federal government on its efforts to rehabilitate areas badly damaged by the recent flood disaster.
Australia's health authorities has warned the public against the dangers of mosquito borne diseases in flood areas due to favourable breeding conditions.
The local government of the city of Sydney on Sunday ordered the deployment of 34 vehicles, as well as 30 specialists to assist in the cleanup operations in communities affected by the "epic" flooding in Brisbane and Queensland.
Amidst calls by Prime Minister Julia Gillard that insurance companies should exercise extra leniency in dealing with flood-related damage claims, reinsurers appear ready to be more accommodating but the industry insisted that those who do not have flood coverage are beyond their capacity to help.
Australia's manufacturing sector declined in December as the PwC Australian Performance Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) fell 1.3 points to 46.3 to remain below the 50 point level separating expansion from contraction. According to the Australian Industry Group which releases the index, the local manufacturing sector underperformed in December and there were few signs activity would pick up in the near term.
The flood disaster that had hit Australia in the past weeks provided some form of relief for the heated debate on the country’s banking reforms but the senate probe looking into the matter appears ready to resume hearing testimonies, this time though in Sydney.
Finding itself hard-up on scouring for resources to finance the gargantuan task of rehabilitating the regions devastated by the recent flooding is Australia, the federal government looks to a possible lift on Medicare levy surcharge so it could fund the massive cost of recovery efforts.
As a reflection of Britain’s changing diplomatic focus, it has announced a new era of bilateral relations with Australia.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday ordered more relief efforts to Victorians affected by floods even as Queensland began the arduous and painful task of clean up and rebuilding.
A Magistrate court has spared a bank employee who helped a friend steal $115,500 from customers' accounts at Westpac, from serving jail time and instead sent her to a community-based service.
