Archived News for Executives and Senior Management - February, 2014
The Prime Minister may soon be the sole supporter of his promised paid parental leave scheme.
Virtual course helps play out in real life
A pilot program is using technology to bridge education barriers worldwide, by conducting courses through avatars in an entirely virtual world.
Another big name drops port digging bid
Environmentalists are celebrating a decision by building giant Lend Lease to pull out of the planned expansion of a Queensland coal port.
Study slams public disempowerment
An economists’ report has said privatisation in the electricity sector is expensive and achieves little more than customer annoyance with none of the alleged benefits.
Unions turn from Labor to better guard their own
Several public sector unions have reduced their traditional payments to the Labor party, choosing instead to fund a campaign against job cuts.
Coca-Cola to continue funding sugar supply improvement
A surprising allegiance has continued between environmentalists, the Federal Government and Coca-Cola, which is aimed at reducing cane farm chemical run-off into the Great Barrier Reef.
Funding taps opened to break the strain of drought
The Federal Government has announced the details of its long-awaited assistance package for drought-affected farmers in Queensland and NSW.
Leaks and spills in the past, Japan plans tomorrow
Japan is beginning to turn a corner after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, releasing its first energy policy since the event and allowing some residents to return to their homes in evacuated areas.
Narrabri CSG finds itself in fast-lane
The New South Wales Government has fast-tracked approvals for a proposed coal seam gas project at Narrabri.
Report plots new depths of political dislike
Australian politicians have broken new ground in the unpopularity stakes, with the nation electing its least favourite Prime Minister in decades.
Unions' roles extolled in industrial study
A new study says that while Australian unions are not perfect, they still play an important role in enforcing minimum standards and certain regulations.
Big spend to get nearby neighbours up to speed
Nearly half a billion dollars will be spent to improve transport in Pacific regions.
Rail strike rolls ahead with no new deals likely
Australian rail company Aurizon is standing firm in the face of impending train driver strikes.
Refugee price jump with new $1.2 billion responsibility
A new company will soon take over a large range of operations at Australia’s offshore detention centres, with the tragedy of recent violence still echoing around the country.
UGL hits back, saying books remain raw
Australian engineering firm UGL has emphatically denied media allegations that it “cooked the books” to misrepresent financial results for investors.
Big figures push oil explorers to new fields and agreements
Oil exploration and production firm Senex Energy Ltd has posted its profits and announced a new partnership with Origin Energy in South Australia.
Closed talks continue on medical, intellectual and economic future
A new round of Trans-Pacific Partnership talks have begun in Singapore, where trade ministers from twelve nations carve out the final parts of the far-reaching deal.
Industry fears massive cost if RET is reached
Reports this week claim the Australian electricity market is at “breaking point”, and that half of all generators are losing money.
Pink batts probe to cast public eye on private government papers
If the call is made for confidential cabinet documents to be presented to the royal commission into the ‘pink batts’ scheme, Attorney-General George Brandis says the commissioner may keep their contents a secret.
Rumour mill goes wild ahead of Qantas' cuts confirmation
Qantas is being hounded by rumours that it will announce massive job cuts this week, but the airline says it will keep cuts down to a thousand workers at most.
Shell sells to get into gas, Vitol buys for same reason
Shell will sell an Australian refinery and 870 domestic service stations to Vitol in a deal worth around $2.9 billion.