The business community has welcomed the government’s efforts to limit spending growth through more effective targeting of policies and programs. The Rudd Government has budgeted for a surplus of $21.7…
BUDGET 08-09: Program targets ailing regional infrastructure
Treasurer Wayne Swan has delivered the Rudd Government’s first Budget – a surplus budget of $21.7 billion that aims to provide a long term investment in regional infrastructure. Among the…
BUDGET 08-09: Councils welcome commitment to roads
Local Government has welcomed the budget, suggesting the Federal Government kept its election commitments on local road funding for 2008-09 and continued its commitment to funding local roads at announced…
WA first state to adopt skills shortage program
The Western Australian workforce will be the first to benefit from a Federal Government program designed to address skills shortages across a range of industries. The Productivity Places Program aims…
Federal assistance for major cities
The Federal Government recently announced it will establish and resource a Major Cities Unit within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, renewing the Commonwealth’s focus on…
Senator Robert Ray retires
Senator Robert Ray has announced his retirement from the Australian Senate after 27 years in federal politics. The 61-year-old Victorian Labor senator retired yesterday two months ahead of the…
DMO gets permanent CEO
Dr Stephen Gumley has been reappointed chief executive officer of Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO). Dr Gumley's employment status has moved from a fixed term contract to ongoing Australian Public Service…
New appointments on Australia Council
Federal Minister for the Arts Peter Garrett has announced two new appointments to the Australia Council – Ms Rosalba Clemente has been appointed as chair of the Theatre Board and…
Former Federal Minister John Button dies
Former Victorian Labor senator John Button has died after suffering pancreatic cancer at the age of 74. Born in Ballarat, Mr Button served in the Federal Parliament between 1974 and…
First local government area passes one million milestone
Australia’s capital cities experienced strong population growth in the 12 months to June 30, 2007, according to population estimates released today (March 31) by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)….