First report on Australia’s pandemic preparedness
Joint media release with Minister for Health and Aged Care the Hon Mark Butler MP The first broad analysis of Australia’s pandemic preparedness in response to the COVID 19 pandemic has been released by the CSIRO, with a focus on the science and technology priorities for improvement. CSIRO Futures’ Strengthening Australia’s Pandemic Preparedness: Science and…
Medical receptionist sentenced to jail for $178k Medicare fraud
A Cairns woman has been convicted and sentenced to two years and nine months imprisonment by the Cairns District Court on Wednesday, 17 August 2022, after pleading guilty to fraudulently claiming more than $178,000 in Medicare payments under the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS). Working as a medical receptionist, the woman was charged with one count…
Have we seen the last of $2 petrol for a while?
Average fuel prices in Australian capital cities remain well below the peaks seen in March and June. Recent data reveal fuel is around 30-35 cents per litre lower than the highs of two months ago. As of last week, the average price of 95 octane unleaded across eight capitals stood at A$1.90 per litre. The…
China’s green finance sees opportunity for international investors
As China is expediting its green drive, global financial institutions will get a boost. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) recently included two foreign-funded banks in a lending program designed for carbon emission reduction. Deutsche Bank (China) Co., Ltd. and Societe Generale (China) Ltd. became the first foreign institutions to get the okay to join…
Subsidies allocated to grain farmers
China will provide grain planters with subsidies totaling 10 billion yuan (about 1.46 billion U.S. dollars) from its central government budget, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday. The move aims to protect grain planters from the rising prices of farming supplies and further stimulate their enthusiasm for grain planting, the ministry said. One-time subsidies…
CommSec morning report Tuesday
In US economic data, the Dallas Federal Reserve manufacturing index improved from -22.6 points to -12.9 points in August (survey: -24). European sharemarkets fell on Monday. Interest rate-sensitive technology stocks fell most (down 2.4%) as bond yields lifted on expectations of more global rate hikes. Germany’s 10-year yield rose 10 basis points to a two-month…
Evening report Monday
Following a sell-off in US equities on Friday – driven by comments made by US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium – the Aussie market posted its biggest decline in around two months, with the ASX 200 losing 138.6 points or 1.95 per cent, to 6965.5. All sectors finished lower,…
Woolworths’ proposed acquisition of SUPA IGA
The ACCC is seeking views from consumers and businesses in the Queanbeyan area on Woolworths’ proposed acquisition of SUPA IGA Karabar. Woolworths and SUPA IGA Karabar currently compete in supplying groceries in the broader Queanbeyan region (encompassing Karabar and Jerrabomberra). Post the acquisition, Woolworths is proposing to operate a Woolworths Metro supermarket on the existing…
Is education or immigration the answer to our skills shortage?
Investing in Australians’ education is far more important than immigration in resolving the nation’s skills shortages, according to leading economists surveyed in the lead-up to this week’s jobs and skills summit. The 50 top Australian economists polled by the Economic Society of Australia and The Conversation are recognised by their peers as leaders in their…
Minister leads mining jobs and skills roundtable
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King has met with senior figures in the Western Australian resources sector to discuss jobs and skills challenges facing the resources sector during a roundtable in Perth. Minister King used the roundtable to remind resource companies that one way companies could address skills shortages was to attract more…
