NSW rail pain eases as overtime ban ends
SYDNEY, AAP – Sydney train commuters can look forward to a smoother commute after the transport minister struck a deal with the union to lift a ban on overtime for rail workers. However other industrial action by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union will continue, with staff refusing to work on foreign rolling stock and…
Voters back 25pct pay rise for aged care
CANBERRA, AAP – A majority of Australians back a huge wage rise for aged care workers and say federal government funding for the sector should be increased. The polling conducted for the Health Services Union found 71 per cent of voters backed a 25 per cent increase in the average pay rate to $29 per…
CBA eyes better economy after solid profit
SYDNEY, AAP – Commonwealth Bank of Australia is looking forward to a strong year in fiscal 2022 as the economy gathers pace, after posting a more than 20 per cent jump in first-half profit. Net cash earnings, the bank’s preferred measure of profitability, rose 23 per cent to $4.7 billion, in line with its statutory…
Wall Street ends higher, bank stocks rise
NEW YORK CITY, RAW – Wall Street ended higher on Tuesday, lifted by Apple and Microsoft, while a jump in Treasury yields elevated bank stocks ahead of a key inflation reading this week. The benchmark S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq reversed early losses and gained in the latter part of the session, driven by…
Aged care minister bucks calls to resign
CANBERRA, AAP – The aged care services minister has resisted calls in parliament to resign from the frontbench following a large number of COVID-19 deaths in residential facilities across the country. A move by Labor to formally call on the prime minister to sack Richard Colbeck and apologise to aged care residents and their families…
Emissions targets costly for grain growers
SYDNEY, AAP – Australian grain growers are “up for the challenge” of further reducing their carbon footprint after a CSIRO report found cutting greenhouse emissions by 2030 could mean less grain produced. The study commissioned by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) looked at how the grains sector could help meet Australia’s climate targets….
Free rapid tests for Vic childcare kids
MELBOURNE, AAP – Children aged three to five will be able to take free rapid antigen tests, with Victoria expanding its voluntary school COVID-19 testing program to early childhood services. While Victorian primary and secondary students have been asked to take twice-weekly RATs since the start of term one last week, the same recommendation only…
Miners lead gains, ASX gains one per cent
SYDNEY, AAP – Miners benefiting from a higher iron ore price and optimism about Australia’s reopening to overseas travellers helped the ASX close higher. The market closed up more than one per cent on Tuesday and defied a weak lead from US markets. Heavyweights BHP and Fortescue gained three per cent each after iron ore…
NSW boasts ‘economy moving’ as cases drop
SYDNEY, AAP – The NSW premier is vowing to forge ahead and keep “the economy moving” in his approach to battling the pandemic, saying he wants “all industries back as quickly as possible”. “Sometimes the right road unfortunately is the hard road and the less popular road,” Dominic Perrottet said on Tuesday. COVID-19 cases increased…
Climate wars are yet to be won: Turnbull
CANBERRA, AAP – Malcolm Turnbull says the federal Liberals are still acting like “terrorists” on climate policy and Labor lacks ambition but is being politically sensible. The inability of the federal government to be more ambitious is a fundamental problem for Australia, the former prime minister told an industry forum on Tuesday. “The obstacles to…
