government

The Senate has voted down a Government budget proposal that would have reduced research and development tax breaks by 1.5 per cent.

The NSW government will provide an extra $106m to ensure James Hardie asbestos victims receive up-front compensation payments.

Defence tenders to the value of $30.4 billion are being delayed as the new Defence Minister Kevin Andrews familiarises himself with his portfolio.

The government’s plan to cut the Renewable Energy Target could lead to compensation claims from the renewable energy sector, according to a law report.

​Federal Defence Minister David Johnston has said there are time constraints involved in building the next generation of submarines

Workforce planning and development specialist, Wendy Perry, has recommended the creation of an SA Workforce Plan and Workforce Capability Framework.

Michelle Grattan discusses the Government’s victory on the carbon tax, how it happened, and what it may mean for Abbott’s future.

Shipbuilder ASC has fixed the problems associated with its Collins submarine maintenance program, according to Defence Minister David Johnston.

Fears are growing that Alcoa will shut the Point Henry aluminium smelter near Geelong and hundreds of workers will lose their jobs.

Abbott government will be good for business and getting rid of the carbon tax will help the industry.

The co-founder of all-terrain vehicle company Tomcar, which has sold all 100 of its first run of vehicles, has said that the start-up felt an absence of government support due to its unconventional business model.

The Government has released its Manufacturing Taskforce report, which has a five point policy designed to get the manufacturing industry moving again.

Government needs to address manufacturing’s labour challenges through supporting skills develop and collaboration rather than pushing for a bottom line on rights and conditions, says AMWU.

Australian and New Zealand ministers responsible for food regulation last week bowed to lobbying from processed food manufacturers and agreed to permit them to market products with general level health claims without requiring pre-market or independent verification.

The recent loss of 440 manufacturing jobs at Ford Australia has generated a lot of debate about the long-term viability of the Australian car industry, and manufacturing in general.

The Victorian coalition government is urging the federal government to back its commitment of $4 million for a new program to support investment in the Geelong region.

Last week, Ford Australia announced that it would be cutting 400 jobs, which will be split between plants in Melbourne’s north and Geelong. Paul Bastian, the national secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) called it a “kick in the guts” for employees and their families, while workers themselves were in a state of shock.

The carbon tax has made its ugly entrance onto Australia’s economic landscape and is rightly hogging all the headlines, however we can be quietly confident that when Tony Abbott takes over the reins in Canberra the insidious tax will become history.

While the unpopular carbon tax comes into force this month it is linked to some good news in the form of the generous $800m CleanTechnology Investment Program (CTIP) specifically for Australian manufacturers.

John Brumby has been appointed to investigate the feasibility of setting-up a Commonwealth agency to tackle anti-dumping.