Business
Multibillion-dollar benefit of reproductive leave
16 April
Australia loses more than $21 billion in productivity every year due to absenteeism but providing workers with one day of reproductive leave a month would significantly mitigate this economic cost. A report into the costs and benefits of...[Read More]
Working women key to future economic growth: bank boss
16 April
Womenās participation in the Australian economy has been remarkably transformed in the past 40 years but more progress is needed, the head of the central bank says. Michele Bullock made history in 2023 when she became the first woman appointed...[Read More]
Big bite on spending swallows up hospitality businesses
16 April
Nearly one in 10 hospitality and food services businesses closed in the past year, as cost pressures force Australians to rein in spending. A record-high 9.4 per cent of food service and hospitality businesses shut their doors in the year to March,...[Read More]
Keeping coal clunkers alive risks power price surge
16 April
Delaying coal generator retirements under the federal coalitionās plan for adding nuclear plants to the grid risks power supply shortfalls and price spikes. Australiaās fleet of old and unreliable coal power stations, prone to outages and extra...[Read More]
Social media and free speech: where the legal boundaries are being tested
10 April
Social media has revolutionised how we communicate, offering a global platform for individuals to share opinions, challenge authority, and connect with others instantly.Ā However, while platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and...[Read More]
What does ethical investing mean and how does it relate to ESG investing?
10 April
Investing is typically perceived as a wealthy-only pastime with no regard for the environment or social issues. However, that is not always the case, and the old mindset of making money for its own sake doesnāt need to stay. Ā People have become...[Read More]
Business hungry for more despite Labor tax sweetener
9 April
Small businesses are being tempted with a $20,000 sweetener to re-elect Labor, but the offering still falls short of the coalition pitch to traders. Labor has vowed to extend the instant asset write-off ā which allows businesses and tradies with a...[Read More]
Key sectors most vulnerable to hacking in AI arms race
9 April
Australiaās energy, healthcare and transport industries are among the most vulnerable to cyber attacks, tests by ethical hackers reveal, and artificial intelligence is being used to craft more dangerous strikes against them. Internet security firm...[Read More]
Respect your time: breaking free from instant availability
3 April
Constantly replying instantly to every work message reinforces two harmful assumptions: first, that your time is endlessly available, and second, that your personal focus isnāt important.Ā Responding immediately may feel productive, but it...[Read More]
Major employers urged to hit gender equality targets
2 April
Employers will soon have to commit to achieve or make progress on gender equality targets in their workplaces after federal parliament passed law changes. The changes apply to employers with more than 500 workers, meaning nearly 2000 workplaces will...[Read More]
Shift-work jobs tilting female finances off-kilter
2 April
Women are working multiple shift jobs to boost their income as they face greater financial instability than their male colleagues. An analysis of more than 700,000 shift workers across hospitality, retail, health care and services found womenās...[Read More]
Billions locked and loaded for clean green metals
26 March
Low-emissions metals and other industries the federal government views as vital to Australiaās net zero future have locked in funding in the federal budget. A total of $3 billion has been earmarked to support green aluminium and iron endeavours in...[Read More]
Workers to benefit as wages growth outpaces inflation
26 March
Wages are set to rise on the back of a robust jobs market, stronger economic activity, sectoral pay boosts and a ban on non-compete clauses. Workers have already seen some let-up in prices eroding hard-won pay gains and new Treasury forecasts...[Read More]
Business leaders blast big change coming for workers
26 March
Business bosses are furious about a āheavy handedā measure designed to help workers take better paid jobs or start their own companies. The workplace change contained in the federal budget means workers earning less than $175,000 cannot be...[Read More]
Gender bias āblind spotā among male workplace leaders
26 March
Women and men agree on what makes a good leader, but males have a gender bias blind spot and often believe stereotypes do not exist. Researchers at the University of South Australia found women experienced daily impacts related to gender leadership...[Read More]