PM Gillard Rolls Out Damage-Control Measures, Critics Remain Gloomy
Foes and critics have been pressing on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to put off the fiery scandals engulfing her government, which she did over the weekend by asking two controversial figures to stay out of the Labor picture until they have been cleared of criminal and civil allegations.
Samsung Boosts March Earnings on Record Smartphone Sales, Preps to Climb Higher Grounds
Outside of the vast Apple universe, an Asian tech firm known as Samsung Electronics continue to make significant headways, reporting on Friday that it made more than $US5 billion in operating profit for the first three months of 2012.
Appeals Court Favours Telstra, Sports Leagues over Optus on Copyright Tussle
An Australian Federal Court of Appeal, ruling en banc, found on Friday Optus liable in violating the exclusive rights of Telstra Corporation in broadcasting the near-live games of Australia's premier football and rugby leagues.
Odds in Favor of Australia's Budget Surplus Targetting Postponed to 2013
A finance think tank agrees with the federal government that delivering a surplus next year would further boost the Australian economy, already heading into relative growth despite the lingering global difficulties.
Profit Decline, Job Losses Mark Macquarie’s FY 2012 Profit
Macquarie Group reported on Friday profit shortfalls of 24 percent in fiscal 2012, underscoring cost-cutting measures that have so far resulted in the separation of more than a thousand workers from the company.
Analysts: Apple Must Target China, Issue New Products to Sustain Growth
Apple must train its sight to the East, experts said, if it wishes to sustain its record-breaking results and deflect predictions that the tech titan would falter sooner or later minus the introduction of innovative products, which marked the reign of Steve Jobs.
Report: Fixed Home Loan Rates Preferred by More Aussies
Australian borrowers gravitated more on securing fixed mortgage packages, according to a new report, because they deem the rates more stable at the moment, with lenders offering more premium with the product.
House Speaker Slipper Urged to Stand Down Until Completely Cleared
The odds are building up against on-leave House Speaker Peter Slipper, with a key MP urging him to stay out of the picture at least until he clears his name while the Coalition may field a likely successor to his post.
Labor MP Craig Thomson Sues for Suppression of FWA Report on HSU Scandal
Claiming adherence to the rule of law, lawyers for Labor MP Craig Thomson asked the Australian Senate on Thursday to keep the Fair Work Australia (FWA) report on the alleged wrongdoings committed by Thomson while serving as top-ranking Health Services Union (HSU) official private.
Report: Space Miners Will Soon Explore Asteroids for Likely Rich Hauls
Robots could soon assume the role of miners but they will not be harvesting minerals from the depths of the earth, instead they will be transported into space, where they will be deployed to explore the hundreds of asteroids that regularly pass near our planet.
PM Gillard: Govt Not Taking it Easy on 'Slipper Scandal'
Prime Minister Julia Gillard flatly denied accusations from the Coalition that she was making light of the sexual harassment accusations hurled against embattled House Speaker Peter Slipper.
Newcrest Downgrades Production Targets Anew, Cites Natural and Operational Glitches
Newcrest Mining again pared down its overall production guidelines for the current financial year following the company's earlier output cutbacks in February, further highlighting the difficulties that hit the miner's global operations.
1800 Ford Geelong Workers Face Temporary Stand Down Due to Supply Chain Glitch
As many as 1,800 Ford workers could be forced to temporarily stand aside as the carmaker admitted on Tuesday that parts supply shortages will soon hit its Geelong production lines due to problems encountered by the company's main supplier, CMI.
Coles Posts Subdued Growth in March Quarter; Signs of More Challenging Times Ahead for Retail Sector
Australia's retail sector remains under pressure as reflected by the third quarter results of Wesfarmers' Coles supermarket chains, which slightly moved up but exceeded the general growth forecasts earlier set by the market.
PM Gillard Retains Parliament’s Majority Support amidst Speakership Row
The Labor-led government appears to enjoy the 'confidence' of key Parliament members following the temporary exit of House Speaker Peter Slipper on Sunday amidst accusations of corruption and sexual misconduct.
Report: Agri Sector's Q1 Supply Glut Makes the Case for RBA Rate Cut
The decade-long drought that has been punishing Australian farmlands apparently took a break starting last year, leading to record fruit and vegetable harvests as of the first quarter of 2012 and market price retreats of about 25 percent, reports said.
Appeals Court Rejects Gina Rinehart’s Arbitration Plea
The courtroom drama pitting Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest person, and her estranged children will continue playing out before the public as the New South Wales Court of Appeal has thrown out on Friday her court plea for private arbitration of the case.
Aussie Olympic Chief Guns for Top Five Finish in London Summer Games
Australia Olympic team head Nick Green would not promise to equal or even surpass the country's number three finish in the Beijing edition of the summer games in 2008 but he is upbeat in crashing the Top Five circle.
Report: NBN Roll Out to Eat Up More Time and Money
Delays will not only attend the $36-billion national broadband network (NBN) roll out but also considerable budget overshoots, reports said.
Australia Seen by Global Workers as 'The Place' for Professional Growth
Majority of mobile professionals around the world consider overseas work experience as key to their career growth and development, a new report said, with Australia emerging as one of the top destinations for these migrant workers.
PM Gillard Pushes for Rate Cuts; Will the RBA Oblige?
It would be appropriate for the central bank to push down the cash rate at this time, according to Prime Minister Julia Gillard, stressing that in the present situation such move would "widespread benefits for households and business."
Report: U.S. Court Guides Apple, Samsung into Likely Out-Of-Court Settlement
Apple and Samsung could soon end their ongoing legal tussles in a settlement as a San Franciso Federal Court ordered the tech rivals to possibly come up with a solution that would dissolve their differences, reports said.
Govt, Tobacco Firms Begin Courtroom Battle on Cigarette Plain-Packaging Law
The Australian government has commenced on Tuesday the defence of its cigarette plain-packaging law, which experts said could be adopted by other nations as an effective model for their anti-smoking campaigns.
FMG’s Andrew Forrest Discloses Supposed Mining Tax Deal with Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd could have stayed on as prime minister, according to Fortescue Metals Group chair Andrew Forrest, who revealed Wednesday that the former Labor leader was working on acceptable revisions for the controversial resources super profits tax (RSPT).
New Newspoll Report Points Anew to ALP Defeat, Labor Remains Unfazed
The prospect of resounding defeat on 2013 continues to haunt the ruling Labor Party, according to the latest Newspoll survey, but key members brushed aside the ominous numbers and insisted the gloom will eventually disappear, soon.
NAB Mulls Rate Moves, Vows Best Offer Among 'Big Four'
Credit demands were down for four consecutive months, according to the latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), and banks were more inclined to push up their interest rates.
Telstra Flags Likely Manpower Overhauls within NBN Transition
The technology switch embodied in the $36 billion national broadband network (NBN) could lead to significant job losses, according to giant telco Telstra Corporation.
U.S. Nominee Jim Yong Kim Assumes World Bank Top Post
The World Bank Board picked on Monday a non-political replacement for its outgoing chief, American Robert Zoellick, in a selection process that critics claimed lacked the transparency demanded by member nations.
No Regular Aussie Troops in Afghanistan by 2013
Australian troops will be out of Afghanistan by 2013, according to the prepared speech that Prime Minister Julia Gillard is set to deliver on Tuesday, but the country remains committed to the overall cause of preserving the democratic government in the war-torn nation.
Coalition to PM Gillard: Apply More Pressure for Craig Thomson to Fully Cooperate on HSU Scandal Probe
Opposition lawmakers have called on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to apply pressure on embattled Labor MP Craig Thomson to cooperate with all police inquiries that seek to shed light on the alleged corruption that marred the Health Services Union (HSU) operations under his watch.
