Sharon Olalia

While NSW continues to give leads on poorly manufactured solar panels, Western Australia considered following it as more and more complaints and inquiries against the solar industry continues to rise from 50 and 300 respectively.

Although dock side workers at the chief ports in Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle are expected to resume with their duties today, a new arrangement on their pay and work conditions is still far from being given them.

The introduction of the legislation to create Infrastructure NSW, a new body to help get infrastructure going again in the state, makes a strong signal the NSW is back in business.

Perpetual, the wealth management company, has cut jobs and considered outsourcing platform administration services. This is part of a new strategy to revitalize performance disclosed by Chief Executive Chris Ryan who succeeded David Deverall on February 14 as CEO.

The property industry is calling on Queensland’s 73 local governments to support jobs in their communities by adopting infrastructure charges well below the capped rates set by the State Government.

West Australian Energy Minister Peter Collier announced that short-term gas supplies will be provided in a bid aiming to bring more transparency to the market.

With the federal government facing more and more criticisms regarding its Malaysian asylum seekers swap deal, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen assured that asylum seekers sent from Malaysia to Australia will not be caned.

Delayed payments on Australian mortgage had increased in the first quarter at its highest. It is now considered a big blow to the country’s thriving property market.

Investment in Australia’s advanced minerals and energy projects hit a record $173.5 billion in April 2011, 31 per cent higher than in October 2010, according to new data released today.

The Property Council of Australia has called on the Queensland government for immediate cuts in taxes and charges along with action to improve housing affordability, labelling these as critical ingredients for a successful 2011-12 State Budget.

The first Virgin Australia, formerly Virgin Blue, (ASX: VBA) A330 service from Sydney to Perth took to the skies this morning with commercial guests and media onboard.

Grain exporter and bulk handler GrainCorp today posted its 2011 half‐year net profit after tax of $88 million, up $35 million or 66 per cent from the prior year.

Australian retail property group Westfield Group (ASX: WDC) says it is confident of strong performance across its portfolio this calendar year despite the impact of a lower U.S. dollar.

Oil and gas producer Santos has discovered oil at Finucane South in the Carnarvon Basin, offshore Western Australia. Well logs and wire line testing have confirmed a net oil column of 18 metres in excellent quality reservoir sands in the Angel Formation, the company said.

The New South Wales Government will inspect a further 500 solar panels in Sydney to ensure the installations are safe for consumers and comply with regulations.

Building and construction work done rose modestly overall in the March quarter, but there is a growing divide between building and mining-related engineering construction, according to Master Builders Australia, the peak body for the building and construction industry.

After the Maritime Union Australia’s decision to commence work bans and limitations last Thursday for seven days, Patrick Stevedores, Australia's leading provider of port-related services to importers, exporters and shipping lines, said it would not be paying employees engage in planned work bans. With this, the union told PerthNow that Fremantle wharfies would take industrial action if the company insists to do so.

Qantas pilots have today moved toward industrial action for the first time since 1966, with the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) lodging a formal application at Fair Work Australia to ballot 1700 long-haul pilots.

The resilience of Queensland business owners shone through despite the state’s small business sentiment being hit hard by the recent natural disasters, with the state reporting a Happiness Index of 53 per cent in a new business survey released by Westpac.

An asylum-seeker swap deal with Malaysia is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks while Jakarta discarded a similar deal with Indonesia by the federal government.

The Greens call to ban new coal mines is receiving much criticism, with the Institute of Public Affairs labeling this move ‘catastrophic’.

Amid increasing bank competition, St.George Bank has slashed its two-year, fixed packaged home loan to 6.99 per cent per annum.

Although the NSW Government’s solar power decision today may anger many households, it will save more than 5000 jobs in this vital industry, according to the Clean Energy Council.

Australia’s forest industry showed mixed signals in the 2009-10 financial year with softwood log harvest up, housing starts increasing, broadleaved plantation harvest remaining constant, and a further decline in broadleaved native log harvest and woodchips exports.

Despite the death of another Australian in Afghanistan war, Prime Minister Julia Gillard restated the country’s commitment to stay in the distance.

The Gillard Government appears to be taking credit for National Australia Bank’s recent move to sell discounted mortgages online.

Come November, Jetstar passengers will be confronted with electronic self-service tools as they print their own tickets and tag their own baggage. This campaign is included in the new cost-cutting measures from the low budget airline.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) has finally relaxed its tough rules towards employees using social media, following pressure from bank employees to amend heavy-handed elements of the policy.

Wesfarmers Ltd’s forecast production for its Curragh mine has been cut by the company because of the recent rainfall and mechanical difficulties.