Selected New Forum Posts

CPI rises 3.1% 28 July

The ABS Consumer Price Index rose 3.1% through the year to the June quarter 2010 more ...


2010 Australian Federal Election 17 July

The Australian Federal General Election is to be held on 21st August 2010...more ...


Average Earnings by Specific Occupation 15 July

The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces a report each year showing the Average Earnings and hours worked by Specific Occupations. Medical practitioners are at the top of this list, and Hairdressers are at the bottom...
more ...


Tax Refund for School Uniforms 13 July

The Labor party has announced that the Education Tax Refund (ETR) scheme may be expanded to cover school uniforms from July 2011. ....
more ...


First Home Buyers Mortgages 12 July

The average mortgage finance for First home buyers in May 2010, as compared to April 2010, has dropped slightly in most States. ....
more ...


Unemployment Rate June 2010 8 July

More good news released by the Australia Bureau of Statistics show that the unemployment rate for Male full time workers has dropped again to 4.78% ....
more ...


New Settler Arrivals to Australia dropping substantially from UK 6 July

Figures from an ABS report, issued 6th July 2010, shows the number of UK settlers arriving in Australia has dropped by almost 40% compared to the previous 12 months ....
more ...


Unemployment rate drops in May 2010 10 June

The Full Time Male Australian unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, dropped from 5.11% in April to 4.99% in May 2010. ....
more ...


Taxmans targets in 2010 5 June

Teachers, Mechanics and Engineers have been warned ....
more ...


Quorn is now in Australia 5 June

Quorn the Meat and Soya free food is now in Australia...
more ...


Fixed Interest Mortgage Rates begin to reduce in Australia 3 June

The Major banks are beginning to cut interest rates on some fixed term home loans.
more ...


Australian Retail Sales increasing in 2010 3 June

Australian retail sales increased by 0.59% in April 2010, following a similar increase of 0.75% in March 2010.
more ...


2010 Mercer Quality of Living Survey 26 May

The 2010 Mercer Quality of Living Survey covered 221 cities and
more ...


Bank Satisfaction Rates 23 May

A recent survey by the Finance Sector Union has shown that not everyone is dissatisfied with their bank in Australia. In fact, only 28% are dissatisfied.
more ...


6.06% Rise in Average Annual Earnings in Australia. Feb 2010 20 May

Average Annual Income for All Australian Male Full Time workers based on Total Income, from the ABS Feb 2010 report, has risen from $68,468 in Feb 2009 by 6.06% to $72,618 in Feb 2010
more ...


Skilled Occupation List (SOL) July 2010 17 May

219 occupations have been removed from the SOL and they include: Cooks, Hairdressers and Pharmacists.
These changes will come into effect on July 1st 2010.
more ...


Unemployment Rates April 2010 17 May

The Unemployment rate for Australians looking for full-time work in April 2010, on a seasonally adjusted basis was:
5.13% Males (5.08% March 2010)
6.21% Females (6.11% March 2010)
more ...


NAB - National Australia Bank 17 May

Winner of the 2010 CHOICE Award for Best Low-Fee Bank Account.
The National Australia Bank is currently the best option for many people, due to it's NO MONTHLY FEES...
more ...


Low Income Tax Offset 14 May

The low income earners in Australia, as well as paying no tax on the first $6,000 of income, receive what is called a "Low Income Tax Offset" (LITO) rebate, normally at the end of the year, once...
more ...


Mortgage Interest rates May 2010 4 May

The Reserve Bank of Australia increased Interest rates by 0.25%. The new Base rate is now 4.50%.
You could expect to get the following Bank Mortgage rates after this new rise...
more ...

Labour win the Tasmanian State Election

Liberal, with 39% of the vote (112,935 votes), get 10 of the seats
Labor, with 37.1% of the vote (107,437 votes), get 10 of the seats
Labor, having suffered a massive 12.1% swing AGAINST them, is deemed the winner, and retains government.


• 2010 Tasmania State Election Results





Labour win the South Australian State Election

Liberal, with 42% of the vote, get 40.0% of the seats
Labor, with 37% of the vote, get 53.3% of the seats


• 2010 South Australia State Election Results



Mortgage Interest rates

CUA, Australia's largest credit union reduced its standard variable rate by 0.25% to 6.37% effective 19 March 2010.


• Mortgage Interest rates March 2010

2010 State Elections in Australia

• 2010 Tasmania State Election
• 2010 South Australia State Election



Private school student numbers boom

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of students over the last 10 years has risen by 234,700, with the following breakdown between State and Non State schools:


• 26,200 in State schools
  
• 208,500 in Independent schools
  

In 2009 there were 3,461,334 students attending full time school.


• 65.69% in State Schools
  
• 34.31% in Non State schools
  

Primary School student Attendance


• 69.44% State
  
• 30.56% Non State
  

Secondary School student Attendance


• 60.65% State
  
• 39.35% Non State
  



Unemployment

The number of Full time employed people in Australia rose by 45,123 from 7,655,080 in January 2010 to 7,700,203 in February 2010 in 'Original data' figures. An increase of 0.59%.



The number of Full time employed people in Australia rose by 11,438 from 7,648,303 in January 2010 to 7,659,741 in February 2010 in Seasonally adjusted figures. An increase of 0.15%.

The Australian unemployment rate was at 5.3 per cent in February, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points from the downwardly revised 5.2 per cent observed in January 2010.


The ABS reported the number of people employed in February slightly increased, up 400 people to 10.971 million, seasonally adjusted. The rise in employment was driven by a rise in full-time employment, up 11,400 people to 7.660 million that was offset by a fall in part-time employment, down 11,000 people to 3.311 million.



• More at: Unemployment Statistics...
  



Australian Average Wages

Trend Estimates reported from the ABS (before the addition of the 9% Super)


November 2009

• Full-time adult total earnings $1,270.60 pw ($66,071 pa)
• Male Full Time Total Earnings $1,378.00 pw ($71,656 pa)
• Female Full Time Total Earnings $1,096.00 pw ($56,992 pa)
• More at: Wage Statistics...
  



2008/2009 Migration Statistics

According to figures released by the department of Immigration, the following applied to migrants from the United Kingdom to Australia, during the 2008-09 year.


21,545 Total settler Arrivals
6,160 Total Permanent Departures
Based on that, a total of 28.6% returned at some point in their lives, and the following was also reported.

1,087 left within the first two years
976 stayed for between 3 and 5 years
4,097 had stayed for 5 or more years

• More at: Migration Statistics...
  



Australian National Education Curriculum

The draft K-10 Australian Curriculum in English, mathematics, science and history is now being finalised for uploading to the Australian Curriculum Consultation Portal.


• More at: Education..
  



Qld childcare website to name and shame

9th February 2010
A new website to name and shame Queensland childcare centres in breach of standards has gone live.

The website would provide detailed information about childcare services that had seriously or repeatedly contravened government standards, Premier Anna Bligh told parliament


• smh.com - Childcare Name and Shame
  
• Education QLD



English speaking migrants will jump the immigration queue.

February 08, 2010
SMARTER, English-speaking migrants who want to work in Australia will jump the queue under a major immigration shake-up to be announced today.


• News.com - Open door for skilled, English-speaking migrants
  



Immigration Rule Changes February 2010

On 8 February 2010, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, announced changes to the General Skilled Migration program.


These changes can be seen at:


• Department of Immigration and Citizenship
  

The main area of changes are:


• a review of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL)
  
• the replacement of the current Skilled Occupation List (SOL) in the second half of 2010
  
• offshore GSM visas made before 1 September 2007 would be capped and ceased
  
• priority processing arrangements
  
• skills assessment requirements for GSM applicants nominating a trade occupation.



Family Tax Benefits stopped for non lodgement of Tax Returns

From January 2010, people who have not lodged tax returns may have their Family Tax Benefits stopped automatically.


• More at: Family Tax Benefits...
  



Changes to the Building Trade Licence Legislation - QUEENSLAND

1st December 2009,


From 1 December 2009, there will be a change to building licensing regulations in Queensland. Most work valued at $3,300 or less is now exempt from BSA’s licensing requirements. The previous threshold was $1,100.




Smoking in Cars banned in Queensland

From the 1st January 2010 smoking will be banned in Queensland, in cars carrying children under the age of 16. Fines of $200 will apply.





CPI - Consumer Price Index

The ABS reports that CPI for the September Quarter 2009 rose by 1.0%


This compares to a rise for the previous quarter (June 2009) of 0.5%.


This will almost guarantee another 0.25% rise in Interest rates in November, with maybe even a 0.5% rise.

• More at: Consumer Price Index...