New data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows the national gender pay gap is the lowest on record - today falling to 11.5 per cent from 12 per cent in November 2023, and 14.1 per cent in May 2022. Under the Albanese Government, women’s average weekly earnings have increased $173.80 a week since May 2022.
Labour came to government in 2022 with a commitment to drive action to close the gender pay gap. Since then, we have seen the gender pay gap drop to all-time lows over four consecutive reporting cycles.
“That’s not a coincidence, it’s because the Government has taken action like banning pay secrecy clauses, modernising the bargaining system, enforcing transparent gender pay gap reporting and delivering pay rises for aged care and child care workers,” says Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.
Annual wage growth in the private sector was 4.1 per cent .....
The government on Monday said it will hold further consultations for preparing a fresh draft of the broadcasting bill, amid concerns in some quarters over restrictions on social and digital media space in the proposed law.
The draft Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, circulated by the government among a few stakeholders, drew criticism from media bodies such as DigiPub and the Editors Guild of India which claimed that digital media organisations and civil society associations were not consulted on the move.
“Ministry is holding a series of consultations with the stakeholders on the draft bill. Further additional time is being provided to solicit comments/ suggestions till 15th October 2024,” the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said in a post on X.
“A fresh draft will be published after detailed consultations,” the ministry said.
The ministry said it was work.....
Los Angeles: It's Los Angeles' turn for the torch. Mayor Karen Bass accepted the Olympic flag at the Paris closing ceremony Sunday, before handing it off to a key representative of LA's local business — Tom Cruise — who in a pre-recorded trek via motorcycle, plane and parachute kicked off the countdown to 2028.
The city will become the third in the world to host the games three times as it adds to the storied years of 1932 and 1984. Here's a look forward and back in time at the Olympics in LA.
LA's Olympic trilogy
Los Angeles got the 2028 games as a consolation prize when Paris was picked for 2024.
Back in 1932, LA hosted its first Olympics. The city was the only bidder for the games at a time marred by the Great Depression and the absence of several nations. Yet memorable sport moments came from athletes including American athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias, who won golds i.....
కేంద్ర ఆర్థిక మంత్రి నిర్మలా సీతారామన్ బడ్జెట్ లో ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ కు అనేక విధాలుగా రాయితీలు, ఆర్థిక సహాయాన్ని ప్రకటించారు. ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ పునర్‌ వ్యవస్థీకరణ చట్టానికి కట్టుబడి ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ కు అందవల్సిన ఆర్థిక సహాయాన్ని అందచేయడానికి కేంద్రం ముందుంటుందని ఆవిడ అన్నారు. ఈ నేపథ్యంలో ఏపీ రాజధాని అమరావతి అభివృద్ధికి ప్రస్తుత ఆర్థిక సంవత.....
1960వ దశకంలో ఆహార లోటు, ఆహార ధాన్యాలు దిగుమతి చేసుకునే స్థితి నుండి దేశం వ్యవసాయ ఉత్పత్తుల నికర ఎగుమతిదారుగా ఎదిగిందని కేంద్ర ఆర్థిక, కార్పొరేట్ శాఖ మంత్రి శ్రీమతి నిర్మలా సీతారామన్ సోమవారం పార్లమెంటులో ప్రవేశపెట్టిన 2023-24 ఆర్థిక సర్వేలో తెలిపారు. పప్పు దినుసులు, చిరుధాన్యాలు, పండ్లు, కూరగాయలు, పాలు, మాంసంల డిమాండ్ నిత్యావసరాల కంటే వేగం.....
The Federal Government has introduced its long-term renewable technology and green investment plan to Parliament called the ‘Future Made in Australia’ (FMIA).
The legislation sets out a planned mix of public and private sector funding to turn Australia into a “renewable energy superpower”.
This legislation is all about unlocking private sector investment to build a stronger, more diversified and more resilient economy powered by renewable energy that creates secure, well-paid jobs around the country.
It embeds into law a disciplined and rigorous approach that will govern Future Made in Australia investments, to make the most of our net zero potential and ensure the benefits of these investments are widely shared and flow to local communities.
Through this Bill the government proposes to legislate new National Interest Framework, introduce a robust sector assessment pr.....
Household wealth rose for a sixth straight quarter by 2.7 per cent ($431 billion) in the March quarter 2024, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Total household wealth was $16.2 trillion in the March quarter, which was 10.2 per cent ($1.5 trillion) higher than a year ago. Residential land and dwellings was the largest contributor to quarterly growth in household wealth, adding 1.3 percentage points.
Dr Mish Tan, ABS head of finance statistics, said: “Rising asset values continued to drive growth in household wealth in the first quarter of 2024, with house prices continuing to increase.”
Superannuation assets contributed 0.9 percentage points to growth in household wealth this quarter and was driven by strong investment performance in both domestic and overseas markets.
Households’ direct ownership of shares and other equity.....
There were 353,000 job vacancies in May 2024, down by 10,000 from February, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Bjorn Jarvis, ABS head of labour statistics, said: “The number of job vacancies fell further in May 2024, dropping by 2.7 per cent. This followed a fall of 6.2 per cent in February 2024.
“May 2024 marked two years since the peak in job vacancies in May 2022. Since then, vacancies have fallen by 26.0 per cent.
“However, job vacancies were still well above their pre-COVID-19 pandemic level. There were still around 54.8 per cent, or around 125,000, more vacancies than in February 2020.
The decline in job vacancies was seen across many industries. The strongest quarterly percentage falls were in Wholesale trade (-30.7 per cent) and Manufacturing (-29.8 per cent).
Only four industries had growth in job vacancies over the q.....
The Albanese Labor Government’s Homes for Australia plan is expected to deliver significant new funding across the country to build more homes with a new national housing agreement beginning on 1 July.
As part of the new 5-year National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness which starts on 1 July 2024, states and territories will share in $9.3 billion.
The funding will help to combat homelessness, provide crisis support and build and repair social housing.
This new agreement includes a doubling of Commonwealth funding for homelessness, which state and territory governments must match.
States and territories will also share in a further $1 billion outside of the agreement directed towards crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence, and youth, through Housing Australia.
The Albanese Labor Government promises to help nearly.....
Legislation passed in the Senate on Wednesday will see expanded access to nicotine-containing vapes, putting a new generation of young people in harm's way.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia (the Guild) strongly opposed the amendments, which make vapes available for purchase over the counter in community pharmacies. The amendments were also opposed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, TerryWhite Chemmart, Priceline, National Pharmacies, Blooms and Pharmacy 777 pharmacy groups alongside thousands of independent pharmacies.
Amendments proposed by the Greens in a deal struck with the Government will see nicotine-containing vapes move from Prescription only (Schedule 4) to Pharmacist only (Schedule 3) as early as October this year.
National Vice President of the Guild Anthony Tassone said the amendments compromise community health and do not take into consideration the safety o.....
The monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicator rose 4.0 per cent in the 12 months to May 2024, up from 3.6 per cent in April, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The most significant contributors to the annual rise to May were Housing (+5.2 per cent), Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+3.3 per cent), Transport (+4.9 per cent), and Alcohol and tobacco (+6.7 per cent).
Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said: "CPI inflation is often impacted by items with volatile price changes like Automotive fuel, Fruit and vegetables, and Holiday travel. It can be helpful to exclude these items from the headline CPI to provide a view of underlying inflation, which was 4.0 per cent in May, down from 4.1 per cent in April."
Housing rose 5.2 per cent in the 12 months to May, up from 4.9 per cent in April. Rents increased 7.4 per cent for .....
Every Australian deserves and should expect access to cheaper, cleaner and consistent electricity. But under Labor, this isn’t happening.
Right now, in households and businesses around the country, Labor’s expensive renewables-only approach is failing.
The Government is now talking about a 65 to 75 per cent emissions reduction target by 2035, but won’t release modelling and won’t tell us how much higher power prices will go up.
Power bills have already increased by up to $1,000 for many Australians, when they were promised a $275 cut. And Labor’s climate target of 43% emissions reduction by 2030 has become unachievable.
The Coalition believes Australia must have a balanced energy mix to deliver cheaper, cleaner and consistent 24/7 electricity. 90 per cent of baseload electricity, predominantly coal fired power stations, is coming to the end of life over the next dec.....