AuBJ – Casino giant Crown Ltd. has divested itself of all the shares owned in the parent company of The Star casino, Echo Entertainment. Crown sold its 82.6 million shares for $264 million, or $3.20 each. Crown Ltd. wants to pursue its own proposal for a posh six-star hotel and casino at Baran... Read More
Further job losses as Ford announces closure
AuBJ – Ford has announced it will cease production at its Australian manufacturing plants by October 2016, after more than 85 years of making vehicles in the country. Around 1,200 workers are expected to lose their jobs from the Broadmeadows and Geelong plants in Victoria. According to Ford, the A... Read More
Expect spike in petrol prices
AuBJ – Analysts are bracing the nation for what could be a noticeable spike in the price of petrol over the next couple of weeks due to the decline in the value of the dollar. Some economists say prices may be ratcheted up by as much as 5 cents a litre in that time frame. Figures [...]... Read More
$1 billion plan announced for Australian Jobs
AuBJ – Ten Industry Innovation precincts are to be set up across the country following the announcement of a $1 billion plan for Australian Jobs by the Government. The Industry Innovation precincts will aim to promote collaboration between business and research institutions, as well as promote... Read More
Groves can live in Canada
AuBJ – A court in Brisbane has given bankrupt businessman Eddy Groves permission to live in Canada, despite questions about his potential flight risk and his sordid financial activities during the past few years. Federal Court Judge John Logan said earlier today that the possibility the former... Read More
Groves wants to live in Canada
AuBJ – A Federal Court judge in Brisbane has adjourned a hearing until Monday as to whether he’ll allow failed ABC Learning Centres leader Eddy Groves to live in Canada with his wife, who is setting up educational facilities. But for Groves to join his wife overseas, he needs the permiss... Read More
Canning basin deal
AuBJ – Western Australia’s State Government has introduced a bill into Parliament to ratify an agreement to develop gas reserves in the Canning Basin, in the remote Kimberley region. Premier Colin Barnett told Parliament the bill will ratify a natural gas deal signed between the Governme... Read More
Carbon trading tax cut on hold
AuBJ – Climate Change Minister Greg Combet has confirmed the 2015 tax cut associated with the carbon trading scheme will not move forward because of the drop in the carbon price in Europe. The Government had forecast the carbon price would be $29 a tonne by July 2015, when the tax was due to s... Read More
Gillard to visit Papua New Guinea
AuBJ – Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be visiting Papua New Guinea for the first time later this week, arriving in Port Moresby on Thursday for a state dinner hosted by PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. The following day, Gillard and O’Neill will hold formal meetings along with ... Read More
American economy improving: Buffett
AuBJ – American billionaire investor Warren Buffett believes the U.S. economy is gradually improving, helped by the efforts of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to stimulate it. However, the very low interest rates have resulted in bonds being terrible investments. During an interview with... Read More
New building permits decline
AuBJ – According to figures from the Bureau of Statistics, a noticeable dip in apartment housing approvals has led to an overall fall in home building approvals. The numbers indicate total home building approvals fell 5.5 per cent, seasonally adjusted, in March to 12,599. However, approvals fo... Read More
ECB cuts interest rates
AuBJ – For the first time in 10 months the European Central Bank has chopped interest rates. The primary reason for the move is due to an EU economy floundering in recession brought on by sharply falling inflation. The ECB lowered its main interest rate by a quarter point to a new record low o... Read More
The pot calling the kettle black
It’s a known tactic amongst political parties – blame the other party – or parties – for all the woes of the country and take credit when something goes right. Much is the same when it comes to Australia’s economy with a number of respected economists saying each of the... Read More
Capstone buying Pinto Valley from BHP Billiton
AuBJ – Australia’s BHP Billiton is selling its Pinto Valley copper mine and a railroad in Arizona to Capstone Mining for $650 million, which is more than many analysts thought BHP would ever receive, given the current weak market climate. In fact, some estimated the value of a sale would... Read More
Pesticide ban to save bees
AuBJ – The European Union will impose a two-year ban on three pesticides suspected of contributing to the decline in the number of bees worldwide. As of now, 15 countries have voted to allow the European Commission to restrict the use of the insecticides from Dec. 1. “Since our proposal ... Read More
Deficit announcement looming large
AuBJ – A number of top-level economists are predicting the federal government will announce a multi-billion-dollar deficit when the budget is announced in three weeks. Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan seems to be preparing the country for the news after saying government revenue had taken a $7.5 b... Read More







