AUBJ — December 14 — The Australian tourism sector has been given a boost after it was revealed that visitor numbers for the year to September were up on the previous year’s figure, according the latest International Visitor Survey. Nights spent and expenditure are also up, according the resea... Read More

AUBJ — December 14 — Australia’s strong trade performance has continued, fuelled by impressive iron ore shipments, services and rural agricultural exports, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. October become the 18th consecutive month a trade surplus... Read More

AUBJ — December 13 — Julia Gillard’s changes to her cabinet could have a serious impact on production within the manufacturing industry, according to outgoing AI Group chief executive Heather Ridout. The Prime Minister increased the number of cabinet ministers from 20 to 22 and replaced minist... Read More

AUBJ — December 13 — SilkAir has announced plans to launch direct flights between Darwin and Singapore in March. Darwin will become SilkAir’s first Australian destination as part of plans by its parent company, Singapore Airlines (SIA), to expand services to northern Australia. SilkAir will f... Read More

AUBJ — December 13 — The Queensland Government has made a move to retake 100 Moranbah homes leased to BMA as it looks to solve issues presented by the tight housing market. The homes were originally leased outside of the boom period to BMA, who uses the previously vacant dwellings to house worke... Read More

AUBJ — December 12 — Mining and energy ministers have approved a plan to harmonise national regulations for the coal seam gas (CSG) industry. The move to establish a collective set of rules for the CSG industry was pre-empted by a meeting between federal energy minister Martin Ferguson and his s... Read More

AUBJ — December 12 — Approximately 212 workers in South Australia will lose their jobs before the end of the year as American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson announced plans to close a wheel manufacturing plant before Christmas. Sacked employees from the closure of the New Castalloy plan... Read More

AUBJ — December 12 — Foster’s new parent company SABMiller has appointed a new chief executive for its Australian operations. Ari Mervis, managing director of SABMiller Asia, sponsored SABMiller’s acquisition and will take on the position later this week and his new role will include managin... Read More

AUBJ — December 9 — Manufacturers from across the country have been invited to apply for a share of A$100 million provide by a government initiative that aims to help new, innovative start-ups enter the marketplace. Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr says the funding will lead to $200 million ... Read More

AUBJ — December 9 — Travel agents have regained some of the ground lost in overseas holidays bookings in the past 12 months, according to new study released by Roy Morgan Research. Bricks and mortar agencies, which accounted for 53 per cent of the market in December 2010, grew to 55 per cent of ... Read More

AUBJ — December 9 — The introduction of the mining tax in Australia has inspired the Danish territory of Greenland to shift its focus towards investment from Down Under. Greenland minerals and petroleum geology department boss Henrik Stendal has taken to the Australian media to tout the benefit... Read More

AUBJ — December 8 — The country’s leading sustainable construction organisation has announced plans to open its books to sole traders. The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) made the decision to open up its membership criteria at its Annual General Meeting on November 30. “We have ch... Read More

AUBJ — December 8 — John Holland has been fined following a string of environmental offences at its Dalrymple Bay and Abbot Point coal terminal extensions. The construction contracting firm was fined A$195,000 company for its failure to capture abrasive sand blasted from metal and plastic struct... Read More

AUBJ — December 8 — Xstrata workers on its New South Wales Ulan Coal project went on strike for 24 hours over the weekend after they learnt that several electrical staff had been dismissed. Employees halted their shifts over concerns that the safety of the mine had been brought into question ove... Read More

AUBJ — December 7 — Sixty-five workers are expected to lose their jobs after Koppers Holdings announced it would be closing it carbon black manufacturing facility in New South Wales. The US producer carbon compounds and treated wood products said that was to close the plant due to “deteriorat... Read More

AUBJ — December 7 — The Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA) 5 Star Green Star and the 5 star NABERS Energy ratings have been recognised by The Property Council of Australia (PCA) as the benchmark for new Premium Grade buildings. The ratings will now feature in the Property Council’s... Read More