Another industry that has become a commodity……
Seal of approval for Grange wine. PENFOLD’S Grange has again been recognised as one of the world’s greatest wines, with influential US critic Robert Parker awarding its latest vintage a score of 99 out of 100. Parker was credited with lifting Grange to superstar status when he named the 1990 vintage the greatest red in the world, but even that wine was given only 94 points.
Populate and prosper. IN what surely must come as a great surprise to demographers biding their time at university campuses and in research bureaus, the population issue has assumed barbecue-stopper status. The debate started when the former Howard government released its intergenerational reports, revealing the spectre of an ageing population putting the fiscal crunch on future workers.
If the there was as much analysis and explanation in the media about population as there was regarding sport most would support population growth on condition of regional development, urban planning etc.
MANAGERS and professionals have prospered through the economic downturn while tradespeople, machine operators and clerical staff have been laid off. New employment figures show big swings in the labour force as industries such as manufacturing, property and construction bear the brunt, while sectors such as health and education have been relatively untouched
Skills shortage looms as growth obstacle for resources industry. THE next decade is expected to throw up the same issues as the last for the resources sector, as the quest for scale continues through mergers, and China and India put growing demands on Australia’s production, infrastructure and skills base.
Victoria goes from basket case to star performer. VICTORIA has leapt ahead of all the non-resource states, as well as Queensland, as the former rust-belt state reaps the rewards of more than 15 years’ of economic reform. The state is taking advantage of its sputtering northern neighbours in attracting new business investment and population and housing growth.
I would not get too smug in Victoria with property prices neyond the bejesus belt, and applications from main overseas student source market, i.e. India, falling off a cliff i.e. down 80%….
AUSTRALIANS have enjoyed the fastest growth in household wealth for more than a generation, as the rebound on stock markets has given back almost half the money people lost in the global financial crisis. Financial accounts issued by the Bureau of Statistics on Christmas Eve show that even excluding real estate, households’ net financial assets shot up by a record $147 billion or 17 per cent in the September quarter alone.
Debts at record levels BORROWERS have set a new record: for the first time we owe more in household debt than the entire Australian economy earns in a yearReserve Bank figures show mortgage, credit card and personal loan debts now stand at $1.2 trillion, up 71 per cent from just five years ago and equating to $56,000 for every man, woman and child in the country.
Very wealthy if you do not go bankrupt first….
Uni cheaper in NZ AUSTRALIAN students are gaining university degrees at half the price by heading across the Tasman to study in New Zealand. It’s a chance to turn the tide on the Kiwi influx, because a little-known government deal means New Zealand taxpayers are subsidising more than 2000 Australians to study at NZ universities.
Why not? Overseas students will be going everywhere except Australia in future….
Foreign students suffer rise in Australian dollar. I decided to do my PhD in Australia in the, now debunked, belief that it would cost me less than other countries. I have been here for six months and I now think that this education is going to be more expensive than almost all other destinations I had on my application list. The rent of the dormitory I’m living in is clear evidence of this. However, my initial wishful thinking has nothing to do with the early tuition and daily cost calculations. Instead, it has much to do with a surge in Australian dollar in the past year.
We aren’t just larrikins. The larrikin image certainly has a place in Australian popular culture, but it should not be allowed to damage our business relations or prospects. Do international managers think of Australia when deciding about business relocations or investment decisions? Or are we just an exotic holiday destination? Perhaps Australian industries should respond to the “Where the bloody hell are you?” campaign with a business-to-business advertising answer: “At work, and we’re doing fine, mate.”
Australia is reknowned as a great place to visit with very nice people (albeit a bit racist) but to do business not very reliable, clever nor innovative…..
AIEC Australian International Education Centre Europe & Australia.
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