Archived News for Professionals in Federal Government

Environment Minister Greg Hunt has approved the huge – and hugely contentious – Shenhua Watermark coal mine in New South Wales, sparking outrage from his colleague Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.

Parliament workers stand strong while safety staff sign on

Staff at Canberra's Parliament House are preparing to walk off the job while the extraordinarily slow Federal public sector wage negotiations continue.

Unsigned PHN contracts could leave big gaps

There are claims this week that mental health patients in rural and regional areas could wait months to see psychologists, due to problems with the Government's new Primary Health Networks (PHNs).

Help in dry times creates state divide

With rainfall totals at their lowest on record in parts of western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia, weather forecasters say conditions are getting worse.

Lazarus goes deep to push Abbott on gas

Independent Queensland Senator Glenn Lazarus has threatened to grab the Prime Minister Tony Abbott's genitals if he does not limit coal seam gas (CSG) exploration.

Flag rules leave more crews in dire straits

The crew of a Rio Tinto-chartered ship has caught the eye of the International Transport Federation (ITF), following reports it has underplayed its crew and left them in poor conditions.

Australian archive to stash digital art

Australian works of digital literature will soon be collected and preserved by Canberra’s National Library of Australia (NLA), after new legislation was adopted by Federal Parliament.

Big dam plan to set new regional path

The Federal Government finally released its long-awaited Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper over the weekend, which includes hundreds of millions of dollar set aside for new dams, roads and other infrastructure.

Expert says powerful change needed

One Australian expert suggests radical reforms are needed in Australia’s energy regulatory system to cut electricity and gas bills for consumers.

NBN's new maps pass politicians' doors

NBN is ramping up the rollout of its ‘multi-technology mix’, and curiously, the electorates of both the Prime Minister and Treasurer are on the list.

ABS figures bring call to look beyond mining

Figures show Australia's trade deficit narrowed in May, but the record trade deficit from April has been revised to be even wider.

Carbon quest shouldn't be slowed by business, CCA says

The Climate Change Authority (CCA) says industry groups should not be concerned about aggressive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions unfairly harming energy-hungry industries.

Gonski gone, disadvantage deepens

New research has found that that school funding in its current state is “politically, financially and educationally unsustainable”.

Bi-partisan silence law meets loud opposition

A group of 40 former health workers contracted to work in immigration detention facilities have dared the Federal Government to charge them for reporting abuse and mistreatment.

Reef win swings on real application

The United Nations' World Heritage Committee will not place the Great Barrier Reef on its “in danger” list.

Strikes see higher-ups fill in on first day

Australia’s new Border Force has come online, after the former Customs and Border Protection departments were merged into Immigration.

Boeing group gets $900m Defence deal

A high-tech consortium led by Boeing has been awarded a $900 million contract to upgrade Australia’s battlefield communications technology.

China deal sees skills needs scrapped

Chinese tradies will not have to undergo the usual skills tests to work in Australia under a “side” deal in the new Australia-China free-trade agreement, unions claim.