Archived News for Executives and Senior Management - December, 2013
Australia punches well above its weight in terms of research outcomes, a habit highlighted by the release of the Ten of the Best Research Projects 2013 report.
Rich officials told to hold back on big send-offs
As millions of Chinese starve and suffer in a toxic atmosphere, the government has told its high-ranked officials to tone down increasingly extravagant funerals for the sake of austerity.
Sex doesn't sell in matters of the heart
The advertising game is often one of subtlety, suggestion and subliminal messaging – other times the formula is just to place a scantily-clad person next to the thing you want to sell, but research at the University of Queensland is investigating whether sex really is the best way to make a sale.
Talks planned to ease axing in NT
Discussions are planned which may yield a deal for the future of the town of Nhulunbuy, which will have its economy decimated when a nearby Rio Tinto refinery is closed.
Uranium miner fined for lacklustre lodging
An Australian uranium exploration and mining firm has been fined for lodging virtually no financial documents, and not even holding an AGM.
Cuts crush needed services for neat gains
Schemes encouraging regional social cohesion and providing indigenous legal aid have been cut to save funds, as the Federal Government grapples with a worsening budgetary situation.
East Timor to raise stakes in spying claim
East Timor will take allegations of Australian spying to the International Court of Justice, accusing espionage around the negotiations for a lucrative oil and gas treaty in 2004.
Heave for half-day works for this year
Newcastle Council's general manager says a push for the council to keep a traditional, but not official, Christmas Eve half day for staff will cost jobs.
Known faces switch in big wig re-jig
There has been some executive musical chairs among prominent government-linked advisors this week.
Survey finds QLD Gov staff about half happy
Queensland public servants are feeling the sting of a thousand cuts, with a recent survey finding more than a third believe their workplace is less efficient following the year of downsizing.
Deceptive Australians had time to refine their tricks
Australia’s ecology is littered with tricksters, shysters and con-artists; according to a new report.
Tenders up for big Sydney freight build
Bids are being lodged and bets hedged to see who will bag the contracts for a $1 billion freight hub in Sydney's west.
Brief breaks from binge for a less destructive holiday
A well-timed report has made a few suggestions to minimise the damage from excess mirth and merry-making this Christmas, unfortunately they involve something other than the couch and leftover turkey.
Doctors caught short by quick shift to 'contemporary' pay
Thousands of Queensland doctors have been angered by changes in their employment conditions, after doctors at public hospitals were moved to individual contracts rather than collective bargaining.
Case claims shops awash with high-priced powder
Federal Court action has been launched against Australia’s washing powder barons.
Fiddly internet language found out for $2 million fine
The tricky wording of one internet company’s advertisements has come back to bite them, and will take a bigger chunk than originally thought.
Music helps in many ways, Mozart's mythical effect not one
New research suggests that studying music has very little impact on a child’s general intelligence, with a finding that could spell an end to French horn lessons around the world.
New money named for inflating the language
‘Bitcoin’ has been named word of the year by the Australian National Dictionary Centre (ANDC), marking the mainstream landing of the decentralised digital currency.
Papers show ANZ wouldn't kill faux-golden goose
Court documents have shown the bank now embroiled in the largest class action in Australian history could have seen it coming.
Planned move sees AECOM old guard step aside
A planned succession will see some seat-swapping at the pointy end of global engineering giant AECOM, with the President becoming chief and the chief becoming chairman.
Women's pay gap cause for early warnings to youth
Figures out this week show that the average Australian woman would have to work 25 years longer to retire on the same amount as a man.