Small Business Ventilation Program - Ventilation Grant
The Ventilation Grant enables eligible public-facing businesses to invest in large projects to improve ventilation, such as building works, engaging professional services or purchasing equipment. Grant funding will be matched dollar for dollar with the business, between $1000 and $5000.
Improving ventilation helps reduce the spread of COVID-19 and provides customers with the confidence that businesses are doing everything they can to keep them safe.
Suncorp Group welcomes NSW flood inquiry report
Suncorp Group today welcomed the O'Kane-Fuller Flood Inquiry's report and the recommendations to help New South Wales prepare for and recover faster from floods in the future. Suncorp Group CEO Insurance Product & Portfolio Lisa Harrison said the establishment of the NSW Reconstruction Authority, that will be dedicated to disaster recovery, reconstruction and preparedness, was a positive outcome.
Interview with Allison Langdon and Karl Stefanovic, Today Show, Channel 9
Angel Investment Groups Help Victorian Startups Grow
Three new angel investor networks backed by the Andrews Labor Government through Launch Vic are set to unlock as much as $9 million in early-stage capital market over the next two years. Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford announced $900,000 in grants from the Labor Government's agency LaunchVic overnight while at the Victorian Startup Ecosystem Gala.
Insurance Council welcomes NSW flood inquiry findings
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has today welcomed the release of the O'Kane-Fuller Flood Inquiry and the New South Wales Government's response to its recommendations, particularly on land use planning and the relocation of homes in the most flood-prone areas.
Release of independent flood inquiry
The NSW Government has today released and responded to the 28 recommendations of the independent Flood Inquiry, commissioned in response to the major floods earlier this year. Premier Dominic Perrottet said the recommendations of the report provide a blueprint for change and practical actions to ensure communities and government can prepare for floods in the future, and recover faster.
Urgent action needed as real wages fall to 2011 level
Wage growth has flatlined, rising by only 0.7 per cent to 2.6 per cent, less than half the rate of inflation at 6.1 per cent, according to data released by the ABS this morning.
Years of stagnant wage growth capped off by deep ongoing real pay cuts mean that real wages have now effectively fallen back to 2011 levels. These cuts are projected to deepen by the end of the year with inflation expected to reach 7.75 per cent.
Annual wage growth 2.6% in June quarter 2022
The seasonally adjusted Wage Price Index (WPI) rose 0.7 per cent in June quarter for the third consecutive quarter, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Michelle Marquardt, head of Prices Statistics at the ABS, said: "After three quarters of consistent wage growth, driven mostly by wage rises across the private sector, the annual rate of growth was 2.6 per cent. This is the highest annual rate of wages growth since September 2014.
Connecting more young Australians to jobs in retail
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has partnered with the Australian Government's Department of Education, Skills and Employment to train young jobseekers and connect them to jobs with some of the biggest employers in the retail industry.
The ARA Retail Ready Youth PaTH-Way Program will help 200 young people aged 15 to 24, to gain skills and jobs in the retail sector. Funded by the Australian Government, the program will be supported by retail experienced trainers and mentors from the Retail Institute - the ARA's registered training organisation.
On completion of the training, the candidates will be connected to jobs with the ARA employer partners. Following the successful launch of pilot cohorts in January, the program commenced from February 1, 2022 and will run through to June 30, 2022 across targeted regions in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.
