Australia is an innovation-driven economy with a high level of entrepreneurial activity second only to the US. According to the 2011 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report, 10.5 per cent of Australia’s adult population are setting up or own a new business, and 12.3 per cent are...
Australian researchers at La Trobe University are developing emotionally intelligent robots to improve healthcare, communications and social management systems.
The Commonwealth Bank has become the latest lender to break ranks with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and raise rates out of cycle by 0.1 per cent.
Global pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKlein (GSK), will invest A$60 million to enhance its manufacturing capability and Research & Development activities in Australia.
The flood clean up has started for mining hub Roma in Queensland’s southwest after the rising water level peaked at a record 8.4 metres last Friday night.
Australia’s economic growth is likely to continue in 2012 despite fears recovery from the global financial crisis is 'under threat', according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a January 2012 briefing note to the G-20, the IMF states it does not expect a collapse in the world economy but...
American financial technology company, CAIS, has opened an office in Australia to bolster its presence throughout the Asia Pacific’s booming financials services markets.
THE dream of owning a beach shack is still alive with a wave of run-down old beachfront homes sitting on the market waiting for the next tide of new owners.
One of Australia's largest cattle companies has reported $58 million in pre-tax earnings for the 2011 year, despite the suspension of live exports to Indonesia.
IT'S a piece of history ripe for relocation. Kevin Bayliss demolished an 1880s Cobb & Co house with such care it can be rebuilt, original brick by original brick.
The proposed Olympic Dam expansion is becoming more and more certain, after plans were announced to expand the Stuart Highway from Olympic Dam to Port Augusta in South Australia.
Signals of a bottoming market are evident as the December quarter reports the year’s smallest quarterly decline, according to RP Data director of research Tim Lawless
Australia is set to expand its advanced manufacturing capability as BAE Systems establishes the nation’s largest aerospace component manufacturing and processing facilities in Adelaide.
A A$34 billion investment in Australia’s Ichthys liquefied natural gas (LNG) field will move Australia towards being the world’s largest exporter of LNG.
It's natural for property prices to take a breather as they move through the property cycle, but that doesn't mean investors can't brainstorm ways to create their own growth in the meantime.
High Quality turnkey house and land packages from $476,545. Add $2,700 to include a 3mtr x 3mtr garden shed the rent is between $650 and $700 per week.
An important factor to consider when investing in Mackay is the heat and humidity...
Australia has retained its position as one of the world’s freest economies, once again placing thirdon the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom, published by The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation.
Investment properties in Mackay have just been given another boost, with BHP Billiton giving the Queensland Government notice of a proposed rail corridor alignment from the Bowen Basin to Mackay
The soft homebuyer market has put increased pressure on the rental market, resulting in higher rents across the entire country, according to Australian Property Monitors’ Rental Price Series quarterly report....
Land sales have increased by 1.3 per cent in the September quarter, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA)-RP Data Residential Land Report. It’s the third quarter where the volume of land sales has increased....
Affordability is the key this year as Sydney buyers shift attention to older, more affordable units in prime lifestyle locations along Sydney’s inner coastal areas and also to cheap housing on the metro city fringe, according to WBP Property Group New South Wales manager Chris Lackey....
Australian financial market activity remained strong in 2011 on the back of continued growth in the country’s A$1.4 trillion economy. This reflects the resilience of Australia’s robust financial markets in the face of continued world capital market volatility.
Online communications company, TokBox, has chosen Australia as the base of their Asia-Pacific operations with the company’s first international office now open in Sydney.
Australia is set to play a major role in the future of sustainable aviation as Boeing and CSIRO launch collaborative research to assess Australia’s capacity for biofuel production.
Investors are more likely to have daggy kitchens and older bathrooms for the next 12 months with renovations on the decline, but property prices are still firm, says the Housing Industry Association’s Kitchen and Bathrooms: Past Growth and Future Prospects 2011/2012 report....
Australia’s renewable energy sector is poised for significant growth over the coming decade, as the country tracks towards its Renewable Energy Target (RET) of 20 per cent by 2020.
Investors and homebuyers in Queensland now have an extra reason to buy off-the-plan properties, after the Queensland $10,000 building boost grant was given a three-month extension. The boost was supposed to end at the end of January, but will now expire at the end of April....
Prices may have softened in 2011, but not to the extent of a “collapse” or “bloodbath” as predicted by some commentators, according to the Housing Industry Association senior economist Andrew Harvey....
A highly anticipated $25 billion gas project for Darwin and Western Australia will be given the official nod today, as indicated in a full-page Inpex advertisment in today’s Northern Territory News, reported ABC News Online....
WITH a host of renovations shows on television, people are more conscious than ever about buying furniture that is not only practical but makes a statement and grabs attention.
This week signalled one year since Grantham, in Queensland, was ravaged by flash flooding. In this time a new town has resurfaced just up over the hill from the old town, with sweeping vistas and flood-free land. Some locals say it’s an exciting fresh start while others say the land swap deal by...
Most of us make some sort of new year’s resolution every year. Whether it’s paying off debt, saving more money or getting our finances in order, there is usually some sort of goal hanging around our heads in early January. It’s easy to make a resolution – the difficult part is turning it into...
THE Real Estate Institute has warned homeowners to keep up to speed on the tax laws after one homeowner was hit with a surprise land tax bill of $14,000.
Landlords have enjoyed recent drops in interest rates and many economists predict they’ll fall further this year. But a report written by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), The Mining Industry: From Boom to Bust, suggests otherwise. It indicates the mining boom could in fact result in...
Body corporate insurance premiums have reportedly risen by as much as 400 per cent over the past 12 months in parts of far north Queensland, according to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs....
Earlier this week The Australian newspaper reported that unions and welfare groups are placing pressure on the Gillard Government to slash contribution incentives for middle and higher income earners. API investigates what this might mean for property investors in an era of uncertain superannuation...
After much speculation in recent months over the interest rate cut effect on property prices, recent data proves it was certainly a gear changer in November 2011, with the greatest increases recorded since December 2010, according to RP Data-Rismark‘s November Hedonic Home Value Index results....
An easy-to-read comparison of Australia’s performance and position across key economic and financial related indicators. The IDC has been updated to include data effective to 15 December 2011.
There’s a widening gap between the demand for homes and the number being delivered, according to the Residential Development Council (RDC).
Executive director Caryn Kakas says the Australian Government’s National Housing Supply Council – State of Supply Report 2011 confirms there’s a projected...
Queensland is set to offer strong property investment opportunities over 2012, according to a research report recently released by Colliers International.
Most investors always have some sort of New Year’s resolution. Buy another property, pay down mortgages or do more research in one area. This Christmas people are confused. No one knows exactly how bad the European crisis will get and for investors, that means no one knows what will happen to...
Brisbane will house Australia’s largest biopharmaceutical manufacturing site with a new collaboration announced between the Queensland Government, The University of Queensland and DSM Biologics.
The Christmas holidays are just around the corner and for some landlords, their properties are likely to be in higher demand over the next month or so. While permanent rentals provide more stability, The Stayz Group Accommodation says now is a good time to switch your property from a permanent...
As urban development increasingly encroaches on rural areas, and as property investors are increasingly dabbling in small developments, it’s important to become aware of the upfront costs that could arise if vegetation is sacrificed for new construction, according to Herron Todd White’s rural...
Accidental damage claims are outweighing malicious damage claims, proving that bad tenants aren’t the only damage culprits, according to landlord insurer Terri Scheer.
China’s fifth largest bank, the Bank of Communication (BOCOM), has opened its first Australian branch in Sydney, making it the fourth Chinese bank to launch branch operations in Australia.
Australia has committed A$148 million in funding for new Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) spanning the automotive, agricultural and urban water sectors.
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<h2>Lot 155 The Penda</h2><br>
<B>NRAS approved within Brisbane natural surrounds.</B>
<P>Fitzgibbon Chase is a 114 hectare residential development within the Fitzgibbon Urban Development Area (UDA...
Australia's economy soared in the September quarter, recording GDP growth of 1 per cent despite a year of natural disasters and global economic instability.
In the wake of the controversy about the four major banks delaying their passing on of the Reserve Bank’s full interest rate reduction, RateCity has called on the banks to offer First Home Saver Accounts....
To access the Queensland Government’s $10,000 Building Boost, new homebuyers need to act now, despite the January 31 deadline, according to the Sunshine Coast building industry.
December 2011, last newsletter for the year so I'll wish you a Merry Christmas. I hope you will have some fun with friends and family. Thank you to those new...
Australia has committed A$148 million in funding for new Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) spanning the automotive, agricultural and urban water sectors.
With the media continually telling us all how hard times are it’s no wonder the average Australian is being cautious. People are currently saving more than they have in decades and choosing not to upgrade their house or even enter the housing market. Building...
Fines of up to $60,000 could be dished out from January 2012 for workplaces, including unit buildings, not complying with new Federal Government law changes on asbestos, according to Archers Body Corporate Management director Andrew Staehr....
The drop in the official interest rate down to 4.25 per cent yesterday may provide some relief to small property holders if the big banks decide to follow suit, however for big landholders with business finance it could mean the ability to continue holding in a climate of slow sales activity....
While the nation saw building approval declines of 0.7 per cent for the month of September, Queensland’s building approval rate remained steady at 5.7 per cent, according to Queensland’s Deputy Premier and Treasurer Andrew Fraser....
Eight regional councils have chosen to allow new applications for exploration permits, despite the Queensland Government’s announcement to put a stop to it, according to Queensland Employment, Skills and Mining Minister Stirling Hinchliffe....
The time requirement for off-the-plan unit buyers in Queensland to receive their registrable transfer might be extended from 3.5 years to 5.5 years if a proposed Bill is passed, according to the Property Council of Australia (PCA)....
It’s a nervous time around the world as we watch Europe’s continuing debt woes unfold. Financial instability could well mean that a credit squeeze is looming, both overseas and closer to home. While everyone hopes for the best, investors should prepare for the worst, according to Gavin Hegney of...
Building permit activity is up by three per cent for the 10 months to October 31 compared to the same period one year ago, according to the Victorian Building Commission.
Cash rate stability, increased product choice and flexible mortgage interest rates have created the prime environment for consumers planning to renew their home loan.
Competition in the mortgage market is certainly heating up.
There's no end of TV shows dedicated to property renovation, but all too often they just concentrate on what's on the inside. What about what's outdoors?
Australians have a strong affinity with the great outdoors, so it should come as no surprise that...
It’s the Christmas present all homeowners were hoping for – the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has lowered the cash rate to 4.25 per cent in its final meeting of the year.
A discussion paper has been released for consultation on the issue of licensing strata managers in Western Australia, according to WA Minister for Finance Simon O’Brien.
Hotels in the Perth CBD are on the Western Australian Government’s critical hit list of important economic infrastructure, according to WA Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Kim Hames.
Landlords reaping the benefits of growth in Queensland’s mining areas might soon find it harder to increase the rent by enormous amounts every six or 12 months.
Whether you’re considering buying your first investment property, or you’re building up your portfolio, getting the right home loan advice to help you maximise the performance of your investment is critical.
Are you looking to repay only the interest to maximise negative gearing...
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points in November has had a positive impact on the market, according to mortgage broker company Australian Finance Group (AFG)....
Canberra unit sales “are seeing a slump” after being hit by a higher change of use charge (unit tax), according to the Australian Capital Territory Opposition Leader Zed Seselja.
An improved transport and roads network will be delivered to Gungahlin in the Australian Capital Territory, providing greater opportunities for economic growth and increased entertainment for the Gungahlin Town Centre, according to the ACT Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development...
A proposal to cap rents would be disastrous for rental affordability and the property market, according to Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) president Pamela Bennett.
As the September quarter delivered a patchwork quilt of sales results across the nation, a larger than average decline in sales activity for one particular area shouldn’t always be interpreted as a larger than average drop in buyer demand. Rather it could be the sign of a tightly held market,...
SALES of new homes in Australia posted a modest increase amidst lower interest rates and a competitive skilled trade market, a peak residential body says.
Median rents have significantly risen in inner Sydney and the Hunter region for the September quarter, according to the latest PRDnationwide New South Wales Rental Market Overview.
A new breed of property investor is likely to charge into the market in the second quarter of next year and drive the activity of the traditional buy-and-hold investor, according to Australian Property Monitors senior economist Andrew Wilson....
Many people believe it's cheaper to rent than have a mortgage, but RP Data reports renters are now paying a larger proportion of their income on housing costs than those with a mortgage.
Australia is amongst the world’s most attractive destinations for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), according to the 2011 IBM Global Location Trends report.
Upward pressure on rents in Queensland continues as buyers stand on the sidelines waiting for a bigger bargain, while mining suburbs lead the way in sales volumes with cashed-up miners giving a much-needed boost to tourism hotspots, according to PRDnationwide's Queensland Sales Overview...
According to the 2012 Doing Business survey by the World Bank and International Finance Corporation, Australia remains in the top 20 of the world’s easiest places to do business.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s decision to lift Australia’s ban on uranium sales to India is a major boost to South Australia, according to Terry Ryder of hotspotting.com.au.
The mortgage broking industry’s first six months of operating under the new national credit scheme was reviewed recently with mixed results, according to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)....
Mortgage holders found repayments a little easier to handle in the June quarter this year, as mortgage arrears of more than 30 days fell to 1.69 per cent, down from 1.81 per cent in the March quarter, according to a Standard & Poor’s Rating Services report....
A new stem cell research centre launched in Melbourne last week will allow Australian scientists to pioneer new approaches in the treatment of major health problems.
Australia is still one of the best places in the world to live, according to the United Nations’ Human Development Index (HDI). In 2011, the HDI ranks Australia as number two in the world.
Despite Melbourne now claiming the smallest allotments in the nation, affordability still hasn’t improved, according to the National Land Survey Program director Colin Keane.
Dutton Park land, adjacent to the former prison site previously known as Boggo Road and the EcoSciences Precinct, will be redeveloped into a mixed-use precinct in Brisbane’s inner southeast, according to Queensland Premier Anna Bligh....
Darwin’s “man dam” could soon feel even greater pressure if Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the United States (US) President Barack Obama tomorrow officially announce to increase the US military presence in Darwin as anticipated, according to KPMG demographer Bernard Salt....
South Australian residential property sales may be moving a little slower than recent years, however some areas are recording higher rental yields of almost five per cent, according to the Real Estate Institute of South Australia (REISA)....
The Sunshine Coast has been allocated 283 affordable homes targeted to low-income families, according to the Queensland Minister for Housing Karen Struthers.
To the relief of many property owners, the Gillard Government yesterday officially announced that a standard ‘flood’ definition would soon apply across all home and contents insurance policies.
Chinese-owned energy provider, TRUenergy, is set to boost its investment in Australia with two new gas-fired power stations proposed for Queensland’s major growth areas.
The 2310-hectare urban development area (UDA) in Queensland’s Caloundra South will now move ahead after the Sunshine Coast Regional Council recently announced it would discontinue its Supreme Court case against the development, according to Queensland’s Minister for Local Government Paul Lucas....
The Gold Coast property market is set for a major boost after being awarded the Commonwealth Games, according to property author and founder of Somersoft, Jan Somers.
With the passage of the Clean Energy Future Legislation this week, the Government will commit more than A$13 billion to finance and support renewable energy initiatives in Australia.
Building on 20 years of uninterrupted growth, the Australian economy continues to perform solidly and has been ranked the second most resilient economy in the world for two years running. Australia also ranks third in the world for economic freedom, a position it has held for three consecutive...
Approximately 98 per cent of the Wide Bay Burnett region will be protected from intensive development under a new regional plan released in September to guide sustainable growth, according to the Acting Queensland Minister for Local Government and Planning Annastacia Palaszczuk....
Global pharmaceutical companies Lonza Group and Mesoblast Limited have entered into a strategic alliance to produce regenerative off-the-shelf adult stem cell products.
