At its meeting today, the Board decided to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.50 per cent, effective 6 June 2012. Growth in the world economy picked up in the early months of 2012, having slowed in the second half of 2011. But more recent indicators suggest
Carbon neutral means that the net greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product or activity are zero. Zilch. Nada. To achieve this, extensive audits would need to be conducted on your business to calculate its exact emissions profile, and then you’d need to purchase the equivalent number of carbon offsets.
Choose your flooring wisely, as a new study has found phthalates from PVC flooring in the urine of young children. Phthalates have long been a health concern, particularly with children, with many countries banning their use in products that go into a child’s mouth, such as teethers, baby bottles, teats
Australia’s housing sector has called on the reserve bank to deliver a 50 basis point interest rate cut after a survey showed new home sales have fallen to their lowest level in more than a decade. The Housing Industry Association (HIA), which represents the residential building industry, says new
With the Easter break upon us, it’s an excellent time to tackle that DIY project you’ve been putting off. Perhaps you want to build some extra storage space for the kids, or maybe you need to overhaul your dated 1980’s bathroom. The key to success when undertaking a DIY assignment
Later this week, thousands of cities across the globe will dim their lights at 8.30pm for an hour, joining in the world’s largest voluntary environmental action: Earth Hour. Scheduled for the last Saturday of every March – closely coinciding with the equinox to ensure that most cities are in darkness
Next time you’re cooking up a storm in your kitchen spare a thought for the passengers on board an A330 Qantas flight from Sydney to Adelaide on Friday, 13 April. This auspicious flight will be powered by recycled cooking oil from commercial kitchens that is mixed with jet fuel that
The Australian Government has chosen to simultaneously introduce three significant tax changes that directly affect the Australian Construction Industry. See what those big tax changes are and how they will affect you. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics the construction industry is the fourth largest contributor to Australia’s GDP
There are times that cause you to take a reality check on Australia’s overriding view of bricks and mortar as investments. As brown swirling flood waters force thousands of people from their homes in NSW and northern Victoria last week, the images of rivers breaking their banks and gushing through
It’s a case of walking before they can even crawl for some very young property owners, with parents setting up their children for property ownership almost from the day they are born. The far-sighted plan is more common in Europe than Australia but the same benefits apply. As Australian prices