Aussies pulling in the purse strings – new retail survey

Australians have taken economic warnings to heart and are pulling in their purse strings, according to a survey released today by the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA).

The independent online survey of 1,000 people was conducted in the days following the Federal Budget.

“With the cooling economy people are being very sensible with their money,” said Margy Osmond, ANRA Chief Executive. Read more

Making Women Welcome in the Australian Defence Force

An external Reference Group on Women has been established to advise the Australian Defence Force (ADF) on the recruitment and retention of servicewomen, the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, announced today.

“Members of the reference group are senior women who have a track-record of success in male-dominated professions or have been responsible for innovative strategies to increase the participation of women in their workplaces,” Mr Snowdon said.

The reference group, established by the Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, AC, AFC, will consider the issues of Defence culture, attitude and behaviour, alongside an examination of the current range of family-friendly policies in the ADF which are not fully utilised. Read more

Katie’s Career Soars with Ecowash

Since taking the reins as in-house legal counsel for Australia’s waterless carwash success story Ecowash Mobile, 28 year old Katie Richards (pictured) has played a major role in the company’s international expansion.

After completing her Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Business at Queensland University of Technology and a post graduate diploma at Griffith University, Katie started her career in property law with a focus on leasing. She then worked as legal counsel for Dominos Pizza Enterprises Ltd before joining Ecowash Mobile in October 2007.

Katie handles all of the legal matters for Ecowash Mobile, from commercial contracts to leasing, policy compliance, OH&S requirements, and all franchising-related areas of law. She also handles all international legal work including preparation of the relevant franchising documentation for newer markets like the USA and Greece, registration of disclosure documents in each of the applicable States in the USA, and some research into other market issues as they arise. Read more

Top chefs launch major initiative opposing GM Foods

Sydney, Thursday 29 May 2008: Over 50 of Australia’s top chefs have united to express their opposition to serving genetically modified (GM) foods in their restaurants by endorsing a GM Free Chefs Charter, launched by Greenpeace today.

The charter was unveiled at Jared Ingersoll’s Danks Street Depot, at a launch attended by chefs from some of Sydney’s top restaurants. The charter calls for the thorough labelling of all food products containing GM ingredients and opposes the recent introduction of GM canola in New South Wales and Victoria. Read more

Celebrities stand up for youth voice on green issues

Gland, Switzerland, 28 May 2008 (IUCN and WWF): Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins (pictured) has joined other performing artists around the world – including Moby, James Blunt, Estelle, and Panic at The Disco – to express her support for connect2earth.org, a new green on-line community where young people can have their say about the environment by uploading videos, pictures and comments.

The website, launched earlier this year by WWF and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), and powered by Nokia, allows users to rank other entries, discuss the issues that matter most to them, share smart ideas and solutions from their own communities, and win some fun prizes in the process, including a Nokia mobile phone awarded each month for the most popular entry. The site is also optimized to be used on mobile phones (www.connect2earth.mobi). Read more

Early Stage Investment Gets a Boost

Australian Small Scale Offerings Board Limited (ASSOB) is pleased to announce the details of a proposed merger between the company and Appollo Assets Limited. The Australian Small Scale Offerings Board, a platform designed to assist early-stage and unlisted companies raise capital, today announced an agreement to merge with Appollo Assets Limited (NSX:AAW), a specialist investment company.

ASSOB Managing Director, Brookes McTavish said, “We’re very pleased to announce this proposed merger between ASSOB and Appollo. With Appollo’s access to capital and ASSOB’s strong growth, our plan to join forces to roll-out a sophisticated investment banking organization to deliver services to high-growth, unlisted companies in Australia, means we both achieve our goals more quickly,” she said. Read more

Beauty Heaven Announces New Editor

Beautyheaven.com.au, Australia’s leading online beauty portal, has appointed Alicia Pyke as Editor.

With more than a decade’s experience as a beauty and style writer, including roles at The Courier-Mail and
The Daily Telegraph, Pyke brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the beautyheaven team. Read more

Art or Pornography? The debate over Bill Henson’s work continues

As the debate over artist Bill Henson’s images of naked children continues, NSW police are still considering whether to lay child pornography charges against the artist and the Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery in Sydney. Although the experts agree it is unlikely the case against Henson will result in a criminal conviction, the controversy does bring to light the age old debate about art and pornography. But does community reaction to these particular images of the prepubescent body say more about us than the artist at the centre of this latest controversy?

Professor Elizabeth Grierson is Professor of Art and Philosophy at RMIT and has published widely in the history, theory and philosophy of art. She is also an Executive with the RMIT Design Research Institute, where she is leading the “Intervention Through Art” program.

Professor Grierson says the controversy is the latest in a long line of fiery debates over the fuzzy boundaries between art and pornography. Read more

Sustainability: what is it and how you can do your part

We’ve all heard the term ’sustainability’ in the media and with an increasing number of industries ‘going green’, it is certainly a term we will be hearing a lot more often in the future. But what does ’sustainability’ actually mean for business and the consumer? Recently, I asked Clare Cavanagh (pictured with her son), a researcher in sustainable planning and design at the University of Queensland, to explain ’sustainability’ in terms of the costs and the benefits for us and for future generations of Australians.

Clare Cavanagh is passionate about her work and who could blame her when what she does for a living has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of so many people, including those not yet born. Clare and her colleagues work in a growing movement known as ’sustainability’. Read more

Making Workplace Law Easier to Understand

Australia’s Workplace Ombudsman has released an updated catalogue of fact sheets in line with recent changes to federal workplace legislation making it easier for employers and workers to meet their workplace obligations.

Workplace Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson said 16 reviewed and updated fact sheets were now available on the website at www.wo.gov.au Read more

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