By Darin Ritchie
While the Government has been somewhat inconsistent on the question of Australia’s future population, it is encouraging to see acknowledgement of the negative consequences of acceding to those who advocate zero population growth.
Swan is right: Population cap is not the answer
March 30, 2010
4 Comments | 
Economy, Infrastructure | Tagged: Australia, Darin Ritchie, population | 
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Red Tape Watch: standard reporting a step in the right direction
March 30, 2010By Megan Cox
Businesses are continuing to face red tape nightmares, and this has been confirmed by a new Federal Government report that identifies at least 9,600 online forms which businesses are forced to use in dealing with three different levels of government (Australian Financial Review, pg. 08, 30/3/10).
Leave a Comment » | Red Tape Watch | Tagged: bureaucracy, Megan Cox, red tape | Permalink
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Train kept a rollin’ – or did it? Delays affect business productivity
March 29, 2010By Wayne Kayler-Thomson
The science is in – public transport delays do impact on business productivity.
The overwhelming majority of Victorian employers in a recent survey say they have experienced lost productivity due to the unreliability of public transport.
5 Comments | Infrastructure, Your Say | Tagged: Infrastructure, Melbourne, public transport, Wayne Kayler-Thomson | Permalink
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Melbourne’s Grand Prix in pole position to reach greater audiences
March 26, 2010By Peter Jones
With the Formula One Grand Prix running at twilight, it is effectively increasing the value of the event for Melbourne with even greater audiences in Europe expected to see Melbourne on show.
Two of the core benefits of the Formula One Grand Prix are the jobs it brings to the city and the global advertising gained through the mass appeal of motor sport through Europe and Asia.
Leave a Comment » | Economy, Tourism | Tagged: Melbourne events, Melbourne Grand Prix, Peter Jones | Permalink
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Quick Quotes: Education must be encouraged to tackle skills shortage
March 26, 2010By The Editor
In an effort to address our State’s skills shortage, the government has pushed for more people to pursue further qualifications in their trade. However, according to The Age, the response has not been encouraging:
Leave a Comment » | Economy, Quick Quotes, Skills | Tagged: Darin Ritchie, John Brumby, Quick Quotes, skills shortage, The Editor | Permalink
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Vic needs a shed extension
March 26, 2010By Wayne Kayler-Thomson
The promise by NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell of a world-class Exhibition and Convention Centre in Sydney is a wake-up call for Melbourne to undertake a necessary expansion of its own Exhibition Centre.
We estimate that the superb new Convention Centre is likely to provoke a 20 percent boost in demand for space, and current events like the Motor Show could already do with more space.
Leave a Comment » | Infrastructure, Tourism | Tagged: Jeff's Shed, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Wayne Kayler-Thomson | Permalink
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One didn’t have to be Nostradamus: bigger ships start calling at Melbourne
March 25, 2010By Chris James
For nearly a decade, VECCI warned that larger ships would be seeking to call at Melbourne as super ships were being built for the main Europe-Asia-North America trade routes.
These super ships carrying up to 8,000 containers would push smaller ships carrying 3,000-4,000 containers down to secondary routes like Melbourne, thus triggering the need for deeper channels in Port Phillip Bay.
Leave a Comment » | Infrastructure | Tagged: Channel Deepening Project, Chris James, Infrastructure, Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay, Victoria | Permalink
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Quick Quote: Waste levy rises need to be offset by tax and WorkCover cuts
March 24, 2010By Wayne Kayler-Thomson
Today’s rises in waste levies, while understandable, should be offset by other cuts in the cost of doing business.
We understand the environmental imperatives behind the rise in the waste levies and acknowledge the funding to help encourage recycling. However, the cost to industry of these measures cannot be overlooked in the context of the current recovery from GFC and rises in interest rates and the price of energy and water.
Such costs should be offset by significant business tax relief in the coming May Budget.
1 Comment | Environment, Quick Quotes | Tagged: Environment, Victoria, waste levy rise, Wayne Kayler-Thomson | Permalink
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Smart meter moratorium: education before implementation
March 24, 2010By Bridget Ryan
The Victorian smart meter plan is ambitious to say the least – roll out new smart meters to ALL Victorian consumer connections; and in one fell swoop lift our distribution infrastructure into a new technology-based pricing, supply and service framework .
The Minister’s announcement this week will delay the introduction of ‘time-of-use’ pricing, but will see the roll out of smart meters continue. While this article in The Age suggested the whole scheme is being halted, this is not the case.
3 Comments | Infrastructure | Tagged: Bridget Ryan, Infrastructure, smart meter, Victoria | Permalink
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Sleepers awake: key VECCI infrastructure demand being met
March 23, 2010By Chris James
Most of us would remember with horror, not so long ago, railway tracks on the suburban rail network buckling during the summer heat and trains being cancelled left, right and centre.
To prevent this, Metro has re-tensed sections of rail and replaced metal spikes that hold rail tracks in place. But they aren’t just stopping there.
1 Comment | Infrastructure | Tagged: Chris James, Infrastructure, Melbourne, transport | Permalink
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