Migration Tweaked To Tackle Economic Crisis

MIGRANTS with urgently needed skills or jobs already lined up will be given priority to enter Australia, after the migration program was changed yesterday to deal with the economic crisis and industry demand.

F3 Link Far Down List

THE fate of the F3 link to Branxton could be known by the end of the year, with the Rudd Government poised to announce the first round of spending from its $20 billion Building Australia Fund.

Surveys Cut As Knives Drawn On Public Sector

BUDGET cuts will force the nation's statistician to reduce the quality and scope of its monthly jobs survey as the Rudd Government "razor gang" attempts to slice more than $20 million from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Apple Rumour Mill Runs Hot

With just four weeks until the annual Macworld geekfest in San Francisco, the rumour mill is running hot with predictions about what new goodies Apple boss Steve Jobs will announce. Apple plays its cards very close to its chest and never issues so much as a hint of what's to come but this doesn't stop pundits, fans, experts and those who claim to be "insiders" from stoking the fires of the Macworld guessing game.

Bah, Humbug! No Joy For Our Region

THE reaction of substitute Santa, Morris Iemma, to Illawarra's Christmas wish list was more scrooge than huge yesterday, but there were indications he might have some belated gifts to give out in 2008.

There's A Great Deal To Fix

Secrecy, federalism, tax . . . The to-do list for Kevin Rudd presents many challenges.

No Answer On Policing

IT is a list which paints a dim picture of the numbers crisis that has enveloped the Lower Hunter police command.

40c Top Tax Rate

THE Coalition has delivered the first king hit of the election campaign by promising income tax cuts worth $34 billion over the next three years which it says would ease the cost of living and create an extra 65,000 jobs.

Jobs For Women 'limited'

AN AFL survey has found that, on the basis of gender, sections of its own female staff felt limited in its ability to win the positions of power in the league.

Blues Get Good Vibes From Voss

CARLTON has made explicit its preference for a contemporary coach capable of galvanising its young list, with chief executive Greg Swann saying Michael Voss had conducted an impressive first interview and ruling out Kevin Sheedy and Neale Daniher.

Let's Not Put The Culture Wagon Before The Horse On The Priorities List

I attended the Creative Futures public debate at the Town Hall on Tuesday night on how to improve Sydney's "culture" but ended up walking out after less than an hour. I'm sure the last speaker and ensuing discussion were interesting but I just couldn't handle any more idealism from narrow-minded artists.

Electricity, Transport At Top Of Costa's List

THE office of the Director of Public Prosecutions faces a $5.6 million cut, and 150 police civilian workers' jobs will go in an otherwise big-spending state budget to be delivered by the Treasurer, Michael Costa, today.

Job-creation Spruikers Ignore Counter-factual

NEXT time you hear someone advocating some project or policy change on the grounds that it would create lots of new jobs, close your ears. They're pushing something that would be bad for the economy.

Jobs Thrown On Rubbish Heap

The Federal Government's lack of support for eco-technologies is forcing business off-shore, writes Andrew Stephens.

Budget Boost For Howard's Battlers

"HOWARD'S battlers", middle-income earners and families will be the winners in Tuesday's budget. But if you are not on that list, don't worry. There is still an election campaign looming.

Hicks Protesters Should Add Kessing Name To Their List

It is not necessary to accept everything as true; one must only accept it as necessary.Franz Kafka, The Trial

Another Fine Piece Of Timing

Suddenly what was Greater becomes the lesser. Never list on a wet Monday.

Howdy Partners - Introduced By Georgie

YEARS ago there was a clear divide between jobs in the private and public sectors - you made your choice of either at the start of your working life and accepted you would probably stay there until you retired.