Brad Sweeney Energex

Energy businesses seeking 125 new apprentices

Ergon Energy Network and Energex have started recruitment for 125 new apprentices to start in February 2027. The jobs will be based in metropolitan, rural and remote
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Group of warehouse employees stretching while taking a break from work

Blue collar job decline disrupts class voting habits

By David Peetz Class has always mattered, and now social democratic parties that sprung from a working class — including the Australian Labor Party – are finding out
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Small business owner closing cafe from financial crisis

Minimum wage goes above $1000 a week for the first time

Australia’s minimum wage has risen above $1000 per week for the first time, with 2.7 million workers being granted a pay increase. The Fair Work Commission increased
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Woman, megaphone and fist in community protest for change, gender based violence or equality in the city. Angry women activist standing together in march strike for human rights or government action

International ruling breaks right-to-strike deadlock

By Shae McCrystal The International Court of Justice has just resolved a 14-year dispute over workers’ right to strike – giving trade unions worldwide a significant
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Sad young woman dealing with loss and psychological trauma

Jobless jump increases prospect of stagflation

By Shane Rodgers A jump in the unemployment rate in April has increased fears that the economy is on a path to “perfect storm” stagflation. Stagflation occurs when
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A joyful African mother and her smiling young son embracing outdoors in a sunny field, signifying warmth and love

Skilled migrants a vital resource for regional business

By Claire Higgins and Louise Olliff Regional Australia has long struggled to attract skilled workers away from urban centres. In the years since the pandemic, however,
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Happy man looking at document while working on laptop from home at living room

Wage growth steady despite inflation blow-outs

Wages growth is remaining steady in Australia despite growing inflationary pressure and geopolitical uncertainty. The latest CommBank Wage Insights series, released this
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Young asian girl feels upset and isolated while her flatmates celebrating party at home indoors

Two-thirds of migrant employees are being underpaid

A new study has exposed chronic underpayment of migrant workers with two-thirds being paid below award rates and 36 percent below the minimum wage. This amounts to an
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Worried young woman working at home

Should you take the $1000 tax deduction and run?

By Fei Gao When Australian workers lodge a tax return from mid next year, around 6 million taxpayers look set to be able to claim up to A$1000 with an “instant”
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Homeless holds piece of cardboard with inscription Need Work. Refugee is at brick wall looking for job. Male tramp in dirty clothes. Below poverty line. Bearded fugitive beggar. Immigrant. Drunkenness

Inflation-busting approach is ‘unnecessarily cruel’

By Warwick Smith The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will look at the latest unemployment figures – 4.3 percent, roughly 650,000 people out of work – and see a
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