Australia can attract much needed venture capital funding through its Significant Investor Visa system, but only if a proposed new system is designed well.
Despite its purported dullness, this year’s budget still has bite.
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After the controversy surrounding the GP co-payment last year, delivering a boring or “small-target” budget this time around was clearly deliberate. But we shouldn’t gloss over it too quickly.
Australians will have to opt out of the new system.
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Despite A$485 million of rescue funding, there is no guarantee health professionals will participate in the e-health scheme, nor that the information supplied will be complete.
Small Business Minister Bruce Billson said a single online registration site for small business would be established.
AAP/Alan Porritt
Registration of small businesses will be streamlined as part of the government’s package for the sector, which will be a centrepiece of Tuesday’s budget.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey pose for photos as they discuss their second budget.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Joe Hockey sounded almost pleading, in his appeal after the Reserve Bank announced an interest rate cut of 0.25 of a percentage point, taking the cash rate to 2%, a new record low.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott can use the latest Newspoll as evidence to his colleagues that he is clawing back.
AAP/Lukas Coch
The government goes into next week’s budget trailing Labor on a two-party basis but satisfaction with Tony Abbott has risen to a seven month high in the latest Newspoll.
Treasurer Joe Hockey has a difficult job ahead in selling his second budget.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
A shiver might have gone down Joe Hockey’s spine when he read a report that some colleagues were angry he’d missed Monday’s meeting of cabinet’s expenditure review committee.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to lowering taxes.
AAP/Nikki Short
Tony Abbott has reaffirmed that the government’s aim is “always to get taxes down” in a speech also saying that the May 12 budget will offset all new spending with “responsible and fair” savings.