Sector: Policy

Friday’s announcement that the Government has signed a telepresence contract with Cisco and Telstra, worth $13.8m, will have profound impacts beyond cost-cutting.

According to Intermedium’s Head of Consulting, Kevin Noonan, the announcement is “a clear and unambiguous indication that there is serious intent to embrace the use of high end technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness in government”.

A press release from the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner says the system will be used “for inter-jurisdictional meetings, including Council of Australia...

Retaining skilled staff is the number one priority for businesses during the global financial crisis, according to a survey by the Australian Institute of Management.

The survey of more than 500 small to large firms during December and January, found 59 per cent said keeping their best and brightest employees was the best way to position their businesses during the downturn.

While skilled employees were most unlikely to be retrenched, the survey also found 20 per cent of businesses expected to sack staff and downsize as a result of the economic slowdown.

Australian I...

Thank goodness he later qualified that rather chilling comment by suggesting the “tough” part of the Budget was on those charged with framing it!...

A report released last week by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has criticised government attempts to go green, saying that current measures will do little to offset the carbon footprint.

The Green Office Procurement and Sustainable Office Management Report reviewed the $26 billion per year the Federal Government spends on procuring services (including ICT) and on administration, finding there is still “considerable scope to reduce the ecological footprint”...