Low skilled migrants with limited English will have the opportunity to apply for permanent residency in Australia after living and working in the Northern Territory for at least three years. The new Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs), a regional migration agreement for the Northern Territo
Australian airlines such as Qantas and Virgin Australian have been named as one of the safest airlines for 2018, according to AirlineRatings.com. Other airlines in the top 20 safest airlines for 2018 list included Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific
The 2018 road toll was recorded at 354, with 35 fewer fatalities on NSW roads than 2017. This was the biggest reduction since 2013, which recorded 36 fewer facilities than 2017. “It’s heartening to see that the road toll as a whole has dropped and we are committed to ongoing action but road safety i
Parents will now be able to apply for a $100 voucher for their school-aged children’s creative and cultural learning activities. For students aged between 4.5 to 18 years old, the $100 vouchers will be available once every calendar year for creative and cultural activities such as music lessons, lan
More than two thirds of Australians are now overweight or obese, according to new figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The 2017-18 National Health Survey found that 67 per cent of Australians aged 18 and over are overweight or obese, showing a 4 per cent rise from the 63 pe
High-tech cameras to catch drivers illegally using their mobile phones will be installed in two locations in Sydney from January 2019. The M4 Motorway and Anzac Parade will trial the cameras for 90 days, with no fines being issued in the testing phase. The high-tech cameras will be fitted with high-
$1.92 billion will be invested to fund for research in Australia’s universities from 2019. This funding will include more scholarships for both domestic and international students who undertake research degrees in higher education.The $1.92 billion is part of the Research Support Program (RSP) and t
Most capital cities in Australia will experience warm weather on Christmas Day, with temperatures in the high 20s and into the 30s, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology. Slight chance of rain is only expected in some parts of northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and Tasmania. Sydney
Drivers who spend $15 or more a week or $780 per year on tolls will be eligible for half-priced vehicle registration from 1 July 2019. The program will be available for all standard privately registered cars, utes, four-wheels and motorcycles. This will be part of the toll roads program. Drivers who
For the first time, Australians with severe eating disorders will have access to a comprehensive treatment plan under Medicare. Patients with serious psychiatric conditions such as anorexia and bulimia will have access to 40 psychological services and 20 dietetic services each year from November 201
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced her plan to tackle Sydney’s population growth by giving international students incentives to study in regional NSW. An estimated number of 220,000 of 400,000 temporary migrants in NSW are international students. International student’s education is the se
Unleaded petrol prices in most capital cities have risen by the most in four months, with the average prices above $1.40 a litre, according the new analysis released by CommSec. The Australian Institute of Petroleum has also announced that the average retail petrol price was 139.9 cents last week co
Donor human milk bank has been opened for all premature babies in NSW. As the first state-wide initiative, this will be jointly run by Australian Red Cross Blood Service and NSW Health. “Around 1000 babies are born every year in NSW at less than 32 weeks gestational age, or of a very low birth weigh
Warnings have been issues by the NSW health concerning the rising possibility of cryptosporidiosis in swimming pools this summer. The number of confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis in NSW has risen from 38 in October to 41 in November. However, this number could be higher as people with the symptoms
The new metering requirement will require a tamper-proof meter to be installed for NSW water users. This will be part of the NSW Government’s Water Reform Action Plan, and apply to licensed water take from across NSW. “We are reforming water management in NSW. This framework is a significant step fo
A major funding for family law services will help support women recover financially after separation as part of the Women’s Economic Security Package. “Women are more likely than men to experience financial hardship after separation, especially those women who have experienced family violence and th
Australia’s population is predicted to reach 30 million between 2029 to 2033, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The population may reach up to 35 million as early as 2038, and 49 million by 2066. The population projections are based on future leve
Sydney commuters can now tap on and off with their credit or debit cards for the entire Sydney Trains network. Mobile wallets on smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices linked to American Express, Mastercard and Visa credit/ debit cards will also be available to be used to tap on at train station
Almost 800 people in NSW were diagnosed with whopping cough in October 2018, making it the highest number since October 2016. NSW Health is now alerting all pregnant women and new parents to be aware of the symptoms and vaccinate on time. “Whooping cough is challenging to control at the community le
Households can save hundreds of dollars on their energy bills by using a free online comparison tool for all NSW electricity providers. The Energy Switch program compares a customer’s latest electricity e-bill with all available electricity providers, and shows the three cheapest electricity plans a