ForewordbyDavidGonski.pdf (application/pdf Object) Housing prices up 1.9%, retail sales increase, Wall Street falls after consumer confidence declines: Economy Roundup. Housing prices have risen to their highest point during August since 2005, according to the latest figures from the RP Data-Rismark monthly index. The index, which began four years ago, shows that housing prices increased by 1.9% during August, with the cumulative growth of the past eight months reaching 7.9%.
"Underpinned by the strongest population growth since 1971, record housing shortages... historically low mortgage rates, favourable employment outcomes, and one of the world's most profitable banking systems, Australian home values have now extended 3.8% past their last February 2008 peak," Rismark International managing director Christopher Joye said in a statement. Housing prices in Melbourne and Sydney recorded the biggest growth, with gains of 11.6% and 8.6% respectively, with Darwin following with a growth rate of 9.7%. Canberra followed with growth of 6.7%, trailed by Brisbane at 5.2%, Perth at 4.1% and Adelaide at 3.1%. ASX warns over new trading licenses. David Gonski | Business News and Interviews on David Gonski. Gonski review Views & Research - The Conversation. Analysis and Comment (72) For most education watchers, this year has rushed by in a policy blur. So much so that we thought we had better launch our very own shiny Education section just to help you keep on top of things.
The launch… It’s been a big week for education. Amidst all the confusion and politics on school funding of the last week there have been a couple of repeated mantras by the federal education minister – namely that… “The OECD says that we are a high equity nation in terms of our students… I don’t believe there is an equity problem in Australia.” – Education Minister Christopher Pyne, Lateline interview, 26 November… During the Cold War, both the Soviets and the Americans were trying to develop a way to write in space.
It seems we’re in Gonski groundhog day. After a tense meeting in Canberra today, education state ministers raised concerns that the new federal government changes to school funding would see cuts only target public schools. ABC. Gonski review delivers verdict on Australian schools Australian Broadcasting Corporation Broadcast: 20/02/2012 Reporter: Hayden Cooper The biggest review of Australia's schooling system in 30 years has released its findings, and they suggest a shortfall in funding as well as the lack of a consistent or transparent approach. Transcript CHRIS UHLMANN, PRESENTER: Politics aside, education will be one of the bigger policy tasks facing the Prime Minister this year. HAYDEN COOPER, REPORTER: It costs governments $40 billion a year, affects millions of parents and children.
DAVID GONSKI, REVIEW CHAIRMAN: From the outset I saw the invitation to lead this review as a genuine opportunity to change things for the better and to make a real difference in the lives of young Australians. PETER GARRETT, SCHOOL EDUCATION MINISTER: The fact is that this report continues an unstoppable journey on making sure that every school in Australia is the best that it can be for the kids in our country. Appendix G.5. Review of the Australian Film Industry (David Gonski, chair) 1997. Canberra: DCITA. The Gonski review of the Australian film industry aimed at addressing structural problems in the industry, in particular, the extent to which it is marginalised through competition with the mainstream Hollywood film industry, its reliance on government funding to get film projects off the ground and the perceived need to make films that reflect and are relevant to Australian culture.
Australia is home to one of the world’s oldest film industries, dating from the 1890s and boasting one of the largest cinema-going audiences in the world (in per capita terms). Despite this, the Australian film industry had been in abeyance until the 1970s when Australian governments initiated various funding schemes to encourage film production, especially for films that promoted national culture. Government initiated film organisations have included state bodies (e.g. David Gonski. David Michael Gonski AC (born 7 October 1953) is an Australian public figure and businessman. He is a leading philanthropist and Patron of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation. Early life and education[edit] Gonski was born in Cape Town, South Africa and his family migrated to Australia in 1961 in the wake of the Sharpeville massacre.[3] Gonski's father, Alexander, was a Polish neurosurgeon and a founding member of the New South Wales Golf Club at La Perouse.
His mother is South African Helene Blume. He attended Sydney Grammar School and graduated with the degrees of Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws (with the University Medal) from the University of New South Wales. Early career[edit] He practised as a solicitor with the firm of Freehills from 1977 to 1986, becoming their youngest ever partner at age 25, before leaving to co-found an investment bank. Business leadership[edit] However, not all Gonski's efforts have yielded strong results. Community leadership[edit] Directors’ responsibilities clearer after Centro case: expert. A court ruling that directors of troubled property company Centro breached their obligations by signing off on accounts later revealed to be misleading shines a light on director responsibilities, an accounting expert says.
Some company directors have raised the alarm on the ruling, with ASX Ltd and the Reserve Bank of Australia board member David Gonski telling The Australian that on the face of it, the decision “would appear to be increasing the burden on directors”. The Federal Court ruling centred on financial accounts, signed off by Centro directors in 2007, which were found to have not disclosed billions of dollars of short-term debt. Centro nearly collapsed that year, having embarked on a multibillion-dollar spending spree before the global financial crisis. The directors argued that they had relied on expert advice for the accounts; namely auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers and management. Fresh bid for Hakoah merger. THREE highly-respected businessmen have been urged to try to salvage a possible merger between Hakoah and the Double Bay Bowling Club (DBBC). DBBC members voted in favour of a motion at the club’s annual general meeting on Sunday to force the board to meet with Westfield Group deputy chairman Brian Schwartz, Australian Stock Exchange chairman David Gonski and former senior director of McKinsey and Jewish Communal Appeal president David Balkin.
The motion was put forward after talks between Hakoah and DBBC, about a possible amalgamation that would allow the DBBC to move to Hakoah’s 22,000 square metre property at White City, came to a grinding halt in July. The two boards had been working together for a year to develop plans that would meet the needs of both clubs but then DBBC’s board withdrew from the talks before consulting it’s membership. Platus said the club is divided but he still believes that an amalgamation is possible. “I don’t have agenda at all. Reserve Bank Board. The role, responsibilities and composition of the Reserve Bank Board are laid down in the Reserve Bank Act 1959. Over and above the legislated requirements and in recognition of their responsibility for maintaining a reputation for integrity and propriety on the part of the Board and the Reserve Bank, members have adopted a Code of Conduct.
Go To Role of the Reserve Bank Board The ‘mandate’ or ‘charter’ of the Reserve Bank Board is contained in section 10(2) of the Reserve Bank Act: ‘...the Reserve Bank Board has power to determine the policy of the Bank in relation to any matter, other than its payments system policy, and to take such action as is necessary to ensure that effect is given by the Bank to the policy so determined. The main focus of discussions at the Reserve Bank Board's meetings each month is on monetary policy. The relationship of the Reserve Bank Board with the Government is set out in section 11 of the Reserve Bank Act. Meetings of the Reserve Bank Board. Coordinated global searches in relation to Securency International PTY Ltd | Press room | SFO - Serious Fraud Office.
Australia Regulator Declines to Probe Directors in RBA Units’ Bribery Case. Australia’s main stock market regulator said it won’t conduct a formal investigation of company directors involved in a federal bribery probe at note- printing units of the central bank. The Australian Securities & Investments Commission today confirmed it received material from the Australian Federal Police relating to bribery allegations at Securency International Pty and Note Printing Australia Ltd. “ASIC considers a range of factors when deciding to investigate and possibly take enforcement action,” the regulator said in a statement on its website.
“ASIC has reviewed this material from the AFP” and “has decided not to proceed to a formal investigation.” Securency, which is half-owned by the Reserve Bank of Australia, and Note Printing Australia, which is fully owned by the central bank, and seven people who worked at the companies, face federal bribery charges over payments allegedly made in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam to secure banknote printing contracts. Securency arrests are the first real test for Australian anti-bribery and corruption laws | Clayton Utz. Australia's anti-bribery and corruption laws are about to get their first real test in court with the arrest and charging of six people for alleged bribery of foreign officials, and the charging of Securency International Pty Ltd and Note Printing Australia Limited with the same offence. The alleged bribery of foreign officials Securency manufactures and sells the polymer banknote technology to other countries.
Note Printing Australia does the printing. For the last two years the Australian Federal Police has been investigating their activities in procuring banknote contracts for Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. It's alleged the two companies used international sales agents to bribe officials in these three countries, with media reports suggesting the total sum could be nearly $50 million. The alleged conduct occurred prior to 2006. Australia's anti-bribery and corruption laws Under the Commonwealth Criminal Code a person is guilty of a bribery offence if: The penalties are significant.
Media Release-Statement Concerning Securency International Pty Ltd and Note Printing Australia Ltd. Statement Concerning Securency International Pty Ltd and Note Printing Australia Ltd In May 2009 the Board of Securency International Pty Ltd referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) allegations raised by the media concerning the company's use of agents in foreign countries. The AFP commenced an inquiry into the matter, which subsequently widened to include the use of agents by Note Printing Australia Ltd (NPA). The companies' boards and the Reserve Bank extended their full support to the AFP inquiry over the past two years.
As a result of that inquiry a number of charges have been laid today, arising from alleged events between 1999 and 2005. The charges allege the two companies and a number of individuals engaged in conspiracy with sales agents in foreign jurisdictions to pay bribes to officials in those countries for the purpose of business advantage. A number of people who were employees of the companies, including two former chief executives, have been charged. Background. News Item : Origin set to benefit from carbon tax.