Lorna Jane has been fined $5 million and labelled “predatory and exploitative” by the Federal Court after the popular activewear brand falsely claimed its clothes could eliminate COVID-19 and stop it spreading. During the deadly virus outbreak, the company claimed its anti-virus activewear had been sprayed with a substance called “LJ Shield”, which protected people...
Category: <span>Business</span>
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Australia joins international community in blaming China for large scale Microsoft hack
Australia has joined the United States and other allies in accusing China of engaging in “malicious cyber activities”, including a massive global hack on the Microsoft Exchange software that compromised tens of thousands of computers earlier this year. In a joint statement, the Ministers for Home Affairs Karen Andrews, Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Defence...
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COVID-19 Disaster Payment applications open to some Sydney residents from Thursday
New South Wales residents across seven local government areas will be able to apply for the increased COVID-19 Disaster Payment as early as Thursday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday announced a new, joint state-and federally-funded support package for residents and businesses impacted by Sydney’s coronavirus outbreak. Under the package, from week four of a...
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Federal government could reprise cash flow scheme for businesses to save jobs
A cash flow boost could be offered to small business owners in a federal plan to help companies survive extended lockdowns, reprising a measure that paid up to $100,000 to employers last year. Prime Minister Scott Morrison named the payment as one of the most effective measures used in the first wave of the pandemic...
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Credit card debt rising among Aussies as lockdowns bite
Having a wad of credit cards may be out of favour but they’re still handy during a lockdown. Data released by the Reserve Bank on Wednesday shows a sharp U-turn in personal credit growth this year, after plunging in 2020 when many people raided their savings to pay down debt. Australians in May added almost...
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Union backs Aussie made amid virus issues
The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union has launched a campaign calling on the federal and state governments to back local workers and the products they make. The Support Aussie Made campaign urges governments to tweak industry regulation to better support growth in manufacturing, describing disruptions to local production during the coronavirus pandemic as the “wake-up call”...
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ASX falls on first day of new financial year
The Australian share market has stumbled into the red on the first day of the new financial year and share-trading platform Robinhood has been fined more than $90 million for misleading customers. Losses on the All Ordinaries index deepened in afternoon trade with coronavirus lockdowns and financial stocks weighing on the market. It dropped 0.6...
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Calls made for Australian states to introduce COVID vaccination leave for workers
Calls are being made for Australian workers to receive half a day’s paid leave to go and get vaccinated. Unions are calling on the NSW government, being the largest employer in the country, to introduce the leave for public servants and make the case at National Cabinet. “Every barrier and impediment to vaccination must be...
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Australian power prices are falling – and why they are expected to fall further
Power prices have eased by 10 per cent for households who took advantage of a policy introduced in mid-2019 by the Morrison government. The default market offer is the annual maximum total bill amount, or “reference price”, energy companies can charge for the ‘standing offer’ prices based on a set average usage amount. The Australian...
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Asian Renewable Energy Hub plan for WA rejected by federal government on environmental grounds
Proponents of the world’s largest renewable energy project are facing a significant hurdle, with the federal Environment Minister rejecting plans for a WA hub. The federal government-backed plans for the Asian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH) in the Pilbara last year, granting the venture major project status. However, new environmental approvals were needed after the group...