Garden and Home Care

Australia’s toxic love affair with stimulants is in full bloom, driven by a relentless appetite for ice, samples from sewage treatment plants show. The latest analysis of wastewater from 53 sewage plants across Australia has shed more light on the nation’s illicit drug habits. And the news isn’t good when it comes to stimulants - most concerning the crystalline form of methylamphetamine, ice, but also record levels of cocaine and MDMA consumption in both city and regional areas. Read more:  https://7news.com.au/news/drugs-and-alcohol/australias-worst-drug-hotspots-revealed-after-sewage-analysed-at-53-wastewater-sites-c-1135621

"While the EU is looking to open its doors to a handful of countries including our own, I'm reminded New Zealanders returning from trips offshore were part of the spread of the virus in New Zealand in the first place," Ms Ardern said. The European Union named 14 countries whose citizens are deemed "safe" to be let in from July 1, including New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Japan. But Ms Ardern said opening borders here could see the "hard won gains" of reducing Covid-19 squandered and the price could be a second wave. "First and foremost we are trying to preserve a Covid-free position while getting our economy moving," she said. Read more:  https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/ardern-throws-cold-water-opening-borders-including-australia-do-think-its-dangerous

An Australian lawmaker is to be suspended from his party following reports his office is facing investigation by national security agencies over alleged links to China. Authorities raided the home and office of Shaoquett Moselmane, a New South Wales state politician, on Friday. Police and intelligence agencies said it involved an "ongoing investigation", but did not give further details. Read more:  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-53188553

SYDNEY: The Australian Associated Press has been acquired by a consortium led by philanthropists, saving the newswire from closure at the 11th hour. The deal was confirmed late Monday (Jun 29), three months after staff were told AAP would shutter as challenges in the media sector were exacerbated by the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. The investor consortium, which includes former News Corp chief Peter Tonagh, told staff in an email they shared "a common goal - a desire to protect media diversity in Australia". Read more:  https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/philanthropists-save-australia-aap-newswire-from-closure-12884462

Hey there, The bathroom is perhaps the dirtiest room in the house! It is because people postpone the cleaning task as no one like to clean a dirty bathroom. Moreover, the moisture present in the bathroom makes it an ideal place for the germs and bacteria to flourish. Thus you should clean it time to time but only use natural products for cleaning because they are cheap, effective and safe. I am here to share an article on this subject. After reading it, you will get a clear idea of how to clean the bathroom in a hassle-free and effective way. If you want to know more, read the article thoroughly. https://www.bondcleaninginmelbourne.com.au/how-to-deep-clean-your-bathroom-with-natural-cleaners/

The government is powerless to ensure lobbyists are not hiding “whose interests they are representing” when meeting politicians and can do nothing to check whether revolving-door rules are being adhered to, a damning audit has found. Australia’s federal lobbying system is widely considered weak compared with international and state and territory standards. The system – made up of a lobbying code of conduct and public lobbyists register – enforces only limited transparency and imposes rules that are relatively loose, not comprehensively or independently policed, and carry little serious punishment. Read more:  https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/29/australian-government-powerless-against-lobbyists-with-hidden-interests-audit-finds

Every week there seem to be more companies announcing job losses, as the coronavirus pandemic, lockdown and resulting economic downturn continues to bite hard. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 594,300 people lost their jobs in April. This drop was predominantly due to restrictions put in place to protect Australians from the coronavirus. The ABS estimated another 227,700 jobs were lost in May. Workers have suffered across a range of industries. Here are some of the announced job losses so far. Read more:  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-30/job-losses-coronavirus-australia-covid-19/12401232

The government is powerless to ensure lobbyists are not hiding “whose interests they are representing” when meeting politicians and can do nothing to check whether revolving-door rules are being adhered to, a damning audit has found. Australia’s federal lobbying system is widely considered weak compared with international and state and territory standards. Read more:  https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/29/australian-government-powerless-against-lobbyists-with-hidden-interests-audit-finds

Before COVID-19, Paul Gripske's family business was suffering. A wholesaler of spare parts for lawnmowers and other outdoor power tools, its manufacturing arm makes more than 3.5 million mower blades each year. But the recent drought hit hard. "We're a grass-driven business. [If the] grass doesn't grow, people certainly don't mow dirt," Mr Gripske tells ABC RN's The Money. Read more:  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-30/andrew-liveris-manufacturing-in-australia-after-coronavirus/12387448

Hello Guys! I am back again with a fantastic article ‘ How to Keep a House Clean Every Day of the Week? If you are one of those who don’t get time for thorough cleaning, have a look at this article. It includes some handy tips that will maintain the look and feel of your abode all day long. Whether it is about making the bed daily or wiping off countertops after cooking, you can do a plenty of small things to keep your house look tidy and organised. For more information, read the entire article carefully and create your own checklist for better results. http://www.bondcleaninginmelbourne.com.au/how-to-keep-a-house-clean-every-day-of-the-week/

Australia is doomed to continue its tit-for-tat with China because our political class don’t understand our biggest trading partner, new research argues. The Sino-Australian relationship has become increasingly rocky in recent months. Most recently, China denied it was behind the huge cyber attack against Australian systems. But new research from The Australia Institute argues the cause of tension is largely due to our ignorance. Read more:  https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/06/26/china-australia-relationship-2/

The Government’s decision to end free childcare come July is at odds with its own economic goals, new research by The Australia Institute’s Nordic Policy Centre has revealed, highlighting that policies that make it easier for women to choose to go back to work will see the country recover faster from the COVID-19 economic crisis while also reaping billions in benefits for all Australians over the long-run. Read more:  https://thesector.com.au/2020/06/26/the-australia-institute-notes-free-childcare-as-key-to-economic-recovery-for-our-nation/

Health Minister Greg Hunt has heavily hinted Australia’s international borders will remain closed until a coronavirus vaccine is developed. Talking to the ABC on Tuesday morning, Minister Hunt said, “I do think that the international border closures will remain in place for a very significant time.” The words come after an apparent second wave of cases in Victoria has spooked states into playing down interstate travel, too. Minister Hunt’s comments, though, are the strongest hint yet from the federal government that Australia has no ambition to open up worldwide before the end of the year. Read more:  https://australianaviation.com.au/2020/06/australias-border-to-stay-shut-until-vaccine-found-hints-minister/

With large swathes of the country still firmly in the grips of the global COVID-19 pandemic, it is hard to believe life could resemble anything close to normal. Key points: WA enters Phase 4 tomorrow, dropping most coronavirus restrictions Data shows Perth is entering a more normal cycle of daily life WA's border will remain closed for the foreseeable future But taking a walk around the streets of Perth, you would be forgiven for thinking that was exactly what had happened. Western Australia is effectively an "island within an island", with Premier Mark McGowan adamantly rejecting calls to re-open the borders. The number of new COVID-19 cases in WA has slowed to a trickle, and tomorrow almost all coronavirus restrictions will be lifted under Phase 4 of the state's re-opening plan. Read more:  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-26/life-in-was-might-show-us-a-post-covid-world/12393312

Hello Mates, Cleaning is a challenging task because it takes a lot of time. That is why people do not like this task! But what if you can find some secrets to clean your house in half the time? I have read some articles on this subject, but one post, in particular, impressed me a lot. It has some excellent secrets that everyone should follow. That is why I am sharing the article here with all of you. From keeping the tools organised to using innovative equipment, the article has covered all the essential aspects of cleaning. If you want to know more, click here and read the complete article.  http://www.bondcleaninginmelbourne.com.au/10-secrets-to-cleaning-your-house-in-half-the-time/

Australia’s peak mining lobby group will release a road map to cut carbon emissions as it throws its support behind the Paris agreement. The Minerals Council of Australia wants to use clean energy and electric vehicles at mines across the country. “This is a time for action, instead of vague virtue-signalling about future ambitions without the courage to outline concrete plans,” chief executive Tania Constable said. But the council still supports building new “cleaner” coal plants. Read more:  https://thewest.com.au/business/mining/minerals-council-of-australia-release-road-map-to-cut-carbon-emissions-and-embrace-clean-energy-ng-b881585023z

The chief information officer of the country's fifth-largest bank in mortgages and retail savings, ING Australia, has said it will combat a shortage of technology skills, by targeting workers from all across the country, after seeing its operations thrive with remote teams during the COVID-19 lockdown. Former senior Westpac Banking Group technology executive Linda Da Silva joined the local subsidiary of the Dutch giant ING this year, and said the pandemic had seen the company accelerate digital transformation style projects and investments and rethink its future workforce strategy. Read more:  https://www.afr.com/technology/ing-australia-to-pursue-post-covid-remote-regional-tech-workforce-20200610-p551f1

Australia's energy operator says the electricity grid barely made it through last summer's extreme temperatures and bushfires without major outages, with resilience to be further tested in the future. The Australian Energy Market Operator's annual summer operations review found the nation's physical gas and electricity infrastructure was "being increasingly challenged", with "environmental limits and temperature tolerances for coal plants ... increasingly being approached and exceeded". Read more:  https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-s-summer-of-extremes-pushed-grid-to-the-limit-aemo-says-20200621-p554m4.html

 Fiji is planning to create a travel bubble with Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific island nation's leader said on Sunday. Prime Minister Josaia "Frank" Voreqe Bainimarama told parliament his plan for a "post-Covid society" included a slow resumption of the tourism industry the country relies heavily on. "While Australia and New Zealand work out their trans-Tasman bubble, Fiji's equal -- or arguably, greater -- success against the virus puts us in a position to take the lead in the Pacific," Bainimarama said. "We're working on our own bubble -- a Bula Bubble -- between Fiji, New Zealand and Australia." Bula is a greeting that mea Read more:  https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/fiji-travel-bubble-coronavirus-intl-hnk/index.html

The prevailing narrative is that the diplomatic and trade dispute between China and Australia is threatening coal exports and we should expect a return to business as usual once the spat ends. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is an historical accident that China became a large importer of coal, which China’s government has been seeking to correct since the global financial crisis. These efforts are bearing fruit and Australian coal exports will continue to suffer as China’s focus on producing more energy domestically displaces Australian exports. Australian governments need to see the political logic from China’s point of view and accept that we cannot expect China to import and burn coal it no longer needs. From there we can better formulate our own economic outlook and transition programs for affected communities. Read more:  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/11/australia-cannot-expect-china-to-import-and-burn-coal-it-no-longer-needs

Happy Friday, team. 1. Hey, we're doing alright. Australia is better placed than most of the world when it comes to mounting a fast recovery, the OECD believes. In its latest analysis, it forecast the country could minimise the hit to the GDP to 5% and keep unemployment below 8% if it can stave off a second wave of infections. A fast recovery will then depend on the federal government’s response, the OECD concluded, with strong fiscal stimulus required to keep Australians confident enough to continue spending. Read more:  https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/10-things-know-morning-australia-232859590.html

For years they have been used as chauffeured limousines for federal politicians, judges, and high-ranking foreign visitors. Now some of the shiny white Holden Caprices from the “ageing” Comcar fleet are gaining a new lease on life with the Australian federal police. The government has previously argued the Comcar fleet was old and needed to be replaced with more environmentally friendly options that would save on fuel and maintenance costs. Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/12/ageing-government-comcars-pressed-into-service-with-australian-federal-police

The flood of migrant workers that has helped sustain the long economic boom has all but dried up following the COVID-19-induced closure of Australia's borders. Migrant numbers are expected to drop by 30 per cent this financial year, and by 85 per cent in 2020-21 (compared with 2018-19). With the economy officially in reverse and the ranks of the unemployed and underemployed swelling, there are some who say the migration slump is no bad thing. In a recent opinion piece, Labor's immigration spokeswoman, Kristina Keneally, argued that although migration had played a key role in Australia's economic prosperity, in recent years a "cheap supply" of foreign workers had been taking jobs from Australians and undercutting wages. Read more:  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-12/fact-check-analysis-foreign-workers-visas-457/12334900

Hi All, I started my own business way back in 1999. It was a challenging task to set up a business without any prior experience, but my IT firm soon became a local hot favourite. All the small businesses in the region came to me for IT-related hardware work. So as I grew, I made sure that whenever I came out with a new product, I asked my bookkeeper to do the break-even analysis. It helped me to price my goods right and set my financial goals in the business plan. I suggest that all entrepreneurs should follow my league to stay in the industry for as long as I have been. So here is an article that will get you started. https://www.agibookkeeping.com.au/create-break-even-analysis-business/

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques on Friday apologized for distress caused by Rio's destruction last month of two ancient and sacred Aboriginal caves in Western Australia, pledging full cooperation with an Australian government inquiry. "We are very sorry for the distress we have caused the PKKP in relation to Juukan Gorge and our first priority remains rebuilding trust with the PKKP," Jacques said in a statement, referring to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people. The apology marked Jacques' first public comments on the event since it occurred more than two weeks ago. Head of iron ore Chris Salisbury had previously expressed the miner's remorse, although stopped short of saying Rio had done anything wrong in an interview with Australia media. Read more:  https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/world/rio-tinto-chief-apologizes-for-blasting-ancient-caves-as-australia-starts-inquiry-461274/