By Brad Smith on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 9:33 AM

Over 4000 Australians a week are taking up private health insurance according to a leaked report by the independent but publicly funded Private Health Insurance Administration Council. Over the 12 month period to March 2009 an extra 225,000 people took up private cover. This news has come despite warnings from insurers and the Federal Opposition that the changes announced in the 2008 budget would pressure the public system by forcing people to abandon private cover. Read More »

By Brad Smith on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:29 PM

News from tonight's federal budget that will come as a pleasant (but not entirely unanticipated) surprise for 1st home buyers, the real estate industry and finance brokers. The Government has announced an extension to the deadline of the increased First Home Owners' Boost for a further 3 months (beyond June 30) followed by a reduced version of the grant for another 3 months to 31st December 2009. Read More »

By Brad Smith on Tuesday, May 05, 2009 3:09 PM

Breaking News: The Reserve Bank (RBA) has just concluded its May board meeting and as has been widely anticipated over the past few weeks, the decision was made not to make any change to interest rates for the month of May, leaving the official cash rate at 3.00%. Read More »