The Business Names Registration Bill 2011 will replace the individual state and territory registration schemes with a single national system.
The national scheme resulted after the Council of Australian Governments agreed to it in 2009.
Coalition senator David Bushby said on Thursday the principle behind the bills was excellent and in many cases would reduce the costs [...]

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The sales result was slightly above analysts’ expectations.
It produced 50 million tonnes of attributable iron ore during the quarter, up five per cent on the same quarter in 2010.
The company said its iron ore division was operating at full capacity.
“Whilst we are mindful of current market volatility, the fundamentals are holding up well, particularly for [...]

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According to Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia (APESMA) Chris Walton, the Skills Shortages Australia report released recently found 59 per cent of engineering vacancies were unfilled - the highest of any profession.
The report shows it is hardest to fill engineering positions that required a high level of experience or specialist skills, demonstrating [...]

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The Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE) has forecast that Australia’s iron ore exports will increase over the next six years by seven per cent per annum to 600 million tonnes (Mt), up from about 408Mt in the 12 months to June this year.
In anticipation of this projected export growth, major Australian miners are [...]

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But the opposition is demanding the modelling reflects that it is a “fantasy” that a US cap-and-trade emissions trading scheme will be up and running by 2016.
Labor’s carbon pricing scheme relies substantially on the purchase of overseas carbon credits to achieve pollution reduction targets by 2020.
The coalition says the government is not being honest by [...]

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Starting in November and continuing through the summer, BP will undertake seismic studies in the Bight, located off southern Australia, after receiving regulatory approval on Thursday.
The tests involve a ship firing soundwaves or popping sounds, according to BP, deep into the ocean, but which Greenpeace says is deafening for whale and sharks.
Climate and energy campaigner [...]

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The investment is part of a five-year program started in 2010 to increase the mining giant’s production capacity in the region by 50 per cent to 333 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) by the first half of 2015.
Rio Tinto said $US520 million of the investment announced on Thursday would be spent on upgrading the miner’s [...]

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Potash, a group of water-soluble potassium salts mainly used in fertiliser production, is not currently produced in Australia.
Perth-based Potash West hopes to break into this tightly held market, which is dominated by about 10 mainly Canadian companies and a marketing OPEC-like “cartel”, Canpotex.
Demand for the fertiliser input is set to rise as the world strives [...]

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It all seemed so easy in the Back to the Future movies, as a banana peel and other garbage was shoved into the DeLorean time machine to engage the flux capacitor.
In reality, scientists need a thorough experimental phase to work out how to turn plants into an effective biodiesel, and CQUniversity is establishing a research [...]

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Proponents of major projects will need to address seven principles in a new housing and accommodation strategy.
Among the considerations are whether new infrastructure is required and how the lifestyle in the town will be protected when a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workforce is proposed.
Workers would also have a choice about where they live.
Miners would have to [...]

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