By boosting child-to-staff ratios and lifting the qualifications of staff, a federal government proposal to change child care regulations aims to provide a higher level of care and an educationally-focused curriculum.
The increase in the First Home Owners Grant is a key element of the federal government’s fiscal stimulus. But the June quarter national accounts show little benefit in terms of new housing supply. Dwelling investment fell 5.5% over the quarter, the third consecutive quarterly decline, to be down 11% on the June quarter last year.