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First 5000 members are invited to have your say about the position paper on the legislative instrument for auctioning carbon units in Australia’s carbon pricing mechanism.

Submissions close: 24 February 2012.

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has announced the creation of an Australian Telework week, following on from a unanimous vote by delegates at the 2011 National Economic Review.

At the summit, hosted by First 5000 parent company, Global Access Partners’ (GAP), Tim Fawcett, CISCO General Manager Government Affairs & Policy, made a case for Australia to follow the United States' lead and create a National Telework Week. In the US more than 35,000 businesses and organisations pledge to allow employees to work from home for a week.

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has voiced its favour of the Coalition’s move to alleviate retailers from the unnecessary burden of having to act as administrators of the paid parental leave scheme.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said retailers were in full support of Government-funded paid parental leave but said the red tape associated with acting as paymasters of the scheme and the added business costs to retailers were pointless.

The decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.5 per cent on Melbourne Cup Day (1 November) will offer relief to businesses struggling in those sectors of the economy that aren’t benefitting from the mining boom.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) economics director, Greg Evans said the rate cut would be welcomed across the board, but it would be even more warmly received by the small and medium enterprises.

First 5000 members are invited to have their say on the first global survey of ISO 31000–Risk Management Principle and Guidelines.

The survey will run until 31 October 2011.

How can Australian business adapt to address the slowing growth internationally?

NAB’s Head of Australian Economics & Commodities, Rob Brooker, shares the latest economic and trade updates.

Coming to grips with your cash flow peaks and troughs is essential to determine your ability to repay a business loan.

Below are my top business-lending tips.

To set interest rates, inflation takes centre stage. The Reserve Bank (RBA) primarily focuses on inflationary pressures. Then, to a lesser extent, it focuses on asset prices and forward indicators of inflation, such as labour costs and the strength of activity and labour markets.

"The RBA is particularly concerned that the labour market is tightening and will result in higher wages," explains NAB's Chief Economist, Alan Oster. "Also, it expects a strong bounce in activity as Queensland recovers [from natural disasters] and the mining boom kicks in."