How the right tech tools demonstrably improve a law firm’s bottom line SEVERAL recent studies have shown that fee earners in small law firms are billing, on average, only about 2.02 hours per day. This is, clearly, a business problem, according to Wise Owl Legal founder, Karen McDonald. “I have met many lawyers in my time and I know this is not a true reflection of the hard work they put in,” Ms ..read more

Financial Services Council appoints new directors, boosts financial advice focus THE Financial Services Council (FSC) has appointed four new directors to the FSC board, two sourced from its funds management membership, and two sourced from a new, expanded membership cohort of financial advice businesses. The new directors are Keith Cullen, WT Financial Group managing director; Neil Younger, Fortnum ..read more

Australia’s EMVision takes world lead in portable brain scan devices By Leon Gettler, Talking Business >> IMAGINE a tool that protects people from stroke, a tool that you can use by the bedside or even in the driveway. This potentially could replace, or at least add to, the equipment now found in hospitals to examine the brain, such as CT scans and MRI machines. This is precisely the device – so ..read more

Jessica Booth becomes Biza.io’s first chief operations officer  BIZA.IO, the Brisbane-based tech startup – already a market leader in consumer data right (CDR) solutions – has promoted Jessica Booth to the newly-created role of chief operations officer (COO). Ms Booth will focus on driving operational efficiencies and fostering cross-team collaboration, playing a critical role in supporting ..read more

Dimerix shows promise in treating ‘orphan’ kidney disease ONE OF the most debilitating diseases is FSGS (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis). It’s a rare disease where scar tissue develops on the glomeruli, the small parts of the kidneys that filter waste from the blood. Because of its rarity – and hence its relatively low levels of research toward a ..read more

Unit construction in NSW collapses under tax burden for foreign investors THE HOUSING Industry Association of Australia (HIA) has warned that residential unit construction has fallen by half in New South Wales since 2017, when new ‘foreign investor surcharge’ taxes were introduced by the State Government. “Since the introduction of additional taxes in 2017, the number of units commencing construction ..read more

Master Builders warns about new home starts sinking to 11 year low THE LATEST building activity data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has confirmed there is still a long way to go before Australia overcomes the housing crisis. Master Builders chief economist Shane Garrett said work started on just 163,285 new homes during 2023, a 10.5 percent reduction on the previous ..read more

Hybrid workplaces are here to stay – but how do you get them to work? By Leon Gettler, Talking Business >> IN THE POST-COVID era, hybrid work has become much more established. The hybrid workplace is now becoming a standard. But it has resulted in a number of challenges for businesses and employees. As the world has returned to normal, employers now have a choice in terms of space usage and ..read more

Aussie insurance brokers: customer service harder than finding cover for natural disasters or cyber… A STRANGE TWIST in the insurance industry is occurring as insurance brokers struggle to manage an onslaught of customer service demands. Brokers are finding that situation more difficult than dealing with finding adequate cover for natural disasters or cyber attacks. Brokers’ customer service challenges have been highlighted in ..read more

Recognition agreement drives enhanced engineering mobility, collaboration between Australia, Spain ENGINEERS from Australia and Spain will enjoy streamlined access to working in either country through a new mutual recognition agreement (MRA) between Engineers Australia and the General Council of Official Colleges of Industrial Engineers (CGCOII), Spain’s governing body for the industrial engineering profession ..read more