Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Dissecting the numbers on labour prices and inflation

RMIT economist Jonathan Boymal joins Leon and Garry to talk about the low wage price increases and cost of living increases.

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Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Michael Lawrey on the upgrades ahead for Telstra

In this podcast, Leon and Garry talk with Michael Lawrey, Executive Director for Networks and Technology for Telstra.  Lawrey talks about the promise and opportunities of fibre optic technology, what we call high speed broadband, and the changes we can expect to see as Telstra moves away from being a provider of telecommunications infrastructure and becomes a service provider, and what those services might be.

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Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Lower inflation, unemployment targets bode well for government

RMIT economist Sinclair Davidson says the Federal Government has dodged a bullet with inflation. He says we are now looking at 4.5% unemployment and praises the Federal Government and coalition now bidding to lower corporate taxes.

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Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Telstra’s consumer business director, Rebekah O’Flaherty, on how the internet dominates our lives

Telstra's Rebekah O'Flaherty

This week’s interview is with Telstra’s executive director of consumer business, Rebekah O’Flaherty. She says the internet has now become a fourth utility in Australia with some people prepared to go without food and drink to preserve their connection. She also says the internet will become even more dominant in Australian society, driven largely by mobile communications and adds that older folk now are taking to the internet and are now the largest sector of home PC users, while younger people are going mobile. She also says this will shape our lifestyles, around for example TV viewing.

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Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

The next government and the challenges of a softer economy

RMIT economist Steve Kates talks about the economic issues in the election campaign. He says the latest ACCI investor survey shows that business performance has deteriorated sharply after a rebound and suggests that the next government will have to deal with a softer economy.

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Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

The economy, the election, the week in business

In this podcast:

• Leon and Garry look at how the RBA has cleared the way for an August election by keeping rates on hold at 4.5%.
• Inflation is building a head of steam with the latest jobs figures showing unemployment now at 5.1% and the ANZ jobs series showing more companies are hiring.
• Figures from the TD Securities-Melbourne Institute show inflation now at 3.6%.
• Construction activity has fallen away.
• The Federal Government’s deal with the miners will cost taxpayers $35 billion, according to Goldman Sachs JB Were.
• Meanwhile, NAB chief Cameron Clyne says the next 12 months will be “rocky” as institutional investors say weak consumer spending and sovereign risk are the big concerns in the lead up to the August reporting season.
• The viability of public floats this year is in doubt following the shelving of the Valemus IPO.
• Australia posts its biggest monthly trade surplus since March 2009 on the back of strong iron ore and coal prices.
• Virgin Blue co-founder and former CEO Brett Godfrey joins arch rival former Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon on the Tourism Australia board.
• Australia’s superannuation system is in for a major overhaul with a more interventionist approach following the Cooper report.
• Asian investors are targeting Australian companies.
• More SMEs are collapsing with the number entering external administration up 19.4%.
• Home buyers need to save more now to get a house, according to a BankWest report. They need to save 10% more.
• Boral flags a new strategic direction with plans to raise nearly $500 million.
• Employers are more gloomy about the future according to Dun&Bradstreet.
• NAB and Leighton are suing Warner Brothers, claiming they did not get the money they were owed for the 1999 hit The Matrix.
• Sales of new cars a a record high, with sales of SUVs up 30.9%.
• Sigma contemplates a reduced takeover offer from South African company Aspen.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Are higher interest rates looming ahead of the election?

RMIT economist Sinclair Davidson talks about the employment figures and Australia’s current account surplus.

While it’s good news on the surface, it signals interest rate rises which he predicts will come in August, coinciding with the federal election.

He also predicts that banks will raise their rates even higher than the RBA rate.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

How to ‘Win that Job’: Advice on the Recruitment Market

Recruitment company Ambition’s chief executive talks about the recruitment markets and skills shortages.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Image by See-ming Lee 李思明 SML

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Could stimulus packages be bad for the economy?

In this week’s interview, RMIT economist Steve Kates talks about the death of Keynesian economics. He shares the growing view that stimulus packages around the world have increased debt, have not reduced unemployment and have made the crisis worse. He warns that Australia will feel the impact over the next year when China starts unwinding its stimulus package.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Ken Henry, Julia Gillard and the need to slash spending

In this week’s overview of the economy, RMIT economist Sinclair Davidson voices the belief that Treasury chief Ken Henry should be replaced, while Julia Gillard seeks new economic advisers. He says the Gillard Government will need to slash spending to bring about the budget surplus she says the government is committed to achieving.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

This innovation initially came to life when…

The founding technical directors came together in 2006 as individual contractors to contribute specific intellectual property to some unique product development. In 2007 the group identified a safe, environmentally friendly opportunity: an energy efficient, direct replacement for halogen downlights. The science behind Indice Ecotech had started to evolve at that time and it was recognised that it could make a meaningful contribution to saving lives, property and the environment. This valuable research has produced a rich suite of additional lighting products that will replace old inefficient and costly products in fields that naturally lend themselves to Indice Ecotech’s control technology.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

Provide an energy efficient direct halogen 12V lamp replacement, which can be installed by the consumer. Unlike alternative eco-friendly lamps, the technology overcomes consumer resistance to change by eliminating the need to replace existing electrical fittings and costly installation.

It does this by…

Including Indice’s core technology, a smart digital power control system. This technology will help save lives, the environment and costs by providing a low temperature, energy efficient, dimmable, direct replacement for 12VAC halogen downlights. Its design is clever enough to reduce energy consumption by about 80% and the operating temperatures are reduced to 70 OC from 500 OC.

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

The lower operating temperature reduces fire risk, the lower power consumption reduces carbon emissions and it can be installed by the consumer. Legislation is pending in Australia, Europe and some states in America (including California) that will restrict, and in some cases ban, the use of halogen downlights so there is a suitable product readily available.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

Lower power consumption and longer product life span result in savings for the customer. Reduced carbon emissions mean a smaller carbon footprint. The reduced operating temperature offers greater fire safety for the home or business.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

The consumer contracting an electrician to remove the existing wiring, dimmers and fittings and install CFL lamps as a replacement. Such an exercise is expensive and many consumers will simply continue to use their existing halogen downlights. It is our view that this was not acceptable which prompted us to develop the direct replacement technology to overcome these challenges.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

There is currently no cost-effective solution to the compatibility problem. There are some companies releasing LED-based products which still require the existing infrastructure to be rewired by an electrician.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

Indice Ecotech prefers to license its intellectual property to existing corporations who have established global distribution channels. This is to address the estimated 400 million halogen downlights that are already installed globally with an estimated 200 million additional halogen downlights sold globally each year. Australia has the highest install base of halogens per head of capita. The growth of this market has been driven by consumer trends and lighting designers with most new homes being built with a number of halogen downlights.

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

Existing distributor channels both locally and globally. This will allow Indice to focus its efforts on its core skills of research and development.

Our marketing strategy is to…

Engage lighting companies with existing channels to market and offer them technology that provides them a competitive edge. This will allow Indice to quickly access large market segments without having to build a large sales and marketing business. Indice is currently in discussions and testing with global lighting corporations with the aim of licensing its intellectual property.

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SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS INNOVATION

While the judging is now officially over, you can still show your support for this innovation in one of the following three ways:

1. Hit the VOTE UP button: Top left of each page (Not available for IE users)
2. Trigger a Reaction: Re-Tweet, Like on Facebook, etc.
3. Leave a Comment: Share the love!

To check out the Anthill SMART 100 Readers’ Choice winner for 2010, click here.

Talking Business is a podcast series, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

The business of sport: Andrew Demetriou, AFL [INTERVIEW]

This week, Barker and Gettler talk with AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou on the AFL’s expansion plans, its business model and its involvement with communities outside Victoria, where the organisation is pushing development of the Australian Rules code. And what will happen if Australia gets the World Cup?

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a weekly 15-minute podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics, such as Sinclair Davidson.

Mining tax, government spending, unemployment and the state of the economy

In this week’s overview of the economy, RMIT economist Sinclair Davidson talks about the latest unemployment figures, signaling that Australia is doing well compared to other countries. He says the problem in the US is government spending crowding out private investment. This needs to be changed. He says a similar change is needed here. He also talks about the mining tax. He says the theory does not stack up in practice and that the Government has created enormous problems for itself. A budget surplus in three years time, he says, is unlikely.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a weekly 15-minute podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics, such as Steve Kates.

What is word-of-mouth marketing? Sharyn Smith explains.

This week, Gettler and Barker speak with Sharyn Smith, the founder and chief executive of Soup, Australia’s first word-of-mouth marketing company. She talks about the growing power of the consumer in the marketing space and their ability to influence retailers and manufacturers through a variety of media, not least the ‘chat-over-the-coffee-cup’. She has harnessed this medium and delivered it to companies working their way into this new, more individualised marketing strategy.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a weekly 15-minute podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics, such as Steve Kates.

‘Crowding out’ and its impact on GDP

RMIT economist Alberto Posso talks about Australia’s GDP rising 0.5%, raising questions about the Government spending crowding out private sector investment. He also looks at the drop in mining investment and asks whether manufacturing and agriculture can level the balance.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with ‘The Age’ newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.