News
December
09 Dec 2011
Biodiversity Fund opens for Australia's farmers and other land managers
More than $30 million will be allocated under the first round of funding to assist farmers with carbon storage, enhance biodiversity and increase resilience across the Australian landscape...
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04 Dec 2011
High Speed Rail Study: Stage Two begins
The second and final stage of the Government's landmark study into the economic merits and financial viability of an east coast high speed rail network is underway...
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03 Dec 2011
Sign up and stay in touch on new National Disability Insurance Scheme website
Website will provide easy-to-read information, up-to-date news, disability and carer resources, and fact sheets on reform of disability care and support services...
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02 Dec 2011
International Day of People with Disability
December 3 marks International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), a United Nations sanctioned day...
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November
25 Nov 2011
Youth Allowance reform opens the doors for regional students
From January 1, thousands more students will be eligible to receive up to $388.70 a fortnight in Youth Allowance payments...
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23 Nov 2011
Senate passes legislation to protect children from violence and abuse
Amendments to Family Law Act to better protect children and families at risk and prioritise the safety of children...
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22 Nov 2011
Harsh penalties for oil spills
Bill passed through Parliament aims to deter shipping companies and their crews from engaging in unsafe and irresponsible actions at sea...
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11 Nov 2011
Remembrance Day
11 November marks the anniversary of the armistace which ended the fighting in the First World War in November 1918...
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10 Nov 2011
Government to deliver historic pay rise for Social and Community Workers
Workers in this sector have been underpaid for too long...
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10 Nov 2011
Senate passes world first Plain Packaging of Tobacco Legislation
This means all tobacco products sold in Australia will need to be in plain packaging from 1 December 2012...
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08 Nov 2011
Driving investment in renewable energy
The passage of the Clean Energy legislative package will give the renewables sector a major boost...
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08 Nov 2011
Australia poised for a Clean Energy Future
Clean Energy plan will cut carbon pollution by at least 160 million tonnes a year in 2020 - the equivalent to taking 45 million cars off the road....
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03 Nov 2011
Legislation to abolish the ABCC introduced to Parliament
Bill introduced to create the new Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate to regulate the building and construction industry...
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October
21 Oct 2011
Gillard Government reforms live export trade
The future of regulation in Australia's live export industry was outlined today as part of the Government's response to the Farmer review...
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07 Oct 2011
Australia responds to Tuvalu water crisis
ADF and AusAID personnel will help fly a large desalination unit to Tuvalu, capable of turning 50,000 litres of sea water a day into clean drinking water...
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05 Oct 2011
Dollar for Dollar Initiative
The Government will match each dollar donated by the community to the Horn of Africa appeals run by 16 AusAID-accredited NGO's...
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02 Oct 2011
100,000 families apply for Paid Parental Leave
The Government's Paid Parental Leave scheme provides eligible working parents with Parental Leave Pay for up to 18 weeks at the national minimum wage...
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September
29 Sep 2011
Schools Most In Need To Receive $150 Million For New Trade Training Centres
Schools in disadvantaged communities will receive priority funding under the next round of Trade Training Centres...
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27 Sep 2011
Removal of Restrictions on Combat Roles for Women
Women will now be able to work in any position in the ADF, provided they have the ability to meet all of the demands of the role...
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14 Sep 2011
Government announces Independent Media Inquiry
Inquiry will focus on print media regulation, including online publications, and the operation of the Press Council...
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14 Sep 2011
University education now within reach of more Australians
Bill ensures public universities will be funded for undergraduate student places based on student demand...
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13 Sep 2011
Australia appoints Global Ambassador for Women and Girls
Government announced that career diplomat Penny Williams will be Australia's first Global Ambassador for Women and Girls...
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01 Sep 2011
Libyan students helped to keep studying in Australia
The Government will assist Libyan students, and their dependants, who have been left stranded in Australia due to the conflict in their home country...
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August
22 Aug 2011
Government to support workers and steel communities
Package announced to provide immediate and practical support to affected workers and strengthen local economies...
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11 Aug 2011
Australian unemployment rate remains low
Around 750,000 jobs have been created since the Government came into office in 2007, including nearly 190,000 jobs in the last year alone...
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10 Aug 2011
NSW agrees to R18 classification for computer games
Law Ministers from all jurisdictions have now agreed to support in-principle the introduction of an R18 classification for computer games in Australia...
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10 Aug 2011
Productivity Commission's final report into Disability Care and Support
The Government will start work immediately on measures to build foundations for a National Disability Insurance Scheme...
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01 Aug 2011
Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry Interim Report
The Interim Report, which focuses on flood preparedness, has been released now to help agencies prepare for the summer flood season...
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01 Aug 2011
The Hon. Clyde Holding
Mr Holding's distinguished political career spanned 36 years, starting with his election to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1962...
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July
30 Jul 2011
Appointment of Australia's first Age Discrimination Commissioner
The Hon. Susan Ryan AO has been appointed as Australia's first ever Age Discrimination Commissioner...
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29 Jul 2011
Second mainland site connected to the NBN
Kiama Downs/Minnamurra in NSW is one of five mainland NBN first release sites where NBN Co is testing network design and construction techniques ahead of the national rollout...
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27 Jul 2011
Vale Margaret Olley AC
Margaret led an extraordinary career that spanned over six decades...
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25 Jul 2011
Australia works with World Food Programme to save lives in the Horn of Africa
Government to provide $20 million in additional emergency humanitarian support for the 11.6 million people affected by the looming catastrophe in the Horn of Africa...
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24 Jul 2011
Australia and Tasmanian Governments support the future of Tasmanian Forestry
The agreement will secure jobs, ensure a sustainable forestry industry, and protect high conservation value and old growth forests...
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22 Jul 2011
Agreement on R18 classification for computer games
All jurisdictions, except NSW, agreed in-principle to support the Commonwealth's proposal to introduce an R18 classification for computer games in Australia...
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20 Jul 2011
Australia responds to the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa
Assistance increased to provide urgently needed food rations and shelter to the millions affected by the drought...
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19 Jul 2011
PM visits Centennial Coal's Mandalong mine
Treasury modelling shows Australia's coal industry has a strong future, with its output to more than double between 2010 and 2050 with a carbon price in place...
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10 Jul 2011
Extra support for pensioners and self-funded retirees
Australians receiving Age Pensions, Disability Support Pensions, Carer Payment, Service Pension and the Seniors Supplement, as well as around 280,000 self-funded retirees will all receive assistance with the costs of the carbon price...
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10 Jul 2011
Combining tax cuts with significant tax reform
The reforms will create a more efficient tax system and strengthen the economy by improving incentives to work...
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10 Jul 2011
Assistance for nine out of ten Australian households
More than half of the revenue raised by putting a price on carbon pollution will go to households to help meet price impacts...
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10 Jul 2011
Securing a clean energy future for Australia
The Government has announced its comprehensive plan to reduce carbon pollution...
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08 Jul 2011
Disaster assistance for NSW communities hit by severe weather
Commonwealth assistance is available in the local government areas of Blue Mountains, Oberon, Shoalhaven and Wingecarribe following recent storms and severe weather...
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06 Jul 2011
Government lifts live cattle export suspension
Revised export control orders to allow the export of live cattle only where animals can be managed through supply chains that meet international standards...
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03 Jul 2011
NAIDOC Week - Change: the next step is ours
NAIDOC Week runs from 3-10 July and all Australians are encouraged to participate in this year's activities...
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01 Jul 2011
1 July cost of living help for Australian families
A range of initiatives come into effect today that will help ease the burden for families, pensioners, individuals on low incomes, and for parents that have a child with a disability...
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June
29 Jun 2011
Industry fund established for cattle welfare
The Fund was established by the Cattle Council of Australia, the Australian Lot Feeders Association, and Animal Health Australia, in 2002 from producer levies...
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29 Jun 2011
Historic Heads of Agreement signed for Kenbi land claim
This Agreement will allow Larrakia traditional owners greater opportunities for economic development...
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27 Jun 2011
Live animal trade income assistance package
Financial support for workers whose income has been directly impacted by the temporary suspension of live cattle exports to Indonesia...
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27 Jun 2011
Funding to continue for young people in or at risk of entering residential aged care
This funding is guaranteed into the future, and will continue to grow in line with generous indexation arrangements...
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23 Jun 2011
Further disaster assistance for the Upper Hunter and Mid-North Coast of NSW
20 Local Government Areas in the Upper Hunter and Mid-North Coast regions are now receiving assistance through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA)...
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21 Jun 2011
Justice Spigelman to lead expert panel on local government
The panel will consult with the community and other stakeholder groups on options for recognising local government in the Constitution...
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20 Jun 2011
Green light to build Australia's largest solar projects
Record funding announced to support construction of the solar projects at Chincilla in Queensland, and Moree in New South Wales...
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20 Jun 2011
Helping homeless remove barriers to employment
The Big Issue Street Soccer program will assist up to 600 disadvantaged job seekers to gain the skills and confidence they need to find work...
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18 Jun 2011
Australia's largest solar thermal research hub opens for business
The world-class facility in Newcastle will be an international hub for solar tower research, development and commercialisation...
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18 Jun 2011
More money in the pockets of Australian families
More than two million families and more than one million Australians on part-rate pensions will benefit from increases to their payments from 1 July...
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13 Jun 2011
60th anniversary of the death of Ben Chifley
22 September 1885 - 13 June 1951...
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09 Jun 2011
Productivity Commission study shows world acting on climate change
The research highlights that far from striking out on its own, Australia risks falling behind the rest of the world if we fail to put a price on pollution...
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08 Jun 2011
Minister suspends live cattle trade to Indonesia
An independent reviewer will be appointed to undertake a complete supply chain review of the live export trade for all markets...
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03 Jun 2011
Minimum wage set to rise by $19.40 a week
The decision by Fair Work Australia will benefit more than 1.36 million Australians who rely on awards to set their pay...
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02 Jun 2011
Science and maths students compete on the world stage
The team of 23 Australian students has been selected to represent Australia in the Olympiad competition to be held in July...
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02 Jun 2011
Kakadu vulnerable to climate change impacts
Report released today warns that higher sea levels may threaten Kakadu's freshwater plant and animal habitats, and increase saltwater intrusion into its unique rivers, wetlands and estuaries...
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01 Jun 2011
Government delivers record assistance and flexibility for families using child care
Since June 2008, more than 700,000 Australian families have benefited from additional child care rebate payments...
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May
26 May 2011
National Sorry Day
National Sorry Day is held on 26 May each year, the anniversary of the tabling of the Bringing Them Home Report in Parliament...
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23 May 2011
Youth Allowance reforms deliver record results
More people are receiving Youth Allowance support than ever before, according to new figures released today...
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18 May 2011
Historic launch of NBN in Armidale
Switching on the NBN on mainland Australia will help create jobs, provide greater training options, support regional growth and improve health and education services across rural and regional Australia...
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11 May 2011
Improving school experiences for students with disabilities
The More Support for Students with Disabilities initiative will deliver new services, equipment and support...
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11 May 2011
Parliament passes legislation backing High Court decisions on electoral enrolment
These include restoration of the close of rolls period to seven days, and reinstate the previous disqualification for prisoners serving a sentence of three years or longer...
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10 May 2011
Building an educated and skilled workforce
A $3 billion investment in skills and training initiatives over six years will deliver the skilled workers the economy needs...
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10 May 2011
Government Delivers $1.8 Billion to Improve Health Services in Regional and Rural Communities
Regional Australians will receive better local health services through a $1.8 billion investment in regional health infrastructure...
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10 May 2011
Delivering national mental health reform
The Government will provide a reform package for mental health services of $2.2 billion over 5 years, which will provide more intensive support to areas and communities that need it most, and help to detect potential mental health problems in the early ye...
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10 May 2011
Supporting Australian families through a sustainable family payment system
The Gillard Government is making important changes to the family payment system to make it fairer and simpler, and ensure its long-term sustainability...
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05 May 2011
More support for Australia's POW's
A new Prisoner of War (POW) Recognition Supplement will provide former POWs with an extra $500 per fortnight in recognition of their special service and sacrifice....
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03 May 2011
$65 million regional cancer centre project for Albury
The new centre will consolidate and expand existing cancer services in the region and build on the cancer treatment facilities at the Albury Campus of Albury Wodonga Health...
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April
18 Apr 2011
Australian families benefit from Paid Parental Leave: three months in
Around 17,000 parents are already receiving Paid Parental Leave and more than 4,300 employers have registered...
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15 Apr 2011
$490 million for Family Support Program
The new Family Support Program provides services across Australia to support families, improve children's wellbeing and safety, and build more resilient communities...
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14 Apr 2011
Closing the gap in Indigenous higher education
Review announced into Indigenous higher education access...
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07 Apr 2011
World's toughest anti-smoking laws released
Plain packaging is the latest step in the Government's fight to reduce the toll on families from smoking related deaths....
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07 Apr 2011
Unemployment rate falls after 37,800 new jobs created
As the rest of the world struggles to emerge from the global financial crisis, our economy continues to grow and create new jobs...
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March
24 Mar 2011
Further assistance for flood-affected NSW communities
Commonwealth disaster assistance is now being provided to Bega, Bombala, Kiama, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven City, and Eurobadalla...
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15 Mar 2011
Delivering skilled workers to the resources sector
An 18 month apprenticeship training program for 1,000 workers and $200 million to fund targeted training projects for skills in critical demand are among a range of initiatives to address skills shortages in Australia's resources sector...
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10 Mar 2011
Unemployment rate steady despite impact of natural disasters
Australia's unemployment rate remained steady at 5.0 per cent in February, one of the lowest rates in the industrialised world...
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10 Mar 2011
Minister announces the way forward for women in the workplace
Pay equity will be enshrined in the objects of the Act and businesses will be required to report against it...
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04 Mar 2011
My School 2.0 delivers a new era of school transparency
The key improvements to the My School 2.0 website include data about school finances...
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03 Mar 2011
Flood Levy to pass, natural disaster relief and recovery arrangements strengthened
This will allow us to get on with the critical job of rebuilding Australia following the devastating summer floods...
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February
25 Feb 2011
Climate Change Framework announced
The two-stage plan for a carbon price mechanism will start with a fixed price period for three to five years before transitioning to an emissions trading scheme...
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21 Feb 2011
Regional students to get a better deal on income support
Recent reforms have significantly improved financial assistance to students...
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14 Feb 2011
COAG reaches new deal on health reform
This means more money, more beds, more local control and more transparency...
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03 Feb 2011
Commonwealth assistance for Queenslanders impacted by Tropical Cyclone Yasi
A number of communities have been severely damaged as a result of TC Yasi, in particular places such as Mission Beach, Innisfail, Silkwood, Tully, and Cardwell...
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02 Feb 2011
Assistance to Australians departing Egypt
Government charters second flight from Cairo for Australians affected by the unrest in Egypt...
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01 Feb 2011
Australian Defence Force support to prepare for Cyclone Yasi
RAAF evacuates more 250 patients from Cairns hospitals...
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January
28 Jan 2011
Australia's first universal periodic review at the United Nations
The Universal Periodic Review was set up by United Nations in 2006 to create a regular process of review for all countries to ensure they comply with their international human rights obligations...
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27 Jan 2011
Rebuilding after the floods
The Prime Minister has announced the Government’s response to the immense national challenge of rebuilding flood-affected regions across Australia...
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20 Jan 2011
Further Commonwealth Assistance for Victorian flood affected communities
This announcement is in addition to Commonwealth assistance already being provided across 27 local government areas under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements...
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19 Jan 2011
Declaration of 2011 Victorian and NSW floods as disasters for tax purposes
The Australian Government will continue to assist flood affected communities as they undertake the long task of rebuilding and re-establishing...
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13 Jan 2011
Australia’s unemployment rate falls to 5 per cent
In the past 12 months a record 364,000 jobs have been created with more than 80 per cent of these being full-time jobs...
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