Recent posts

The Sheet: Adelaide Bank delegates credit process to Great Southern

Assuming Great Southern sustains its growth rate of 50 per cent, the plantation company will be seeking funding from Adelaide Bank of in excess of $300 million in the 2005/2006 year.Most of the people becoming “growers” with Great Southern are referred by their accountants or financial advisers and are hoping to minimise tax while investing. For example, a person in the top tax bracket who invested the minimum $3000 (plus GST) in a plantation would be able to finance it […]

The Sheet: Great Southern Bank

Great Southern Plantations is one of the fastest growing banks that you’ve never heard of.For the most part of the “noughties” Great Southern has been writing loans to plantation growers as part of an attractive tax-based investment scheme, which has a product ruling from the Australian Taxation Office.The company is not actually a bank, but rather a forestry company. Great Southern also does a lot of lending, and takes decisions about which loans are funded by its partner in this […]

Designer kitchen on a budget

Photography: Christina Simons My kitchen was about a big suck. At least I didn’t have much of a suck and I wanted a big one.We were forced to revamp it after a so-called friend managed to flood the house. I’d long been railing again our mushroom coloured units, specified by the previous owner and colour matched to some German automobile. I’d also been pissed-off about the extractor fan, which actually only recirculated through the ceiling. It meant that if I […]

The Australian: High dollar yields tough times

High dollar heralds tough times ahead – AGRIBUSINESS – SPECIAL REPORT By Ed Charles Currency A HIGH Australian dollar means a healthy economy and a resources boom, but it signals tough times ahead for farmers. BIS Shrapnel senior economist Matthew Hassan says the high dollar is bad for most exporters, aside from resources. Most Australian businesses would be competitive at exchange rates of US65-66c rather than the high 70s, he says. The problem is that the high currency is being […]

In The Black: On the (high) rise

Only a short time ago the Australian commercial property sector was looking rather off-colour, but now for the first time in four years demand for office space is on the up. From In The Black October 2005.

The Australian: Healthy returns

RUNNING a day spa is a bit like selling ice-cream. You need to sell a dream and you have to learn how to deal with the peaks and troughs of demand. From The Australian Entrepreneur September 30 2005.