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Neighbour's "petty" act against "obnoxious" driver

A Sydney resident has detailed her "petty" move against her neighbour after becoming fed up with his "obnoxious" parking. Venting about her neighbour online, the Manly resident claimed the man's "over loud, oversized vehicle permanently sticks out from his property, partially blocking footpath". While he was parked in his own driveway, blocking the footpath is illegal and can attract a $283 fine, sometimes more in other council areas across the country. "This noise-polluting monstrosity should be banned, or at least parked on the street (preferably not ours)," she said, attaching a picture of a large ute with its tray sticking out on the footpath. In an attempt to put an end to the "grubby" behaviour, the resident said she reported her neighbour to the Northern Beaches council. The council website states: "residents must not park in or across a driveway (even your own)," to ensure pedestrian safety and access. "Ensure your car is within the front boundary of the property or parked safely in the street." The council told Yahoo News Australia that after the incident was reported via Snap, Snap, Solve, the driver was fined. Officers have reportedly been proactively patrolling the area since, and found no repeated instances. However, the woman was shocked to see see the driver's "pride and joy still there" in the driveway. "Today I received an email from council saying the matter has been resolved. Do council not care or is this an insufficient crime for any action to be taken?" she asked other residents on Facebook. Her post has divided residents, while most people agreed with her, others told her to mind her business. "I’m surprised he doesn’t get booked as he is blocking the footpath for prams and wheelchairs," one person said. "That’s kind of dangerous. Plus disabled or kids on bikes could slam into it," another added. "Car park is sh*te but it doesn’t seem like it’s affecting you. Take a deep breath and stop working yourself up over things that really don’t matter," someone else argued. "You sound like one of those neighbours that sticks their noses into other people's business," another added. Images: Shutterstock/ Facebook

Legal

Bogus "rule" sees bus driver block Dad and daughter

A father from Sydney's inner west and his toddler have been denied entry onto a bus after a confrontation with the driver over an alleged "rule" about travelling with children. Graham Cooke and his daughter Katie had been commuting on the 370 bus from their home in Newtown to Katie's childcare every day for a year, until one morning when the pair were confronted with a problem. When trying to board the bus as normal, Graham recalled to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/dad-refused-entry-on-public-bus-after-driver-enforces-little-known-child-rule-031938462.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a> that the bus driver "aggressively" asked the dad how old his daughter was. When he explained that she was two-and-a-half, the dad claims the driver told him it was against the rules to have a toddler ride the bus without being in a stroller, and refused to let them onboard. "He immediately goes, 'no', puts his hand up, and he's like, 'you need to get off the bus. Children under three need to be in a stroller'." Cooke explained to Yahoo News. "He kept kind of yelling 'you need to get off the bus, I'm not driving the bus with a two-and-a-half-year-old held in your arms'," Graham said, while he tried to explain to the driver that he's done it "every day". Cooke then quickly looked up if such a rule existed on Transport NSW, eventually finding no evidence that young Katie had to be in a stroller to board the bus. When he tried to once again confront the driver to let them on, the driver responded that Cooke was holding everybody on the bus up. "I'm entitled to get the bus with my toddler, I'm just trying to get to work," Cooke said. After the standoff, the dad and his daughter had no choice but to get off the bus and wait for the next one, where they had no issues getting on board. "It was a really unpleasant experience," he said, recalling how his daughter, who ordinarily loves getting the bus, was left "upset" and cuddling into her dad. "She loves saying hello to bus drivers. She tends to, kind of charm everybody around pretty, pretty lovely experience," he said. "It upset me, because I just wanted to get to work and to be rejected on public transport in such a way. So it was a very unpleasant start to the day, and he was very aggressive and dogmatic about his view." After contacting Transport for NSW, the authority apologised for the incident, as a spokesperson said passengers travelling on buses with young children and prams have the choice to seat children in their care on a seat next to them, on their lap or to have them strapped into a pram where there is space on board for it to be parked safely. "All of our accessible buses have specific areas for prams and wheelchairs near the front of the bus, which will allow children to remain in the pram while on board if required," they said. "In that case, the front of the pram must be facing towards the back of the bus and be in firm contact with the panel, or bar behind it. "You'll need to fold your pram or stroller and store it in the luggage rack if there is not enough space on board the bus to safely park the pram, or if the driver asks you to. "In that case, you’ll need to seat the children in your care with you as it is not safe to stand and carry a child while a bus is moving." Responding to the statement, Cooke said, "It looks like it's completely not a rule. Parents should be able to bring their kids to daycare. A lot of daycares don't allow you to bring a stroller and leave it there." While the dad admits that most bus drivers are "lovely", he wants to send a message to other parents that they should know their rights travelling around on public transport. "It's difficult enough getting around in NSW with a toddler," he said. "It makes having a child and exploring the city pretty difficult. If you're in this situation, know your rights and that you can't be kicked off a bus just because you don't have a stroller, if you're happy enough carrying or holding your toddler." Image credits: X (Twitter)

Legal

Surcharges are added to most purchases, but what are the rules behind these extra fees?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steve-worthington-138">Steve Worthington</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> You head to the register at the cafe to pay for your lunch, swipe your card and suddenly realise you’ve been hit with an extra small but unexpected charge. It might be listed on your receipt as a service or merchant fee, but either way it’s because you’ve used a credit or debit card. With the pandemic accelerating the use of cards instead of cash – <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2023/jun/cash-use-and-attitudes-in-australia.html#:%7E:text=Cash%20payments,-The%20CPS%20suggests&text=In%20value%20terms%2C%20the%20cash,cent%20by%20value%20in%202022.">only 13% of Australians use cash</a>, dropping from 27% in the last five years – these extra charges have become mainstream. However, as was highlighted by National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Irvine during a <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Corporations_and_Financial_Services/FinancialAbuse">parliamentary inquiry</a> into bank charges last week, they are often applied, in varying amounts, by businesses for reasons not always in line with their original purpose. Irvine slammed as <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/credit-card-surcharges-should-be-banned-or-regulated-nab-boss-says-20240830-p5k6jm">“outrageous”</a> a 10% surcharge he was forced to pay when he recently bought a cup of coffee at a Sydney cafe. “I don’t like the lack of transparency and lack of consistency,” he said. But most Australians are making these extra payments every day, without question. So how did this end up happening – and what can you do about it? <h2>Card surcharges in Australia</h2> At the start of this century, payments for goods and services were mainly made by cash, paper cheques, credit and debit cards. The first two of these options would eventually be deposited into a bank account by the merchant who ran the business. The latter two would be processed by the bank or financial institution which would charge the business a merchant service fee. For debit cards this might be a fixed fee. But for credit cards it would be proportionate with the value of the goods or services. The Reserve Bank of Australia became concerned the use of credit cards was greater than that of debit cards and <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/consultations/201106-review-card-surcharging/background.html">introduced surcharging in January 2003</a>. The intention was to lower the cost to the merchant of accepting debit cards and change customer behaviour. This has been achieved, as both the volume and value of paying by debit cards now exceeds the volume and value of paying by credit cards. However, the reality in 2024 is that card surcharges have become commonplace, and in a wide variety of payment situations. <h2>It’s estimated to cost us billions</h2> It is difficult to calculate the total cost of surcharging to Australian consumers since they became legal more than 20 years ago, because the rates charged vary widely. But at last week’s inquiry, Labor MP Jerome Laxale suggested it added up to <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/money/banking/card-surcharges-are-costing-us-billions-but-can-they-be-avoided-20240830-p5k6o8.html">A$4 billion</a> in the last year. Surcharges can be imposed by small to medium enterprises such as your local cafe, doctor’s surgery, your energy supplier, or when you use a card to pay your council rates. As an example, my rates are payable by card, with a surcharge of 1.10% for Mastercard and Visa credit, and 0.55% for eftpos and Mastercard and Visa debit cards. <h2>When surcharges can be applied</h2> Many merchants charge the same rate for all their card payments and some fail to alert customers to the extra fee before accepting the payment at their terminal, which they are required to do. Indeed, even on a receipt for payment, the surcharge can be described by the merchant as a “handling” or “merchant” fee. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/pricing/card-surcharges">(ACCC)</a> regulates surcharging and demands the merchant prove a surcharge is justified. Furthermore, the ACCC says if there is no way for a consumer to pay without paying a surcharge – that is, they can’t pay by cash or cheque – then the business must include the surcharge in <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/business/pricing/price-displays#toc-display-of-surcharges">the displayed price</a>. <h2>Penalties for misuse</h2> The ACCC can take merchants to court to enforce these regulations and there have been some examples of this in recent history. In July 2021, <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/nine-entertainment-pays-penalties-for-alleged-excessive-payment-surcharges#:%7E:text=The%20ACCC%20alleged%20that%20these,Deputy%20Chair%20Mick%20Keogh%20said.">Nine Entertainment paid penalties totalling $159,840</a>, plus $450,000 redressing customers, for charging subscribers and advertisers excessive surcharges. The ACCC specifies that the surcharge must not be more than it costs the merchant to use that payment type. As guidance to the merchants, it also offers <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/pricing/card-surcharges">the average costs for different payment types</a>: eftpos less than 0.5%, Mastercard and Visa Debit 0.5%–1% and Mastercard and Visa credit 1%–1.5%. However, despite the ACCC setting guidelines for the amounts that can be charged, many surcharges are above this guidance and in some cases more than 2.0% for all cards. Some merchants do charge different surcharging rates, depending on the cards they accept, be it eftpos, Mastercard or Visa. In theory, the surcharge rate is meant to be determined by the merchant service fee, which is negotiated between the merchant and their bank. Larger merchants, such as the supermarkets, department stores and energy companies, can negotiate low rates (reportedly as low as one cent a transaction). But smaller merchants with less negotiating clout will have higher service fees. The arrival of new payment players, such as <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/square-vs-stripe/">Square and Stripe</a>, has offered businesses an alternative banker of card payments, which can then use surcharging as part of their merchant service fees. <h2>Surcharging overseas</h2> The <a href="https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/finance-funding/making-receiving-payments/electronic-cash-payments/index_en.htm">European Union</a> already has a long-standing ban on surcharging, while in the United States, surcharging is illegal in some states. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, have tried surcharging on card payments, only to abandon them as it was rorted by some merchants and became an unnecessary expense for consumers. <a href="https://bluenotes.anz.com/posts/2023/07/anz-news-surcharge-steve-worthington-australia#:%7E:text=In%202018%20the%20UK%20Treasury,their%20hard%2Dearned%20money%E2%80%9D.">A statement</a> released by the UK Treasury when it banned the practice in 2018 described surcharges as <blockquote> Hidden charges for paying with a debit or credit card, which will help millions of UK consumers to avoid rip-off fees when spending their hard earned money. </blockquote> <h2>What can you do about it?</h2> Before surcharging was allowed by the Reserve Bank in January 2003, acceptance by merchants of payments was just another cost of doing business. And it seems many consumers have just accepted surcharges as part of their transactions. There are ways to avoid them, the most obvious being to use cash. Using eftpos involves charges, but they are less than those imposed on credit and debit cards. The Reserve Bank is working on implementing a so-called <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/payments-and-infrastructure/debit-cards/least-cost-routing/#:%7E:text=What%20is%20least%2Dcost%20routing,'merchant%2Dchoice%20routing'.">“least-cost routing”</a> system that defaults to the lowest cost network when processing payments. Unfortunately, this is yet to be widely adopted by businesses.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/237964/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steve-worthington-138">Steve Worthington</a>, Adjunct Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/surcharges-are-added-to-most-purchases-but-what-are-the-rules-behind-these-extra-fees-237964">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

Millions warned over huge change to speed cameras

For years, drivers in New South Wales have relied on the point-to-point speed camera rule, which only captures the speed of heavy vehicles, but that rule is set to change as part of a new trial as the state attempts to lower their death toll. The point-to-point, also known as average speed cameras are set to be turned on for all vehicles in two regional locations during the trial. The first location will be 15-kilometre stretch on the Pacific highway between Kew and Lake Innes in Port Macquarie, and the second location will be on the Hume Highway between Coolac and Gundagai, with 16km between the two cameras. “NSW is the only jurisdiction in the world to use average speed cameras but restrict their use to heavy vehicles only,” Roads Minister John Graham said. “In the context of a rising road toll, now is the time to trial these cameras for light vehicles and understand if we can keep more people safe on the road more of the time.” He added that all other states in Australia, as well as the UK and Norway have found the average speed cameras to be effective. “All other mainland Australian states and countries like the UK, Norway, Italy and the Netherlands have found average speed cameras to be effective and we aim to be as rigorous as possible to be sure they will also reduce road trauma in NSW.” “Rather than test your speed at a particular point in time, like a mobile speed camera, these test the speed you’re driving over 15 or 16 kilometres,” he said. “That means it’s a truer reflection of how quickly people are driving.” He added that the trial is focused on regional NSW as it has suffered a disproportionate amount of road fatalities, with six road deaths and 33 serious injuries between 2018 and 2022. “Although only a third of people live in regional New South Wales, that’s where two thirds of the deaths from road crashes happen," he said. Speeding contributed to 44 per cent of NSW road fatalities last year, three-quarters of which were in the regional parts of the state. The trial will run for six months, and for those caught speeding, they will be given a 60-day warning letter period, before financial and licence penalties kick in. Images: news.com.au

Legal

Dad fined $1,200 for 'critical' seatbelt mistake

At the start of last month, Queensland authorities increased driving fines to a record high, with the value of a penalty unit increasing by 4.2 per cent. One Aussie dad found out the hard way this week after he copped a $1,209 fine when he was stopped by police during a traffic operation as part of the state's Road Safety Week and found that his two kids did not have their seatbelts fixed correctly. They found the 5-year-old boy not properly secured in his booster seat, while a 6-year-old boy, who was seated in the right-side back seat, was found to have the middle seat belt wrapped around his neck. The hefty fine also comes with 4 demerit points. Queensland Police have warned their motorists about increased police vigilance on their roads. "Failure to wear a seatbelt is one of the leading causes of road crash deaths. Unrestrained drivers and passengers are eight times more likely to be killed in a road crash," Acting Inspector Kylie Doyle said. "If this driver had been in a crash, it would have likely resulted in significant, possibly life-threatening injuries for these children." Following the state's move to increase the value of a penalty unit, drivers caught using their phone or not wearing a seatbelt properly will now pay a fine of over $1,200. Drivers caught speeding more than 30km/h over the speed limit are also forced to pay over $1,200. Based off the average salary in the state, this means that drivers caught for such infringements would be paying around 65 per cent of their weekly salary on the fine. Authorities across the country have been cracking down on driver misbehaviour in attempt to reduce the number of road fatalities. "It is critical we all play our part to be safer on Queensland roads," Acting Inspector Kylie Doyle warned motorists on Tuesday. Image: Songsook / Shutterstock.com

Travel Trouble

$79 million in toll rebates yet to be claimed

Toll rebates worth $79 million are yet to be claimed by motorists in New South Wales, with some drivers eligible to receive thousands of dollars in refunds. Around 350,000 motorists across Sydney can claim back their toll spending according to new state government data, following the introduction of the toll cap scheme earlier this year. The scheme has reduced the amount motorists have to pay to a maximum of $60 on roads, and to date it has given back $39 million to motorists, largely from Sydney's west. Government figures show drivers in Auburn receiving the biggest average toll relief of $554, followed by motorists in Lakemba with $513. Motorists in Wiley Park had an average toll rebate of $461, while the average rebate for all NSW drivers is around $254. There remains $79 million to be claimed by motorists from tolled trips since the beginning of this year. Drivers who spend more than $60 and less than $400 per week can have their tolls refunded through the scheme. Toll costs over $400 can be partially refunded. Motorists can claim up to a maximum of $340 per week for each tag or licence plate. Claims can be made quarterly for drivers who have linked their e-tag to their Service NSW accounts and motorists have until the end of June 2025 to claim their rebates. Image: Nine News

Domestic Travel

How fear of missing out can lead to you paying more when buying a home

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/park-thaichon-175182">Park Thaichon</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a> The property market is a competitive space where finding a nice home, in the area you want, at a price you can afford is a hard ask. With buyers outnumbering available properties, the pressure is even greater causing some would-be buyers to develop <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/understanding-fomo">a fear of missing out</a> (FOMO) and to make irrational decisions. FOMO might make you worry others are finding nicer homes and getting better deals, or that prices will rise to the point where you are priced out of the market altogether. This could cause you to pay too much or to buy a property in an area unsuitable for your needs. Then there is <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/counseling-keys/202103/overcoming-fear-of-making-mistakes">fear of making a mistake</a> (FOMM), which can also cause problems if you’re a home hunter. You might be reluctant to bid or to negotiate because you are afraid of choosing the wrong property or paying more than it’s worth. <h2>Problems caused by FOMO and FOMM</h2> The principles of contagion theory, crowd psychology and the scarcity principle we identified in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ijcs.12649?casa_token=271MN72XdP8AAAAA%3AfhYF_2yUJtM7KGv5jvFdXn5UsXQLkMcIM_F6hffYa30QaSdRivjf2mhFX-cr5C7ttCuLl1-e2OFYXBA">our research</a> on panic-buying during the pandemic, can be applied to any purchasing decisions. In this instance we applied them to buying properties in a competitive housing market. <a href="https://www.communicationtheory.org/contagion-theory/">Contagion theory</a> applies when people act irrationally under the influence of a crowd. <a href="https://www.bestvalueschools.com/faq/what-is-crowd-psychology/">Crowd psychology</a> is similar but relates to how a crowd behaves in certain circumstances, while <a href="https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/scarcity-principle">scarcity principle</a> is the idea if there are fewer items available, their value increases. Each of these can increase the likelihood of several behaviours when purchasing a property. These include: <ul> <li>Underbidding and overbidding</li> </ul> Fearing other buyers might get the house, house hunters might get caught up in a bidding war and end up paying more than planned. Conversely, buyers with FOMM might fear spending too much so bid too low to start with and risk losing the house. <ul> <li>Following the crowd and peer pressure influence</li> </ul> Buyers might feel <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11403-021-00324-7">pressured to buy</a> in a certain area because it’s popular, even if it is not best fit for them. This can lead to paying more for a house just because others are doing the same. <ul> <li>Delaying decisions</li> </ul> FOMM can lead to <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ijcs.12990?casa_token=ZhJnLBOwVxUAAAAA%3AW5haHZKSA1rFQsRNdvw0liOoyvdxl0OrFR2phkhGfYC6TnWRv9EsnV-N8w52CmcnAVb8X2yU1obpIjKx">taking too long to decide</a>. This delay can mean missing out on good deals or being forced to rush into a decision and end up overpaying. <ul> <li>Avoiding negotiation</li> </ul> Some buyers might avoid negotiating the price or special conditions such as building and pest inspections and finance approval because they fear the seller will reject their offer. This can result in paying more than they need to if there are problems later. <ul> <li>Excessive inspections and appraisals</li> </ul> While inspections and appraisals are important, too many can suggest indecisiveness driven by fear, resulting in wasted money on unnecessary assessments, and more importantly, wasted time and delayed decisions. <h2>Removing fear from the buying process</h2> Start with thorough research and preparation by learning about different neighbourhoods and house prices. The history of properties and suburbs can be found for free on property websites and is a good place to start. Seek professional guidance from real estate agents or financial advisers to help you through the process. Get insights on market trends from an agent from a selling company or bank to help find homes that meet your criteria. Keep in mind these agents will get some form of incentive from your purchase. All the big banks or loan officers can provide free property reports on specific properties or suburbs. Don’t forget to check council mapping and water authority documents to check for potential future road projects and other developments and for an area’s flood rating. Perform due diligence by thoroughly inspecting properties and reviewing contracts to ensure they meet your needs and are a good investment. For example, it is a good idea to hire a home inspector to check for any hidden issues before making an offer. Another common mistake made by most buyers is not asking their <a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/law/housing-and-neighbours/buying-and-selling-a-property/buying-a-home/before-you-start-looking/appointing-a-solicitor">solicitor</a> to check and give suggestions before signing a contract or offer. A solicitor can check the sale contract before you sign, review the disclosure documents, give advice on your mortgage contract, carry out title searches and explain the results and explain how the purchase may affect your liability for land tax. Do some contingency planning by preparing for unexpected price increases and for the presence of other strong bidders to reduce anxiety about making the wrong decision. Setting aside extra funds could help deal with higher than expected prices or unexpected repairs that need doing. In the end, plan well and make decisions without letting emotions take over. Taking your time to find the right home that fits your budget and goals, rather than rushing into a purchase due to fear of missing out or making a mistake.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/233197/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/park-thaichon-175182">Park Thaichon</a>, Associate Professor of Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-fear-of-missing-out-can-lead-to-you-paying-more-when-buying-a-home-233197">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

New rules for Aussies travelling to Europe in 2025

The European Union has introduced new rules for Aussie travellers planning a trip to Europe in 2025. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) program, is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals from 60 nations, including Australians, which will be introduced in the first half of 2025. The new travel authorisation requirement will apply to 30 countries within Europe including: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter any of the European countries listed above as often as you want for short-term stays which is usually up to 90 days in any 180-day period. “However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions," the EU website states. The ETIAS will cost around seven Euros ($11.50) and is linked to your passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS. Travellers can apply using an online application form on the ETIAS website, or apply through their app. Most applications are processed within minutes but some applications may take longer to process. “If so, you will receive a decision within four days. “Please note that this period could be extended by up to 14 days if you are requested to provide additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview.” After the application, “you will receive an email confirming the submission of your application which will include your unique ETIAS application number: make sure you keep this number for future reference.” “Once your application has been processed, you will receive another email informing you about its outcome. “When you get your ETIAS travel authorisation please make sure your name, passport number and other information is correct: if there is any mistake, you will not be allowed to cross the border.” Travellers are required to always carry the same travel documents used in their ETIAS application “otherwise, you will not be allowed to board your flight, bus or ship, or to enter any of the European countries requiring ETIAS.” Image: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

Aussie mum with no licence or car fined thousands for traffic offences

An Aussie mum has copped thousands of dollars worth of traffic fines, despite not owning a car or holding a valid driver's licence. Victorian woman Tamara, 32, claims that she has received 16 different infringement notices this year alone in relation to 14 different licence plate numbers, and none of them are hers. The incorrect fines have been sent to her from as far back as 2022. Several of the alleged offences captured on road safety cameras show bearded men behind the wheel. "Clearly, I don't have a beard. The person in the picture is a male. Anyone with eyes can see it's not me," she told A Current Affair. The saga has badly impacted her mental health and she has called on both the police and road officials in the state to overhaul the system to prevent other people from ending up in the same situation as her. The mum fears that her identity or her expired licence number may have been compromised during Optus' mass data breach two years ago. "I am not the driver. I don't drive a vehicle, I don't even have a licence. I have no idea what to think actually because it is unexplainable." "It doesn't make any sense and it shouldn't make any sense in anyone's eyes. It doesn't add up and it's clearly fraudulent." Lawyer Justin Lawrence agrees with the 32-year-old and said that she is entitled to challenge the fines. "There is a system glitch there somewhere and she's entitled to challenge those fines. The system relies on the information that it has. If the information is inaccurate, then the system can't work," he said. Tamara has made a formal complaint to Victoria Police in a bid to clear her name, and they are now working with Fines Victoria to "investigate the circumstances around these incidents and resolve these matters". "Members of the public who believe they have been falsely nominated for a traffic infringement should contact Fines Victoria," a statement from the police read. Images: A Current Affair/ Nine

Legal

Bride and groom slammed over their “draconian wedding rules”

A wedding planner has exposed a bride and groom she worked for who had an exhaustive list of rules for their big day. Ivy Miller shared a now viral TikTok about the couple’s “draconian” demands for their wedding day, that left many people saying they would “rather stay home” than attend the restricted day. Miller shared that the couple didn’t want any wedding guests making song requests to their DJ, with the bride and groom allegedly suggesting, “Just go to the club if you want your songs played.” The wedding planner also claimed that the couple asked guests not to ask their professional photographer to take photos of them, with the post reading, “I did not pay 10,000s of dollars for random portraits.” Instead, guests were told to join a shared photo album on a group app where they could crowd source photos from the day. Additionally, Miller said the couple did not permit any guests to bring a plus one, saying, “I’m not stressing and paying for strangers I’ve never met.” Finally, Miller’s post revealed that the couple had banned alcohol from their wedding because they wanted their guests to “actually remember” their celebrations. “No plus one? No alcohol? Is this a wedding?” questioned one TikTok user in response to the list of rules. “Sounds like a business convention rather than a wedding,” another person said of the unusual demands. “I went to an alcohol free wedding,” another commenter added. “[It was] the most boring wedding I’ve ever been to. Pretty much everyone went at eight and most of the evening guests didn’t turn up.” “Those are all the reasons people attend the wedding for,” a fourth person claimed. “I would recommend a really small wedding because that way your guests don’t end up secretly hating you.” However, other users defended the bride and groom’s requests, with one person saying, “It’s their wedding, their rules.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Relationships

Lawyer warns drivers over little-known road rule with $2200 penalty

While some say it's just "the Aussie way", one lawyer has warned against this common act that could cost you up to $2200. Speaking to 7NEWS Astor Legal principal lawyer Avinash Singh, said that there has been a spike in motorists caught flashing their high beams on the road, to alert other drivers of police. “I’ve received an increased number of inquiries from people who have been caught flashing their high beams, warning oncoming drivers of police,” he said. “Most of my clients have been caught doing this by a mobile speed camera or an RBT, which they don’t realise can catch them out on this offence.” Drivers caught in the act could get an on-the-spot fine of $112 and one demerit point, and a maximum penalty of $2200. According to the Australian Road Rules, it is considered an unlawful use of headlights on high-beam. “It is an offence to drive on a road with high-beam headlights on if there is another vehicle in front, travelling in the same direction within 200m; or if there is another oncoming vehicle within 200m,” Singh said. “Similarly, road rules state that a driver must not use any light fitted to their vehicle to dazzle, or in a way that is likely to dazzle, another road user.” “It is arguable that flashing your headlights to warn of police would fall into the definition of ‘hindering police’ in the execution of their duty “ Motorists on Reddit have described headlight flashing as representing “a camaraderie between motorists” and one even called it “the Aussie way”. But others have argued that the act could impact the safety of other drivers. “Traffic laws are meant to act as a deterrent for dangerous driving, flashing a fellow motorist has the same effect the ticket is meant to but with more immediate results. It should be widely encouraged,” one commenter wrote. “I feel it only changes the driver’s behaviour for a few seconds, but removes the deterrent of getting a fine. So it probably makes traffic, in general, more dangerous,” another said. Image: Shutterstock

Legal

Motorist fined $4000 for dodgy driver's license tactic

A prominent Sydney lawyer has warned Aussie drivers against falsely nominating someone to take on their demerit points after one of his clients was fined $4000 for the illegal act. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Sydney lawyer Avinash Singh said that there has been a significant spike in the practice in recent months. "In 2024, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) commenced a crackdown on false nominations of drivers," he told Yahoo. "There has been a widespread trend of people agreeing to take demerit points for other drivers. "The person nominated will usually charge a fee to take the demerit points. Often they are on international licences and may not even be in the country." He then explained the case of one of his clients who was issued a $4,000 fine for trying to offload their demerit points. "The reason the fine was so expensive was because the vehicle was registered as a company vehicle and the company had a record of previous offences," he explained. "As such, it was subject to the penalties for a corporation, which are significantly greater than that of an individual ($1,500)." He said the matter was listed at court where the $4,000 fine "could have been increased to $22,000". Singh managed to fight the fine on behalf of the driver, but warned that authorities are increasing their surveillance on this illegal act and have urged Aussies to remain vigilant. The tactic has gained popularity over the past few years, with the illegal service often being advertised on social media and the price of one demerit point going for anywhere between $30-$150. Image: Facebook/ Yahoo

Legal

My Kitchen Rules star dies at just 46

My Kitchen Rules New Zealand contestant Michael Murray has passed away at just 46. An extended family member, who asked not to be named, has confirmed his death on Monday afternoon. “It’s a shock to all those who know him,” the relative told Daily Mail Australia. No cause of death has yet been released. Murray, of Ngāti Maniapoto heritage, competed in the 2024 season of the popular cooking show with his cousin Piki Knap. According to their biography for the series, the pair grew up together in Te Kūiti, south of Auckland, and developed their love of cooking from entertaining family guests. Murray was a huge Jamie Oliver fan, and was comfortable in front of the camera, after spending 12 years in Mexico where he worked on telenovela soap operas and did small stints on other shows. He returned to New Zealand after the pandemic. “My background is modelling and acting,” he told The New Zealand Herald. “I was Mr New Zealand back in 2005, and that’s what took me overseas and eventually to Mexico. Obviously, I’m not Mexican, but they thought I was Latino! "I did some great work there, then to come home and be a part of this whole journey with MKR is a blessing in disguise. I’ve always put my hand up to opportunity.” Murray's family are now dealing with the devastation of losing another loved one after Murray's aunt passed away from terminal cancer a few months after the duo started filming for MKR. Images: My Kitchen Rules NZ

Caring

Man fined $7000 for driving offences he did not commit

A New South Wales man has copped $7000 in fines and lost his licence, after he was fraudulently nominated for 14 driving offences by a woman in Victoria. Speaking to 2GB, Ross claimed he was falsely nominated through cars registered to two companies in Victoria, and shared an image of the woman behind the wheel. "I haven't been to Victoria in the last five years and I haven't driven a car in Victoria in the last five years," he told host Ben Fordham. "It's not me." Fordham then questioned whether he had "flowing long hair" as seen on the driver, to which he replied: "I don't, unfortunately. It's short hair." Ross, whose licence has been suspended, has been trying to clear the offences from his name. He has spoken to several government departments in both states including Service NSW and Vic Roads, submitted statutory declaration, police report, request of an extension and a nomination statement, to no avail. "I've tried to highlight that I'm a male and she is a female but it's still ongoing," Ross said. "It's a very convoluted process. "When someone assumes your identity in a fraudulent manner, it's no easy feat kind of getting it back." Fordham, who said the situation was "unbelievable", promised to step in and solve the matter for Ross within 24 hours, saying that they'll discuss this again tomorrow. Image: Nine

Legal

Little-known road rule that could cost you $3700

An Australian solicitor has brought attention to a little-known road rule that many drivers are unaware of and could cost them between $50 and $3,700 if caught breaking this law. Sydney lawyer Avinash Singh said he's noticed "many Australians are unaware of the expensive consequences they could face for using their car horn incorrectly" — even if it's unintentional. He said that drivers need to ensure they only use their car horns when necessary, including when warning other drivers or alerting animals that their car is approaching. "Whether it’s beeping to greet friends or family members or out of frustration of others’ driving, honking your horn inappropriately is an offence," he told Yahoo News. "No matter what state you’re driving in, a vehicle's horn can only be used to warn other drivers or alert animals to the presence or location of their vehicle. "The only exception to this is if the horn is being used as part of an anti-theft device or an alcohol interlock. Drivers caught using their horn in situations outside of these could face possible imprisonment and fines of over $3,000, depending on which state they reside." In New South Wales drivers can cop a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units, which is currently $2,200. The number of penalty units for Queensland is the same as NSW, but the cost is higher at $3226. In the Northern Territory it's a maximum penalty of 20 units ($3,700) or imprisonment for 6 months. South Australia and Tasmania have a set fine of $323 and $146.25 respectively. For Victoria and Western Australia, drivers can cop 1 penalty unit which cost $197.59 and $50 respectively. In the ACT drivers caught in this act will receive an infringement penalty of $264, maximum penalty of 20 penalty units ($3,200). Image: Revenue NSW

Legal

Can you change your mind after you buy a house?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rosemary-gibson-1544081">Rosemary Gibson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> In the Bluey episode “<a href="https://iview.abc.net.au/show/bluey-the-sign">The Sign</a>”, the Heeler family enters a contract to sell their family home to a pair of English Sheepdogs, or as Bluey calls them, “the dogs with no eyes”. But towards the end of the episode, the Sheepdogs spy another house that they prefer. Unlike Bluey’s house, the new place has a pool. They telephone Bandit and tell him that they have changed their mind. Happily for Bluey’s family – and let’s face it, most of Australia – Bandit decides not to press ahead with the sale and the Heelers end up staying put in their family home. But aside from the fact that the contracting parties are all cartoon dogs – how realistic is this scenario? Is it possible to end a contract to purchase or sell a house simply because you’ve changed your mind? The reality is that once a contract of sale is signed, there are only limited circumstances in which buyers and sellers can bring the contract to an end. <h2>What do you sign when buying or selling a house?</h2> In Australia, each state and territory has its own standard form contract for the sale of land that buyers and sellers must sign. The terms of these contracts mirror relevant state or territory laws, meaning they differ throughout Australia. It is important for parties to obtain advice from a property lawyer with experience in a particular jurisdiction’s contract. <h2>Can you change your mind after signing?</h2> Once a contract has been signed, a buyer may only end it for a “change of mind” during the “cooling off period”. The cooling off period is a short period of time – usually between two and five business days – after the contract is signed. During this time, the buyer can end the contract, “no questions asked”. But there are usually financial consequences for terminating during the cooling off period. For example, in New South Wales, Queensland and the ACT, a buyer who ends the contract during the cooling off period must pay the seller 0.25% of the purchase price. For a house purchase of A$1 million, this termination penalty would be $2,500. But not all states and territories guarantee a cooling off period for buyers. And in such a hot property market, an individual seller may be unlikely to agree to include such a term in a contract. <h2>What if something goes wrong down the track?</h2> When negotiating the contract terms, the parties may agree that the sale is subject to certain conditions. Typically, these conditions are in the purchaser’s favour. If one of the conditions is not satisfied in time, then the contract can be brought to an end. It is up to the parties to negotiate which conditions (if any) are included in the contract, and the time by which the conditions must be satisfied. The most common conditions of sale are: <ul> <li>the buyer obtains finance by a certain date (a finance clause)</li> <li>the buyer obtains satisfactory building and pest inspection reports by a certain date (a building and pest clause).</li> </ul> The buyer may also want the sale to be subject to the buyer first selling an existing property. Once all of the conditions of sale are satisfied, the contract is said to be “unconditional”. From this time, there are no express circumstances in which either party may bring the contract to an end. When the Sheepdogs telephoned Bandit, the Heelers had already moved all their furniture out of the house. Clearly, the sale had already gone unconditional. There was no express basis on which the Sheepdogs could have terminated the contract. <h2>Could the Heelers have sued for breach of contact?</h2> A party who ends a contract without justification is liable to pay compensation to the other party. A house purchaser who wrongly terminates a contract would almost certainly lose their deposit. They may also be liable for additional losses the seller suffers as a result of the breach, including any deficiency in price on a resale of the property. But a buyer and seller may bring a contract to an end by “mutual agreement”, which seems to be what happened in Bluey. The Sheepdogs sought to end the contract and – to the relief of all Australians – the Heelers agreed. This is, however, unlikely to occur “in real life”, especially in today’s highly competitive property market. At the very least, the seller would be entitled to retain the purchaser’s deposit. There would also be the issue of who bears the costs incurred in advertising and agency fees. It seems Bandit followed his heart rather than the strict terms of the contract — and Australia is the better for it.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/234659/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rosemary-gibson-1544081">Rosemary Gibson</a>, Lecturer in Contract Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-you-change-your-mind-after-you-buy-a-house-234659">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

Tragic moment mother returns to scene of fatal house fire

In a heartbreaking moment, Stacey Gammage, 29, has returned to her devastated home in Lalor Park for the first time since the tragic fire that claimed the lives of three of her children. The fire, allegedly <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/dean-heasman-s-grandmother-breaks-silence-after-deadly-house-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started by her partner, Dean Heasman</a>, 28, left the family reeling with loss and sorrow. On Sunday, shortly before 1am, Heasman allegedly set the family’s home ablaze and barricaded them inside. Two boys, aged two and six, were critically injured and later died at Westmead Hospital. The body of a five-month-old girl was also found by firefighters after extinguishing the flames. Returning on Tuesday afternoon, Stacey Gammage, still wearing her hospital wristband, was supported by family members and police as she read the numerous tributes and cards left outside the home. The street was closed for almost two hours to allow her to grieve privately. The devastated mother then returned to Westmead Hospital, where her four surviving children remain. The children, including a nine-year-old girl and three boys aged four, seven and 11, are all reported to be in stable condition. Heasman remains under police guard in an induced coma at Westmead Hospital, and no charges have yet been filed. Investigations continue under Strike Force Carrbridge. According to reports, Heasman allegedly threw a burning pillow at his wife, which contributed to the blaze. Investigators are also examining whether an accelerant was used, as a second explosion occurred moments after the initial fire began. Local hero Jarrod Hawkins, whose daughter is friends with one of the surviving children, rushed to the burning home and saved the nine-year-old girl and her three brothers. The eldest boy reportedly told his rescuers, "Dad tried to kill me." As the community mourns this unimaginable loss, they continue to leave floral tributes, stuffed toys, and candles at the scene, while detectives work tirelessly to uncover the full details of the tragedy. Image: Nine News

Caring

Dean Heasman's grandmother breaks silence after deadly house fire

The estranged and terminally-ill grandmother of the man allegedly responsible for lighting a house fire that killed three of his children has spoken out in the wake of the tragedy. In the early hours of Sunday morning, neighbours raised the alarm after spotting the fire in a family home in the suburb of Lalor Park, with firefighters arriving on the scene in six minutes to battle what neighbours called an "intense" <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/three-children-dead-after-allegedly-being-forced-into-house-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blaze</a>. Two boys aged three and six years old were given CPR on the street but could not be revived, and a 10-month-old baby girl was also found dead inside the home. The children's father, Dean Heasman, has since been arrested over the deaths of the children, with police treating the tragedy as a domestic violence attack. Now, Heasman's grandmother, 82-year-old Neryle Heasman, told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13610539/Lalor-Park-house-fire-dean-heasman.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a> she knew her grandson Dean as "a nice child" but said she had been estranged from him in recent years. "I didn't have a lot to do with him since his father, my son also named Dean, passed away," she said. "On the odd occasion I saw him, I remember him being a nice child." Mrs Heasman, who is receiving home palliative care for terminal lung cancer and has six months to live, said she had not met her great-grandchildren. "I have kept up with his family through photos on Facebook," she said. But she was stunned to discover he was at the centre of the police investigation into the deadly fire, asking Daily Mail Australia, "Are you sure we're talking about the same Dean?" A 29-year-old woman, a nine-year-old girl, and three boys aged four, seven and 11 were also in the house during the blaze, but escaped and were rushed to Westmead hospital. Investigators are now trying to determine what caused the blaze, with reports claiming that Heasman threw a pillow on fire at his partner, which was partially responsible for starting the fire. Image credits: 7News / Daily Mail Australia

Legal

Influencer's windscreen smashed in wild road rage act

Video footage has captured the scary moment a New Zealand influencer's windscreen got smashed in a wild road rage incident. Social media influencer Chantelle Baker claimed that the blue Mazda Demio had cut off another car behind her and began tailgating her when she was driving 40km/hr as she was carefully navigating a near-crash. “They started to scream at me from their car, trying to indicate [and] use their hands to tell me to pull over so they could go past,” she said in a video posted to Instagram. “I obviously didn’t. We go a few hundred metres and they decide to throw a rock at my car with my eight-month-old baby asleep in the back seat.” Baker said she saw them down a side road a couple of minutes later and followed their car to get the licence plate. She then recalled them pulling into an area near an old petrol station in Rangiora, Waimakariri, where the footage was filmed. In the viral clip, which has racked up over seven million views on TikTok, the two women can be seen exiting the Mazda and sprinting towards Baker's car. One of them ran up the bonnet and on to the windscreen causing it to shatter. The same woman then goes to the driver's door and tells Baker to "f*** off". Baker then reverses and drives away. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9EXimPJtE6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9EXimPJtE6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chantelle Baker (@chantellebakernz)</a> </div> </blockquote> New Zealand Police have said that they were aware of the incident and are in the initial stages of investigation. “Police received reports of an incident in the King Street area around 1pm on Saturday where one driver apparently followed another driver after a car failed to merge correctly,” they told news.com.au. “The cars have stopped at a petrol station where a person has reportedly got out and jumped on the other person’s vehicle, breaking a window. No people were injured.” In an update shared on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9JiK9cpnkt/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>, Baker said that the two girls have come forward and are speaking with Police. Images: Instagram/ Chantelle Baker

Legal

Neighbour's "selfish" parking act sparks outrage

A resident in Leichhardt, Sydney, has taken matters into their own hands and decided to deal with the lack of parking by using orange traffic cones to reserve a space for themselves. But frustrated neighbours were not pleased with this act, as parking on the the busy street is already difficult to find. "It's been ongoing for months and doesn't look renovation-related," they wrote on social media. It is understood that there are no parking restrictions on the street, meaning that residents can park there for as long as they like, if they're lucky enough to find a spot. Social media users were quick to share their thoughts, with many suggesting to just move the "witches hats." Others slammed the resident's parking act as "outrageous" and called him out for his "rude" and "selfish" behaviour. "I've noticed that for months and wondered why people have been so observant of them," one person wrote. "I guess if you're self-entitled and can get away with it," another added. "Remove them when they aren't there, someone will park there," a third wrote. While there were a few others who supported the act, and said that residents were entitled to reserve a parking spot, the Inner West Council has debunked it. They said that reserving street parking using objects like traffic cones or other items and then leaving these objects unattended is prohibited. "Unfortunately, this type of thing does happen in our local government area," a spokesperson told Yahoo. The council has also urged anyone who sees someone using their belongings to obstruct public use of amenities to report it, with fines ranging from $330 to $660. Image: Facebook

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Lawyer warns drivers over little-known road rule with $2200 penalty

Motorist fined $4000 for dodgy driver's license tactic

My Kitchen Rules star dies at just 46

Man fined $7000 for driving offences he did not commit

Little-known road rule that could cost you $3700

Can you change your mind after you buy a house?

Tragic moment mother returns to scene of fatal house fire

Dean Heasman's grandmother breaks silence after deadly house fire

Influencer's windscreen smashed in wild road rage act

Neighbour's "selfish" parking act sparks outrage

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