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Major change to drivers licences across Australia

<p>Thousands of permanent residents across Australia may soon be driving illegally unless they take urgent action to update their licences, as a major change to driving regulations comes into effect this week.</p> <p>From Wednesday April 30, most states and territories will scrap the Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) program, a scheme that previously allowed permanent residents to convert their overseas licences to Australian ones without retaking a driving test. Under the new rules, many international drivers will now be required to pass a local driving exam to continue driving legally.</p> <p>This shift affects licence holders from a wide range of countries, including Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Hong Kong (SAR of China), Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Cyprus, South Korea, Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa and Taiwan.</p> <p>Permanent residents from these countries will now need to book and pass both the theory and practical components of the Australian driving test if they wish to maintain legal driving status.</p> <p>However, the rules are different for temporary residents, who will still be permitted to drive using their overseas licences.</p> <p>The changes will be implemented across all states and territories on April 30, with a few exceptions. Queensland will enforce the new requirements later in the year, while New South Wales and Western Australia will delay implementation until October 31.</p> <p>Officials say the change is intended to align road safety standards nationwide and ensure all drivers meet consistent local requirements.</p> <p><em>Images: Shutterstock</em></p>

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Major driver's licence change for Victorian drivers

<p>A major drivers licence change has been implemented in Victoria. </p> <p>Up to 800,000 learner and provisional drivers in the state will soon have electronic access to their licence in a bid to make  "it easier for them to go about their lives". </p> <p>They join the 1.2 million motorists in the state who already have the capability to access their licence digitally, a feature that was only introduced in Victoria in May this year. </p> <p>While the digital licences are optional, the state government said that feedback from the public has been overwhelmingly positive.</p> <p>Like other digital licences, it features a highly secure, timed QR code" that can be scanned by businesses and other authorities to verify authenticity and prevent fraudulent use.</p> <p>Victoria Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said the initiative aims to simplify life for young drivers in the state. </p> <p>"We’ve seen more than 1.2 million Victorians access their licence on their phones since we launched this technology in May, and I’m sure we’ll continue to see a strong take up from our younger drivers," she said. </p> <p>The licences can also be updated in real-time if there are changes to conditions, personal information or if a licence has been cancelled or suspended. </p> <p>The state government is also working with venues to ensure licences are compatible with major scanning technology making it easier for both customers and venues across Victoria.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> <p> </p>

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What to claim for lost, delayed or damaged bags on overseas flights

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-johnston-123333">Rebecca Johnston</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-notre-dame-australia-852">University of Notre Dame Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-hodgkinson-6574">David Hodgkinson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-western-australia-1067">The University of Western Australia</a></em></p> <p>If you get on a plane and your baggage ends up being delayed, damaged or lost, who’s responsible: you or the airline? And what rules apply when you’re flying between different countries – even if you don’t have travel insurance?</p> <p>Airlines (otherwise known as carriers) generally include baggage requirements in their terms and conditions of carriage, which are set out or referred to on your ticket. These are the rules that apply to the journey that you have booked.</p> <p>But for international flights, a carrier’s liability for damage, loss or delay of baggage is governed by a number of overarching international treaties, which many passengers aren’t aware of.</p> <h2>International agreements</h2> <p>The <a href="http://www.jus.uio.no/lm/air.carriage.warsaw.convention.1929/doc.html">Warsaw Convention</a> of 1929 was the first of these treaties, and the latest is the passenger-friendly 1999 <a href="http://www.jus.uio.no/lm/air.carriage.unification.convention.montreal.1999/">Montreal Convention</a>.</p> <p>In order for one of these treaties to apply to a particular journey, the same treaty must be in place at the point of departure and the passenger’s final destination.</p> <p>For many trips, the agreement that will apply will be the Montreal Convention, which has to date <a href="http://www.icao.int/secretariat/legal/List%20of%20Parties/Mtl99_EN.pdf">108 state parties</a>, covering everywhere from Albania and Australia to Zambia. In time, the Montreal Convention is expected to apply to almost all air travel.</p> <p>The Warsaw Convention (as amended by the <a href="http://www.jus.uio.no/lm/air.carriage.warsaw.convention.hague.protocol.1955/doc.html">Hague Protocol</a> and <a href="http://www.jus.uio.no/lm/air.carriage.warsaw.convention.montreal.protocol.4.1975/doc.html">Montreal Protocol No. 4</a>) will generally apply where the Montreal Convention does not. It is less favourable to passengers.</p> <p>All these treaties have similar provisions to deal with baggage claims – but very different limits to what you might get if you need to make a claim.</p> <h2>What the airline is responsible for</h2> <p>A carrier is liable if your checked baggage is lost, delayed or damaged regardless of fault.</p> <p>This is so unless the damage resulted from the inherent defect or quality of the baggage or, in terms of delay, if it proves that it took all reasonable measures to avoid the damage occasioned by that delay.</p> <p>As for unchecked baggage (that is, carry-on baggage), the carrier is only liable if the damage is due to the fault of the carrier or its agents.</p> <p>Unless otherwise specified, reference to “baggage” includes both checked and unchecked baggage.</p> <h2>Calculating baggage compensation</h2> <p>Under the Warsaw Convention (as amended by the <a href="http://www.jus.uio.no/lm/air.carriage.warsaw.convention.hague.protocol.1955/doc.html">Hague Protocol</a> and <a href="http://www.jus.uio.no/lm/air.carriage.warsaw.convention.montreal.protocol.4.1975/doc.html">Montreal Protocol No. 4</a>) and the Montreal Convention, liability limits are expressed in <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/sdr.HTM">special drawing rights</a> (SDRs).</p> <p>An SDR is a type of foreign exchange reserve asset created by the International Monetary Fund. Its value is based on an artificial basket of currencies consisting of the US dollar, the euro, the pound and the Japanese yen. The liability limits are reviewed every five years.</p> <p>As of October 16, 2014, the <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/np/fin/data/param_rms_mth.aspx">value of an SDR</a> is about US$1.49, £0.93 or A$1.70. Current SDR values for other currencies are also listed <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/np/fin/data/param_rms_mth.aspx">here</a>.</p> <h2>So what is your baggage worth?</h2> <p>In terms of baggage liability limits, the Warsaw Convention is of relatively little assistance to passengers.</p> <p>If your international travel is subject to Warsaw (for example, if you flew out of the United States on a one way ticket to Guatemala), liability for delayed, damaged or lost baggage is limited to 17 SDRs (about US$25.33, £15.81 or A$28.90) per kilogram per passenger for checked baggage and 332 SDRs (about US$494.68, £308.76 or A$564.40) per passenger for unchecked baggage.</p> <p>In contrast, a carrier is liable to pay far greater damages if the Montreal Convention applies.</p> <p>For any travel covered by Montreal, the carrier’s liability for baggage is limited to 1131 SDRs per passenger (US$1685.19, £1051.83 or A$1922.70), unless otherwise declared.</p> <p>The carrier is not liable for damages caused by delay if the carrier took all reasonable measures, or if it was impossible for it to take such measures.</p> <h2>Time limits on baggage claims</h2> <p>Time limits are imposed on making a claim for delayed, damaged or lost baggage. Any potential claims should be made to a carrier in writing within these specified limits.</p> <p>Article 26 of Warsaw provides that any complaint as to delay of baggage must be made at the latest within 21 days from the date the baggage was placed at the passenger’s disposal.</p> <figure class="align-right zoomable"></figure> <p>Similarly, under Article 31 of Montreal, a complaint must be made within 21 days of a passenger receiving their baggage.</p> <p>With respect to damaged baggage, under Warsaw, any claim must be made “forthwith” after the discovery of the damage and at most seven days from the date of receipt of the baggage. Montreal also gives passengers seven days from receipt of checked bags to report a damage claim.</p> <p>Neither convention imposes a time limit for reporting lost baggage claims. But it is advisable that you make your complaint as soon as possible.</p> <p>Warsaw does not state when baggage is considered “lost”, leaving it up to carriers to make that ruling. Under Montreal, baggage is only considered lost after 21 days or if the carrier admits that they have lost it.</p> <p>If a passenger fails to make a complaint within the specified times, the carrier will not be liable unless there has been fraud on the carrier’s part.</p> <h2>Insurance alternatives</h2> <p>If you are concerned that the contents of your baggage exceed the liability limits outlined above, you can make a special declaration of the value of your baggage prior to check-in and pay any additional fee (if required).</p> <p>In this case, the carrier will be liable to pay a higher amount, unless it is proved that the declared amount is greater than the actual value of your baggage.</p> <p>Alternatively, prior to travelling, check with your insurance company as to whether your travel insurance covers any excess from delayed, damaged or lost baggage.</p> <p>You might also want to <a href="http://www.icao.int/secretariat/legal/List%20of%20Parties/Mtl99_EN.pdf">check this list</a> to see whether the places you’re departing from and finally arriving at are parties to the Montreal Convention. If not, you might just find yourself out of pocket.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/32111/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-johnston-123333">Rebecca Johnston</a>, Adjunct Lecturer, Law School, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-notre-dame-australia-852">University of Notre Dame Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-hodgkinson-6574">David Hodgkinson</a>, Associate Professor, Law School, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-western-australia-1067">The University of Western Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>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/what-to-claim-for-lost-delayed-or-damaged-bags-on-overseas-flights-32111">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Travel Trouble

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

<p>An Aussie mum has copped thousands of dollars worth of traffic fines, despite not owning a car or holding a valid driver's licence. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>The incorrect fines have been sent to her from as far back as 2022. </p> <p>Several of the alleged offences captured on road safety cameras show bearded men behind the wheel. </p> <p>"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. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>The mum fears that her identity or her expired licence number may have been compromised during Optus' mass data breach two years ago.</p> <p>"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."</p> <p>"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."</p> <p>Lawyer Justin Lawrence agrees with the 32-year-old and said that she is entitled to challenge the fines. </p> <p>"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.</p> <p>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". </p> <p>"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. </p> <p><em>Images: A Current Affair/ Nine</em></p>

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Huge breakthrough after Aussie couple murdered on overseas holiday

<p>Just days after Australian couple David Fisk and Lucita Cortez were <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/australian-couple-killed-in-the-philippines-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killed</a> in a luxury hotel in the Philippines, the suspected killer has reportedly turned himself in to police. </p> <p>The bodies of 54-year-old David Fisk and his de-facto partner Lucita Barquin Cortez, 55, were found with their hands and feet tied by hotel staff at the Lake Hotel in Tagaytay city, south of Manila, on Wednesday. </p> <p>The body of another woman, Cortez's  30-year-old daughter-in-law Mary who lives in the Philippines, was also found in the room. </p> <p>A week on from their deaths, Tagaytay Police Chief Charles Daven Capagcuan told the Associated Press that police had a breakthrough in the case when a suspect was identified by three hotel staff from CCTV footage. </p> <p>The identification of the suspect eventually led to his home where he decided to surrender, Capagcuan said.</p> <p>On Wednesday, Sunrise reporter Ben Downie shared the new developments.</p> <p>“Philippines police say this morning a man handed himself in over the hotel homicide where the killer carried out an execution-style attack binding his victims, slashing and suffocating them,” Downie said.</p> <p>“Hotel security footage showed the suspect leaving the room, but didn’t capture him entering, leading to the theory the killer had gained access from a window."</p> <p>“This certainly counts as a breakthrough with the surrendered suspect and closure for loved ones.”</p> <p>After hearing the news of the couple's sudden and tragic passing, Fisk's family, based in NSW's Sutherland Shire, issued a statement saying they "pray for answers and the truth in this horrific matter".</p> <p>"The love we have for our Father and Lucita is so dear and this situation is like living a nightmare," the family said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe / Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Kyle Sandilands loses licence live on air

<p>Kyle Sandilands has been left reeling after being told, while live on-air, that he has lost his NSW drivers licence. </p> <p>The radio host was told by his KIISFM manager about the unfortunate licence loss, while Sandilands and his co-host Jackie O were discussing speeding fines. </p> <p>After telling Jackie that speeding fines don’t bother him, Kyle was left red-faced when Bruno Bouchet chimed in to say the 53-year-old recently received a new penalty notice.</p> <p>“I don’t have enough points! I’m on the razor’s edge!” Kyle admitted, adding that he has “No points” left on his licence.</p> <p>“Both Kyle and I are. We can’t afford to lose anything!” Jackie added.</p> <p>When newsreader Brooklyn Ross asked if it meant Kyle had lost his licence, Bruno confirmed that he had.</p> <p>“He finds out live on air that he’s lost his license. But you know what? It’s only the sixth time,” Jackie O laughs, before Kyle corrects her, “The ninth time.”</p> <p>Kyle was still in disbelief over the penalty notice, even after being handed photographic evidence of him speeding in a Sydney tunnel. </p> <p>“So, on my speed sign recognition, it said 90km. But on the sign in the tunnel, it said 80km,” he began pleading his case.</p> <p>“And I remember Chris Minns, the Premier of New South Wales, sitting with me saying, ‘We’re kicking it [the speed limit] up to 90km’. And I thought that some d**khead hasn’t updated the sign.”</p> <p>When Jackie asked why he didn’t just follow the speed sign, Kyle replied: “I believed the tech in my vehicle and the Premier of New South Wales.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: KIISFM </em></p>

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“My darling wife": Newlywed's tragic death overseas

<p>Madison Noronha (née Chatham) was in Amsterdam with her husband Kyle Noronha after only a few weeks of getting married when she suddenly collapsed on the street. </p> <p>When she was rushed to hospital last week, scans revealed that she had suffered a brain aneurysm and despite getting immediate surgery to relieve the pressure, she unfortunately <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">could</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> not be saved. </span></p> <p>“Madi fought like she always does right to the very end,” her heartbroken husband wrote on social media. </p> <p>She passed away in his arms and was surrounded by loved ones. </p> <p>“My darling wife I cannot comprehend what has happened, I’m in a million pieces. Forever and always babe.”</p> <p>Now, her family have set up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/madison-noronha-chatham" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> in attempt to raise funds to “help with flights, funeral costs and to help bring our beloved Madison home to be laid to rest”.</p> <p>Since the launch of the fundraiser, people have come together and raised over $30,000 for the family. </p> <p>Taylah Wicks, the organiser of the fundraiser and a family friend, said that Madison was loved and cherished beyond measure”.</p> <p>“We are all left heart broken, but can’t imagine the pain that Kyle and her immediate family are experiencing,” she wrote on the page.</p> <p><em>Image: GoFundMe</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Dodgy tactic to keep driver's licence growing "out of control"

<p>A criminal lawyer has exposed an alarming trend, which has caused more and more people to seek legal advice. </p> <p>Over the past year, there has been an increase in the number of drivers off-loading their demerit points to strangers in exchange for cash, as Aussies desperately try to keep their licences. </p> <p>The illegal tactic is often advertised on social media, where users attract those looking for someone to falsely nominate and palm off their demerit points to. </p> <p>The price of one demerit point can go for $30-$150, and criminal lawyer Jahan Kalantar revealed that more people are seeking legal advice after getting involved in the trend. </p> <p>"This used to be a very tiny part of my practice, I do about eight to nine consultations a week on this," he told <em>7News Sunrise</em>. </p> <p>"This is becoming really out of control."</p> <p><a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/dodgy-drivers-licence-tactic-used-by-millions-growing-out-of-control-044254123.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Yahoo Australia</em> </a>shared a screenshot of a chat obtained from Facebook, which showed a person responding to an ad someone put up about selling their demerit points. </p> <p>"What fine is it?" the person advertising asked. </p> <p>"Speeding," the person replied. </p> <p>"Yeah I can sort it out for you," they said. </p> <p>When asked how it would work the advertiser replied: "If it's under 5 points it's $80 a point". </p> <p>There are tough penalties for those who choose to falsely nominate another driver, and for those who trade their demerit points for cash. </p> <p>In Victoria, offenders face fines of $9,000, while those in NSW and Queensland cop a maximum penalty of $11,000. </p> <p>In addition to hefty fines, imprisonment is also a risk, with one high-profile incident in 2006 landing former federal court judge Marcus Einfeld in prison after he was caught falsely declaring another driver for his speeding fine. </p> <p><em>Images: 7NEWS/ Facebook</em></p>

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L-plater attacked with traffic cone reveals what sparked road rage outburst

<p>A Perth teenager was behind the wheel for the first time, when the "classy" passenger of a BMW behind erupted with rage.</p> <p>The woman attacked the L-plater behind the wheel in a bizarre outburst, yelling out expletives and hurling a traffic cone in their direction. </p> <p>The L-plater behind the wheel, Aleyna Helvaci, 16, was accompanied by a professional driving instructor when the ugly incident occurred after she accidentally stalled at a busy intersection. </p> <p>“She was just full out wild, I turned (the car) back on, put my foot on the clutch, and everything was ready," Helvaci told 7 NEWS. </p> <p>“I was going to take off, but before I could there was a really loud horn.”</p> <p>Footage of the interaction went viral after the teen's mum posted the outburst on TikTok. </p> <p>“F*** you” the woman screamed as she stormed down the road in front of standstill traffic before pretending to chuck her handbag in the car's direction. </p> <p>She then reaches for a nearby traffic cone and hurls it at the car. </p> <p>“F***ing sl**, move on up!” she screamed before storming back to her own car - its horn still blaring at the teen. </p> <p>At one point, the equally enraged male driver held the horn down for nine seconds straight, as the person calmly filming the incident is told to note down the plate number. </p> <p>The woman eventually sits back down in her car, but doesn't stop screaming expletives at the teen. </p> <p>When they finally merged right to flee the scene, the driver got in on the action himself, honking his horn and flipping his middle finger at the teen. </p> <p>The video racked up thousands of views on TikTok before it was removed, a number of people have slammed the SUV owner's “disgusting behaviour”, adding that “we were all learners at one stage”.</p> <p>“Absolutely disgusting behaviour. I am so sick of this sh*t. Control your anger and grow up!”  one commented. </p> <p>“This is so bad! It’s always the ones with the rich cars too hey … Y’all so 'classy,'" wrote another. </p> <p>Helvaci's family has since filed a police report and the teen told 7News that it would take some time before she felt safe behind the wheels again. </p> <p>“It is all about building confidence in the end, so this is all part of the experience,” she said.</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"My unexpected $223,000 overseas bill"

<p>Jeffrey Yates had just embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday with his wife to celebrate their wedding anniversary.</p> <p>Instead, he ended up racking up a whopping $223,255 bill, the biggest claim his insurance company had seen during 2017.</p> <p>The 71-year-old from Western Australia said the pair’s much-anticipated trip had started off well.</p> <p>“The trip was a particularly special one as it was our 50th wedding anniversary, so it was something we’d been looking forward to for quite some time,” Mr Yates told <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/health-safety/my-unexpected-223000-overseas-bill/news-story/94cd850899f9e1367bf6f3fb49621307">news.com.au.</a></span></strong></p> <p>“We started in Dubai, and then went over to Athens. From there, we jumped on a cruise from Athens to Barcelona.”</p> <p>But things soon took a turn when Jeffrey was struck with a series of illnesses while in Italy.</p> <p>“We were only a week in when my health started to deteriorate,” he said. “I contracted legionnaires’ disease and pneumonia which led to me discovering that I had emphysema on the trip.</p> <p>“The experience was quite scary and my wife and our two friends had to leave the cruise early to assist during my recovery.”</p> <p>He ended up in hospital for more than a month.</p> <p>“Within three days they’d dropped us off in Naples to see a specialist hospital, which led to 16 days in intensive care. This was followed by an extended stay in hospital.</p> <p>“All up, I was out of action for 47 days. After all was said and done, the total came to well over $220,000 … It was an extremely difficult situation.”</p> <p>Jeff says that while the couple always take out travel insurance, it was more for his wife who has ongoing health issues. He hadn’t anticipated he would need it.</p> <p>“It’s not something you think about, especially given how quickly those transportation and hospital bills can add up,” he said.</p> <p>“Of course, we were disappointed that such a long-awaited trip had been cut short, but we are grateful that it wasn’t worse and that we weren’t left out of pocket.”</p> <p>He says his experience show that all travellers need to protect themselves when travelling – as you really never know what could happen.</p> <p>Jeff still has ongoing health issues that he is being monitored for, including breathing issues for which he still requires oxygen.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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10 tips for planning a staycation that’s better than an overseas trip

<p>We spent so much of our lives daydreaming to be somewhere else that sometimes we lose sight of how amazing our surrounds actually are! Of course it’s nice to venture overseas, but sometimes it’s equally as nice to take a moment to smell the roses.</p> <p><strong>Here are 10 tips to help you get the most out of your staycation:</strong></p> <p><strong>1. Plan ahead </strong></p> <p>Not having a clear idea of what you’re actually going to do on the day is the death knell of any staycation. So do some research and figure out some interesting activities to try in your city. A little bit of planning ahead can go a long way.</p> <p><strong>2. Find timely events</strong></p> <p>Is there a festival you’ve always wanted to go to but never managed to find the time? Well, a staycation is the perfect opportunity to try this. Staycations are pretty much designed for this sort of experience, so enjoy!</p> <p><strong>3. Don’t go it alone</strong></p> <p>A staycation is also a great opportunity to catch up with some old friends (or even make new ones) so make sure you invite some other people along.</p> <p><strong>4. Set a budget</strong></p> <p>Even though you’re not really travelling anywhere, it makes sense to set a weekly budget to make sure you’re not spending too much. Or if that seems like a bit too much, even just set out a basic daily limit. Also, take advantage of free regular events in your own city.</p> <p><strong>5. Check the weather before you head out</strong></p> <p>There’s nothing worse than getting rained on without an umbrella. Check the forecasts and make sure the weather suits your staycation.</p> <p><strong>6. Say yes as much as you can</strong></p> <p>We spend so much of our lives saying no, but when you’re on a staycation this is your opportunity to say yes as much as possible. Be spontaneous and fun!</p> <p><strong>7. Ice cream and junk food</strong></p> <p>Well you are on vacation after all! This is a great opportunity to take advantage of those foods you avoid on a weekly basis, even if your belt ends up fitting to a different notch.</p> <p><strong>8. Mix up your routine</strong></p> <p>Sleep in, stay out late and throw your routine out the window. Enjoy your city for what it is and make sure you take advantage of everything.</p> <p><strong>9. Be silly</strong></p> <p>Don’t take yourself too seriously when you’re on a staycation and make sure you spend plenty of time enjoying the company of those that are nearest and dearest.</p> <p><strong>10. Reward yourself</strong></p> <p>While you’re technically not travelling everywhere, staycations still require a lot of work, so make sure you reward yourself with a glass of wine.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Readers respond: What was the first country you ever travelled to?

<p dir="ltr">Everyone remembers the butterflies and excitement of travelling to another country for the first time.</p> <p dir="ltr">For many, the first trip overseas is unforgettable, because you are exploring another part of the world that is different from home.</p> <p dir="ltr">We’ve asked our readers about the first country they ever travelled to and the responses are diverse. Here’s what they said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Anita Thornton</strong> - Nigeria, in 1956, I was seven. Dad worked there and we joined him. So many wonderful memories.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>MarilyneJames Kelly</strong> - Went to the U.S. to Disneyland when I was 16.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Ruth Jean Jennings</strong> - New Zealand ......and keep going back despite having travelled to heaps of other places!!!</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Susan Moldrich</strong> - Sri Lanka. I loved it so much I've been back nearly every year.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Audrey Jones</strong> - To New Zealand from England. Mum. Dad and us 6 kids came by boat on 9th July 1954. Travelled back and around the world many times.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Hilary Mole</strong> - By car and ferry, France, Switzerland and Italy 1960. By plane, Holland in 1965.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Frances Nelson</strong> - Portuguese Timor. We drove Sydney to Darwin where we caught a small TAA plane to Dili. The only other tourist we met was a chap from Mozambique. Wonderful experience.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Mindy Brown</strong> - Okinawa via Japan. My husband was stationed there in late 1960's</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Diane WillmoreHunsbedt</strong> - England when I was 7 my mom was a war bride and went to see her family</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Jenny Champness </strong>- Uganda from Australia with my sisters and parents for my dads new job.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Amanda Onder</strong> - Italy, first of three trips there as a child.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Pamela Tow</strong> - Papua New Guinea, where I worked in Goroka for a year.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Beryl Hamblin</strong> - France</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

International Travel

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Why one Aussie couple chose to retire overseas

<p>Have you ever considered escaping the high cost of living in Australia for a more affordable (and comfortable) retirement overseas? One couple did and they haven’t looked back.</p> <p>For many retirees, the high cost of living in Australia means strict budgeting to make sure their finite amount of retirement income can go the distance. As groceries and utilities continue to rise, and with the government looking to cut back discounts and rebates, it doesn’t leave much in the kitty for leisure or recreation, let alone holidays!</p> <p>That’s no problem for Over60 community members Virginia and David Downton, 61 and 66, who chose to retire to popular South-East Asian destination, Thailand.</p> <p>“We live here for a fraction of the cost of living in Australia,” Virginia says. “We live in a great condo with a gym and a pool, we have lots of friends and regularly travel all over Thailand or visit other Asian countries.”</p> <p>The retired couple were living in sunny Cairns in the far north of Queensland when they decided to make the big move to Thailand. Having visited the country many times before, it didn’t take much soul searching for Virginia and David to settle on this beautiful part of the world. “We are comfortable here and know that we can afford to live here very comfortably, which is something we cannot afford in Australia, sadly,” she explains.</p> <p>They found their current residence browsing the internet, after searching ‘places for rent in Thailand’ on Google. Before permanently moving over, they rented the place for a year first to get a feel for the area. The condo ticked all the boxes for the couple. Rent was cheap, the place was fully furnished (down to the linen, cutlery and cookware), and it had a pool and gym. Plus, it’s within walking distance of a language school, which the couple attend two days a week.</p> <p>“We decided that if we were going to live here we should learn to speak the language,” Virginia says. “We’re now able to have brief conversations with the locals. They are very helpful and appreciate the fact that we’re trying to learn their language. Their eyes actually light up when we speak to them in Thai.” She added that the Thai people are “so friendly” and want to know all about Australia.</p> <p>While they may be far from friends and family, the internet has made it easy for them to stay in touch. They’re also surrounded by many other retired Aussies, who are located in tourist hotspots Chiang Mai and Bangkok, as well as many other parts of the country.</p> <p>Many Australian retirees have made the move to tropical parts of South East Asia, with Thailand and Indonesia being two popular choices. The cheaper cost of living is usually one of the motivating factors behind the decision, with retirees able to stretch their cash further in places like Thailand.</p> <p>“Everything here is around two thirds less than in Australia, which makes the lifestyle here very affordable. Medical care is included in this!” Virginia says. “We feel we are permanently settled. We may buy later on or continue to rent. We will come back to Australia for holidays, but not permanently. Of course, things may change but we doubt it.”</p> <p>If you’re considering retiring overseas, Virginia and David suggest doing your homework first. They say take a look around the entire country you plan on moving to, whether that’s Thailand or somewhere else, and don’t restrict your exploration to the tourist areas. Also, be aware of visas and the local culture and if in doubt, ask someone for help.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Retirement Life

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Travelling overseas? Here’s what the embassy will – and won’t – do to help if you get in trouble

<p>Australians are jetting back out into the world again. The numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels, but almost <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/tourism-and-transport/overseas-arrivals-and-departures-australia">1.1 million Australians left the country</a> in December last year – compared to 1.3 million in December 2019. According to information provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, passport applications smashed records in 2022, averaging more than 250,000 each month in the second half of the year.</p> <p>International travel is a safe, positive experience for most people, but unfortunately things do go wrong for some travellers. Trouble, when it comes, can involve anything from lost passports and small-scale theft to serious welfare problems, hospitalisation and arrests.</p> <p>In these cases, DFAT’s consular service will be expected to do what it can to assist. But where does personal responsibility begin and end when we leave our shores? What should we expect from our government, and what can we do ourselves to minimise the risks?</p> <h2>Travellers behaving badly</h2> <p>As a former head of the consular service in the early 2000s, I know the caseload involving overseas Australians is not limited to major, news-grabbing situations, like the recent <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/23/png-hostage-freed-australian-professor-researchers-captive-papua-new-guinea-mount-bosavi">kidnapping</a> of an Australia-based academic by a criminal gang in Papua New Guinea, or the impact of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/11/turkey-and-syria-earthquake-australian-death-toll-believed-to-have-risen-to-three">devastating earthquake</a> in Turkey and Syria on Australians and their families.</p> <p>These were serious situations requiring intensive work from our diplomats, but there is much more to the job than that.</p> <p><a href="https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-11/consular-state-of-play-2021-22.pdf">From June 2021-22</a>, an average of four Australians died overseas every day, while an average of two Australians were arrested every day - on matters ranging from immigration breaches to drugs crime, theft and fraud. </p> <p>In total, nearly 16,000 Australians turned to their local Australian overseas mission that year for help in “crisis cases” – more than triple the number in 2018-19 before the pandemic. COVID-related repatriations arranged by DFAT were counted separately – there were more than 62,000 of these in the past three years.</p> <p>Carrying an Australian passport means we can rely on a consular service to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/what-happens-when-things-go-wrong-for-australians-overseas/13973350">provide support in these situations</a>. But expectations have grown among travellers in recent decades, partly because of the speed of our communications and the instant public feedback we receive via social media.</p> <p>While most Australians are self-reliant travellers, there are still many not living up to their side of the bargain. Most importantly, there are still too many not taking out appropriate travel insurance. Others disregard official travel warnings and then turn to the government for help when things go wrong. </p> <p>Then there are those whose expectations are just inappropriate – asking officials to arrange opera tickets or look after their pets, for example. </p> <p>More seriously, expectations can be very hard to manage in arrest cases overseas. Some Australians are shocked their citizenship doesn’t come with a “get out of jail free card”. But we are all subject to local laws and authority, no matter what notions we might have about the standards of justice that apply in some countries. </p> <p>At any given time, there are between <a href="https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-11/consular-state-of-play-2021-22.pdf">300 and 400 Australians imprisoned</a> overseas. Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, there are real <a href="https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/consular-services/resources/arrested-jailed-overseas-factsheet">limits to what the Australian consular service can do</a> in these cases. </p> <p>The service will check periodically on the welfare of prisoners overseas, guide them towards local legal representation and monitor their trials. But that’s about it. This applies to foreigners imprisoned in Australia, too.</p> <p>To be sure, there is occasionally a case that is clearly so arbitrary or unjust, our government calls for the release of the individual. This was the case for Sean Turnell, <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-australian-economist-sean-turnell-came-to-be-in-and-freed-from-a-myanmar-jail-195419">who was imprisoned in Myanmar</a> for political reasons until being released last year. But unlike Turnell, most Australian prisoners overseas probably have a case to answer.</p> <h2>Three ways to stay safe</h2> <p><strong>1) Be informed about where you are going</strong></p> <p>Australians have a responsibility to know what’s happening at their planned destinations. The conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere have impacted many travellers, as have major weather events and natural disasters. </p> <p>With international flights returning to normality over the last year, DFAT’s COVID repatriation program has largely wound up. Travellers once again need to look to their own resources – or their travel insurance policies – to ensure they get home.</p> <p>The government’s <a href="https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/">Smartraveller</a> website is a reliable source of up-to-date information on everything from emerging health risks to cultural and legal issues in specific countries to the local security situation. They have recently launched a <a href="https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/sneak-peek-our-new-ad-campaign">fresh advertising campaign</a> in an effort to highlight the importance of avoiding trouble in the first place. </p> <p><strong>2) Stay in touch with family back home</strong></p> <p>The consular service deals with hundreds of “whereabouts” inquiries each year. And if disaster strikes when you are travelling somewhere, your family and friends will be worried. </p> <p>In each of the major consular disaster responses I was involved in, including the September 11 attacks and the 2002 Bali bombings, there were people who caused their loved ones untold grief by not letting them know they were safe. </p> <p>In my recent book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Consul-Insider-Australias-Diplomatic-Frontline/dp/0702263494">The Consul</a>, I recount the story of one Australian who worked on an upper floor of the World Trade Center in New York, but took ten days to let his family know he had actually been in London when the attacks took place.</p> <p><strong>3) Buy good travel insurance</strong></p> <p>If there’s one thing travellers really should do, it’s to take out travel insurance. Most people think about insurance as a way of covering themselves for flight cancellations or for the theft of personal items. But if you get sick or are injured overseas – or even in the case of a death – insurance is critical. The Australian government cannot just step in and pay for a medical evacuation.</p> <p>From my time as consular chief, I know that some Australians were forced to sell their homes to cover their medical costs overseas. People also often find themselves under-insured, or are surprised to learn that certain activities, such as adventure sports, are not covered. </p> <p>Young people are the least likely to take out insurance. <a href="https://insurancecouncil.com.au/resource/aussies-planning-to-travel-more-but-need-to-do-more-travel-planning/">Travel industry surveys</a> indicate about 12% of travellers below the age of 30 do not intend to take out insurance, and the number is higher for those heading to destinations in the developed world regarded as “safe”. It really doesn’t work like that though - hospitalisation in the United States without insurance can mean financial disaster.</p> <p>It doesn’t take much to minimise the risk of difficulties turning into disasters overseas.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/travelling-overseas-heres-what-the-embassy-will-and-wont-do-to-help-if-you-get-in-trouble-198589" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Travel Tips

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3 budget-friendly overseas holidays destinations

<p>You don’t have to rob a bank to go on an overseas trip. While you may be pinching pennies for retirement that doesn’t mean that a holiday is out of the question.</p> <p>Jetting off somewhere doesn’t have bleed you dry, actually, there are quite a few spectacular, great-value overseas destinations that allow you stretch your purse strings without making a dent in your savings. Why not consider one of these:</p> <p><strong>Northern Ireland</strong></p> <p>With many affordable guesthouses near Antrim’s seaside Giant’s Causeway and budget flight options, there are many great deals for a holiday in Northern Ireland. Make sure you see Pritzker-winning architect Zaha Hadid's cutting-edge Titanic Belfast museum, which brings fresh life to the dockyard where the doomed cruise liner was built.</p> <p>You’ll also want to make sure you take in the astounding interlocking rock columns of Antrim.</p> <p><strong>India</strong></p> <p>If you travel outside of the tourist favoruties – Mumabi and Delhi – there are many hotels that are reasonably priced if not utterly cheap. And the country has lots of landscape and culture for the buck. If you travel around by train and dine at low-key local places it will not only make you trip more authentic, but your pennies will go further.</p> <p>From lounging on the beaches of Goa to affordable skiing on Himachal Pradesh, there are many budget-friendly options including staying at Rajasthan's former palaces and living like a maharaja for less.</p> <p><strong>Laos</strong></p> <p>With better deals than Thailand, with its natural beauty and friendly locals, Laos is somewhat a majestic destination. With its sleepy riverfront and statue-decorated Buddha Park, Vientiane – the capital of Laos – offers much to be explored that you don’t have to pay for.</p> <p>Observe saffron-robed monks at dawn moving gracefully around the temple-filled holy town of Luang Prabang, or discover dramatic megalithic stone vessels, believed to be funerary urns, in the Plain of Jars.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

International Travel

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8 simple measures to avoid sickness overseas

<p>At best, getting sick overseas is an annoying inconvenience that takes time away from your trip. At worst, the outcomes of falling ill in another country can be potentially disastrous.</p> <p>As with most things in life, when it comes to overseas illnesses prevention is better than the cure, so we’ve put together a list of eight simple measures that will ensure you stay healthy overseas.</p> <p>Before you book anything, it’s a good idea to check this website and see if there are any medical warnings/requirements for your planned destinations. Once you’ve booked accommodation and tickets, you can register your plans to ensure you’re easily accessible in an emergency.</p> <p>To stay healthy when travelling overseas, we recommend you take the following measures:</p> <ol> <li>Visit a travel health specialist, particularly if you’re visiting parts of the world that require vaccinations. These medical professionals can administer the vaccination.</li> <li>Take out travel insurance, which will ensure that you are covered for activities you’re undertaking, as well as any the event of hospital treatment or medical evacuation.  </li> <li>Keep your insurance company’s contact details handy, and with you at all times. If they’ve got an emergency assistance card even better. It’s also important to contact the company the second you feel as though you need help. Most travel insurance companies provide 24-hour emergency contact and advice services for travellers signed onto their policies.</li> <li>Consider taking a traveller’s medical kit, which can be filled with useful items such as aspirin, antiseptic, cotton wool, band aids, insect replant and hand sanitiser.</li> <li>Exercising good personal hygiene, as well as a degree of care in regards to what you’re eating and drinking can go a long way to help avoid the dreaded symptoms of gastro.</li> <li>Pack mosquito repellent, and wear clothing items like long-sleeved shirts and long pants to avoid being bitten by mosquitos as they could be carrying some nasty diseases.</li> <li>Avoid contact with dogs, and other animals like monkeys that may be carrying rabies.</li> <li>Get a quick check up, when you return home, particularly if you’ve felt ill when away.</li> </ol> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Five things to do in Dubai

<p>Having won the bid to hold the Expo 2020, Dubai continues to cement it’s position as one of the travel hotspots you should be adding to you to-do list. A thriving metropolis with world-class attractions on its doorstep, one of the best things about Dubai is its accessibility to Australia.</p> <p>Furthermore, the city stretches some 40 kilometers along the coast, a straight up-and-down journey from one place to the next. Taxis are cheap and plentiful and now, with the metro up and running, getting around is all too easy. Offering culture mixed with newfangled architecture and a melting pit of cultures thanks to its large expat population, it’s an experience like no other.</p> <p>A couple of tips for those interested in visiting, Dubai is a Muslim emirate. So while it is relaxed compared to other areas in the UAE, you should be respectful of their ways such as covering up even though it can often be very hot. Covering ones shoulders and wearing trousers or skirt to the knee should be enough. Also, while there is plenty of alcohol to be had, drinking is limited to licensed venues that are housed in hotels.</p> <p>Other than that, there is a lot to explore and amazing things to see in the Arabian city. Enjoy!</p> <p><strong>The Burj buidlings</strong> <br />Both the Burj Khalifa 
and the Burj Al Arab are sites to behold. The Khalifa is the most amazing of the two. As the tallest structure on the planet, it's impossible to miss from the moment you arrive in Dubai. The opportunity to view the city from the observation deck on the 134th floor is not to be missed – either day or night, the view is truly spectacular. Then the Burj Al Arab is the world’s only seven-star hotel and has been an icon for Dubai for many years now. From the aquariums that flank the escalator to the underwater seafood restaurant or the exotic glass elevator, it is all eye candy for new visitors. Definitely stop in for high tea or cocktails in the Skyview Bar, but book at least a week in advance.</p> <p><strong>The Dubai Mall 

</strong><br />You’ve likely heard of the infamous shopping in Dubai and until you experience Dubai Mall, you won't really understand the scale of its amazement. It is simply huge, with something for everyone inside. The shopping and eating are almost a side attraction. With a 22-screen cinema; an indoor theme park, called Sega World; a world for children, called Kidzania; a giant Aquarium with an underwater zoo; and a full-sized ice rink you, will want for little. Just be sure to be wearing comfortable shoes. To top it all off is the Dubai Fountain, which has shows – set to music – every evening at 6.  </p> <p><strong>Walk down Jumeirah Beach Walk</strong> <br />Locally known as JBR, it is the largest single-phase residential construction in the world. Made up of 36 towers dotted along the beach front in Dubai Marina, JBR is a lovely, wide promenade flanked on one side by shops, cafes and restaurants and on the other by a single-lane road. This is the ideal spot to enjoy a leisurely meal while people and car watching. You’re guaranteed to see some jaw-dropping sites such as a gold-plated Porsche Cayenne, a two-tone Ferrari or a monkey or cheetah hanging out a local’s car window as they drive by.</p> <p><strong>Desert safari</strong><br />Be sure to book in a desert safari. There are many carriers you can choose from, but most include a camel ride, four-wheel driving and a traditional Arabic BBQ in the desert complete with belly dancers. Arabian Adventures is known to be one of the best to book with.</p> <p><strong>Souk it up

</strong><br />Whatever you do, don’t leave Dubai without visiting at least one souk. Some of the better ones include the Old Souk for textiles and materials, The Gold Souk for some great deals on gold and the Meena Bazaar. Walking through the souks offers a real chance to soak up the Arabic culture, shop like a local and come home with some fabulous Middle Eastern treasures.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Star Sydney suspension: how do casino operators found so unfit get to keep their licences?

<p>How low does a casino operator in Australia have to go before it loses its gaming licence?</p> <p>That question is still hanging after the punishment meted out to the operator of The Star Sydney casino – found to be “<a href="https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2022-08/apo-nid319488.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not suitable</a> to be concerned in or associated with the management and operation of a casino in NSW”.</p> <p>A four-month inquiry into the casino found Star Entertainment’s management “rotten to the core” and documented, in a report of more than 900 pages, a litany of failings from flouting anti-money-laundering laws to deliberately misleading regulators.</p> <p>NSW’s new Independent Casino Commission, having given the company two weeks to “show cause” why it should not lose its casino licence, suspended that licence, appointed an emergency manager to run the casino for at least 90 days, and imposed a A$100 million fine.</p> <p>This is the maximum fine possible under laws introduced in August, and $20 million more than what Victoria’s regulator <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/melbournes-crown-casino-handed-record-80-million-fine-over-illegal-funds-transfer-scheme/o1i5k8724" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fined Crown Resorts in May</a>.</p> <p>The head of the Independent Casino Commission, Philip Crawford, <a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/star-casino-licence-suspended" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it was “no longer in the public interest that the Star should remain in control of that licence”.</p> <p>This is progress of a kind from the new casino regulator, established this year to replace the former Independent Liquor &amp; Gaming Authority in light of that agency’s regulatory failings.</p> <p>But it raises obvious questions about the upshot of all the other casino inquiries – in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland – that have found Star Entertainment and Crown Resorts unfit or unsuitable to hold casino licences.</p> <p>Yet not one casino has had to close its doors.</p> <h2>Saving jobs, and revenue</h2> <p>So what does a casino have to actually do to lose its licence?</p> <p>Looking at the case of The Star Sydney, it’s apparently not enough to allow more than A$900 million to pass through the casino in contravention of anti-money-laundering rules. Or to fabricate receipts to hide this. Neither is allowing a Macau-based junket operator with known links to criminal enterprise to run a high-roller room.</p> <p>Crawford defended not going further than suspending the casino licence, because Star Entertainment had “demonstrated genuine contrition” and to preserve the livelihoods of the casino’s employees:</p> <blockquote> <p>A big issue for us, to be frank, in this environment is that there is probably about 10,000 employees of the Star casino, and a lot of them rely on the income to pay their mortgages and raise their kids.</p> </blockquote> <p>This is, in part, recognition that culpability lies at the level of senior management, not croupiers, waiters and cleaners.</p> <p>Even so, such a rationale also suggests regulators are in danger of being trapped by a culture of considering operators “too big to fail”.</p> <h2>Too big to fail?</h2> <p>The Star Sydney employs an estimated <a href="https://www.zoominfo.com/c/the-star-entertainment-group/347613908" target="_blank" rel="noopener">8,000 people</a> at its site in Pyrmont.</p> <p>Crown Resorts has 11,500 people working at its Southbank premises in Melbourne and 6,000 at its Burswood site in Perth – making it the largest single-site private employer <a href="https://www.crownresorts.com.au/our-contribution/employment-training" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in Victoria and Western Australia</a>.</p> <p>By comparison, Australia’s biggest employer, Woolworths, employs 190,000 people across more than 1,000 Australian and New Zealand sites. The ABC <a href="https://www.zoominfo.com/pic/abc-australian-broadcasting-corporation/363975" target="_blank" rel="noopener">employs about 5,000</a> staff.</p> <h2>Raking in gaming revenue</h2> <p>But perhaps even more important than the jobs are the revenues that casinos deliver to state and territory governments.</p> <p>Figures from the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/government/taxation-revenue-australia/latest-release#data-download" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Bureau of Statistics</a> show that, in 2020-21, states and territories collected A$7 billion in gambling taxes. More than half – nearly A$4 billion – came from casinos and gambling machines.</p> <p>The NSW government collected A$2.7 billion – 7.3% of its total revenue. The Victorian government collected A$1.6 billion – 5.4% of total revenue. Again, the vast majority came from gambling machines.</p> <p>The government most reliant on gambling revenue was the Northern Territory – with nearly 15% of its taxation income from gambling.</p> <p>Casinos are not only big business for private investors. They have become key to the sustainability of state and territory finances. That no casino has been forced to shut its doors is emblematic of this problematic and increasing financial reliance.</p> <p>It’s one thing to hold public inquiries and make adverse findings against casino operators. But, as with banks, the apparent reticience to revoke gaming licences signals that money, in the words of Cyndi Lauper, changes everything.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/star-sydney-suspension-how-do-casino-operators-found-so-unfit-get-to-keep-their-licences-192608" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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