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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>

Legal

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Woman accused of murdering terminally ill partner hours after palliative care meeting

<p>A woman accused of killing her terminally ill partner after he postponed making a decision on assisted dying has been denied bail by the Queensland Supreme Court.</p> <p>Kylie Ellina Truswell-Mobbs, 50, was arrested on April 3, more than a year after the death of her partner, David Ronald Mobbs, 56, who died at their home in Alexandra Hills, southeast Brisbane, in December 2023.</p> <p>During a bail hearing on Tuesday, the court heard that Mr Mobbs, who had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), had expressed a desire to delay a decision on voluntary assisted dying just hours before his death. </p> <p>Crown prosecutor Sarah Dennis alleged that later that same night, Truswell-Mobbs made three separate attempts to administer a lethal drug cocktail to Mr Mobbs via his feeding tube. “Her conduct was purposeful and determined,” Dennis told the court. “It continued over a number of hours through the night... her intent was protracted.”</p> <p>According to Dennis, Truswell-Mobbs acted after a palliative care meeting on December 5, where Mr Mobbs reportedly told others he wished to delay his decision about assisted dying by at least a week. Despite this, prosecutors allege Truswell-Mobbs acted within hours to end his life.</p> <p>The court also heard that Mr Mobbs, who used a signing board to communicate, had allegedly been given a lethal dose of drugs. Police claim Truswell-Mobbs later confessed her actions to both a close family member and a professional carer. One witness reported she told them she “couldn’t take it anymore”.</p> <p>Truswell-Mobbs’ defence barrister, Ruth O’Gorman, argued for bail, noting that her client had no prior criminal history and had not fled during the 16 months she was under police investigation. O’Gorman also raised the possibility that the charge could be reduced, suggesting that aiding suicide might be more appropriate than murder.</p> <p>“It’s not inevitable that the Crown would proceed with the charge of murder against her, or that the jury would convict,” O’Gorman said.</p> <p>However, Justice Glenn Martin found the prosecution had a strong case, noting the significant body of evidence pointing toward a potential conviction. He said there was a clear distinction between knowing one is under investigation and being formally charged with murder.</p> <p>Bail was denied, and Truswell-Mobbs is expected to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court for mention of the murder charge.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Legal

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Cruise passenger facing life sentence after onboard discovery

<p>A Brazilian passenger has been charged with drug-related offences after authorities discovered a significant quantity of cocaine hidden in his cruise ship cabin upon docking in Sydney Harbour on Saturday.</p> <p>The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege that the 48-year-old man had concealed 10kg of cocaine within the ceiling cavity of his room aboard the vessel, which had arrived from Argentina. During a search conducted by Australian Border Force (ABF) officials, officers reportedly uncovered 28 individually wrapped parcels of the substance, which tested positive for cocaine.</p> <p>In addition to the drugs, authorities also discovered "body packing material" hidden in the ceiling cavity and the wardrobe. According to the AFP, such materials are commonly used by drug couriers attempting to smuggle narcotics across international borders and security checkpoints.</p> <p>An examination of the suspect’s mobile phone allegedly revealed further evidence linked to drug trafficking. The AFP subsequently charged the man with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and one count of possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.</p> <p>AFP Detective Superintendent Kristie Cressy highlighted the potential impact of the drug haul, noting that the seized cocaine could have been distributed in 10,000 individual street deals, with an estimated street value of $3 million.</p> <p>“This amount of cocaine could have been sold in the community as 10,000 individual street deals of 1 gram for about $3 million,” Cressy stated. “Drug traffickers are motivated by greed, and they do not care about the harm they cause. These drug deals put pressure on the health system.”</p> <p>The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that between 2022 and 2023, there were more than two hospitalisations per day in Australia due to drug-related incidents.</p> <p>ABF Superintendent Matt O’Connor acknowledged the increased risk of drug smuggling during the cruise season but reassured the public of law enforcement's vigilance in tackling such operations.</p> <p>“The cruising season brings with it additional opportunities for criminal syndicates to attempt to smuggle illicit drugs into the country; however, Border Force officers are very attuned to their pivoting tactics,” O’Connor said. “Our ABF officers process and border-clear thousands of passengers and crew members on every international cruise ship which arrives into Sydney and are ready to respond to any threat which may present itself.”</p> <p>The accused is set to appear in court as investigations continue into the broader implications of the smuggling attempt.</p> <p><em>Images: Australian Federal Police</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Dropping like flies": Cruise passengers ravaged by severe virus

<p>A dream holiday has turned into a floating nightmare for passengers onboard a P&O Cruise after the vessel was ravaged with a severe strain of novovirus. </p> <p>The luxury ship, Iona, was sailing through Northern Europe when the virus struck, affecting over 5000 guests and nearly 2000 staff onboard. </p> <p>Sky News UK reported that the onslaught of the virus has caused hundreds of passengers to fall ill with the company releasing statements providing updates as the situation grows worse aboard the ship.</p> <p>The ship, which is currently located off shore near Belgium, is continuing on with the itinerary as planned, with staff attempting to isolate the affected passengers and restrict their movements both aboard the ship and land-based stopovers.</p> <p>“People were throwing up in restaurants, on decks, outside cabins,” one of the passengers told Sky News. “A large number of guests and staff are experiencing the virus symptoms. They're dropping like flies."</p> <p>Norovirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis and causes diarrhoea, vomiting, and severe stomach pain.</p> <p>The symptoms usually develop 12 to 48 hours after being exposed and can take three days for a person to fully flush the virus from their system.</p> <p>P&O Cruises confirmed that some guests have reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness but refused to provide an update on the health of cruise staffers.</p> <p>“P&O Cruises works with global, national and regional public health authorities on approved and proven protocols across our ships in order to protect the health and wellbeing of all on board,” a P&O spokesperson said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Couple forced to sit next to dead passenger on international flight

<p>A couple has recalled the distressing moment they were forced to sit next to a dead passenger on an international flight. </p> <p>Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin were en route from Melbourne to Venice with Qatar Airlines, via the city of Doha, when a female passenger died mid-flight. </p> <p>The crew decided to put the dead passenger's body in Ring and Colin's row for the remaining four hours of the flight, which the couple said left them traumatised.</p> <p>The incident unfolded when a woman walked out of the bathroom and collapsed next to their row.</p> <p>"Unfortunately the lady couldn't be saved, which was pretty heartbreaking to watch," Ring told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/couple-forced-to-sit-next-to-corpse-for-hours-on-flight/24d51b24-9a7f-4e6c-be04-ec2dbf6df1c4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>A Current Affair</em></a>.</p> <p>"They tried to wheel her up towards business class, but she was quite a large lady and they couldn't get her through the aisle."</p> <p>"They looked a bit frustrated, then they just looked at me and saw seats were available beside me, my wife was on the other side, we were in a row of four."</p> <p>"They said, 'Can you move over please?' and I just said, 'Yes no problem'. Then they placed the lady in the chair I was in."</p> <p>The couple claims cabin crew did not offer them a different seat to move to, with a passenger in the row behind them instead offering a spare seat to nervous-flyer Colin.</p> <p>"There were a few spare seats I could see around us," Ring said.</p> <p>Ring spent the remaining hours of the flight in the same row as the corpse, saying he was told to stay seated after the plane landed as medical crews took off blankets covering the body.</p> <p>"I can't believe they told us to stay … it wasn't nice," he said.</p> <p>The couple said they have not been offered any support from Qatar Airways, with Ring saying, "They have a duty of care towards their customers as well as their staff, we should be contacted to make sure, do you need some support, do you need some counselling."</p> <p>"I don't really know how I feel and would like to speak to somebody to make sure I'm alright."</p> <p>Colin said the pair was now trying to make the best of their Italian holiday of a lifetime after the disturbing flight. </p> <p>"I'm trying to make the best of a pretty hard situation, but, you know, we're on holidays so we're really trying to have a good time," she said.</p> <p>Since <em>A Current Affair</em> spoke to the couple, Qatar Airways says it is looking into the situation.</p> <p><em>Image credits: A Current Affair </em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Horrifying": Cruise passengers left reeling over "KKK cruise"

<p>Passengers onboard a P&amp;O Australia cruise have been left reeling after staff members emerged in costumes resembling the Ku Klux Klan during a themed event. </p> <p>According to the cruise liner, the disturbing incident occurred onboard the Pacific Explorer during a Christmas-themed voyage, when a staff fun day went wrong. </p> <p>One passenger captured the "horrifying" moment the crew donned what she described as "offensive KKK costumes".</p> <p>The crew were believed to be part of the ship's housekeeping staff, with one member pictured holding up a housekeeping sign.</p> <p>Dressed in white cloaks and white masks with pointed tops and eye-holes cut out - the same as those worn by the KKK - the crew members competed in a Christmas-themed 'sports battle day'.</p> <p>Passenger Terri told <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14306781/P-O-cruise-klu-klux-klan.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a></em> that many were excited about the onboard event day, which was highly publicised throughout the ship in the days before. </p> <p>However, everything allegedly went "quiet" when the costumed staff emerged, as Terri instructed her husband to "get the camera" and document the shocking moment. </p> <p>"I (requested) a please explain and have received no response," Terri said. "This is not tolerated in this current environment and education is desperately needed."</p> <p>Terri also shared the video on of the moment on social media, recounting the incident. </p> <p>"There was a lot excitement then it all went quiet… the lack of judgement was astounding," she said.</p> <p>"Everyone was there, everyone gathered, it was advertised, there was a lot of noise and it went dead quiet, just silent."</p> <p>"A lady sitting in front of me, her jaw dropped she was like 'what the hell', everyone was like OMG - they were calling it the 'KKK cruise'."</p> <p>"They’d gone the whole way through this ship dressed as the KKK and paraded through the Lido deck in front of basically every passenger but it was only then when senior crew saw them and they took their hats off."</p> <p>"I spoke ... to one of the (housekeeping) staff - they were all male - and he told me 'we didn't think we didn’t anything wrong'. They didn't say they weren't dressed as the Ku Klux Klan when I asked them but I truly believe it was an innocent mistake."</p> <p>Terri said she expected senior ship crew to offer an apology or explanation but none was given. </p> <p>After the controversy, A P&amp;O Cruises Australia spokesperson clarified that the crew were dressed as "upside-down snow cones" and not as the Ku Klux Klan. </p> <p>"We regret if a recent incident on a Pacific Explorer cruise offended any guests," the spokesperson told <em>Daily Mail Australia</em>. </p> <p>"Several crew members dressed up as snow cones for a Christmas family event, not understanding how their costumes could be misconstrued. They were only in public view for a short time before management acted quickly and had them remove the costumes. The crew members were horrified and extremely apologetic when they learned of the distress their outfits could cause."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / Daily Mail Australia</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Passenger mistakes baggage conveyor belt for travelator

<p>CCTV footage has captured the moment an elderly passenger in Russia mistook the baggage conveyor belt at a check-in desk for a travelator - walking onto it before disappearing into the baggage area. </p> <p>The incident occured at a state-owned airport in Vladikavkaz, in North Ossetia-Alania, Russia, on January 5.</p> <p>Video footage captures the airline desk staff talking to another passenger, failing to notice the 74-year-old pensioner approaching the weighing area and climbing onto the conveyor belt. </p> <p>As she approached the thick rubber curtain separating the check-in area from the baggage area, the woman toppled over onto her back and disappears from view. </p> <p>The elderly woman mistook the baggage conveyor belt at the busy airport for a travelator that she thought led to her departure gate. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A family from Vladikavkaz, Russia, went to the airport to travel. While they were at the baggage area, their grandmother thought the conveyor belt for luggage was the way to the airplane. So, she got on it and went along for a 10-minute ride.</p> <p>They later found her with the bags… <a href="https://t.co/piE3JQi8K9">pic.twitter.com/piE3JQi8K9</a></p> <p>— Ibra ❄️ (@IbraHasan_) <a href="https://twitter.com/IbraHasan_/status/1877305300203565404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>The other passenger at the check-in desk can be seen telling the check-in staff what just happened as the footage ends. </p> <p>Local media reported that the woman, who chose to remain anonymous, was rescued uninjured and escorted to the correct boarding gate. </p> <p>The video footage, which has been circulating online, drew in mixed reactions. While some people were amused at the incident, others were concerned about the safety protocols at the airport. </p> <p>It also raised a few questions on passenger awareness and staff attentiveness at busy airports. </p> <p><em>Images: X</em></p> <p> </p>

International Travel

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"Brace for impact": Qantas passengers recall terrifying emergency landing

<p>Passengers onboard a Qantas flight have recalled the terrifying moment their plane rerouted as they were told to brace for impact. </p> <p>Flight QF1929 was only 40 minutes into its trip from Brisbane to Adelaide when the plane was forced to turn around due to a brake issue. </p> <p>Tudor Vasile was onboard the terrifying flight, and told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/qantas-flight-heading-to-adelaide-diverted-to-brisbane-brake-issue/e9242066-1248-404c-b68b-bcc62633e96d" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>9News</em></a> his fellow passengers were fearing the worst. </p> <p>"The captain jumped on the mic and said 'brace for impact, brace for landing, brace for landing'," Vasile said.</p> <p>"We were just waiting for that big explosion to occur."</p> <p>Footage of the moments before landing showed passengers in the brace position as cabin crew members repeated told them to "stay down, heads down".</p> <p>Vasile said the fear was palpable as the plane made a rapid approach to the runway.</p> <p>"Everyone was looking at each other and going into brace position ... You could feel goosebumps and everyone was starting to panic at some stages, wondering what the hell was going to happen next."</p> <p>The pilot made a textbook landing before engineers rushed to examine the plane, as Vasile said, "I tell you, that was one hell of a joyride."</p> <p>Another passenger Kurt Gray added, "You sort of picture the worst but they crew, they just looked after us so well."</p> <p>Qantas confirmed to <em>9News</em> there had been a problem with the landing gear brakes and the flight landed back in Brisbane shortly before 10am on Tuesday, just 40 minutes after take-off.  </p> <p>"A flight from Brisbane to Adelaide returned to Brisbane shortly after take-off due to an issue with landing gear brakes," a spokesperson said.</p> <p>"The aircraft landed normally and is being checked by engineers. We understand that this would have been a distressing experience for customers and we thank them for following the instructions of the crew."</p> <p>"We are working hard to get customers on their way as quickly as possible. We will follow up with all customers to provide our support."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Non-fixable": Neighbours icon reveals terminal diagnosis

<p>Veteran actor Ian Smith, beloved for his role as Harold Bishop on the long-running soap <em>Neighbours</em>, has filmed his final scenes, marking an emotional farewell to the show and his career.</p> <p>At 85, Smith revealed his decision to step away from acting follows a terminal diagnosis of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.</p> <p>“It isn’t just my last day in <em>Neighbours</em>, it’s my last day of work,” Smith <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/aussie-tv-icon-ian-smith-shares-tragic-health-update/news-story/3edbe4d153e7f322b08258ec86360bba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told 10 News First reporter Angela Bishop</a>. “I found out a few months back that I have cancer, that I have a very aggressive, non-fixable cancer, and they expect me to die.”</p> <p>Smith, who has undergone three rounds of treatment, including immunotherapy, expressed his determination to maintain his quality of life for as long as possible. “I’ve really put my hand up just to be a guinea pig, I think, plus the fact I don’t want to die. I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can,” he said. “I wake up every morning hoping there’s no pain because I know that’s the beginning of the bad part.”</p> <p>Smith, a staple of Ramsay Street since 1987, was honoured by cast and crew on his final day of filming. The emotional farewell included heartfelt speeches, tears and hugs, reflecting the profound impact Smith has had on the<em> Neighbours</em> family.</p> <p>“There were real tears,” Smith shared. “In fact, one young fella worried me a bit. I had to follow up and make sure he was alright the next day. It knocked me out a bit honestly.”</p> <p>Smith’s final storyline features the return of Anne Charleston, who famously played Harold’s wife, Madge. Charleston will reprise a new role in the upcoming episodes. Executive Producer Jason Herbison praised Smith’s contributions, saying, “The way the residents of Ramsay Street feel about Harold is how we all feel about Ian – we couldn’t love him more than we do.</p> <p>“Despite the challenges he was facing with his health, he wanted to give Harold a proper send-off. It was a very emotional moment on set as we paid tribute to him and the incredible contribution he has made to the show.”</p> <p>Smith’s personal life has been marked by loss, having endured the passing of his wife, Gail, of five decades, and several family members to cancer. His own health battles have included prostate cancer and a stroke, yet he has remained a resilient and cherished figure in Australian television.</p> <p>Network 10 expressed their sorrow over his diagnosis and immense gratitude for his contributions. “Ian has brought joy, laughter and inspiration to audiences all around the world for decades,” a spokesperson said. “Along with the cast and crew and all his fans from around the world, we will support Ian in any way we can during this difficult time.”</p> <p>Smith’s final scenes on Neighbours will air in April 2025, bringing a 30-year chapter of television history to a close.</p> <p><em>Images: Supplied</em></p>

Caring

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Virgin Australia passenger denied travel over tiny passport detail

<p>Renee Reader, 30, flew to Melbourne from the Gold Coast on Monday and had her passport checked several times by Virgin Australia staff. </p> <p>It wasn't until she was in the final boarding queue to Bali when staff spotted one tiny detail in her passport. </p> <p>"I got through security and customs. It wasn't until I was actually boarding the flight and I handed over my boarding pass and passport that the staff weren't sure about my passport," she told <em>Yahoo News Australia</em>.</p> <p>Staff then started taking photos of her passport and she was asked to step aside. When asked what the issue was, she was told there was a "yellow stain" on her passport identification page. </p> <p>It wasn't long before she received the "heartbreaking" news, with staff telling her: "You're not going to Bali." </p> <p>Although she tried to plead her case, airline staff stood firm on their decision, and said Renee would need to be escorted out of the airport by security. </p> <p>"I said, 'I don't think that's quite necessary. I'm not a criminal — It's a passport with a watermark on it'," she recalled, but was she was escorted anyways. </p> <p>While the airline paid for Renee's flight back to the Gold Coast, and acknowledged that they should've flagged the passport damage earlier into her journey, she still lost the money for her return flight tickets to Bali which cost around $200.</p> <p>"My message to everyone is to triple-check your passport and make sure that it is in immaculate condition, because they are getting a lot stricter, and I would never want this to happen to anyone else," she said.</p> <p> "I've travelled all over Europe, I've been to Bali with it [the mark] twice... I was in Bali just in July... it was absolutely heartbreaking," she said.</p> <p>A Virgin Australia spokesperson told <em>Yahoo News </em>that staff are required to flag any passport issues to prevent passengers from being refused entry at their intended destination. </p> <p>"When a guest presents for check-in for an international flight, Virgin Australia team members are required to ensure they have the necessary travel documentation and that the documents are in suitable condition," the spokesperson said.</p> <p><em>Image: TikTok/ Yahoo News</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Doctor defies terminal cancer diagnosis with breakthrough therapy

<p>Dr Tina Willits was told she had just 24 months to live after being diagnosed with breast cancer, but against all odds she is now in remission. </p> <p>The mother-of-five's disease was "everywhere" with three golf-ball sized tumors in her breast and cancerous masses in her ribs, spine, lymph nodes and legs.</p> <p>"When my cancer was detected, it was pretty past a stage four diagnosis and I was too far gone for a mastectomy," she told the <em>Daily M</em><em>ail</em>. </p> <p>She was placed on end-of-care chemotherapy and was told to "enjoy the time you have left". </p> <p>That was nearly three years ago. Now, the 53-year-old US mum is in remission thanks to a breakthrough cancer therapy that uses cold gases and the body's own cells to freeze and fight tumors. </p> <p>"I was devastated, but I was also like no, I was not ok with that diagnosis. I felt I had to do something," she recalled.</p> <p>"I was just really determined that I did not want to live my life with this cancer, even if they could stop it progressing, I didn't want that, I just wanted it gone."</p> <p>Dr Willits' cancer was HER2 positive, which account for about 20 percent of all diagnoses, and she had no family history of the disease.</p> <p>She underwent four rounds of chemotherapy before she sought alternative treatment at the Williams Cancer Institute. </p> <p>The institute sent her a list of supplements to begin taking and advised her to avoid sugar, which some researchers believe can help reduce inflammation and slow down the growth of cancer cells. </p> <p>She then underwent a treatment regimen that is not yet fully approved in the US, with cryoablation as the first step. </p> <p>Cryoablation is the process where doctors insert  a small metal probe through the skin and into the tumor, extremely cold gasses are then released directly into the mass to kill its cells.</p> <p>In the second phase of her treatment, she received immunotherapy, where eight drugs were administered directly into her tumor, which doctors say can prompt the immune system to recognise cancer cells as a threat and trigger an immune response. </p> <p>Dr Willits told the Dailymail that she was shocked when she got the results from her six-week scan after the treatment.</p> <p>"There were none, no tumors. They were just completely gone," she said. </p> <p>"All the metastasis (cancerous growths outside the breast) had completely healed, and the cancer in my lymph nodes was no longer there."</p> <p>After the treatment she had another four rounds of chemotherapy, and still undergoes PET scans every six months. </p> <p>So far the cancer has not been detected in her body since the treatment, and will need to wait for five years of clear results before she can be declared cancer free. </p> <p>Dr Williams, the founder of the institute, developed the treatment regimen over several years, and believes it could offer a better way to treat cancer.</p> <p>He is currently running a trial of the treatment in hard-to-treat prostate cancer patients, although he did not reveal how long the study had been going on for or how many rounds of treatment the patients had received. </p> <p>Since going into remission Dr Willits has travelled to Honduras and Colorado, tried mountain biking and is training for a 5k marathon for breast cancer awareness. </p> <p>"I wouldn't appreciate life like this if I had not gone through the cancer," she said. </p> <p>"No one on their deathbed says I wish I had worked more or got that job, you all say I wish I had spent more time with my parents and kids or gone to that place I had always wanted to." </p> <p><em>Images: DailyMail</em></p>

Caring

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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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Man decides to end his own life after waiting for at-home care

<p>A terminally ill man has made the heartbreaking decision to end his life after waiting 10-month for end of life care. </p> <p>Cyril Tooze, an 86-year-old from South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula, was approved for a Level 4 Home Care Package in January. </p> <p>The package - which is the highest available care for individuals with high-level needs under the federal government’s MyAgedCare scheme - would give Mr Tooze up to $59,594 annually for daily assistance with physical, medical and social tasks.</p> <p>But almost one year on from the approval, his funds and support have yet to be delivered.</p> <p>It’s understood his family, who live interstate, contacted the government to enquire about receiving an urgent reassessment, and were told he could be waiting another three to six months.</p> <p>Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie told reporters that his family were also told a reassessment “could delay it even longer”.</p> <p>While waiting for his vital funds, Mr Tooze - who suffers from terminal heart and lung conditions and regularly requires morphine for pain relief - has worsened and has been hospitalised after suffering a fall at home. </p> <p>Tired of waiting for help to arrive, Tooze has started the process of ending his life through South Australia’s voluntary assisted dying scheme.</p> <p>“There is no hope ... I don’t want to live my life laying in a bed waiting for something to happen,” he told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/terminally-ill-mans-heartbreaking-decision-to-end-his-life-after-10-month-wait-for-home-care-in-australia-c-16471785" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>.</p> <p>“You can’t live like that, that’s unfair, we don’t deserve that in such a country as Australia.”</p> <p>Following the media coverage of his case, Tooze was contacted by the Aged Care Department, who said the package could temporarily be made available.</p> <p>Sharkie said Tooze’s situation was “shameful”, saying, “What devastates me is that Mr Tooze feels voluntary assisted dying is the only course available to him, and that is because we as a nation have failed him."</p> <p>“I would say, if Mr Tooze had that package in a timely manner, as he should have, he would probably be sitting at home now, making himself a cup of tea.”</p> <p>Anglicare Australia’s <a href="https://www.anglicare.asn.au/2024/09/20/life-on-the-wait-list-report-shows-older-australians-are-going-without-support/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">Life on the Wait List report</a> revealed that as of May 2024, 68,109 Australians had been approved for a Home Care Package but were facing wait times of up to 15 months to access it.</p> <p><em>Image credits: 7News</em></p>

Caring

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Cruise passengers share why you never leave your cabin balcony door open

<p>A couple on a cruise ship have learned the hard way why you should never leave the balcony door in your cruise cabin open and unattended for too long. </p> <p>While on a cruise around the US and docked in the port of Orlando in Florida, the couple took to TikTok to share their "horror" experience of when their cabin filled up with birds. </p> <p>In the video, they opened the door to their room and were swarmed by a flock of birds as they captioned the video, "When you go on a cruise and you come back to a bunch of (bird emoji) everywhere."</p> <p>"Felt like we were living in a horror movie scene. I can breathe now because I can (laugh)about it," the passenger added.</p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: currentcolor !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7423175328480136491&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40greedy810%2Fvideo%2F7423175328480136491&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-pu-sign-useast8.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2FoM5JajVJBIUqbExUAiiApxIM8Af9zqBEi0wBCg%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26x-expires%3D1729123200%26x-signature%3DC%252F8Xte%252FDJymZpHuGaa4Y8zX%252F6AA%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>The video was taken on the Carnival Freedom cruise ship in the USA, with the couple later posting another video of a room steward catching two birds in a cardboard box.</p> <p>Viewers in the comments were a mix of amused and horrified, as one person wrote, "You're not supposed to leave your balcony door open when you're gone."</p> <p>"You have a whole Alfred Hitchcock movie in your room," another commented, comparing the scene with the film,<em> The Birds</em>.</p> <p>Others speculated that the unusual behaviour of the birds could be impacted by the nearby Hurricane Milton. </p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Cruising

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"Super uncomfortable for everyone": Qantas plays R-rated movie for every passenger

<p>Qantas has issued an apology after an R-rated movie was played for every passenger onboard a flight from Sydney to Tokyo. </p> <p>On Saturday, the flight was delayed by an hour due to problems with the in-flight entertainment system, which resulted in cabin crew only being able to play one film on everyone's individual screens. </p> <p>After requests were taken by passengers, the movie <em>Daddio</em> was chosen. </p> <p>The 2023 drama stars Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson as a taxi driver and his passenger as they discuss their relationships, including an affair Johnson’s character had with a married man.</p> <p>One passenger took to Reddit to share their experience of the flight, saying it was "extremely inappropriate", due to scenes of “graphic nudity and a lot of sexting”.</p> <p>“The kind where you could literally read the texts on screen without needing headphones,” the passenger wrote.</p> <p>“It was super uncomfortable for everyone, especially with families and kids on board.”</p> <p>Another passenger said the airline made the switch to <em>Inside Out 2</em> followed by a New Zealand nature show after playing “40 minutes of penis and boobs”.</p> <p>“These poor kids and the parents because y’all should’ve heard the audible gasps across the plane,” the passenger said.</p> <p>Cabin crew members attempted to fix the screens of those who didn't want to watch the R-rated film, but when this didn't work, resorted to switching the movie entirely. </p> <p>“The movie was clearly not suitable to play for the whole flight and we sincerely apologise to customers for this experience,” a Qantas spokesperson stated.</p> <p>“All screens were changed to a family-friendly movie for the rest of the flight, which is our standard practice for the rare cases where individual movie selection isn’t possible."</p> <p>“We are reviewing how the movie was selected.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Terminally ill 23-year-old's final request

<p>Liam Bulman was working a shift at The Illawarra Hotel in Wollongong last month when he asked to leave early, as he felt unwell. </p> <p>The following week he found himself in "crippling pain" and was rushed to hospital by his friend. After days of intensive testing, the 23-year-old was diagnosed with stage-four High Grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma — a "rare" cancer that had spread. </p> <p>Now, his family and friends are doing everything they can to raise funds so he can have a "chance to make memories" through ticking off items on his bucket list in this  "scary, sad and unknown" time. </p> <p>"He's smart and kind. He's been raised to work hard and contribute to people's lives, and our community. He's incredible," Liam's colleagues from The Illawarra Hotel wrote on the<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/youre-friendly-local-bartender-bulmans-bucket-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> GoFundMe</a> page.</p> <p>So far they have raised over $28,000 of their $50,000 goal, with most of the money raised going towards his medical costs, medical trial attendance and palliative care, and any remaining money will help fund his bucket list. </p> <p>His bucket list includes activities like attending the F1 in Melbourne, going for a joyride in a helicopter, learning to surf and taking a family photo session. </p> <p>Liam's mum, Emily Bulman, revealed his cancer is "incurable" and he has since started a bout of chemotherapy in hope it will "buy him more time" as the cancer has spread to his  lymph nodes and lower digestive tract.</p> <p>"This will assist us to aim for longevity, quality of life, a chance to make memories, and receive the care and comfort that suits Liam best," she said on the fundraising page.</p> <p>"Anything we can raise to help take the burden off Liam, we would be incredibly grateful for."</p> <p><em>Images: GoFundMe/Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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"Titanic moment": Cruise ship passenger captures iceberg collision

<p>A worried passenger onboard a Carnival cruise ship has recalled the moment the vessel collided with a large piece of ice off the coast of Alaska. </p> <p>The moment was captured on camera by Cassandra Goskie, who witnessed when the huge cruise ship was scraped by an iceberg. </p> <p>As the collision was taking place, Cassandra wrote, "If we die it was damn well worth it, it's a Titanic moment."</p> <p>According to another passenger, the vessel was halted "for hours to assess damages" before it eventually continued on its course. </p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: currentcolor !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7412700123140017450&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40cass_goskie%2Fvideo%2F7412700123140017450%3Fembed_source%3D121374463%252C121451205%252C121439635%252C121433650%252C121404359%252C121351166%252C72778570%252C121331973%252C120811592%252C120810756%253Bnull%253Bembed_name%26refer%3Dembed%26referer_url%3Dedition.cnn.com%252F2024%252F09%252F11%252Ftravel%252Fcarnival-cruise-ship-collides-with-iceberg%252Findex.html%26referer_video_id%3D7412700123140017450&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-pu-sign-useast8.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Fos4aQULQwtkRqiQfHEGAgCvUjiNAMCeIRmIEeO%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26x-expires%3D1726362000%26x-signature%3DyrK0d0gVAMaqeloGoTRsFr7ROPA%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>A Carnival spokesperson told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/11/travel/carnival-cruise-ship-collides-with-iceberg/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>CNN</em>,</a> "An assessment determined no damage to the ship's hull and the vessel continued on its cruise and there has been no impact to operations."</p> <p>The cruise company also confirmed that no one onboard was injured by the collision. </p> <p>Despite the close call with the ice, the ship was able to finish its seven-day expedition, returning to Seattle in Washington before embarking on a 14-day trip back to Alaska. </p> <p>Alaska is home to notoriously icy waters, as other cruise ships over the years have had similar scary encounters. </p> <p>In 2022, Norwegian Cruise Line vessel Norwegian Sun hit a piece of an iceberg while sailing in Alaska, sustaining damage to its starboard bow.</p> <p>According to Captain John Herring, a marine pilot in southeast Alaska, the region is home to "hard ice that can damage the hull or propellers", while "strong winds and currents make navigating icy waters even harder.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Carnival / TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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