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"Go back to your ocean": Olympic medallist insulted by French customs officer

<p>An Aussie Olympic medallist was caught off guard upon his return home to Brisbane, when he was called out by a French customs officer. </p> <p>Jack Robinson, who won silver in the surfing competition in Tahiti as part of the Paris Games, was returning to Aussie shores with his medal in tow and happy with his Olympic performance. </p> <p>However, when he was greeted by a customs officer who happened to be French, things took a turn. </p> <p>The Frenchman took the opportunity to stick it to the Aussie Olympic runner up, relishing the fact that Kauli Vaast, from France, had won gold in the comp. </p> <p>Taking to TikTok to share the hilarious encounter with his followers, Mr Robinson said: "what are the odds of being welcomed like this?"</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%2F7400700745911225618&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40jackrobinsonsurf%2Fvideo%2F7400700745911225618%3Fembed_source%3D121374463%252C121451205%252C121439635%252C121433650%252C121404359%252C121351166%252C121331973%252C120811592%252C120810756%253Bnull%253Bembed_masking%26refer%3Dembed%26referer_url%3Dwww.escape.com.au%252Fnews%252Faussie-silver-medal-surfer-jack-robinson-brutally-burned-by-french-customs-officer%252Fnews-story%252F48306be5756c2cf2d353787e823bf812%26referer_video_id%3D7400700745911225618&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2F99adeff03a574c23861d622aa90e9b89_1723109925%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26nonce%3D74009%26refresh_token%3Db5b746d3b3a1eb36e30b00a6f4cd678d%26x-expires%3D1723780800%26x-signature%3Dh7x7Li%252B%252BEw4xdRkWkw2PKU3jkNQ%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>"Yeah ze French guy in the Australian customs. So on my way back from Tahiti I arrive from ze flight and I get ze dec-er-al-ation, I come to ze customs, the guy looks at me and says 'Ey, better luck next time zon, go back to your ocean.'"</p> <p>Despite the customs officer's remarks, many Aussies praised Robinson's performance in Tahiti, as fans hailed his "amazing efforts".</p> <p>His TikTok was flooded with comments, with many saying they believed that the officer "did not mean it badly", as Robinson confirmed he had taken the jibe in his stride. </p> <p>Others said the Frenchman could "go back to his 'La Seine'", while others remarked, "Bro the French are cocky asf, you did good man" and "Why the French so smug? That's a Tahitian gold, not a 'French' one."</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Trump's insult to Biden after he drops out of presidential race

<p>Joe Biden has officially withdrawn from the presidential race against former president Donald Trump. </p> <p>Biden, who is the oldest US president at 81, has been facing mounting calls to drop out of the election from both his opponents and supporters, amid fears of his failing health, mental clarity and age. </p> <p>On Sunday, the 46th president shared a lengthy statement to share that he would be dropping out of the race, saying it is "in the best interest" for both his Democratic Party and the country to take a step back. </p> <p>“While it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Mr Biden wrote in a letter he posted on his X account.</p> <p>“I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision. It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your President.”</p> <p>Biden shared a second announcement to social media following his bombshell withdrawal, saying he would be endorsing his Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee to run for President in the November election against Trump. </p> <p>"My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President, and it’s been the best decision I’ve made," he began.</p> <p>"Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this."</p> <p>Mere hours after Biden's announcement, former President Donald Trump reacted to the news on TRUTH social, his own social media platform, exactly as many expected. </p> <p>“Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve — And never was!” Trump said.</p> <p>“All those around him, including his doctor and the media, knew that he wasn’t capable of being President, and he wasn’t. We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly.”</p> <p>In a phone call with CNN minutes after Biden announced his exit from the 2024 race, former Trump described Biden as going “down as the single worst president by far in the history of our country”.</p> <p>Mr Biden will remain President until the end of his term next January.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Bonnie Cash / Pool via CNP/ Ron Sachs/CNP /Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

News

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"An insult to human dignity": Mother of Bondi stabbing victim hits out at the media

<p>The mother of Bondi stabbing victim Jade Young has hit out at how social media and major news outlets reported on her daughter's death. </p> <p>Jade Young, 47, was one of six people fatally stabbed by Joel Cauchi during his violent rampage at Bondi Junction Westfield on April 13th. </p> <p>Following the tragedy, graphic videos and images of the attacks were circulated online.</p> <p>Now, Jade's mother Elizabeth Young, writing in the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/my-daughter-was-killed-in-the-bondi-junction-attack-how-my-family-found-out-is-shameful-20240429-p5fnbw.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sydney Morning Herald</a> on Wednesday, said it was “shameful” how her family found out about Jade’s death.</p> <p>“Members of my family recognised Jade and her husband Noel in uncensored vision being played on a mainstream TV news feed, with vision of Jade lying on the ground at the shopping centre, receiving CPR,” she wrote.</p> <p>“The vision, shared on social media and picked up — and used by — multiple news media programs shared my daughter’s final moments with millions. Finding out that a loved one has been murdered is a horror that I do not wish on anyone. But seeing the vision of their last moments and knowing it has been broadcast to millions of people is an appalling breach of privacy and an insult to human dignity.”</p> <p>Ms Young went on to say how some of the major media organisations that shared violent images of the Bondi stabbing “approached our family within hours of the attack, offering their condolences … and the opportunity to share our family’s story”.</p> <p>“These same media organisations reported the failure of a certain popular social media platform to take down videos, without acknowledging their own complicity,” she said.</p> <p>“I am not surprised at their hypocrisy, but I am angry.”</p> <p>“Sharing violent images or personal material from the lives of victims of crime is not free speech — it is enormously profitable for some but it’s speech with a steep price for the victims,” she said.</p> <p>“Those who run social media platforms are remote from the pain inflicted by their uploads and the dystopia they have helped create. It is the victims who bear the cost.”</p> <p>Last week, hundreds of mourners attended a public memorial for Ms Young, an acclaimed architect and mother-of-two, where mourners were encouraged to wear colourful clothing “in memory of Jade”.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Facebook </em></p>

Family & Pets

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“That’s insulting”: Brittany Higgins grilled over "fabricated" allegations

<p>Brittany Higgins has denied she lied when she accused Bruce Lehrmann of sexually assaulting her in Parliament House. </p> <p>Higgins was called to give evidence on Thursday, as part of Lehrmann's defamation suit against Lisa Wilkinson and Channel Ten, when she was grilled during cross-examination by Lehrmann’s barrister Steven Whybrow SC.</p> <p>“That is a fabrication that you were sexually assaulted,” Whybrow said.</p> <p>“I understand that is your assertion. It’s insulting but I understand it,” Higgins replied. </p> <p>Whybrow’s questioning revolved around how Higgins’ recollection of events changed between statements she gave to the police, in court, to journalists from Ten and a news website, and in the first draft of a book she sent to publisher Penguin Random House.</p> <p>One example was that the location of a box of chocolates eaten after the alleged rape had changed between versions.</p> <p>“I want to suggest to you that is an example of your evidence evolving as you find out new information,” Whybrow said.</p> <p>“No, I don’t accept that,” Higgins answered.</p> <p>She admitted giving incorrect statements to Wilkinson and Ten producer Angus Llewellyn during a five-hour interview conducted in January 2021, before she was filmed for bombshell <em>The Project</em> broadcast that first aired Brittany's story. </p> <p>These claims, which included what security did and what she was wearing after the alleged rape, were based on her beliefs at the time, the court was told.</p> <p>Lehrmann has also already given evidence in which he admitted to a number of lies and false statements he gave to police, Parliament House security, his employer and supervisor, and the media.</p> <p>Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Channel Ten for defamation, specifically citing a February 2021 report on <em>The Project</em> in which Higgins was interviewed and her sexual assault story made national headlines. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Legal

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Osher Günsberg slammed for "insulting Australians" over Voice defeat

<p>Osher Günsberg has been slammed online after sharing his thoughts on the Voice to Parliament defeat, saying Aussies were "manipulated" into voting No. </p> <p>In the final episode of <em>Q+A </em>for 2023, the TV personality said that Australians should be "asking questions about who flooded the zone (with misinformation)", leading to a landslide defeat of the referendum. </p> <p>A tense exchange kicked off between the panellists when another guest, Liberal party activist Charlotte Mortlock, said the country needed to come together after the referendum defeat. </p> <p id="ext-gen78">Günsberg said during the course of the campaign, Australia went "from mostly wanting to do it" to "Oh my God the UN's coming to take my back yard".</p> <p>He said Australians should be "terrified of how quickly we were manipulated as a country".</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QandA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QandA</a>: What is the next step for Indigenous Australians, after the Voice referendum? <a href="https://t.co/KgSoHkRp1d">pic.twitter.com/KgSoHkRp1d</a></p> <p>— ABC News (@abcnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/abcnews/status/1729098407208440254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>"We're really lucky that it wasn't during a khaki election," he said, referring to an election held at a time of war. </p> <p>Ms Mortlock defended the Coalition and No voters, saying, "It's been such a divisive year... I do absolutely think that there is work that we can do to in a constructive way that is going to really unite the country and that's what we all have to focus on."</p> <p>Günsberg was quick to question the Liberal party's real motives behind their No campaign, asking whether she felt Opposition Leader Peter Dutton really wanted to unite the nation.</p> <p>"I do. I think the question really is the how," Ms Mortlock replied. </p> <p id="ext-gen82">Günsberg said, "I don't believe he really wants to."</p> <p>Günsberg and the ABC were both later slammed online for how the program went with some calling the program "insufferable".</p> <p>Others were quick to poke fun at Osher's impressive reality TV résumé, saying, "After the way Osher insulted mainstream common-sense Aussies I will never watch <em>Bachelor</em> again."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Q+A</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px; min-height: 0px; letter-spacing: -0.16px; font-family: graphik, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial;"> </p>

Legal

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"Disparaging and insulting": Kyle Sandilands found in breach of decency rules

<p>The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that Kyle Sandilands breached the decency rules over the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/kyle-sandilands-under-fire-for-hurtful-monkeypox-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monkeypox comments</a> he made on-air in <em>The Kyle and Jackie O </em>show <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">last year</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">. </span></p> <p>The ACMA found that he breached the Commercial Radio Code of Practice with "offensive, exclusionary comments explicitly aimed at the presumed conduct of gay men". </p> <p>"The ACMA found that the overall sentiment of the segment stereotyped gay men as irresponsible in regard to their sexual health," the media watchdog found. </p> <p>"This made them the prime carriers of a virus that presented a danger to the community and, as a result, they were not deserving of sympathy or compassion."</p> <p>Monkeypox was declared a global health emergency in July 2022. </p> <p>At the time, Sandilands called the virus "the big gay disease" and that "it’s only gays getting it." </p> <p>In defence of Sandilands' comments, the broadcaster told the ACMA the segment may have contained "unfavourable descriptions of those susceptible to the virus, being homosexual males".</p> <p>They also claimed that the segment was "well-intended" in terms of bringing awareness to the community about the public health risk around the transmission of the virus and the availability of a vaccine. </p> <p>They also said that there was an insufficient amount of content that demonstrated  "ill-will towards (the) LGBTQIA+ community."</p> <p>However, ACMA Chairperson Nerida O'Loughlin called the comments "derisive and insulting". </p> <p>"We acknowledge that the program's audience does not expect the presentation style of either the program or the presenter to always be formal and nuanced," O'Loughlin said. </p> <p>"Although there was a basis at the time for a public discussion about mpox that involved reference to gay sexuality, the segment went beyond any acceptable standards by conveying that gay men were irresponsible, were a risk to the community and did not deserve any sympathy even when presenting for medical assistance."</p> <p>"Broadcasters have a responsibility to maintain appropriate levels of decency, and in this case the comments by Sandilands were overly disparaging and insulting."</p> <p><em>KIIS</em> have agreed to deliver sensitivity training to the hosts, producers, censors and other staff. </p> <p>They must also report back to the ACMA on their progress every six months for  two years. </p> <p><em>Images: KIIS FM</em></p>

Legal

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"He's upset": Kochie flips off Nat Barr after hilarious insult

<p>A hilariously awkward moment unfolded on <em>Sunrise</em> on Friday morning after Kochie was left feeling "visibly upset" from a seemingly innocent quip from Nat Barr. </p> <p>In the <em>Sunrise</em> studio, Nat Barr and fill-in co-host Matt Shirvington crossed live to Kochie, who is currently in London covering King Charles III’s coronation. </p> <p>Appearing on the live cross, Kochie tuned in wearing a newsboy cap, which sparked a nostalgic memory from Nat. </p> <p>Nat and Matt giggled as they couldn't help but compare Kochie's outfit to Aussie actor Glenn Robbins’ cap-wearing character Uncle Arthur from the classic sketch show, <em>Comedy Company</em>.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr1prf6gflH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr1prf6gflH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sunrise (@sunriseon7)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Kochie, looking good,” Shirvington said, to which Barr quipped, “Uncle Arthur.”</p> <p>Kochie rejected the comparison, saying he was trying to channel David Beckham with his <em>Peaky Blinders</em>-style cap, but Nat stuck to her guns. </p> <p>Appearing beyond shocked by the resemblance, Kochie told Nat to "Get out", before sticking up his rude finger. </p> <p>“He’s upset – he’s visibly upset,” Shirvington said as Barr awkwardly laughed off Koch’s gesture. </p> <p>“It becomes you – it’s beautiful,” she backtracked. </p> <p>Koch dismissed her compliment and tried to gather his thoughts to report on the events leading up to Saturday’s coronation.</p> <p>The moment was shared to the official <em>Sunrise</em> Instagram page, as one viewer commented that Kochie's look was more reminiscent of someone else. </p> <p>"He looks like Dr Harry!" they said, while another was more preoccupied with the gesture he gave Nat on live TV. </p> <p>"Wow, the finger on breakfast television. Not classy David."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Sunrise</em></p>

TV

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Insulting Wimbledon tradition to be scrapped

<p>The All England Lawn Tennis Club will reportedly replace its Wimbledon honour boards ahead of the 2022 grand slam tournament.</p> <p>Titles before the names of its female champions will be withdrawn.</p> <p>Honorifics in front of female winners will be removed next month to “move with the times”, while the process of married women taking the initials and surnames of their husbands will also be updated.</p> <p>Since the tournament began in 1884, female champions had titles “Miss” and “Mrs” in front of their names, while the men didn’t. For example, former world No. 1 Ash Barty is currently immortalised as “Miss A Barty”, while 20-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic reads “N Djokovic”.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the name of Australian tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who won Wimbledon in 1980, is written “Mrs R Cawley” because her husband’s name is Roger.</p> <p>As sports reporter Paul Dennett wrote last year: “Surely Wimbledon must do away with such outdated and insulting styling".</p> <p>“It is time to rewrite the honours board. Remove all the anachronistic instances of ‘Miss’ and ‘Mrs’ and get rid of the initials of female players’ husbands. ‘Miss. R. Cawley’ should be ‘Evonne Goolagong-Cawley’ and ‘Miss. J.M. Lloyd’ should be ‘Chris Evert’.”</p> <p>In 2019, Wimbledon stopped using terms “Miss” and “Mrs” when announcing the names of players during matches, a move that “surprised” Djokovic.</p> <p>“I thought that tradition was very unique and very special; I thought it was nice,” the Serbian said at the time.</p> <p>“It’s definitely not easy to alter or change any traditions here that have been present for many years. It’s quite surprising that they’ve done that.”</p> <p>The move comes after Wimbledon, widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious tennis event, was stripped of ranking points by the sport’s main tours in response to the decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from the tournament, following the invasion of Ukraine. This essentially reduced Wimbledon to the status of a high-profile exhibition event.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Peter Overton’s “insult” to Miranda Kerr

<p dir="ltr">Peter Overton has made a hilarious mistake when describing Australian model Miranda Kerr.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Nine News anchor was speaking about Kerr and her husband, Snapchat co-founder Evan Spiegel, who paid the entire debt for 285 graduates at an art college in Los Angeles.</p> <p dir="ltr">When referring to Kerr, the veteran journalist said “Australian super mole” instead of “Australian supermodel”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Overton, 56, immediately noticed his slip of the tongue and corrected himself during the bulletin.</p> <p dir="ltr">The term “mole” or “moll” is an insulting word to describe a prostitute. </p> <p dir="ltr">Viewers picked up on Overton’s mistake and laughed about it online. </p> <p dir="ltr">“OMG did @PeterOverton just say what I thought he did! LOL #SuperMoll  Miranda Kerr? Ooooopsss…” one person wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“@9NewsSyd did Peter Overton just call Miranda Kerr a super mole ? lol Freudian slip,” another commented. </p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s been talking to Orlando Bloom,” another wrote in reference to Kerr’s ex husband. </p> <p dir="ltr">News of Kerr and Spiegel paying off the debt of 285 art students at Otis College of Art occurred during their graduation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We know that for most of you and your families, the shared burden of student debt is a heavy price that you paid for an exceptional Otis College education,” college president Charles Hirschhorn said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We understand that this debt can compromise your future and limit your creative ambitions. We do not want to see this happen. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We are pleased to announce today that Evan and Miranda, through their Spiegel Family Fund, have made the largest single gift in the history of Otis College. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Their gift will enable you to pay your student loans.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Nine News/Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Scott Morrison’s children insulted online

<p dir="ltr">Scott Morrison’s daughters have been trolled online for the way they dress just days out before the federal election.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Prime Minister was with his wife Jenny, daughters Abbey and Lily at the Liberal Party campaign launch in Brisbane on May 15.</p> <p dir="ltr">A family photo from the event was shared online and a troll immediately jumped and attacked Abbey and Lily for the way they dress. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I'm not one to criticize appearances, but why is it that @ScottMorrisonMP's women always dress like the Amish? (serious Q),” the troll’s comment read.</p> <p dir="ltr">Twitter users however were not having any of it, calling out the troll for his insensitive comments to leave the children alone.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Oh ffs still picking on the kids. So classy,” one person wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“What on earth is wrong with people,” another commented. </p> <p dir="ltr">This is not the first time Morrison’s kids have been on the receiving end of disgusting comments with many saying the prime minister was using them as a publicity stunt. </p> <p dir="ltr">In February, he shared a photo of himself with daughter Lily in the kitchen while cooking a curry. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Joined by my curry apprentice tonight. Chicken Xacuti and Eggplant Masala,” he captioned the photo. </p> <p dir="ltr">People accused the prime minister of lying because the photo was in fact a few years old and not taken in the moment. </p> <p dir="ltr">Another incident was back on Australia Day when another family photo was shared online with many calling out his daughter’s fashion sense. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

News

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Fury over "insulting" X-rated logo for Women's Network

<p>The logo for the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s (PM&amp;C) new “Women’s Network”, which is intended to promote gender equality, has instead been lambasted online for its overtly phallic appearance – an outcome which has enraged many people as it detracts from the program's core and valuable focus.</p> <p>A description for the Network says that it “champions equal opportunity on behalf of its members and is an inclusive, volunteer-based organisation built by members, for members”.</p> <p>“The Women’s Network assists PM&amp;C and is enabling cultural change aspirations expressed in the Department’s 100-1000 day plan for transformational change by helping implement PM&amp;C’s Gender Equality Action Plan and Embracing Inclusion and Diversity Program,” the description continues.</p> <p>“The Women’s Employee Network promotes gender equality and supports members to succeed in their personal professional lives. The network priorities are founded on driving cultural change and encouraging men to drive this cultural change, particularly in areas where men can make a significant contribution.</p> <p>“The network promotes women’s career success by facilitating opportunities for learning, networking and career mobility and encouraging flexible approaches to work.”</p> <p>Of course rather than focus on the purpose of the Network, social media users instead fixated on the logo for it which many at first assumed was a fake because of its overt resemblance to a penis.</p> <p>“I really thought this logo for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinets women’s network was fake but uh … do they know?” wrote one Twitter user alongside an image of the logo.</p> <p>“Why have the juvenile idiots in your department made male genitalia out of the Women’s Network logo?” political and social commentator Ronni Salt <a href="https://twitter.com/RonniSalt/status/1503145864633626628" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>.</p> <p>“How hilarious. Let’s degrade women. Again. Anybody who understands graphic design knows this is deliberate. Anybody who didn’t catch this isn’t doing their job.”</p> <p>Salt shared a screenshot of one graphic designer’s response to the logo, who in their tweet noted that “the designer knew EXACTLY what they were doing from font choice to layout to colour”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Either someone has a very dark sense of humour, or….</p> <p>(From the PM&amp;C website) <a href="https://t.co/Pru8o2a4jy">pic.twitter.com/Pru8o2a4jy</a></p> <p>— Amy Remeikis (@AmyRemeikis) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmyRemeikis/status/1502896136222240770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>“This isn’t a mistake. It reeks of teenage boy malevolence,” the graphic designer added.</p> <p>Reddit users echoed the sentiment, with one commenting that “at this stage I think [the Federal Government] are just taking the p*ss”.</p> <p>“I’m honestly at a point where I don’t know if they are just so incredibly stupid or if they are doing it intentionally because they are just so misogynistic,” wrote another.</p> <p>“Honestly I don’t even think this could be a case of seeing what you want to see. That’s just straight up almost a picture of a d*ck,” commented a third person.</p>

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"Insulting and dangerous": Pat Cash faces strong backlash

<p><span>Australian tennis great Pat Cash has received major backlash on social media after sharing a widely debunked theory about coronavirus.</span><br /><br /><span>On Wednesday, Cash took to Twitter to share a link to the ‘Plandemic: Indoctornation’ movie.</span><br /><br /><span>The clip promotes a debunked conspiracy theory about how the COVID-19 strain was created.</span><br /><br /><span>“It’s finally out, download here as well,” the 55-year-old wrote.</span><br /><br /><span>“Be informed - make up your own mind.”</span><br /><br /><span>The ‘Plandemic’ movie has been banned on Facebook due to the platform making major moves to combat the spread of “fake news” and misinformation.</span><br /><br /><span>Facebook users have been blocked from sharing the link to the full-length movie.</span><br /><br /><span>The social media warns anyone who tries to share the link that the URL of the video goes against community guidelines, because it has been determined that “fact-checking partners have repeatedly rated false.”</span><br /><br /><span>“Given the previous Plandemic video violated our COVID misinformation policies, we blocked access to that domain from our services,” Facebook told Forbes.</span><br /><br /><span>However Twitter doesn’t have the same regulations for users and instead warns users who click on the link that the content may be “unsafe”.</span><br /><br /><span>Users who saw Cash’s tweet furiously retaliated.</span><br /><br /><span>“Unbelievably disappointing,” commented Dr Nikki Stamp, a heart and lung transplant surgeon.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Seriously <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPatCash?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPatCash</a> THIS is how you think. You need to stick to tennis. I am sickened by this. Making up your own mind - whilst spouting off someone else's fiction. Rubbish. Do you have parents, grandparents, loved ones. Will you wear a mask.?</p> — Anne Taylor (@AnnieMTaylor) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnnieMTaylor/status/1296218823398318081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Dangerous dangerous content.</p> — Christos Kyrgios (@xkyrgios) <a href="https://twitter.com/xkyrgios/status/1295932786621026304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">It’s so insulting &amp; dangerous how some people think all you doctors are part of an elaborate hoax. As if you’re happily working all day pretending to treat a fake virus. <br />I’m so sorry this nonsense is impeding all your hard work to help eradicate the effects of this pandemic.</p> — Anouk72 (@Anouk724) <a href="https://twitter.com/Anouk724/status/1296225389749010434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2020</a></blockquote> <p><br /><span>“You are putting people’s lives at risks by sharing this, which is not at all factual.”</span><br /><br /><span>Meanwhile, Cash has also taken to social media to push back at the strict regulations put in place to protect players at this month’s US Open.</span><br /><br /><span>He described the new rules as “ridiculous” and “overkill”.</span><br /><br /><span>Forty “social distance ambassadors” will monitor the US Open grounds to make sure players and others are avoiding close contact and wearing face coverings at the upcoming New York grand slam.</span><br /><br /><span>The US Tennis Association bought 500,000 masks to distribute in an effort to avoid a second wave during the fan-free tournament starting on August 31.</span><br /><br /><span>“We're trying to leave nothing to chance and make it as stress-free for the players as possible,” Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre chief operating officer Danny Zausner said.</span><br /><br /><span>The USTA father announced that on Tuesday only one person, who is not a player, turned up positive for COVID-19 out of 1400 tests that were administered in preparation for the US Open.</span><br /><br /><span>Two tests are taken 48 hours apart when a player or member of an entourage arrives at one of the two official hotels or one of the private homes the USTA made available for rent on Long Island.</span><br /><br /><span>However Cash, who was also required to be tested because of his role as a commentator for Eurosport, said the testing process was simply too much.</span><br /><br /><span>“US open tennis ‘bubble’ procedure – 6.30 am first round of testing in hotel (who else would have that type of carpet) now to wait (approx 24 hrs)for results locked in the room,” the 1987 Wimbledon champion posted on Instagram.</span><br /><br /><span>“This makes sense but as I read through the rules it seems that many are completely ridiculous and overkill.”</span></p>

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“Insulted” Boy George hangs up on radio host in awkward interview

<p><span>Boy George hung up on a Brisbane radio show early Friday morning after getting frustrated at the host for giving him an “insulting” introduction. </span></p> <p><span>4BC host Neil Breen played a bit of the Culture Club song<em> K</em></span><em>arma Chameleon</em><span> before introducing Boy George to his listeners.</span></p> <p><span>“If you grew up like I did as a teenager in the 1980s then Boy George was bigger than a big deal here in Australia,” Breen said. “He was massive.</span></p> <p><span>“His band Culture Club dominated the Australian singles chart from late ’82 into ’83 with two songs. </span><em>Karma Chameleon</em><span> was obviously their most notable one that we remember, but </span><em>Do You Really Want To Hurt Me</em><span> as well was their breakthrough song.”</span></p> <p><span>Breen then said to his guest, “I’m a bit nervous, Boy George.”</span></p> <p><span>But things didn’t start off as smoothly as expected when </span><em>The Voice</em><span> coach informed the host he wasn’t thrilled with the introduction.</span></p> <p><span>“Especially after that terrible comment about my music. I mean there’s about 10 records you missed that were huge massive hits,” Boy George said, laughing.</span></p> <p><span>The singer then proceeded to list a few of his other hit songs before saying, “I mean, please.”</span></p> <p><span>The interview then went from bad to worse when Breen said to Boy George: “We know how big you were, you were big in my house.”</span></p> <p><span>Boy George snapped: “No, no, please don’t talk about me like I’m in past context. It’s really insulting.”</span></p> <p><span>Scrambling to get the interview back on track, Breen continued: “I don’t mean to insult you, I was just reintroducing you to the audience who remember those great days but also remember you now and how big you are on </span><em>The Voice</em><span>.”</span></p> <p><span>But once again, Boy George was less than impressed.</span></p> <p><span>“Reintroduce them to someone who has been on national TV in Australia for the last four years? You don’t need to reintroduce me. I’m on TV. Everybody knows who I am,” the singer said.</span></p> <p><span>“I know that, Boy George,” Breen said. “But we’re just having a bit of fun. It’s a breakfast radio show.”</span></p> <p><span>The comment was met with silence and it took a few seconds for the 4BC host to realise that Boy George had hung up on him.</span></p> <p><span>“OK, well Boy George is gone,” Breen said. “We were trying to have a bit of fun here on this breakfast radio show and he was insulted that I played </span><em>Karma Chameleon</em><span>, but anyway.</span></p> <p><span>“I didn’t want to insult Boy George but there you go. He hung up on me and that’s the way it goes.”</span></p> <p><span>4BC is owned by Nine Entertainment, the same company that airs </span><em>The Voice</em><span> in Australia.</span></p> <p><span>“I thought we were all in the Channel 9 tent, but anyway,” Breen joked.</span></p> <p><span>“Sometimes pop stars, they’re funny, they’re finicky. If you play their old song that made them famous they want to disown it, so you know what we’re gonna do, we’re gonna play it again,” he said, before hitting play on the song.</span></p> <p><span>And believe it or not, this isn’t the first time Boy George acted like a diva.</span></p> <p><span>In 2017 he ended an interview with ABC Radio National’s Breakfast program, telling host Fran Kelly, “You’re boring me, goodbye”.</span></p>

Music

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Alan Jones labels Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan doc "borderline insulting"

<p>Broadcaster Alan Jones has slammed the Duchess of Sussex after she and husband Prince Harry took part in a candid documentary they filmed during their trip to Africa.</p> <p>The documentary, which highlighted the couple’s charity work, alongside incredibly raw details about their struggles with the media and mental health, was ripped apart by Jones on 2GB this morning, calling it “self-indulgent rubbish” and close to “insulting”.</p> <p>The outspoken radio star said the Duke and Duchess filmed the documentary as they travelled “in Africa around the poorest of the poor” and accused Meghan of “carrying on”.</p> <p>The documentary, which aired over a week ago, included a one-on-one interview with Meghan, where she revealed that she was “not OK”. The emotional confession came amidst the scrutiny she was receiving from the British tabloid press, which dug into her relationship with her father and speculations over conflict within the palace walls.</p> <p>Prince Harry also addressed his rumoured rift with brother Prince William.</p> <p>But while many praised the couple for doing something the royals have never done, Jones was less than impressed, saying their behaviour was tone deaf.</p> <p>“In the documentary, we’re told Meghan gives a rare glimpse of her new life and struggles as a royal and a new mother,” he said.</p> <p>“It borders on the insulting. Imagine spending time in Africa where you’re around the poorest of the poor – people who have no possessions – and you’re carrying on about how tough life is.</p> <p>“Have these two people got no awareness at all?</p> <p>“Has she ever wondered whether the poor people in Africa are OK? I’ve seen them, these poor kids with flies on their face and emaciated, with nothing, and the 38-year-old is complaining that people haven’t asked if she was OK.</p> <p>“She said she’s struggles with duties – what duties? She’s having six weeks off before Christmas for a holiday to LA!”</p> <p>Jones’ comments come after a difficult year for the royal couple, who recently launched a number of lawsuits against the media.</p>

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"An insult": Why welfare recipients condemn cashless card

<p>“This is a bit controversial, we know that,” deputy prime minister Michael McCormick told the <a href="https://www.michaelmccormack.com.au/media-releases/2019/9/16/address-to-the-nationals-federal-council-canberra-14-september-2019">National Party’s federal council</a>, which on the weekend voted for a national roll-out of cashless debit cards for anyone younger than 35 on the dole or receiving parenting payments.</p> <p>The Nationals have joined the chorus within the federal government proclaiming the cards a huge success.</p> <p>The Minister for Families and Social Services, Anne Ruston, has even gone so far as to claim welfare recipients are “<a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6355110/welfare-card-users-full-of-praise-govt/">singing its praises</a>”.</p> <p>Really?</p> <p>Both McCormick and Ruston have proclaimed success based on the most recent trial of cashless welfare in Queensland. This trial began barely six months ago, and the independent evaluation by the <a href="https://www.adelaide.edu.au/future-employment-skills/research#review-of-cashless-debit-card-cdc-trial-in-the-goldfields-region-of-wa">Future of Employment and Skills Research Centre</a> at the University of Adelaide is ongoing.</p> <p>A more complex story emerges out of my research into lived experiences of the first cashless debit card trial, which began in Ceduna, South Australia, <a href="https://www.dss.gov.au/families-and-children-programs-services-welfare-quarantining-cashless-debit-card/cashless-debit-card-ceduna-region">in March 2016</a></p> <p>I spent about three months in the town of Ceduna between mid 2017 and the end of 2018 talking to people <a href="https://insidestory.org.au/weve-lost-our-vision-a-card-cannot-give-vision-to-the-community">about life on the card</a>.</p> <p>All communities are diverse and people’s experiences diverge. Some liked the card, or had come to accept it, others were caught up dealing with far more significant problems.</p> <p>But I talked to people who found the card “an insult”. They told me it made them feel “targeted” and “punished”. They talked of degradation and defiance. They also told me the card didn’t work.</p> <p>As for the the claim by both Ruston (and her ministerial predecessor <a href="https://www.paulfletcher.com.au/portfolio-speeches/speech-to-sydney-institute-welfare-personal-responsibility-and-the-cashless">Paul Fletcher</a>) that the card empowers people to “demonstrate responsibility”, the opposite was true. In the words of June*, an Indigenous grandmother, foster carer and talented artist: “It has taken responsibility away from me. It’s treating me like a little kid again.”</p> <p><strong>Indigenous testing grounds</strong></p> <p>Ceduna, in the far west of South Australia, was the first of four sites chosen to trial cashless debit cards. The second was in the East Kimberley</p> <p>The location of these two trial sites meant early trial participants have been predominately Indigenous. I am of the view that Indigenous communities are being used as testing grounds for new technologies and controversial measures.</p> <p>In the first two trial sites, income support recipients younger than 65 have just 20 per cent of their payment deposited into their bank account. The remaining 80% goes on to their debit card, which cannot be used at any alcohol or gambling outlet across the nation. Nor can they be used to withdraw cash.</p> <p>The lead-grey cashless debit card is similar but different to the lime-green BasicsCard, introduced as part of the 2007 Northern Territory National Emergency Response (the “Intervention”). The use of the BasicsCard as an “income management” tool was extended to non-Indigenous people in the Northern Territory in 2010, and to other states in 2012.</p> <p>The BasicsCard generally quarantines 50% of a social security recipient’s income so that it cannot be spent on alcohol, gambling, tobacco or pornography. BasicsCard holders need to shop at approved stores. In contrast, the cashless debit card, administered by financial services company <a href="https://www2.indue.com.au/">Indue</a>, can theoretically be used wherever there are Eftpos facilities.</p> <p><strong>Shame and humiliation</strong></p> <p>My research wasn’t based on collecting statistics but “hanging out” and getting to know people. I came to see the stigma associated with the “grey card” sometimes resonated with past experiences.</p> <p>Robert*, for example, told me about growing up on a mission and then suddenly finding himself as “one little blackfella” in a large high school. He was acutely sensitive to the “smirks” and judgements of others whenever he used the grey card to pay for things.</p> <p>Pete* left high school after a couple of weeks to join an itinerant rural workforce that has since vanished. After decades of manual work, finding himself unemployed due to ill health was devastating enough. Being issued the grey card compounded his humiliation.</p> <p>Others voiced their belief the grey card was designed to induce shame. But they refused that shame, expressing instead a defiant belief in the legitimacy of their need for support.</p> <p>The welfare system often defines people by the one thing they are not currently doing – waged employment. But many people I spent time with in fact laboured constantly: it just wasn’t recognised as work. People like June*, for example, looked after sick kin, the elderly and children. Yet the grey card treated <em>them</em> as dependents.</p> <p>I heard about ways of getting around the card’s restrictions. As one acquaintance put it: “Drunks gonna drink!” One strategy involved exchanging temporary use of the card for cash. With terms that nearly always disadvantage the card holder, it has the potential to make life tougher for people living in hardship.</p> <p>These observations concur with the sober assessments of experts such as the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/cashless-welfare-card-trial-not-working-drug-and-alcohol-centre-says-20190910-p52pv5.html">South Australian Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council</a>.</p> <p>The evaluation of the Ceduna trial for <a href="https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/10_2018/cashless-debit-card-trial-final-evaluation-report_2.pdf">the Department of Social Services</a> was more positive, noting that alcohol drinkers and gamblers reported doing so less frequently. But it also noted no reduction in crime statistics related to alcohol consumption, illegal drug use or gambling. And the Australian National Audit office was so critical of the government’s evaluation it <a href="https://www.anao.gov.au/work/performance-audit/implementation-and-performance-cashless-debit-card-trial">concluded</a> that it was difficult to ascertain “whether there had been a reduction in social harm” as a result of the card’s introduction.</p> <p>Which makes simplistic claims about the card’s success look a bit rich.</p> <p>*<em>Pseudonyms are used throughout</em>.<!-- 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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/123352/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: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>Written by <span>Eve Vincent, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University</span>. Republished with permission of </em><a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/an-insult-politicians-sing-the-praises-of-the-cashless-welfare-card-but-those-forced-to-use-it-disagree-123352" target="_blank"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>.</em></p>

Retirement Income

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“Highly insulting”: Fans slam The Project over welfare segment

<p> A segment on<span> </span><em>The Project</em><span> </span>about a Newstart recipient welfare program has divided viewers and been labelled as “offensive” after the lighthearted nature of it turned sinister.</p> <p>On Wednesday night’s episode, the Channel 10 show featured comedian Sam Taunton appearing in what was supposed to be a humorous package, in which he spent a whole day living on $40 per day as a Newstart recipient.</p> <p>In the five-minute segment, Taunton bought a bag of chips from the service station for breakfast, spent $4.40 on a coffee in a café ,while searching for job on his laptop and buying a $16 avocado toast for brunch.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">This week leaders of both the Libs and Labor acknowledged that living on the Newstart allowance would be difficult. Labour are vowing to review the payment if elected. How difficult it is to live off just $40 dollars a day? We challenged comedian <a href="https://twitter.com/samtaunton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@samtaunton</a> to find out! <a href="https://t.co/Wh9gJap1Iw">pic.twitter.com/Wh9gJap1Iw</a></p> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1128583208407371777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Taunton ended the day by purchasing a bottle of wine for $9 with his leftover $10 before remembering he was yet to buy toiletries and dinner with the remainder of his money.</p> <p>The comedian opts for a $1 cup of noodles for dinner with his remaining money but then also realises he hadn’t factored in rent money for the day.</p> <p>While the segment was supposed to be a humorous way of highlighting the struggle for those reliant on Newstart, some viewers felt it missed the mark big time.</p> <p>“This really didn't make The Project look good. How many people on Newstart watched this, and switched off? Shameful, and nasty,” one viewer said in regard to the Newstart segment.</p> <p>Another added: “And he wasted that money on a packet of chips, a takeaway coffee, avocado on toast, and alcohol. If he was trying to prove a point, he failed.</p> <p>“As someone who struggles to live on NewStart, this segment was highly insulting.”</p> <p>“As a daughter of a single mother, who was on Newstart, I HAVE lived off noodles regularly in the past. Thanks for making a mockery of those who are struggling to live. Disgusting,” another comment read.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">This whole segment about Newstart on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheProjectTV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheProjectTV</a> is offensive and ridiculous. Making out like all young people on Newstart are irresponsible and can't afford things because they waste money on $16 avocado on toast and wine in place of dinner is not funny, and not helping.</p> — apex20 (@apex201) <a href="https://twitter.com/apex201/status/1128583887624343557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">That segment on living of $40 a day, was pointless. It’s didn’t achieve anything, not even funny. I’m thinking that a person living on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Newstart?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Newstart</a> would love to be able to enjoy avo on toast <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theprojecttv</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheProjectTV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheProjectTV</a></p> — Lauren K (@lolly375) <a href="https://twitter.com/lolly375/status/1128583776794103808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Others viewers were shocked Newstart recipients were expected to live on $40 a day.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">I would be homeless if I lost my job. Centrelink would destroy me, my paltry savings would be gone in weeks. Maybe I could cash in some of my superannuation due to extreme povo circumstances. <br />WHAT THE F <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheProjectTV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheProjectTV</a> <br />(ps Fantastic noodles cost more than $1 champ)</p> — A Succulent Chinese Meal (@Juluuxx) <a href="https://twitter.com/Juluuxx/status/1128582349405298688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Raising the Newstart allowance has been a hot topic in this election, with Labor leader Bill Shorten promising a review of the benefit if he is elected in this weekend's federal election.</p> <p>“I think common sense says that a review is going to conclude that amount is too low,” he told ABC’s <em>Q&amp;A</em>.</p> <p>“I won’t pre-empt it, but I’m not having a review to cut it.”</p> <p>However, the coalition has stood by Newstart’s current allowance, which is $550.70 per fortnight for singles with no children.</p> <p>Treasurer Josh Frydenberg argued a pay increase was not necessary as those on Newstart were only using the service for a short period of time or were able to claim other benefits at the same time.</p> <p>“Ninety nine per cent of people on Newstart are actually on another type of benefit — it might be a parental allowance or another form of support,” he said earlier this month, as reported by the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-13/federal-election-newstart-allowance-you-ask-we-answer/11091150" target="_blank">ABC.</a></p> <p>“The other thing about Newstart is two-thirds of the people come off within 12 months and go into a job.”</p> <p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also said he supports the current Newstart payment, describing it as “one of the best safety nets” in the world.</p>

Money & Banking

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Final insult after gastro cruise

<p>A cruise passenger has spoken out about the final insult that made her join a class action against a cruise ship that she got gastro on.</p> <p>Lorraine Thomas is just one of the 16,000 passengers who were impacted by consecutive norovirus outbreaks on eight Sun Princess trips from December 2016 to February 2017, and who may be eligible for compensation according to Shine Lawyers.</p> <p>Lorraine, from Queensland, had saved $2,200 for a 14-day cruise to New Zealand with a friend but spent most of her holiday in quarantine in her cabin.</p> <p>The cruise started well but halfway into the trip, the two friends began to experience the symptoms of the norovirus.</p> <p>When the vomiting began, Lorraine was diagnosed over the phone by the ship’s doctor and told to remain in her cabin with the promise someone would come to check on her. After 11 hours of waiting, someone finally arrived.</p> <p>“To be quite honest, it was horrendous,” Mrs Thomas told <a href="http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/law-firm-preparing-class-action-after-gastro-outbreaks-on-sun-princess-cruises/news-story/45731f62f733c4c99a58183c2a6a4342" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>news.com.au</strong></span></a>.</p> <p>“It was a small cabin and — I can’t put this any more politely — there was only the ice bucket to be sick in. The basin was blocked, and we had problems with the loo anyway and it kept overflowing.</p> <p>“I kept ringing down to ask if someone could come up ... They kept saying they were busy and would get to us as soon as they could.”</p> <p>Eventually cleaners arrived in Hazmat suits arrived to “deep clean” her cabin, but Lorraine said their job was far from a thorough clean.</p> <p>“They sprayed the back of the bathroom door and the other side of the bathroom door and that was it,” she said.</p> <p>“They did not change my bed linen, they did not change the towels. There was no proper deep clean. I was still vomiting and laying on the bed.</p> <p>“Because of the length of time I was left feeling so ill, I did think that was wrong.”</p> <p>Lorraine is one of an estimated 140 people who got norovirus on the New Zealand cruise in February 2017.</p> <p>“It was just a nightmare,” she said. “There were parts of the ship that smelled of sewerage so bad, it was awful.”</p> <p>While Lorraine said staff did take some measures to stop the spread of the virus, such as wiping down surfaces and suspending self-service of food, she believes the virus was already on the ship when they boarded.</p> <p>The Sun Princess had already been struck by a norovirus outbreak on a voyage to Papua New Guinea.</p> <p>When Lorraine was back on land, her nightmare continued as she struggled to get a response from the cruise line.</p> <p>After repeatedly trying to contact Princess Cruises to report her experience, Lorraine finally received a $250 goodwill voucher months later to spend on a future cruise.</p> <p>“I said, you have to be joking — after half a holiday that we couldn’t enjoy, to sail with them again?” she said.</p> <p>“I won’t risk going back on another Princess cruise.”</p> <p>Lorraine was then told that she could only use the credit with Princess Cruises even though she was planning another trip with P&amp;O, which is also owned by Carnival.</p> <p>Lorraine was shocked by this treatment and finally joined the class action against the company.</p> <p>“I didn’t want to in the beginning because I thought I needed to give them the chance to come to the party and acknowledge that there were mistakes, there were problems,” she said.</p> <p>“And then when they gave the gesture of goodwill and didn’t honour it, I thought, 'Well, no. You really, really don’t care about your customers.'</p> <p>“If they really, genuinely, wanted to, they could have honoured the $250 against the P&amp;O cruise and they chose not to.</p> <p>“I know I’m only one voice, and only one person who won’t affect them in the least, but it’s wrong they continue to do this. It’s not something you’d want to go through.”</p> <p>Shine Lawyers said more than 16,000 Australian passengers could be eligible for compensation for being impacted by the consecutive norovirus outbreaks.</p> <p>Shine’s transport law manager Thomas Janson said compensation could be the equivalent of a full refund, plus damages for failure of a duty of care by Carnival.</p> <p>A spokesman for Carnival Australia said in a statement to news.com.au, “Princess Cruises leaves nothing to chance in maintaining a healthy on-board environment with policies and procedures that are in line with the highest international public health standards.</p> <p>“The incidence of gastrointestinal illness is much higher in the general community than on a cruise ship. Even in the comparatively rare case of gastrointestinal illness on board, the risk of actually becoming ill is one in 5,500 as a result of the focus on the wellbeing of guests as a priority.”</p> <p>Have you ever experienced a nightmare cruise? If so, tell us about your experience in the comments below. </p>

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Telstra rep insults customer and spells rude phrase

<p>A Telstra customer has released footage of a rude conversation with an unpleasant customer service representative on the phone.</p> <p>The rep became rude after a customer, Phill, asked if he could be transferred which resulted in him being labelled as “arrogant” and told to “put his a** on his face”.</p> <p>Phill rang the telco to inquire about an international call he received but after the call to Telstra cut out and he was put on hold “for no reason”, his friends started filming the conversation when he called back.</p> <p>"Why did I hang up? Because I was trying to ask you for your name and how to spell it," Phill said on the phone.</p> <p>The customer service representative then told Phill that he had already provided his name and asked if he knows how to spell.</p> <p>Confused by his rudeness, Phill then asked the man to confirm he is Telstra “customer support” which the worker confirmed.</p> <p>The operative then said, “You are an arrogant customer. Because you are asking to be transferred over to an Australian representative, which is like two per cent of the total workforce of Telstra."</p> <p>Phill then disagrees with the worker, saying he never asked for another representative but rather an “Australian-based call centre”.</p> <p>Phill asked for the worker’s name again so he could later report him to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.</p> <p>"Am I going to cry now? I'm crying right now," the man responds.</p> <p>"My name is K-I-S-S M-Y A-S-S."</p> <p>Phill asked to be transferred to a manager but the worker then said, “Put your a** on your face”.</p> <p>The Telstra employee then proceeded to hang up on Phil’s call.</p> <p>A Telstra spokesman confirmed in a statement that they were investigating the incident and have apologised to the customer.</p> <p>"We have spoken with Phil to apologise and advised we are investigating the matter,” the statement said.</p> <p>“This is clearly unacceptable behaviour and we will take appropriate action as necessary once our investigation is complete,"</p> <p>"We have committed to calling Phil back this afternoon to address his original query."</p> <p>Have you ever experienced a rude customer service representative on the phone? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

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