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Bunnings releases shocking CCTV footage of attacks on staff

<p>Bunnings has shared CCTV footage of violent attacks on staff members, after a watchdog found that the store's facial recognition camera breached privacy laws. </p> <p>The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has ruled the retail giant breached privacy laws when it used CCTV-linked facial recognition technology to capture the face of every person who entered 63 stores in NSW and Victoria in the three years to November 2021.</p> <p>Bunnings is set to appeal the ruling, as they explained the cameras were installed to crackdown on shoplifting and violence towards staff in their stores. </p> <p>Managing director Mike Schneider said, “FRT was trialled at a limited number of Bunnings stores in Victoria and NSW between 2018-2021, with strict controls around its use, with the sole and clear intent of keeping team members and customers safe and preventing unlawful activity.”</p> <p>“Our use of FRT was never about convenience or saving money but was all about safeguarding our business and protecting our team, customers, and suppliers from violent, aggressive behaviour, criminal conduct and preventing them from being physically or mentally harmed by these individuals,” Schneider said.</p> <p>“It was not used in isolation but in combination with various other security measures and tools to deliver a safer store environment.”  </p> <p>The company added that about 70 percent of violent attacks were committed by "the same group of people", as Bunnings shared a compilation of clips of the incidents, showing its staff punched, pushed, grabbed and threatened with firearms, knives and hammers in its stores.</p> <p>“FRT provided the fastest and most accurate way of identifying these individuals and quickly removing them from our stores.”</p> <p>In her ruling, Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind acknowledged the potential of the technology to protect against crime and violent behaviour, but determined, “However, any possible benefits need to be weighed against the impact on privacy rights, as well as our collective values as a society.”</p> <p>“Facial recognition technology may have been an efficient and cost-effective option available to Bunnings at the time in its well-intentioned efforts to address unlawful activity, which included incidents of violence and aggression.</p> <p>“However, just because a technology may be helpful or convenient, does not mean its use is justifiable.”</p> <p>The ruling found Bunnings had taken the private information of customers without consent, failed to take steps to notify them and had left gaping holes in its privacy policy.</p> <p>Commissioner Kind said the technology was an intrusive option that interfered with all customers’ privacy, not just high-risk individuals.</p> <p>“Individuals who entered the relevant Bunnings stores at the time would not have been aware that facial recognition technology was in use and especially that their sensitive information was being collected, even if briefly,” she said.</p> <p>The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner said the ruling should be a reminder to businesses about their privacy obligations and has released a privacy guide for companies considering using facial recognition tech.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Bunnings</em></p>

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Big changes for Bunnings Warehouse snags

<p>There’s nothing quite like a weekend shop at Bunnings, largely because it means there’ll be a fresh snag waiting for you post-shop, and with the hardware store’s latest announcement, it will be even easier to get your hands on one.</p> <p>Bunnings Warehouse has announced it is rolling out mobile payment options for customers who aren’t carrying cash or coins on them.</p> <p>Until now, most Bunnings sausage sizzles largely relied on cash payments, at the discretion of each community group that hosts their sausage sizzle, but the cardless concept proved difficult in a largely cashless economy.</p> <p>The Bunnings website states, "Not-for-profit organisations are able to book a sizzle with their local store - they need to bring volunteers and adequate supplies and Bunnings helps with the rest.”</p> <p>"The rest" being the addition of free mobile payment facilities.</p> <p>"We offer a free mobile payment option to community groups fundraising through sausage sizzles at our stores, providing an easy way for them to maximise fundraising and offering customers a cashless way to pay for their snag and support their local community group," said Bunnings General Manager Operations Matt Tyler in a statement.</p> <p>There will be no additional cost to customers or community groups, who previously had to bring their own EFT machine if they wanted to pay by card.</p> <p>Bunnings Warehouse will be incurring all the transaction fees to ensure community groups get 100 per cent of all the money raised.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock / Instagram</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Bunnings issues urgent recall for popular garden product

<p dir="ltr">Bunnings has issued a nationwide recall of a popular gardening product that can cause severe eye irritation. </p> <p dir="ltr">Roundup F weedkiller fast ready-to-use herbicide (5 litres) has been recalled at all Bunnings stores.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Product Safety Australia, due to the packaging damage, there is a risk that the user may be exposed to the contents of the product. </p> <p dir="ltr">Any exposure to the product could cause severe eye irritation and consumers are urged to stop using it immediately. </p> <p dir="ltr">The batch numbers that have been recalled include AAC2B5550, AAC2E5860, AAC2F5973 and AAC2G6035.</p> <p dir="ltr">The recalled herbicide was sold at Bunnings stores across Australia between March 1, 2022, and September 6, 2022</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you are in possession of a damaged container of product please contact the Evergreen Garden Care Consumer Advice Line on 1800 635 797,” Product Safety Australia advised.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Product Safety Australia/Shutterstock</em></p>

Home & Garden

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Sneaky secret Bunnings uses to foil shoplifters

<p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">Although Bunnings sell security cameras to customers, their own security measures used to be far more hands-on, according to one former staff member.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">In a recent TikTok video captioned "Bunnings secrets revealed by a former employee", a man who goes by the handle @relayscreations said when he worked at one of their stores in Queensland, they had a trick for warding off shoplifters.</p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@relayscreations/video/7056403180845944065" data-video-id="7056403180845944065"><section><a title="@relayscreations" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@relayscreations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@relayscreations</a> <a title="stitch" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/stitch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#stitch</a> with @princessannafit Bunnings Secrets revealed by a former employee <a title="bunnings" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/bunnings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#bunnings</a> <a title="australia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#australia</a> <a title="security" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#security</a> <a title="companysecrets" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/companysecrets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#companysecrets</a> <a title="aussie" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/aussie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#aussie</a> <a title="♬ original sound" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7056403182695631617" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound</a></section></blockquote><p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">"So I used to work at Bunnings. That is a chain of hardware stores if you're not Australian," he said. "When you're in Bunnings, you'll sometimes hear an announcement over the loudspeaker say something along the lines of 'security to section C, security to section C,' and the secret was that there was no section C."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">"There was also, most of the time, no security. It was only meant to be a deterrent for shoplifters," he claimed. "So originally when we started doing it, we did it manually.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">"Someone in the store would actually pick up the intercom and speak it but then they pre-recorded it and added it to the soundtrack of music that would play over the store speakers all day so we actually had the same announcements every day during the same songs and you predict them after you heard them for a while."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">In a separate video, he said he stopped working at Bunnings in 2006, "so some of this information might be out of date."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">This revelation was fascinating to Aussies on TikTok, though some noted they shopped at Bunnings all the time and had never heard those loudspeaker announcements.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">Others claimed "all stores" including Woolies and Big W used this same trick.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">"I work at Big W and we manually say it," one TikTok user commented. "Sometimes it's every couple hours or when there's people acting sketchy. It worked often."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">A person claiming to have worked at Coles said, "We did this manually at Coles when we knew a five-finger discounter was in. We also got workers to follow them but make it look like we are working."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">One person said they worked at Bunnings and "used to say it over the PA system back in 2003."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">"Yep, did it at my old job 12 years ago. Nice to see it's still freaking people out," commented another person.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Woman speaks out after brother dies in Amazon warehouse

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">US-based retail giant Amazon is facing questions and criticism over its health and safety policies after six workers died when an Illinois warehouse was destroyed by a tornado on Friday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tornado was one of at least 30 that left areas across several states in devastation, and caused the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, to collapse.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One person was injured and 45 others were rescued safely.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford said walls on both sides of the building collapsed inwards, while the roof collapsed downward. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the National Weather Service, the tornado touched down in Edwardsville at approximately 8.35pm.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846342/amazon1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b402df1e66454952971e7c37c5d36492" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">First responders surrounded the Edwardsville warehouse, where around 100 people were trapped. Image: Getty Images</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Amazon has said its team had “worked quickly” in response to the tornado, and that site leaders told employees on duty to take shelter at around 8.16pm local time.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When contacted by the <em>BBC</em>, Amazon said in a statement that the site received tornado warnings between 8.06pm and 8.16pm local time, before the tornado struck at 8.27pm.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Rachel Cope, the sister of one of the victims, told the </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59641784" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">BBC</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> she understood from a conversation between her brother and parents that workers weren’t immediately told to shelter following the first warning siren. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her brother, 29-year-old Clayton Cope, spoke to his family on the phone shortly before the building was struck, with his mother Carla saying she called to warn him of the approaching tornado.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We told him it looked like the storm was heading that way and that he needed to get to shelter,” Carla told NBC-affiliated television station KSDK.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clayton, formerly trained in the Navy, told his mother that he would warn his coworkers before taking shelter.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rachel has since taken to social media calling for publicity around the company’s approach to health and safety.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Everyone knows that this warehouse didn’t let everyone get to shelter after he [sic] first siren was heard,” she </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/12/13/torn-d13.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">wrote</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in a Facebook post.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Everyone knows that all Amazon cares about is productivity. My brother never would have died if this company actually gave 2 shits about their employees and got them to safety after the storm started to get bad and took it seriously…</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I want them to answer for this, I want this to be a starting point of places taking the lives of their employees seriously and treating them as more than a number. This never would have happened if they cared about lives over productivity and you all know that.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another victim, father-of-four Larry Virden, reportedly texted his long-term girlfriend telling her the company wouldn’t let workers leave.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cherie Jones, his partner of 13 years, told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Post</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> he had texted her at 8.23pm local time, with her messages sent at 8.51pm going unanswered.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Horrifying details are emerging about the tornado disaster at Amazon's warehouse in Illinois, where at least 6 workers were killed on the job.<br /><br />Before he died, Larry Virden reportedly texted his girlfriend: "Amazon won’t let us leave." He leaves behind four children. <a href="https://t.co/3ZRLik9VIs">pic.twitter.com/3ZRLik9VIs</a></p> — More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorePerfectUS/status/1470513075489054720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I got text messages from him. He always tells me when he is filling up the Amazon truck when he is getting ready to go back,” she </span><a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/dad-of-fours-last-text-16-minutes-before-death-in-amazon-warehouse-104740521.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. “I was like ‘OK, I love you’. He’s like, ‘well Amazon won’t let me leave until after the storm blows over’.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We heard the tornado didn’t touch down until 8.39 so he had 20 minutes to get home.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I messaged him and that was the last text message I got from him.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I told him where we live, it was only lightning at the time. After that, I got nothing from him.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced it will </span><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/13/osha-opens-probe-into-deadly-amazon-warehouse-collapse-in-illinois.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">investigate the collapse</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Founder Jeff Bezos has also been the target of criticism after posting pictures of himself and his Blue Origin space crew following the incident.</span></p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXWLFkxr5td/?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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXWLFkxr5td/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jeff Bezos (@jeffbezos)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He later issued a statement expressing his condolences to the families of the victims.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The news from Edwardsville is tragic. We’re heartbroken over the loss of our teammates there, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones,” he wrote.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">(2/2) All of Edwardsville should know that the Amazon team is committed to supporting them and will be by their side through this crisis. We extend our fullest gratitude to all the incredible first responders who have worked so tirelessly at the site.</p> — Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffBezos/status/1469849247042334721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Amazon has said it will donate $USD 1 million ($AUD 1.41 million or $NZD 1.48 million) to the Edwardsville Community Foundation, which represents 0.0000009 percent of the company’s earnings in </span><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/28/amazon-stock-falls-on-revenue-miss-rising-costs-due-to-macroeconomic-conditions/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Q3 2021</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The company has also said it will provide relief supplies such as transport, food and water.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: Getty Images</span></p>

Travel Trouble

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Wildlife advocates call for Bunnings to ditch bird-killing poisons

<p dir="ltr">BirdLife Australia, the country’s largest bird conservation group, has called on Bunnings Warehouse to stop the sale of certain poisons used to kill rats and mice, claiming that native birds are being killed after eating the poisoned pests.</p> <p dir="ltr">The group has launched a<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.actforbirds.org/ratpoison" target="_blank">petition</a><span> </span>imploring Bunnings, the largest hardware chain in Australia and New Zealand, to “Take bird-killing poisons off [their] shelves!” The petition explains that Bunnings controls about half of Australia’s DIY hardware market share, and sells a larger variety of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide products (also known as SGARs) than any other major outlet.</p> <p dir="ltr">SGARs are the poisons that work most effectively on rodents, and sales of such products have increased dramatically as a result of the plague of mice that swept eastern Australia this year, leaving shelves at stores around the country completely bare.</p> <p dir="ltr">BirdLife Australia says that native birds of prey, including wedge-tailed eagles, southern boobooks and possibly even powerful owls are dying after eating rodents that have been poisoned by SGARs. As the group explains in the petition, there are alternative products that are “just as effective that don't poison our natural foodchains”. SGARs have been restricted for sale in many parts of the world, including the US, Canada, and parts of Europe.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GdAQPiC2dsA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr">SGARs work by causing internal bleeding, but when pests like rats and mice eat bait that has been poisoned, they become poisonous themselves, harming and even killing animals that eat them. BirdLife’s petition states that studies have already shown how southern boobooks and wedge-tailed eagles have been affected by the increased use of SGARs, and they are currently researching the impact on powerful owls.</p> <p dir="ltr">BirdLife argues that first generation anticoagulant rodenticide products have active ingredients like warfarin and work just as well as SGARs, but do not have the same impact on non-target species. In addition, the group recommends snap traps as the most humane option for dealing with pests.</p> <p dir="ltr">A Bunnings spokesperson<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/take-your-bird-killing-poisons-off-your-shelves-bird-lovers-call-for-ban-on-popular-buy-at-bunnings-c-4297277" target="_blank">told 7News</a><span> </span>that it offers many rodent control products that are safe for wildlife, and that it was working with suppliers to help shoppers make informed purchases. “We always respect community feedback and we recently met with BirdLife Australia to understand their views and to explain the steps we are taking to educate customers about rodent control products,” Bunnings general manager, merchandise, Adrian Pearce said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Pearce went on to say that Bunnings understands there are risks associated with the use of SGARs, and that they “proactively promote the safe use of these products and support customers in making informed purchasing decisions.” He added that the retailer offers a range of rodent control products that are not poisonous, including repellers, live catch traps, regular rat traps, and natural bait pellets.</p> <p dir="ltr">Pearce explained Bunnings’ next steps, saying, “In addition, we are creating further training for our team members to help improve their knowledge about this topic. We are also in the process of implementing the separation of first generation and second generation rat poison varieties, along with naturally-derived rodenticides on our shelves to further assist with easier customer product selection.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We will continue to closely follow the advice of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), and work with our suppliers to innovate in this area.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Ken Griffiths/Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Reddit user reveals what his father-in-law did to earn a lifetime ban from Bunnings

<p dir="ltr">An Australian Reddit user has shared details of his father-in-law’s lifetime ban from Bunnings Warehouse, and commenters were quick to let him know just what they thought of the man’s actions.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the son-in-law, his father-in-law “lost his temper at customer service”, and told them “he was coming down to the store to pick up his bed (which had been having delays and had a been a f*** around).</p> <p dir="ltr">“Guy took it as a threat. Dad’s not exactly the calmest person, so they probably are in the right. But he didn’t mean it that way, and he’s legitimately sorry.” The man shared the story in an effort to solicit advice for how he could go about getting the ban reduced.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/karens-and-darens-bunnings-shopper-slammed-on-reddit-after-details-of-his-lifetime-ban-are-revealed-c-4171519" target="_blank">Speaking to 7 News</a>, Bunnings General Manager Operations Ryan Baker said that the store has a “zero tolerance approach to team abuse” and “won’t hesitate” from banning offenders from stores.</p> <p dir="ltr">Commenters were quick to praise Bunnings for doing the right thing in defending their employees from abusive customers. Many agreed that retail staff didn’t deserve abuse, while others said there should be more consequences like this in order to teach people to be respectful.</p> <p dir="ltr">One response read, “Good. F*** him, he’s a s******t for treating someone like that when it’s not their fault.” Another pointed out that Bunnings doesn’t issue lifetime bans easily, so it “must have been quite the tantrum”.</p> <p dir="ltr">One person mentioned Bunnings Karen, the<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-28/bunnings-karen-condemned-online-for-refusing-to-wear-mask/12928476" target="_blank">woman who went viral</a><span> </span>after refusing to wear a mask per store policy, saying, “Geez, I don’t even think Bunnings Karen got a lifetime ban. Your father-in-law needs to learn some manners. Feel sorry for retail staff and the s*** they have to put up with.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another commenter went on to dub difficult male customers ‘Darens’, saying that “Karens and Darens” have “mastered the system”, having figured out that “yelling and making a scene gets them what they want”.</p> <p dir="ltr">One user put it simply: “Mate, if you’re bad enough to get a lifetime ban from f*****g Bunnings, there’s something wrong.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images</em></p>

Home & Garden

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Huge list of Bunnings stores set to reopen

<p>Bunnings will open its doors to customers across Greater Sydney from Monday the 6th of September 2021, excluding those stores located in local government areas of concern.</p> <p>This decision follows NSW hitting the 70% first dose vaccination target, reducing the risks associated with reopening a retail space. This move will provide Sydney residents with access to essential products benefiting emergency home repairs and general maintenance.</p> <p>“The Safety of our team and customers has been at the core of everything we do, and we continue to follow government guidance in all the states and territories where we operate” says managing director Mike Schneider.</p> <p>The vaccination roll out has increased opportunities for both our team and customers to get vaccinated and has given us every confidence to re-open stores in Greater Sydney. COVID-safe protocols will apply and will include a one per 10-metre density limit.</p> <p> </p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843672/new-project.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fad5c5a6faaf4d8d9e4ce0aea0b3a17b" /></p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p>Customers are still encouraged to utilise contactless Drive &amp; Collect and delivery for non-essential items, this keeps up with current public health guidance.</p> <p>Stores were closed in August after restrictions around retail stores of concern tightened. Schneider said it would be “easier for our team to manage” if all stores were closed.</p> <p>Stores located in council areas of concern remain open for contactless collection in line with government orders. These areas which amount to almost half of Sydney’s population include Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Canterbury-Bankstown, Campbelltown, Cumberland, Fairfield, George’s River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and some areas of Penrith.</p> <p>The following Bunnings locations will reopen to retail customers:</p> <ul> <li>Alexandria</li> <li>Artarmon</li> <li>Ashfield</li> <li>Balgowlah</li> <li>Belrose</li> <li>Caringbah</li> <li>Carlingford</li> <li>Castle Hill</li> <li>Chatswood</li> <li>Dural</li> <li>Gladesville</li> <li>Gordon</li> <li>Gregory Hills</li> <li>Kirrawee</li> <li>McGraths Hill</li> <li>Narellan</li> <li>Narrabeen</li> <li>North Penrith</li> <li>Penrith</li> <li>Randwick</li> <li>Rose Bay</li> <li>Rouse Hill</li> <li>Thornleigh</li> <li>Warringah Mall</li> </ul>

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Jimmy Barnes lists ENORMOUS warehouse home

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rockstar Jimmy Barnes and Jane Barnes are selling their Botany warehouse residence at auction on August 28.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The decision comes as the family has been spending almost all of their time at their longtime home in the Southern Highlands.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The four-bedroom, four-bathroom property has been listed through Firmstone Pappas Properties and MyPlace, and is expected to sell for over $4 million.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The family bought the property for a hefty $1.6 million in 2004, which had received a $400,000 makeover from the previous owner, including the installation of a full recording studio.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since first purchasing the warehouse, the former Cold Chisel frontman has had renovation works undertaken, including the addition of a second soundproof studio.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The home also features an overscale kitchen, a cinema lounge, a private front courtyard with undercover spaces for three vehicles, and a separate first-floor residence with its own kitchen, dining area, and lounge room.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The home is walking distance from Botany shops, public transport, cafes and schools, as well as a park and aquatic centre.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: Jimmy Barnes / Instagram, Firmstone Pappas Properties</span></em></p>

Real Estate

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Bunnings' big offer to help speed up vaccine rollout

<p>Bunnings is offering its warehouses as giant vaccination hubs, meaning Australians can nab a sausage sizzle while getting their COVID-19 jab.</p> <p>The major warehouse initially offered their car parks as testing clinics and are now offering to help speed up the vaccine rollout across the nation.</p> <p>Bunnings' Chief Operating Officer, Deb Poole said the company could work out any logistical issues if a formal request was made by the government to pitch in.</p> <p>"We're always open to discussing further support directly with the government," Ms Poole told <em>Nine News.</em></p> <p>The National Cabinet did say they would attempt to fast-track vaccinations after there were major delays that were caused by supply issue and safety concerns.</p> <p>The Health Minister Office said they were considering "readiness of more state and territory-operated vaccination sites including mass vaccination sites, as vaccine supplies increase".</p>

News

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Fake Bunnings! Overseas hardware clone baffles fans

<p dir="ltr">New photographs of an eerily similar Bunnings store have cropped up that have everyone talking on social media.</p> <p dir="ltr">Builders Warehouse, not to be confused with Bunnings Warehouse, has opened in the Philippines. The two chains share the same classic colour scheme, hammer logo, and even the uniform are lookalikes.</p> <p dir="ltr">The only difference? Instead of the famous ‘Lowest prices are just the beginning’ slogan, Builders Warehouse has gone with ‘You build. We provide.’</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height:375.3846153846154px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840811/builders-warehouse-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7c512fe3dd24449c904ac9e06a436c56" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840810/bunnings-warehouse-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4f089538f97f473e935ca4b591e3842f" /></p> <p dir="ltr">It is understood that Bunnings Warehouse isn’t affiliated with Builders Warehouse.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bunnings fans on Twitter were surprised by the similarities.</p> <p dir="ltr">‘Sincerest Form of Flattery? Meet #Bunnings Warehouse Clone - Our Builders Warehouse,’ said one.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840814/builders-warehouse-3.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/06cb1c5113f2449fb62b7c84ab057eef" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><span>According to </span><a rel="noopener" href="http://ourbuilderswarehouse.com.ph/home" target="_blank">its website</a><span>, Builders Warehouse started in 2018 and now has five stores across the Philippines, including Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga, Malolos, and Bulacan. It describes itself as the go-to for home improvement in the Philippines.</span></p> <p dir="ltr"><span><img style="width: 500px; height:281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840812/builders-warehouse-4.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0920009faac34e808f2199655e9b1da6" /></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The similarities don’t stop there either, with similar mission statements.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the Builders Warehouse website, ‘Builders Warehouse is anchored in delivering first-class construction materials to everyone who needs a hand in home building from the groundwork, furnishing up to the final modifications of any structural development’.</p> <p dir="ltr">On the Bunnings website, it reads, ‘Our ambition is to provide our customers with the widest range of home improvement products in accordance with our lowest prices policy, backed with the best service.’</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Bunnings did not wish to comment on the new Filipino stores.</p>

Legal

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Bunnings staff "visibly shaken" after fatal mauling

<p><span>Bunnings Warehouse are “offering support” after a small dog was brutally attacked by an allegedly unrestrained pit bull in the middle of a Brisbane store.</span><br /><br /><span>Eyewitnesses and staff were left visibly shaken as they were forced to watch the animal without a muzzle or restraint, kill a fluffy white dog.</span><br /><br /><span>Those who looked on at the Stafford warehouse told <em>NCA NewsWire</em> that staff members had to repeatedly ask the owner of the larger dog to restrain his animal in the store on Sunday before the actual incident occurred.</span><br /><br /><span>After the incident, the owner of the pit bull allegedly fled, however his number plate was recorded.</span><br /><br /><span>Peter Male said he had become “so distressed” he had to walk away.</span><br /><br /><span>“I saw a big brown pit bull-looking dog holding onto a small fluffy brown dog by the neck. The small dog was not moving at all... it was just a limp body,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span>“The owner of the pit bull was punching his dog in the mouth telling it to let go continuously but this dog was not restrained at all. No muzzle, no lead on it.</span><br /><br /><span>“I didn’t see how they got them separated or what either dog looked like after but I did see a lot of blood they were washing away on my way out.”</span><br /><br /><span>The smaller dog was rushed to an emergency vet nearby, however it is believed the tiny animal did not make it.</span><br /><br /><span>Pet Emergency Stafford told NCA NewsWire due to the “sensitivity of the issue” they could not provide any further comment.</span><br /><br /><span>Patrick Blair, Bunnings Area Manager, said the incident had been “unfortunate.”</span><br /><br /><span>“Our team acted quickly to remind the owner of our store guidelines before they entered the store,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span>“We have been in touch with the other owner to offer support and our thoughts are with them.</span><br /><br /><span>“We thank our team for the calm and professional way that they handled the situation.”</span><br /><br /><span>Shoppers described staff as being “visibly shaken” after the incident.</span><br /><br /><span>Bunnings allow dogs into stores, as long as they are “friendly” and the owners comply with the rules.</span><br /><br /><span>Bunnings asks that all animals are secured safely in a vehicle or trolley, or on a lead and wearing a muzzle.</span></p>

News

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Woman takes to Bunnings to find husband

<p><span>One single lady is on a hunt to find something a little more niche from her local supply store after turning into Tinder for the hardware store in a hilarious bid to snag herself a true Aussie husband.</span><br /><br /><span>NSW-based Leesh Cunningham went viral after sharing a two-part video of her quest on TikTok, in which she is showing herself wandering through the aisles and even asking a Bunnings employee if they had any men left in stockS</span><br /><br /><span>“So, I’ve given up on Tinder and online dating and I’ve gone for a more traditional approach … I’ve come to Bunnings to find a husband,” she says in the clip.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839198/bunnings-warehouse-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6bfd53bd41834e26a993c5270743ae43" /><br /><span>After walking through each aisle, Ms Cunningham gives up, saying she “must have picked a bad day”.</span><br /><br /><span>She then gave it another crack a few days later, except this time she had come with a stack of flyers (listing a series of phone numbers) in hand.</span><br /><br /><span>She turned to an employee for help when she couldn’t get find a suitable candidate.</span><br /><br /><span>“I’m just looking for a husband and was told you guys had them here,” she says to the staff member.</span><br /><br /><span>“They’re flying off the shelf, if we have any they’ll be in the back corner on the left,” the Bunnings worker responded.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839199/bunnings-warehouse-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/385afdbb23ab48b9a1c2be975a9b5d20" /><br /><br /><span>However when Ms Cunningham raced to the back corner, she found herself alone again.</span><br /><br /><span>The hilarious clips have raked in over 180,000 views and some wise words from other women, including the Bunnings store itself who told her to come“between 6-8 am and 5-9pm, that’s when the tradies get their supplies”.</span><br /><br /><span>“Don’t give up, I got a man from there, he’s alright,” another wrote.</span></p>

News

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The Bunnings item shoppers just can't get enough of

<p><span>Bunnings have jumped on the latest trend that has taken Australia by storm.</span><br /><br /><span>Air fryers have become all the rage as it cooks food in healthier ways, and offers endless options whether it be a breakfast meal, midday snack or a hearty dinner for the whole family to enjoy.</span><br /><br /><span>While the kitchen appliance can rack up a pretty hefty price tag with some retailers flogging them for as much as $600 – supermarkets are stepping up to the plate to offer affordable alternatives.</span><br /><br /><span>ALDI offered the gadget as part of one of their Special Buys promotions, but it sold out in just minutes.</span><br /><br /><span>Coles also recently launched one that was $20 cheaper as part of its new Best Buys category.</span><br /><br /><span>Now Bunnings has decided to get in on the air fryer action too, selling the kitchen appliance for the first time ever – with one for just $99, a whole $50 cheaper than Aldi.</span><br /><br /><span>Prices range from $99 for a four litre fryer to $329 for a “turbo charge” appliance</span><br /><br /><span>The cheapest of the lot is the Heller 1350W Air Fryer.</span><br /><span>It features a 30 minute timer and variable temperature controls between 80 degrees and 200 degrees.</span><br /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; float: left;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836828/bunnings-airfryer-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/36b9c4e770894eee9b1882bb7aa326ad" /><br /><span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span>There is also the Healthy Choice Digital Electric Air Fryer ($118) which has a non-stick aluminium pot, eight cooking programs and a “keep warm” function.</span><span>If you want to kick it up to an even larger option, there is also a 13-litre gadget for $167 which features six presets for meat, poultry, fish, bake, chips and pizza, and comes with a baking cage, rack, tongs and chicken rotisserie with a 60-minute timer.</span><br /><br /><span>The Philips Air Fryer Twin TurboStar (800g) is the most expensive and will cost you $329.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836827/bunnings-airfryer-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/cda9c85389924a81bece3af2e9a7ef12" /><br /><br /><span>It’s got an analog control setting that comes with a “large cooking capacity” to serve up to four portions of your food to the family.</span><br /><br /><span>However, shoppers can only get the products via the Bunnings website, and not in-store.</span><br /><br /><span>When Coles released its $129 air fryer oven in June, some people were left disappointed they couldn’t get their hands on the appliance.</span><br /><br /><span>However, a Coles spokesperson says they are “working hard to increase supplies of the most popular items as part of our upcoming fortnightly events”.</span><br /><br /><span>“We have been blown away with the popularity of our new Coles Best Buys range. Our limited edition all-in-one oven and air fryer was particularly popular and sold out in just one day,” the spokesperson told <em>news.com.au.</em></span><br /><br /><span>“Customers are telling us they’re really enjoying the great value offered across more than a hundred new products since launching the Coles Best Buys range in May.”</span><br /><br /><span>A new range of Coles Best Buys products will land in participating stores this Friday.</span><br /><br /><span>“The range will feature all your bathroom essentials at great value from soap dishes and ceramic tumblers at just $2.99 each, hand towels for $3.99, bath towels for $8.99, luxe bathrobes for $16.99 each, as well as an LED beauty mirror for just $19.99,” the spokesperson said.</span></p>

Money & Banking

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Public panic as Woolworths runs out of dire supplies ahead of coronavirus warnings

<p>Chemists and grocery store chains across Australia have been experiencing an unusually high demand for hand sanitiser as panic sets in over the coronavirus.</p> <p>The shortage for the product has been photographed in various stores across the country, with people beginning to stock up in a bid to protect themselves from the COVID-19 virus.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Woolworths, Coles, Chemist Warehouse, Priceline and Kmart have all run out of hand sanitiser. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/coronavirusaustralia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#coronavirusaustralia</a></p> — Priscilla Flett (@FlettPriscilla) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlettPriscilla/status/1223427134351237120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Stores like Coles, Woolworths and Chemist Warehouse have been experiencing shortages of antibacterial gel, with the CEO of Australian skin care range MooGoo, Craig Jones, claiming their entire six-month stock of hand sanitiser had been taken from shelves in just a mere four days.</p> <p>“We then made a backup batch and sold out of that too,” said Mr Jones told<span> </span>news.com.au.</p> <p>“The Natural Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel uses an essential oil that kills 99.999 per cent of pathogens in the standard test.”</p> <p>Mr Jones says the healthcare item which typically ranges anywhere from $3 -$5 depending on size and brand, is one of the “key measures from keeping the virus from spreading”.</p> <p>A spokesperson from Coles confirmed the “shortage” of antibacterial handwashes and hand sanitiser products sold in stores  was “due to extremely high customer demand”.</p> <p> “While we are working closely with our suppliers to improve availability, some products may be temporarily out of stock,” the spokesperson said.</p> <p>Woolworths also told news.com.au they had shortages of some products, saying: “We are working very closely with our suppliers to get these products back on shelves as quickly as possible.</p> <p>“We’re sorry for the inconvenience to our customers.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Hand sanitiser aisle at Woolworths. All gawn. <a href="https://t.co/sJrdl4wfes">pic.twitter.com/sJrdl4wfes</a></p> — Ignoble Jim Houghton (@JimRHoughton) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimRHoughton/status/1223484535687368706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Mario Tascone, the Retail Group director for Chemist Warehouse told The Courier Mail <span> </span>that their “store was one of the smart ones”.</p> <p>“We’d rather satisfy 1000 people than satisfy one person who wants to buy 1000 bottles,” he said</p> <p>COVID-19 has now been confirmed in at least 45 countries, and many of these nations have created emergency plans and travel restrictions on the worst-affected places.</p> <p>Australia activated its emergency response plan yesterday amid rising concerns of a potential coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that the number of new cases reported outside China exceeded the number of new cases in China for the first time.</p> <p>On Tuesday, 411 new cases of the COVID-19 disease were reported in China, while 427 were reported outside the country, WHO said.</p>

News

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The Bunnings promise that's a godsend for terrible gardeners

<p>Gardening novices would be familiar with the pain of purchasing plants, only to have them die within a week despite your best efforts.</p> <p>Luckily, Bunnings have come up with a policy to help these customers in their quest of growing their own greeneries.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B87Ini_FHD6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B87Ini_FHD6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Not great at keeping your plants alive? 🌿Then a mother in law's tongue is for you! It's low-maintenance and only needs to be watered when the soil is completely dry ✅ Find out how to care for one via the link in our bio, and if it's still too tricky tap to shop the artificial option. #bunnings #indoorplants</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/bunnings/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Bunnings Warehouse</a> (@bunnings) on Feb 23, 2020 at 1:10pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The hardware chain has introduced ‘Perfect Plant Promise’, which allows shoppers to return a dead plant within 12 months of purchase for a refund or a replacement.</p> <p>The policy applies on all plants except seedlings. Shoppers can return their purchase with a receipt or a tax invoice.</p> <p>“If you’re not 100 per cent happy, return your plant … and we’ll refund it,” the company’s <a href="https://www.bunnings.com.au/returns">website</a> said.</p> <p>The returned plant is subject to examination by a staff member, who will determine if the customer is eligible for a refund or a replacement.</p>

Home & Garden

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Obsessed much? Celine Dion stores 10,000 pairs of shoes in Las Vegas warehouse

<p>Most people usually have a few pairs of shoes. Some for going out and some for everyday wear. But if you’re Celine Dion then you’re most likely going to need an entire warehouse to store all of your footwear.</p> <p>The singer, who has a residency at Las Vegas’ Caesar’s Palace, let James Corden in on her obsession with shoes during a <em>Carpool Karaoke</em> segment last week.</p> <p>When originally asked the question, Celine admitted to owning 3000-5000 pairs of shoes, but after a bit more heckling, she finally gave away the correct number.</p> <p>Corden went on to say that he had heard a rumour of the performer owning up to 10,000 pairs of shoes, to which Celine said was possible.</p> <p>“Maybe. I didn’t want to say it,” she admitted.</p> <p>But the question on everyone’s minds was: Where does someone with that many pairs of shoes possibly keep them?</p> <p>“I have a place in Las Vegas … let’s call it a warehouse,” revealed the 51-year-old.</p> <p>And while having a separate property just for shoes seems extravagant, Dion went on to explain that her former home in Florida had an entirely computerised system to help categorise her shoes.</p> <p>“I had a system, it was computerised, and I would press, and the door would open,” she revealed.</p> <p>“I would press another button and they would turn.”</p> <p>She said that the shoes were colour coordinated to make it easier for her to pick and choose between them.</p> <p>The chosen pair of shoes would then be presented on a thick glass counter, filled with crushed diamonds – but while it seems over-the-top, it isn’t as lavish as you may think.</p> <p>“Not real diamonds, just to make sure that you don’t think that I’m loco,” Dion said.</p> <p>In 2017, the <em>My Heart Will Go On </em>singer spoke to<em> <a rel="noopener" href="https://wwd.com/" target="_blank">WWD</a> </em>about her hoarding habits, saying she finds it difficult to throw things away as they hold sentimental value.</p> <p>“They’re part of every step that I take, and I have an attachment to it,” she told the publication.</p> <p>But during the hilarious <em>Carpool Karaoke</em> segment, Dion didn’t seem to have a choice as she was forced to part ways with her favourite pairs of shoes by giving them away to strangers along the Las Vegas strip.</p> <p>Despite being reluctant, Dion managed to give a few pairs away to lucky walkers-by. But while it seemed to be in good fun, it doesn’t look like the performer will be downsizing her collection anytime soon.  </p>

Music

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Customer blindsided by Bunnings' "pathetic" rule

<p>A Perth shopper has hit out at Bunnings’ “pathetic” rule after she tried to take her pet into the store.</p> <p>The woman took to Facebook to complain after she was told she needed to muzzle her dog in store.</p> <p>“You have to muzzle your dog in Bunnings?! Just because some silly kid didn’t ask permission before touching a dog and got nipped? F***ing pathetic,” she wrote.</p> <p>“It wasn't my f***ing dog that bit some brat. Mine are friendly and love people.”</p> <p>According to Bunnings, pet owners are allowed to bring pets into the store if they are secured in a vehicle, carried, or on a lead and muzzled.</p> <p>The muzzle rule was introduced after a five-year-old girl got bitten on the leg by a dog in one of the Melbourne stores. Prior to this, dogs without muzzles were allowed entry provided they were “under appropriate control, not aggressive and did not compromise anyone's safety”.</p> <p>Pet industry consultant Susie Willis lambasted the rule when it first came into place. “Who’s going to put a muzzle on a dog to go to Bunnings?” she said. “A well-socialised, well-trained dog on a lead should be able to accompany its owner just about anywhere.”</p> <p>Throughout the years, pet owners have also lamented the fact that they could not bring their pups in without a muzzle. A woman wrote on Facebook alongside a picture of her and her dog, “Can't go in unless she is muzzled... She is a puppy for goodness sake.”</p> <p>While some dog owners find the rule to be unfair, others are more supportive of the policy.</p> <p>“I regularly take my dogs into their stores, some days they ride the trolley on a [leash] and other days they [wore] a muzzle,” a customer wrote.</p> <p>“I think it is great that dogs get to wear muzzles such that they get comfortable doing so as it may be needed for vets etc some day or if they were hurt. I believe this also helps the public understand muzzles are not just for dangerous dogs but a part of a dog’s attire just like a collar lead and harness.”</p> <p>Another commented, “Everyone says their dog is not aggressive until it bites some poor kid.”</p> <p>Some also said that they could bring their dogs into the store on a trolley.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Yippee Ya Hoo !!<br />A directive came from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bunnings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bunnings</a> Head Office 😱<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dogs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dogs</a> ARE allowed IN their trolleys, so long as they're sittin on somethin 😁 <a href="https://t.co/ZEUjQ7Xkix">pic.twitter.com/ZEUjQ7Xkix</a></p> — OverTheMalarkey 🙅‍♀️ (@BarkyMalarkey1) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarkyMalarkey1/status/902389377715789824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>This is not the only Bunnings safety rule to come under public backlash. Last year, the hardware giant was slammed for ordering the stores’ barbecues staff to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/the-big-change-coming-to-bunnings/" target="_blank">put onion on the bread before sausage and sauce</a> to avoid slipping hazards and incidents at sausage sizzles.</p>

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Chemist Warehouse workers go on indefinite strike

<p>Employees at Chemist Warehouse's distribution centre have launched an indefinite strike over their wages and conditions.</p> <p>About 100 staff across Victoria and Queensland participated in the strike today to demand higher pay, better job security and “an end to the toxic culture of bullying and harassment”.</p> <p>“This is a David and Goliath struggle,” said Tim Kennedy, national secretary at the National Union of Workers (NUW).</p> <p>“It is a struggle between haves and have-nots. Worker’s wages are declining while wealth and power continues to grow at the top end of town.”</p> <p>Kennedy said it is a “matter of justice” for the company, which brands itself as “Australia’s Cheapest Chemist”, to treat their workers with respect and meet the industry standard.</p> <p>According to the union, the company currently pays its workers 25 per cent lower than competitors. Apart from salary increase, the workers are also looking to increase the proportion of permanent staff from 25 per cent to 70 per cent, <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.pharmacynews.com.au/news/chemist-warehouse-faces-strike-workers-demand-25-pay-increase" target="_blank">Pharmacy News</a> </em>reported.</p> <p>On Thursday, a day before the International Women’s Day, NUW members also occupied Chemist Warehouse stores to protest “the ongoing sexual harassment of our sisters working in Chemist Warehouse distribution centres”.</p> <p>Staff also called for more respectful treatment. </p> <p>“Labour hire casuals are treated as disposable machines, not like people,” the union said. “Often they are expected to wait on unpaid standby without any guarantee of their next shift.</p> <p>“Chemist Warehouse could provide people with decent, safe and secure jobs – but they choose not to.”</p> <p>The pharmacy is not the only Australian company dealing with strike action today. Telstra is facing a nationwide strike until 11.59 pm tonight over wage increases.</p> <p>The strike will affect NBN and broadband installation, as well as phone and mobile service maintenance, Communications Electrical Plumbing Union (CEPU) state secretary Shane Murphy told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/telstra-workers-on-strike-today/news-story/79353d571d41465efc415dcb75ba4d02" target="_blank"><em>news.com.au</em></a>. It will not impact the Triple Zero service.</p> <p>The telco giant is offering workers a 4.5 per cent pay increase over three years, but unions argue that it is well below inflation rates. The Australian Trade Council of Unions (ACTU) described the offer as “effectively a pay cut”.</p> <p>“It is disgraceful Telstra is offering a real wage cut while their top six executives collectively take home what would take the average Telstra worker 200 years to earn,” said ACTU secretary Sally McManus.</p>

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Leave your lunch at home and head down to your local Bunnings!

<p>Leave your lunch at home today and enjoy an Aussie staple to help out those in need.</p> <p>Bunnings around the country are firing up their barbecues to raise much-needed money that go towards those who have been impacted by the Townsville floods and the Tasmanian bushfires.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BtZxJabhhSv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BtZxJabhhSv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" target="_blank">Fires, emergencies, smoke, ash, evacuations, despair, anxiety, charred forest are some of the adjectives to describe the last few weeks in little old Geeveston , Huon Valley, Tasmania. 📷abchobart Though not displaced by home, we are certainly displaced by our business in being one of the numbers in this little community. Thank the Lord, thank the TFS, Tas Police &amp; local authorities in sparing lives in this story so far though it’s not over yet ! Geeveston will rebirth, regenerate and literally rise from the ashes when this passes 🙏🏻 Please look forward to the next chapter ... Sincere heartfelt thanks to the many private and other messages to date including @lukewmcgregor @louiselovebrand @stevecumper1 among many others. 💕 • • • #tasmanianfireservice #tasmanianbushfires #geeveston #rosehaven #geevestontasmania #risefromtheashes #therealalannahhill</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/theoldbankofgeeveston/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" target="_blank"> The Old Bank Of Geeveston</a> (@theoldbankofgeeveston) on Feb 2, 2019 at 6:19pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Bunnings will have the barbecues running from 9 am to 4pm, so you’ve got plenty of time to get down and help out.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt181HWgFrG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_control" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt181HWgFrG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_control" target="_blank">Grab a snag tomorrow from 9am to 4pm at your local store to support our national fundraiser for @givit_aus 🌭 Stores across the country will be behind the BBQ raising funds for the Townsville flood emergency, while the Tassie team will be supporting the recent Tasmania bushfires.</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/bunnings/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_control" target="_blank"> Bunnings Warehouse</a> (@bunnings) on Feb 13, 2019 at 5:00pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Bunnings partnered with GIVIT, who are directing funds directly to those who need it most in the impacted communities around Australia. </p> <p>GIVIT founder and Director Juliette Wright is on the ground in Townsville, lending a hand to those who have lost everything in the floods.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7823297/queensland-flood-gallery-5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/569e6a56b98a4f68b1a9bf33e82f2105" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Townsville floods</em></p> <p>“Front line services, charities and counsels are telling us what people need. And we ask generous Australians to fill that need,” Juliette told <a rel="noopener" href="https://kitchen.nine.com.au/2019/02/14/15/55/bunning-stores-host-sausage-sizzle-for-townsville-floods" target="_blank">9Honey Kitchen.</a></p> <p>“It’s about making sure the people in need get exactly what they need when they need it. Like a mum who has a newborn and a one-year-old and cannot afford an electric kettle,” Juliette added.</p> <p>“We’re focusing on essential items. Safety equipment and cleaning equipment as they’re still in the early phases of recovery.”</p> <p>Will you be heading down to Bunnings today to help raise funds for the victims of the Townsville floods and Tasmanian bushfires? Let us know in the comments.</p>

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