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"That's rigged": Fans react with fury after Voice winner revealed

<p>Lachie Gill has been crowned as the winner of The Voice Australia 2022 and fans are not happy with the verdict.</p> <p>The 24-year-old was up against fellow finalists Faith Sosene, Thando Sikwila and Jordan Tavita – with some fans left feeling Gill's win was not at all warranted against his diverse fellow finalists.</p> <p>Several viewers took to Twitter to express their belief that Lachie only won because he is white.</p> <p>'Surely no one is surprised the pretty white boy won,' one person tweeted, while someone else added: 'Lachey won? Sounds about white'.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Surely no one is surprised the pretty white boy won <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a></p> <p>— BFM (@ChingChefandWet) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChingChefandWet/status/1530872019704696833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>'I really hate to say this but there were three next level vocalists on #TheVoiceAU in the final. And the winner wasn't one of them. Was the only white one though. I truly can't think of another explanation,' another wrote.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I really hate to say this but there were 3 next level vocalists on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a> in the final. And the winner wasn’t one of them. Was the only white one though. </p> <p>I truly can’t think of another explanation.</p> <p>— Mister Spinner (@kiwibrotha) <a href="https://twitter.com/kiwibrotha/status/1530871795447787520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>'Apparently all you need to win #TheVoiceAU is be a mediocre white man!!' someone else agreed while one more said: 'No way. That's rigged. White boy who fits the suit.'</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Apparently all you need to win <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a> is be a mediocre white man!!</p> <p>— the starving African child yall be talking about (@sayhope24) <a href="https://twitter.com/sayhope24/status/1530869304320659457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">No way. That’s rigged. White boy who fits the suit. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a></p> <p>— Maddie Norris (@FionaNorris26) <a href="https://twitter.com/FionaNorris26/status/1530867341931622400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>'No surprise there. Three world class vocalists and and one AFL player who plays guitar. Australia gonna vote white', another tweeted.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">No surprise there. 3 world class vocalists and an 1 AFL player who plays guitar. Australia gonna vote white. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a></p> <p>— vicpetelo (@vicpetelo) <a href="https://twitter.com/vicpetelo/status/1530868984676945920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>'Yep a white boy with no voice won #TheVoiceAU. What more could go wrong aye? Stop white washing everything. Stop making us all look bad. We must demand to see all the votes that came in,' one more chimed in.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yep a white boy with no voice won <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a> 🙄<br />What more could go wrong aye? Stop white washing everything. Stop making us all look bad. We must demand to see all the votes that came in <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVoiceAU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheVoiceAU</a></p> <p>— Ted Lundy (@teddy_lundy) <a href="https://twitter.com/teddy_lundy/status/1530867842350198784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>'Well… that was a waste of time - three incredible singers of colour and the mediocre white guy won'.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Well… that was a waste of time - 3 incredible singers of colour, &amp; the mediocre white guy with a mo won 🤬<br /><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoice?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoice</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a></p> <p>— Caro Line (@craftycaro1971) <a href="https://twitter.com/craftycaro1971/status/1530867699412217856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>During Sunday night's grand finale episode, Lachie won the $100,000 prize money and a recording contract with Universal Music Australia.</p> <p>After Sonia Kruger delivered the verdict, Lochie exclaimed: "Oh my God! From the start, I just never, ever would have expected this. I'm just blown away. Thank you so much. Wow. Thank you".</p> <p>Lachie's coach, Rita Ora, praised him for his talent and thanked Australia for their support.</p> <p>Rita and Lachie also performed Lady Gaga's hit "Always Remember Us This Way" during Sunday's grand finale episode.</p> <p><em>Image: Channel 7</em></p>

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Explosive claims emerge claiming George Pell trial was rigged

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>A senior Italian Cardinal has been accused of using $1.14 million of Vatican funds to pay witnesses in Cardinal George Pell's sexual abuse trial to secure a conviction against his rival.</p> <p>Italian media are reporting that allegedly Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu is suspected of wiring money to witnesses testifying in Cardinal Pell's trial to ensure an aggressive testimony.</p> <p>This allegedly occurred during the 2019 trial after Pell was accused of molesting choir boys in the 1990s. Pell was convicted, sentenced, imprisoned and later cleared of the charges.</p> <p>It's alleged that this was a ploy to derail Cardinal Pell's exposure of Cardinal Becciu, where a "huge enmity" is reported between the pair.</p> <p>The 72-year-old is also allegedly suspected of pushing Vatican funds to charities and businesses run by his three brothers.</p> <p><em>La Repubblica</em> and <em>Corriere della Sera</em> have quoted leaked documents that Vatican investigators suspect Cardinal Becciu of funnelling the money to Melbourne Supreme Court witnesses.</p> <p>Investigators allege that Cardinal Becciu hoped the money would ruin Pell's transparency program which would have exposed Becciu's management of Vatican funds.</p> <p>Cardinal Becciu has strongly denied the allegations, saying, “I categorically deny interfering in any way in the trial of Cardinal Pell.”</p> <p>The "huge enmity" between the pair initially started as Pell had been assigned by Pope Francis to clean up Vatican accounting practices, but his attempts were stopped by Cardinal Becciu, as he held an influential role investing millions of euros of Catholic donations.</p> <p>Cardinal Becciu was deputy secretariat of state between 2011 and 2018 before Pope Francis stripped him of the role and put him in charge of running the Hole See's department for making saints.</p> <p>Last month, the Pope removed him from that role and took away his right to elect popes as Vatican investigators have begun to sort through Becciu's secretariat of state spending record. </p> <p>Cardinal Pell also made a comment that Cardinal Becciu felt implied he was being dishonest in front of the Pope.</p> <p>Following Cardinal Becciu’s sacking as secretariat, Pell had said: “The Holy Father was elected to clean up Vatican finances.</p> <p>“He plays a long game and is to be thanked and congratulated on recent developments.”</p> <p>Cardinal Becciu protested, saying, “I couldn’t allow him to say something like that.</p> <p>“From the time I was a child, I had always been taught by my parents to be honest.”</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper"> <div class="post-actions-component"> <div class="upper-row"><span class="like-bar-component"></span> <div class="right-box-container"> <div class="post-editor-container"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Legal

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Controversy over Today’s $160,000 cash giveaway

<p>Today show viewers have shared their doubts after the program gave away $160,000 last week.</p> <p>In order for viewers to win the cash giveaway, they must answer their phones with the words “I wake up with Today”.</p> <p>However, when Pauline answered the phone, the audio cut out at the vital moment when she answered the phone and the only word which viewers could hear was a broken “Today”.</p> <p>Hosts of the show were quick to congratulate Pauline on her win but some viewers were suspicious of the viewer’s win.</p> <p>Some claimed they heard the word “G’day” while others said the result was “rigged” because the breakfast show was desperate to see the jackpot go off.</p> <p>The Channel Nine show responded to the backlash by explaining that the audio had briefly cut out because they were doing an outdoor broadcast.</p> <p>“An independent auditor was in the control room during the call and verified that Pauline successfully answered the phone with the words ‘I wake up with Today’,” a Nine spokesman told news.com.au.</p> <p>The show also posted on its Facebook page to explain the situation.</p> <p>“For those asking, Pauline successfully answered the phone with the words ‘I wake up with Today’, despite the audio briefly cutting out on-air from our outside broadcast in Melbourne,” the post read.</p> <p>Some viewers remained unconvinced.</p> <p>“Your telling me in that very small delay, around 1 second, she said ‘I wake up with today’? I’m happy for Pauline. But sorry think this has been rigged big time. As stated on the show earlier this morning, you were desperate to give the cash way and I think just let the rules slide,” posted Terry McLoy.</p> <p>“You need to clarify the audio, there were two rings then gday or similar. No space for I wake up with. Viewers aren’t stupid,” wrote Tanya Kilner.</p> <p>Some viewers disagreed with the critics saying that it was a fair win.</p> <p>“It was a live cross and if you listen carefully she was saying today obviously we didn’t get to hear the whole thing but the producers did ... well done to her and the rest of you need to get over yourselves,” said Dawn Pfeiler.</p> <p>“You are all very sad people if you listen very carefully you hear her say today at the end not gidday so disappointing that you all want to take away her excitement,” posted Tracy Hopkins.</p> <p>Earlier this year, Today’s former Block of Cash segment had trouble giving away $30,000 after the phone went unanswered 16 times.</p> <p>Do you catch this moment on TV? Let us know if you think it was a fair win in the comments below.</p>

Money & Banking

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The man who rigged the lottery

<p>A lottery computer programmer charged with using his inside knowledge to win rigged games across the US has pleaded guilty to fixing a 2007 jackpot in Wisconsin - his first admission of guilt in a scandal that rocked the industry.</p> <p>Eddie Tipton entered the guilty plea to one count of theft and one count of a computer crime in a courtroom in Madison, after insisting on his innocence since his arrest in 2015.</p> <p>He's set to be sentenced on September 21.</p> <p>Tipton was security director for the Multi-State Lottery Association, where he wrote and installed code for software that picked random numbers for games sold by member lotteries.</p> <p>Investigators say Tipton designed his software so that on three days out of the year, he could predict the winning numbers.</p> <p>Tipton; his best friend, Texas businessman Robert Rhodes; and his brother, former Texas Judge Tommy Tipton, then bought winning numbers for those drawings and split the jackpots, authorities say.</p> <p>Prosecutors say trio has been linked to winning tickets worth millions between 2005 and 2011 in Colorado, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma.</p> <p>The alleged scheme unravelled after Tipton was caught on surveillance video buying a winning US$16 million Hot Lotto ticket in December 2010 in Iowa that others would unsuccessfully try to cash a year later.</p> <p>Tipton's guilty plea in Wisconsin came after Rhodes told investigators there in detail how the scheme worked for a US$783,000 Megabucks jackpot they won in 2007.</p> <p>Rhodes pleaded guilty earlier this year to his role and pledged to testify against Tipton in Wisconsin and Iowa under plea agreements.</p> <p>Rhodes told investigators that he visited Tipton at his Iowa home in December 2007. Tipton gave him index cards containing a series of numbers for him to play for the upcoming drawing.</p> <p>Rhodes drove to Wisconsin in a rental car, buying tickets from various stores in the southwestern part of the state, before driving back to Iowa and returning to Texas. Rhodes then used a limited liability company to claim the prize in Wisconsin.</p> <p>What do you think about this story?</p> <p><em>Written by Ryan J. Foley And Todd Richmond. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>. </em></p>

Technology

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Aussies believe system is “rigged” against ordinary people

<p>A survey has revealed that a staggering 68 per cent of Australians believe the economy is “rigged to the advantage of the rich and powerful”, with 61 per cent saying, “traditional parties and politicians don't care about people like me”.</p> <p>The latest <a href="http://www.ipsos.com.au/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ipsos survey</span></strong></a> examined the opinions of 16,069 adults from 22 countries and suggests there is a widespread distrust of politicians and the system in general worldwide.</p> <p>Social Research Institute Director David Elliott stated, “[In Australia] the increase of support for Pauline Hanson and her party in the previous election certainly supports that.”</p> <p>And it’s not just the pollies who are coming under increasing scrutiny of the man in the street. The Ipsos research also indicated 60 per cent of Australians believe, “experts in this country don’t understand the lives of people like me”.</p> <p>With such a high percentage of Australians not trusting public institutions, the possibility of a Trump or Brexit-like vote in Australia doesn’t seem out of the question.</p> <p>Carol Johnson, Professor of Politics and International Studies at the University of Adelaide told <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fairfax Media</span></strong></a>, “We should be concerned. If there's anything we can learn from Trump's victory and from Brexit, it's that these forces can emerge far more quickly than mainstream politicians and commentators expect.”</p> <p>So, what do you think? Is the system “rigged” against ordinary Australians? Or are people disillusioned with politics and looking for another option?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/retirement-income/2017/02/retirement-in-the-age-of-financial-uncertainty/">Retirement in the age of financial uncertainty</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/retirement-income/2017/02/pension-changes-could-prompt-financial-risk-taking/">Pension changes could prompt financial risk taking</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/retirement-income/2017/01/expenses-disrupting-your-retirement-budget/">4 expenses that will disrupt your retirement budget</a></strong></em></span></p>

Retirement Income

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Understanding the rate rigging scandal

<p>The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is taking legal action against three of Australia’s major banks (NAB, ANZ and Westpac) alleging that these financial institutions have engaged in unconscionable conduct and market manipulation.</p> <p>ASIC contends that these banks have been manipulating the bank bill swap reference rate (BBSW), which is a reference point that’s used by banks when they lend to each other and is used to set interest rates and personal lending rates.</p> <p><strong>What's happening?</strong></p> <p>Prior to September 2013 the BBSW was set by Australian Financial Markets Association, which made its decision based on submissions from up to 14 banks, who would quote the interest rate they were paying and receiving at 10am each business day.</p> <p>Well, at least that’s what they were supposed to be doing.</p> <p>Instead, ASIC believes NAB, ANZ and Westpac were colluding to produce inaccurate data that could result in hundreds of millions of dollars in profits for the banks.</p> <p><strong>Why should I care?</strong></p> <p>Well, because the BBSW sets the benchmark rates on corporate loans, business loans, mortgages and credit cards, if traders were colluding to manipulate it, odds are you as a consumer had to foot the bill by having to pay higher interest rates.</p> <p><strong>What is being done?</strong></p> <p>Prompted by a similar scandal in the UK, ASIC has been investigating the potential of manipulation in Australia. ASIC has confirmed it will take legal action against NAB, ANZ and Westpac and may pursue fines in excess of $1 million.</p> <p>Labor has called for a Royal Commission into the banking sector, while the Coalition says they’ve given ASIC more funding and powers to investigate misconduct.</p> <p>So, as is often the case with issues like this, we’re just going to have to wait and see how it plays out. Still, it’s hardly an encouraging thought.  </p> <p>Were you aware of the rate-rigging scandal that’s taking place, and what do you make of it? Does this change your opinion of the big banks?</p> <p>Share your thoughts in the comments. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/03/questions-to-ask-your-bank/">Questions you need to ask your bank today</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/06/when-it-comes-to-banking-ethics-are-blind/">When it comes to banking ethics are blind</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/05/simple-ways-you-can-make-your-money-grow/">Simple ways you can make your money grow</a></strong></em></span></p>

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