Search

“A beautiful soul”: Teenager killed in Aus Day boat crash identified

The teenager killed in a fatal boat crash on Australia Day has been identified, as her heartbroken family remember her as a “beautiful soul”. Darcy Davey-Sutherland was enjoying a day on the water when two tinnies collided near the Gray’s Point boat ramp in Sydney’s Sutherlandshire, where the 16-year-old was critically injured. Paramedics arrived on the scene and transported Darcy to St George’s Hospital, where she later died. The 16-year-old was wearing a lifejacket at the time of the crash, and it is believed onlookers found her face down in the water and performed CPR on the teenager until paramedics arrived. Her father, Michael Davey-Sutherland, said his daughter was "the beacon of light within our family" in both the UK and Australia. "She was about to embark on the most special part of life as she stepped into adulthood," Michael told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-darcy-sutherland-killed-in-grays-point-boat-crash/794e7737-9970-4e41-80b0-4324c4d6db5c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>. "Words cannot describe the pain we feel at the moment." Darcy, who was the eldest child and was very close to her two younger brothers, was also fondly remembered by her family and friends online. "I will miss you so much Darc, I feel like I've lost a part of me," one person said. "Will forever love you. You will forever be missed, my beautiful angel, I will never forget our time together," another said. "I pray for your family to find the strength to live with their forever broken heart, keeping your memory alive. Rest beautiful girl," a third added. A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/darcy-sutherland">GoFundMe</a> page set up to help the Davey-Sutherland family has already seen more than $40,000 raised in 24 hours. Image credits: 9News / Facebook

News

Woolies boss grilled for scrapping Aus Day merch

Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci has shared the reason why the retailer chose to drop Australia Day merchandise. The supermarket giant copped some <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/woolworths-under-fire-for-dropping-australia-day-merch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backlash </a>after they announced that they would stop selling the merch, with even opposition leader Peter Dutton calling for a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/peter-dutton-calls-for-woolworths-boycott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boycott</a> for their decision. They have since issued a full-page advertisement insisting the supermarket giant is not anti-Australia Day, which Banducci was grilled for in his latest appearance on the Today show. “We aren’t trying to ‘cancel’ Australia Day, rather Woolworths is deeply proud of our place in providing the fresh food that brings Australians together every day,” Banducci wrote in the letter. “So you’re not anti Australia today as a company?” Today show host Karl Stefanovic asked in reference to the letter. “Karl, we are a very proud Australian company. We’ve been around for 100 years. "We have 178,000 hard working team members who are going to be in store doing the right thing for our customers on Australia Day, and we’re passionate about this country,” the Woolworths chief executive replied. “But you’re not anti Australia Day?” Stefanovic asked again. Banducci replied saying that the day “means different things to everyone” and that he supports Aussies to commemorate the day in whatever way they wish. He added that while customers won't be able to buy Australia Day merch at their stores, they will decorate their stores across the country in “green and gold” to commemorate the day. “You must have serious regrets about this?” Stefanovic grilled. “I think we could clearly have done a better job of explaining our decision, that’s why I’m here,” Banducci replied. “I do feel anxious about the impact that this is having on our team. They are proud, hard working Australians, and for them to be seen as anti-Australian or woke is fundamentally unfair.” He added that this decision was made 12 months ago when they found that there was “gradual decline” in demand for the merchandise. Images: Today

Legal

“Say it to my face”: Novak Djokovic confronts Aus Open hecklers

Novak Djokovic has confronted rowdy Australian Open audience members, saying the “tough guy” in the crowd “crossed the line” with his unsolicited commentary. The Serbian tennis player was on his way to a victory against Aussie player Alexei Popyrin when he got caught in a verbal altercation with a spectator. The frustrated defending grand slam champion was heard during the match yelling, "Come here and say it to my face" to a fan seated behind him at Rod Laver Arena. "Come here! Come here!" Djokovic could be heard yelling in response to the mouthy spectator. During his post-match press conference after the match win, the world No.1 elaborated on the clash with the spectator, telling the media he won't tolerate such behaviour from disrespectful audience members "I mean, you don't want to know [what he said]. There were a lot of things that were being told to me on the court, particularly from that corner, and the same side the other corner. I was tolerating it for most of the match," Djokovic said. "At one point I had enough, and I asked him whether he wants to come down and tell it to my face. Unfortunately for him, he didn't have the courage to come down. "That's what I was asking him. If you have courage, if you're such a tough man, tough guy, come down and tell it to my face, and let's have a discussion about it.” "He was apologising from far away. That's all it is." "I'm not going to sit and say 'it's all good'. It's not good," he said. "Of course, it upsets me. I'm frustrated. I don't want to be experiencing that, but I have to accept it as it is.” "Sometimes I don't tolerate when somebody crosses the line. That's it." The veteran player declared he would continue to "confront" patrons who attempted to throw him off his game, saying, "I was feeling a lot of mixed emotions today on the court. Not a great atmosphere to play in to be honest for me." Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

A guide to pairing wine and food

When it comes to selecting wines for to go with your meals, there are no absolute rules – the only expert opinion that matters is your own. That said, there are definitely choices that pair better with certain dishes. Pairing wines to a rich, complicated supper is not as difficult as it may seem. In fact, choosing wines to go with your winter meals can be among the most enjoyable and more relaxing stages in planning the dinner. At a minimum, you want to provide refreshment – water and wines – that flatter the meal's flavours. In many cases, a good-quality, medium-bodied red wine is a great choice with a lot of winter dishes. Welcoming guests and relatives with flutes of crisp, sparkling wine always creates a nice sense of occasion, whether your hors d'oeuvres are just some biscuits and dips or a lavish selection or meat and cheeses. And if you’re thinking of serving bubbles throughout an entire meal, you might be onto something. Although a soup or shellfish starter might be its ideal partner, the sparkling's bubbly assertiveness allows it to hold its own with more robust dishes. A traditional roast dinner – a popular meal choice in winter – that comes with baked vegetables, tests the liveliness of a single wine, and so often it makes sense to offer two or more that way guests can sip from whichever glass suits what they are eating. A red wine made substantially from pinot noir grapes is a fine partner for the distinctive taste of dark meat, and the black cherry-like character of many pinot noirs, will evoke the yummy berry, rich sauces that are popular throughout the cooler months of the year. With the broad range of flavours in your meals, you may want to consider introducing maturity and complexity in your wines. Try either the sun-baked earthiness you find in an shiraz or a rioja, or a hint of mellow age, such as that found in many wines older than four or five years. A well-crafted white wine can be a star of a winter dinner table, especially if it picks up on the citrus tones that are often present in sauces and garnishes of meals. Rich, concentrated white wines, such as a viognier or a chardonnay, with higher alcohol and a wisp of butterscotch sweetness, can enhance white meat. If the white is elegant and floral enough, it can be the perfect chaser for more herbal dishes, too. With very little legwork, you can find wines like these in every price range, so once you’ve decided on your menu and before you commit to certain wines, sample a few options. Image credit: Shutterstock

Food & Wine

Outrage after Aus Post driver caught parking in disability spot

A Queensland Australian Post worker has sparked outrage after parking his car at a shopping centre car park, leading to a quick response from the company. A disgruntled Karalee local saw the Aus Post van parked in the disability spot and said the contractor’s “unacceptable” act led to an elderly woman missing out on the much-needed spot. Posting to the Australian Disability Parking Wall of Shame Facebook page, the woman wrote, "Driver’s laziness led to elderly lady with a permit having to park opposite and hobble across the road." The van was parked outside the Karalee Chempro Chemist. The post prompted many to weigh in, with some users bringing up other Australia Post parking concerns they’ve seen around their local areas. “At my local shops here in Perth one of the thatched areas besides an ACROD bay is marked that Australia Post vehicles are permitted to park in it which I also believe is wrong and this is definitely inexcusable," one man wrote. The Facebook post has since been deleted. Australia Post issued an apology as soon as they were made aware of the situation. "We sincerely apologise for the actions of this delivery contractor and any inconvenience caused," an Australia Post spokesperson said in a statement. "This lapse in judgement falls well below the high standards we expect of our team members. "It’s especially disappointing given Australia Post prides itself on its commitment to inclusion and diversity both across our workforce and within our communities. We’ve spoken to the contractor and taken steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.” According to Yahoo, both the man driving the van and all Australia Post contractors copped a strong reminder that they cannot park in disability spots without a permit. Image credit: Facebook

Legal

What made rents soar? It might have been COVID, and pairing off

So, you think you know why rents climbed. You probably think was skyrocketing interest rates and a tsunami of migration. It’s true that interest rates have jumped more over the past year than at any time on record, and it’s true that migration has roared back – in the six months to September 2022 (the latest month for which we’ve official figures) arrivals exceeded departures by <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/national-state-and-territory-population/sep-2022">170,000</a>. But here’s the thing. Advertised rents began climbing sharply in <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/insights/where-rents-prices-are-really-skyrocketing-in-some-cases-by-600-a-week-more/">late 2021</a> – six months before the Reserve Bank began pushing up interest rates, and at a time <a href="https://theconversation.com/top-economists-expect-rba-to-hold-rates-low-in-2022-as-real-wages-fall-175054">when it was forecast not to</a>. And “net migration” was <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/national-state-and-territory-population/sep-2021">negative</a> back when rents were taking off – meaning the number of arrivals didn’t even match the number of departures. <h2>It’s supply and demand</h2> Something else made rents move. As it happens, there’s no particular reason to think interest rates would have quickly affected rents even if they had been climbing. If higher rates force some landlords to sell, and they sell to other landlords, the number of properties for rent won’t change. If those landlords sell to owner occupiers who would otherwise rent, they cut both the number of rental properties and the number of renters. What matters for rents, as for any price, is the demand for and the supply of the product being priced. More demand (more renters wanting properties) and the price climbs. More supply (more properties available for rent) and the price falls. On the face of it, neither demand nor supply was changing much during COVID as rents started climbing. Australia’s population was growing more slowly than at any time <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2023/sp-gov-2023-04-05.html">in modern history</a>. And, as best as we can tell, the number of properties available for rent was climbing, <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/building-and-construction/building-activity-australia/latest-release">albeit weakly</a>. What did change during COVID, according to the research department of the Reserve Bank, was the <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2023/mar/renters-rent-inflation-and-renter-stress.html">average number of people per household</a>. The change doesn’t sound big – the average fell from a bit above 2.6 residents per household to a bit below 2.55 – but applied to millions of households it meant about <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2022/sp-ag-2022-05-25.html">140,000</a> more houses and apartments were needed than would have been. <h2>Average household size (capital cities)</h2> The sudden change was awfully for hard for the building industry to respond to, especially when it was laid low by COVID. Why did we suddenly want to live with fewer people? The head of the Bank’s economic division, Luci Ellis, thinks it was COVID itself, and lockdowns. We suddenly became more precious about sharing space. <h2>‘Love the one you’re with’</h2> Ellis says proportion of Australians living in group houses declined and stayed low. Faced with the choice of living with a large number of housemates and just one other person, perhaps a romantic partner, a lot of renters left group houses and <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2022/sp-ag-2022-05-25.html">shacked up with each other</a>. As she put it last year, "On the question of who you would rather be locked down with, at least some Australians have voted with their removalists’ van, by moving out of their share house and in with their partner." There’s more to it of course, but where the supply and demand for anything are roughly in balance (rents had been increasing by <a href="https://theconversation.com/rent-crisis-average-rents-are-increasing-less-than-you-might-think-189154">less than 1% per year</a> in the four years before COVID, and fell in the first year of COVID) any sudden change in either supply or demand can move prices quickly. <h2>Advertised rents aren’t typical …</h2> Having said that, for most renters prices are still moving slowly. Advertised capital city rents are up <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/insights/where-rents-prices-are-really-skyrocketing-in-some-cases-by-600-a-week-more/">13%</a> over the past year, and advertised regional rates up 9%. But average rents (the average of what all renters pay) are up only 4.8%. The rents charged to ongoing tenants climb <a href="https://theconversation.com/rent-crisis-average-rents-are-increasing-less-than-you-might-think-189154">much more slowly</a>than the rents charged to new tenants, in part because landlords often like their tenants, and in part because for the first year renters are usually on fixed contracts. But over time as renters move home, and landlords become less squeamish, more and more renters tend to pay the rents advertised. It makes the increase in advertised rents an unwelcome sign of what’s to come. <h2>… but they’re a sign of rents ahead</h2> And it might get worse. Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe says population growth is set to climb to <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2023/sp-gov-2023-04-05.html">2%</a> – near the peak reached during the resources boom. We won’t be able to build houses anything like that fast. Lowe says the last time Australia’s population surged it took about <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2023/sp-gov-2023-04-05.html">five years</a> for housing supply to fully respond to housing demand. We’ve ways of dealing with it of course. One is to re-embrace group homes, another is to delay moving out of our partents’ homes, or to move back in. But even if this does happen, Lowe says, with typical understatement, that rent inflation – ultra-low before COVID – is likely to stay “quite high” for some time. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-made-rents-soar-it-might-have-been-covid-and-pairing-off-203542" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Real Estate

New flag furore erupts as Djokovic crushes Aus Open final

Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open in convincing fashion to equal Rafael Nadal's Grand Slam record, a year after he was deported over his COVID vaccination status. The Serbian star defeated Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas in three sets in the final in Melbourne on Sunday, making it Djokovic's 10th Australian Open title – equal to Nadal's Grand Slam record of 22 men's singles titles. However, during the broadcast an eagle-eyed viewer couldn’t help but single out the disturbing appearance of a flag bearing a controversial far-right symbol, waved by a Djokovic supporter. “Why am I seeing a Chetnik flag amongst the Serbian crowd at the Tsitsipas vs Djokovic match?” wrote Twitter user Sophie Mak. “Are ultra fascist symbols allowed in the Australian Open now?” The Chetniks were paramilitary ultranationalists who committed war crimes during WWII. Respected tennis journo Ben Rothenberg then responded by calling for future Australian Opens to be completely flag free if security cannot control such incidents. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I really think they need to make the 2024 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> a flag-free zone if their security repeatedly can't figure this stuff out. Tournament security has been pretty abysmal (though we haven't had the ~annual court invader during the men's final yet). <a href="https://t.co/Mztq6NstPg">https://t.co/Mztq6NstPg</a> — Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1619649716932988929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2023</a></blockquote> “Tournament security has been pretty abysmal (though we haven’t had the ~annual court invader during the men’s final yet),” added Rothenberg. Tennis Australia were moved to introduce a complete ban on Russian and Belarusian flags earlier in the Australian Open after a Belarusian flag was spotted being waved during a Ukrainian’s match. Djokovic’s father Srbjan was then caught up in a controversy when he inadvertently posed alongside pro-Vladimir Putin protesters outside the stadium who were holding up a flag with the Russian leader’s face on it. Srbjan then elected not to attend the semi-final nor the final of the tournament in which his son was victorious for a record tenth time. Images: Twitter

News

Peppa Pig has introduced a pair of lesbian polar bears, but Aussie kids’ TV has been leading the way in queer representation

Peppa Pig’s first same-sex couple, a pair of lesbian polar bears, were recently introduced after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/sep/08/peppa-pig-introduces-its-first-same-sex-couple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a petition to include a same-sex family</a> received nearly 24,000 signatures. Children’s television has often been a place to push the boundaries of diverse representations onscreen. In particular, Australian children’s TV has been a global leader in screen diversity, including gender and queer representation. Emmy-winning Australian series <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10614090/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Day</a> (2020-22) tells the story of a transgender girl starting high school. Another Emmy-winner, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8747140/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hardball</a> (2019-21) includes gay dads for one of the lead characters. Even recent updates to The Wiggles’ line-up has placed a greater emphasis on gender diversity, including <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/the-wiggles-announces-four-new-band-members-with-focus-on-diversity-gender-equality/news-story/dbc914965a83332c857e7665b3639ba0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adding a non-binary unicorn</a>. <h2>Diverse representation</h2> Children’s TV is often less risk averse than programming aimed at adults. The ABC is <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1329878X16687400" target="_blank" rel="noopener">empowered</a> to take risks with representations of gender and sexuality in children’s programming because of its publicly funded role. But such progressive portrayals can sometimes chafe with outdated expectations of children’s television. In 2004, Play School <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07380560802314128" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faced controversy</a> for showing lesbian mothers. As social acceptance has progressed, Australian children’s TV has been able to achieve more queer representations. Talking to the Queering Australian Screens <a href="https://djomeara.com/phd-research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research project</a>, television professionals often praised the genre for its openness to new ideas, representations and bringing in new talent. Tony Ayres, Creator of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowhere_Boys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nowhere Boys</a> (2013-18), observed those who commission children’s TV are “generally very open to diverse representation”. This representation happens behind the scenes, too, with Ayres describing how these shows often give new talent their first credit. David Hannam, who has written for several kids’ TV shows including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Academy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dance Academy</a> (2010-13), said children’s television “has led the way”. Speaking of his time at the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Hannam noted the foundation had an “almost charter responsibility” to show diversity on screen, “with great caution and responsibility”. Julie Kalceff created First Day, which starred a young trans actor, Evie McDonald, as a trans girl starting high school. When she was developing the show, Kalceff shared that she was initially concerned about what would be allowed on children’s TV: There were no trans people on television. There were no TV shows with trans actors in the lead role. I thought there’s no way the ABC is going to do this. And there’s no way they’re going to do it with kids’ TV. But to their credit, the ABC was so supportive, and was so behind the project from the beginning. <h2>What audiences want</h2> It is not only TV producers who are eager to widen representation in children’s television. Audiences are also seeking out more inclusive content. Just like Peppa Pig in the UK, there have been calls in Australia for more diversity in animated hit Bluey, with the show adding its <a href="https://10play.com.au/theproject/articles/bluey-introduces-first-auslan-signing-character-in-a-new-special-episode/tpa220616bswgm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first Auslan signing character</a> in June. One of our research projects, Australian Children’s Television Cultures’ <a href="https://www.swinburne.edu.au/news/2022/05/new-research-shows-the-way-families-watch-TV-is-changing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021 survey</a> found 90% of Australian parents believe diverse representation is an important element of children’s TV. As one father explained: <blockquote> Diversity on screen helps children learn about people with different upbringings from their own, expanding their empathy for and curiosity about other people. </blockquote> In contrast to the controversy Play School received nearly 20 years ago for its inclusion of same-sex parents, a mother praised the show for “doing a fantastic job” of depicting diversity in relationships. Not everyone believes Australian television is doing enough. One survey respondent praised the way shows like Bluey reflect Australian culture, but said he would “love to see more LGBT representation […] It would be nice as a kid to know you’re valid.” <h2>Uncertain futures</h2> The streaming era has changed how families and children watch TV. This raises concerns about the future of Australian children’s content. The recent <a href="https://theconversation.com/cheese-n-crackers-concerns-deepen-for-the-future-of-australian-childrens-television-147183" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removal of quotas</a> for Australian networks to air a minimum number of hours of children’s television, alongside the absence of quotas on streaming services, has led to <a href="https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/09/producers-slam-hypocritical-networks-as-australian-childrens-tv-plummets.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a reduction</a> in the production of local kids’ TV. From Play School to Bluey, children’s TV has reflected the richness of Australian cultural life. There is a risk that if Australian child audiences need to rely on international content, future generations will not see themselves on screen. With the loss of local voices, Australian kids’ TV may also lose its ability to push boundaries of diversity and inclusion. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/peppa-pig-has-introduced-a-pair-of-lesbian-polar-bears-but-aussie-kids-tv-has-been-leading-the-way-in-queer-representation-190648" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Peppa Pig

Principles of food and wine pairing

McWilliam’s wine educator, Michael Quirk, gives Over60 a rundown on what wine varieties work well with certain foods. Michael explains that “the generally accepted rule of ‘like with like’ can assist”. For instance, sweet wine with sweet food, acidic wines with sour foods and red wine with red meat. When planning your next meal here’s your cheat-sheet for pairing a matching wine: Michael says, “These work beautifully together”… <ul> <li> Champagne/premium sparkling is perfect with anything salty like fresh oysters </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Rosé champagne is great with dinner (think salmon), not just hors d'oeuvres.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Sauvignon blanc goes with tart dressings and sauces and especially asparagus.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Albariño/verdelho is perfect when a dish has lots of fresh herbs. For instance, fish and crustaceans</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Pinot grigio/gris pairs with light fish dishes and dried meats like parma ham and melon</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Chardonnay goes well with fatty fish (like salmon or tuna) or fish in a rich sauce.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Riesling or semillon pairs great with sushi or sashimi</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Off-dry riesling pairs with sweet and spicy dishes like Asian cuisine – Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Moscato loves fresh tropical fruit, pavolas and fruit-based desserts</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Botrytis semillon/riesling is amazing with foie gras, pâté and terrines</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Dry rosé works well with rich, cheesy dishes and spicy Mexican style. For example tacos or Vietnamese rolls</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Pinot noir/Nebbiolo is great for dishes with earthy flavours</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Old world wines (many European ones) and old world dishes are intrinsically good together.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Tempranillo/grenache won't be overshadowed by sweet and spicy barbecue sauces</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Merlot for pâtés, mousses and terrines. Merlot also goes well with pizza! </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Cabernet sauvignon is fabulous with juicy red meat especially game</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Syrah/shiraz matches with highly spiced dishes</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Liqueur muscat perfect match is Christmas pudding</li> </ul> Image: Getty

Food & Wine

The perfect pairing: Andrew Harris’ essential tips for matching food with rosé

If you’re a fan of wine, you’re probably familiar with the classic red and white pairings - steak and seafood. However, Rośe’s popularity has certainly blown up in the last few years and you might be wondering what food pairs well with it? Brown Brothers Ambassador Andrew Harris and Head Chef Bodee Price share their top tips on what goes down well with Rośe. 1. Pairing wine with food sounds quite daunting. Why is rosé a great first wine to experiment with food pairing? Rosé is so versatile with food that it is a good wine to start your matching journey. Because rosé can handle lighter meat dishes, powerful vegetarian options and light, delicate seafood, it is quite forgiving in the outcome you get. Once you know you have a bit of leeway, you can really push the boundaries of rosé with food! 2. What are your three tips that beginners can follow to start pairing food with rosé? Try to have food that is a similar texture and weight to your rosé. If the food is too light it will be overpowered and if too heavy, it will overpower the rosé. A great example is oysters with the Brown Brothers Origins Series Dry Rosé. Try not to assume you know what a particular rosé will taste like, for example making a decision based on its colour. There are so many variables in the winemaking process such as skin contact time, time on lees (yeast once the ferment is finished), sweetness level and time in oak. These will all have an influence on the final wine and hence the food paring. The best way is to taste first or ask your sommelier for their recommendation on a rosé and food match. 3. And what about wine experts? Do you have any wine pairing tips for rosé lovers this International Rosé Day? If I was wanting to impress my guests this international rosé day I would be choosing an international dish that combines perfectly with the Brown Brothers Origins Rosé. One of my favorites is Black Pepper Crab. As a dish it has a delicate texture to the crab meat along with rich and spicy sauce. The rosé has lifted strawberry and rose petal flavours that tame and meld with the pepper and chili, while the crip acidity and dry finish work brilliantly with the fleshy crab meat. 4. What are your favourite dishes to make when you buy a bottle of rosé? What are the flavour combinations that automatically come to mind? Fruitier rosé can be excellent with spicy food, think Thai red curry or spicey San Choy Bow. At the sweeter end of the rosé spectrum I am a big fan of matching to Turkish Delight inspired desserts as well as cheese platters with fruit bread and quince paste. 5. Do you have any other tips you can share with us for International Rosé Day? I think rosé goes best with good friends and sunny afternoons! Keep the food light, fresh and diverse. Antipasto and charcuterie are my tips for a wonderful experience. Image: Supplied

Food & Wine

Aus-NZ refugee deal is a bandage on a failed policy

Australia has finally accepted New Zealand’s offer to settle some of the refugees from the <a href="https://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/sites/kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/files/factsheet_offshore_processing_overview.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offshore processing</a> regime – about nine years after it was first made in 2013. The NZ deal will provide certainty for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/24/australia-agrees-450-refugees-can-be-resettled-in-new-zealand-nine-years-after-deal-first-offered" target="_blank" rel="noopener">450 people</a> who have been in limbo, many for more than a decade. But in the March 24 <a href="https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/KarenAndrews/Pages/australia-new-zealand-resettlement-arrangement.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a>, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews made clear the deal does not change Australia’s <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australia-and-new-zealand-reach-refugee-resettlement-agreement/20vyv2d8w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hard-line approach</a>. This makes the deal a bandage on a <a href="https://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/sites/kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/files/Policy_Brief_11_Offshore_Processing.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failed policy</a> that continues to haemorrhage cash, destroy lives and erode the international system for refugee protection. Who is – and isn’t – included in the NZ deal? The original offer, made by the then NZ Prime Minister John Key in 2013, was refused by the Australian government until now. The Coalition government claimed the deal could be a “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/01/decision-to-bring-children-from-nauru-an-admission-of-failure-by-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pull factor</a>” for asylum seekers coming by boat to Australia. Under the agreement, NZ will settle up to 150 of Australia’s “offshore processing” refugees per year for three years. These refugees arrived in Australia by sea between 2012 and 2014 and were sent to Nauru or Manus Island “offshore processing” detention centres. The deal can include the <a href="https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us-subsite/files/population-and-number-of-people-resettled.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">112 people</a> who are in Nauru or those temporarily in Australia under offshore processing arrangements. Some <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/en-au/news/press/2022/3/623a66584/unhcr-news-comment-on-the-australia-new-zealand-refugee-deal.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1,100</a> people have been returned temporarily to Australia, mostly for medical treatment. They mostly live in the community with <a href="https://www.amnesty.org.au/potential-return-of-refugees-and-people-seeking-asylum-to-nauru-and-png-proof-of-policy-failure/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">no support and insecure visa status</a> but some remain in detention. Those already being considered for settlement to another country, such as the United States or Canada, aren’t eligible for the NZ program. More than 100 men who remain in Papua New Guinea aren’t included in this deal. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The always wise, always insightful <a href="https://twitter.com/BehrouzBoochani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BehrouzBoochani</a> on Australia, the NZ refugee resettlement offer, and why it took nine years...<a href="https://t.co/IdxPBGpAz0">https://t.co/IdxPBGpAz0</a> — Ben Doherty (@BenDohertyCorro) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenDohertyCorro/status/1508944829509926915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2022</a></blockquote> Under current known arrangements, people remaining in PNG could be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/25/australia-new-zealand-refugee-deal-everything-we-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">referred</a> by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to NZ through its regular refugee programme. Even after the NZ and US options are exhausted, it’s estimated at least <a href="https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/australians-welcome-nzs-generosity-to-refugees-in-offshore-processing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">500 refugees will be without a solution</a>. And they’re not the only ones. There are some <a href="https://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/sites/kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/files/Factsheet_Legacy%20Caseload_final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">30,000 people</a> in what’s called the “legacy caseload” who arrived by sea between 2012 and 2014 and weren’t transferred to Nauru and PNG. They remain in Australia subject to harmful measures. They’re stuck in limbo on temporary visas, unable to reunify with family members, and receive <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/urgent-call-government-protect-asylum-seekers-and-refugees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inadequate support</a> to secure housing or health care. Australia distorts the global refugee system <a href="https://www.refworld.org/docid/51af82794.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia has primary responsibility</a> for refugees who seek its protection. The Australian government has repeatedly tried and failed to find countries willing to settle refugees it refuses to protect. It reportedly offered multiple countries, from the Philippines to Kyrgyzstan, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/may/08/australias-refugee-deal-a-farce-after-us-rejects-all-iranian-and-somali-asylum-seekers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">millions of dollars</a> to settle refugees from Australia’s offshore camps – without success. Resettlement to a third country is an important solution, available to less than 1% of refugees globally whose lives, liberty, safety, health or other fundamental rights are at risk <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/46f7c0ee2.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in the country where they have sought refuge</a>. This isn’t the case for refugees seeking asylum in Australia, where there’s a well-established asylum system. It’s difficult to think of the NZ solution as “resettlement” in its true meaning. Resettlement places are important to <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/en-au/news/press/2021/6/60d32ba44/un-refugee-agency-releases-2022-resettlement-needs.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">relieve pressure on developing countries</a> that host almost 90% of the world’s refugees. Conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Myanmar, South Sudan, Afghanistan, plus now Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have created a need for resettlement in a third country for almost <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/en-au/news/press/2021/6/60d32ba44/un-refugee-agency-releases-2022-resettlement-needs.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1.5 million</a> refugees worldwide. Resettlement has been disrupted over the last two years due to COVID, leaving even more people in urgent need. Under these extraordinary “refugee deals” with the US and NZ, the Australian government is trying to solve a political problem of its own making at the expense of people in desperate need. Like Australia, the US and NZ offer only a limited number of resettlement spots each year. When these spots go to Australia’s refugees, who are Australia’s responsibility, someone else misses out. Continuing damage This is Australia’s second go at offshore processing. Its first iteration, the “Pacific Solution”, lasted from 2001 until 2008. The second commenced in 2012 and continues. Offshore processing remains costly. Australian taxpayers have spent, on average, around <a href="https://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/sites/kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/files/Policy_Brief_11_Offshore_Processing.pdf#page=14&zoom=auto,-135,786" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A$1 billion per year</a> to maintain offshore processing since 2014. This is despite a dramatic drop in the number of people held in Nauru and PNG. At the peak in April 2014, Australia detained a total of 2,450 people. By December 2021, there were <a href="https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/operation-sovereign-borders-offshore-detention-statistics/2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">219 people remaining offshore in Nauru and PNG</a>. People transferred to Manus Island and Nauru suffered mandatory and indefinite detention in harsh conditions. Their treatment has been called out by the United Nations repeatedly as <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/en-au/united-nations-observations.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cruel and inhuman</a> and described by Amnesty International as <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018835563/amnesty-international-celebrates-deal-for-nz-to-take-refugees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">torture</a>. The abuse of men, women and children in offshore processing centres has been thoroughly documented in a <a href="https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/b743d9_e4413cb72e1646d8bd3e8a8c9a466950.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">communiqué</a> to the International Criminal Court, <a href="https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/43063/documents/791#page=27&zoom=auto,-134,1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">parliamentary inquiries</a> and domestic legal challenges. Australia’s offshore processing sets a bad regional precedent for <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/20160913_Pathways_to_Protection.pdf#page=20&zoom=page-fit,-625,841" target="_blank" rel="noopener">refugee protection in Southeast Asia</a> and beyond. The policy objective of using cruelty as a deterrent to “stop the boats” and “save lives at sea” didn’t work. If boats didn’t arrive, this was due to Australia’s <a href="https://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/sites/kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/files/Policy_Brief_11_Offshore_Processing.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interception and turnback of boats at sea</a>. What needs to change? Refugee policy can be <a href="https://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/publication/principles-australian-refugee-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">principled</a> and driven by compassion while protecting borders and respecting international law. Australia should formally end offshore processing. The small number of people still held offshore in Nauru and PNG should be transferred back to Australia. Everyone who has been subject to the policy since 2012 who doesn’t have a permanent solution could be offered settlement in Australia. This <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/about_parliament/parliamentary_departments/parliamentary_library/pubs/bn/2012-2013/pacificsolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">occurred</a> in the first iteration of offshore processing and could happen again. Money and lives can be saved.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/180241/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/natasha-yacoub-1259499" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Natasha Yacoub</a>, International refugee lawyer and scholar, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNSW Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/aus-nz-refugee-deal-is-a-bandage-on-a-failed-policy-its-time-to-end-offshore-processing-180241" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Legal

Couple receives $3000 from Aus Post for botched deliveries

Australia Post has been forced to pay out over $3000 to a Melbourne couple after drivers repeatedly failed to deliver parcels to their home for over a year during the pandemic.Wayne Short and Veronica Libson took the postal giant to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in December to seek compensation, claiming that Australia Post failed to deliver parcels to their home and continued sending them to the local post office instead.Mr Short said some of the parcels contained important items such as medication for their daughter, who is waiting for a liver transplant, and other contained goods for their hire party business.He told the tribunal that the issues began in 2019, when the couple started experiencing difficulties getting parcels delivered to their home.Despite filing a complaint directly to Australia Post at the time, it was not responded to.Then in March 2020, the couple were undertaking renovations on their stairs and Mr Short said delivery drivers couldn’t safely deliver parcels for a week.However, after the renovations were completed the parcels were still not delivered, with the driver claiming they were still unsafe to climb.After this, Australia Post drivers stopped delivering parcels altogether, instead sending SMS messages to the couple to pick up their parcels at the post office.In June of the same year, the couple filed a second complaint, this time to the local post office. The manager reassured Mr Short that the issue would be sorted out.A few days later, a heated argument erupted between Mr Short and a delivery driver at the couple’s home.When the driver handed over the parcel, Mr Short then told the driver they were tired of tracking down all their other parcels. The driver responded by taking back the parcel and telling Mr Short they could “go pick up their own parcels”.According to the tribunal, Mr Short lost his temper, grabbing the parcel abc and telling the driver to “get the f**k off his property”.After the incident, all deliveries apart from their normal mail ceased.As for how the compensation was calculated based on how long it took the couple to collect their parcels.Having found that they spend around 30 minutes travelling to the post office every week between June 2020 and December 2021, VCAT member Neil Campbell calculated the compensation of $3100.He said the tribunal found the deliveries were “not undertaken with due care and skill” as they were “not delivered to the residential address” and there was “no basis for them not to be”.In a statement shared with <a style="background-image: initial;background-position: initial;background-size: initial;background-attachment: initial;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;vertical-align: baseline" href="https://7news.com.au/business/australia-post/australia-post-ordered-to-pay-3000-to-melbourne-couple-over-botched-deliveries-c-5556891" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News.com.au</a>, a spokesperson for Australia Post said the company respected the tribunal’s decision.“Australia Post respects the decision of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and can confirm that parcel delivery has recommenced to the address,” they said.Image: @auspost (Instagram)

Legal

Amazing audio of Cleo's rescue, plus Premier owes her a new pair of shoes

WA Police have released audio of the moment 4-year-old Cleo Smith was rescued. One officer can be heard reassuring Cleo as they pick her up, saying “I’ve got you bubby”, while another asks Cleo, “What’s your name, sweetheart?” To this, she responds, “My name is Cleo”, to which the officer responds, “Your name is Cleo”, while another says “Hello Cleo”. It’s a heartwarming moment, as is the moment Cleo is carried outside the house she was found in, which police released video footage of on Wednesday soon after announcing she had been safely located and returned to her family. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> "My name is Cleo." <a href="https://t.co/xiy59x4kjP">pic.twitter.com/xiy59x4kjP</a> — WA Police Force (@WA_Police) <a href="https://twitter.com/WA_Police/status/1456102974502047744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The moment Cleo was rescued 👏 <a href="https://t.co/arusYi9kCa">pic.twitter.com/arusYi9kCa</a> — WA Police Force (@WA_Police) <a href="https://twitter.com/WA_Police/status/1455784205548359682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2021</a></blockquote> In a press conference earlier today, Detective Senior Sergeant Blaine said that Cleo was found awake in a room with the lights on, playing with toys. The home was in Carnarvon, the Western Australian town where the Smith family lives. She had been missing for 18 days when she was finally found around midnight on Wednesday. Blaine said that Cleo appeared to be in good spirits, "From our point of view, I'm amazed she seems to be so well-adjusted and happy, it was really, heart-warming to see. “She is playing in the backyard, exactly how you would expect, like how my daughter did when she was four-years-old." Premier Mark McGowan had the opportunity to meet her on Thursday, bringing with him two teddies – one for Cleo, and one for her younger sister Isla. They named the teddies Cameron and Rod, after the detective who rescued her and the lead investigator on the case, but he wasn’t sure if those names would stick, joking to reporters that “Cleo didn’t seem too enamoured with those names.” McGowan also revealed an embarrassing moment that transpired during the meeting. “I unfortunately trod on her new Barbie shoes and broke one of them, so I owe her a pair of shoes,” he said. Despite that unfortunate incident, the Premier said she was a “very bright, upbeat, sweet little girl” and described the Smith family as “very humble” and “very well adjusted” considering their ordeal. “It was a lovely experience to meet her. She was, I thought, very well adjusted considering and the family were very appreciative of everything that has been done for them. They’re ... fundamentally decent, honest human beings ... they’re really lovely people and it’s great to meet them and acknowledge what they’ve been through. “Obviously, there’ll be a way to go from here but they’re certainly on the right pathway.” Image: WA Police

News

Get wrapping! Aus Post releases Christmas package deadlines

Australia Post is urging all Australians to send their Christmas gifts and cards by mid-December at the latest as record volumes of parcels threaten to create delays. The postal service said 2021 has already seen volume records broken, with this year’s Christmas expected to be the biggest on record for the nation’s couriers and postal workers. With many state boarders still closed and online shopping showing no sign of slowing down, Australia post is anticipating parcel traffic to be extremely high. The organisation has hired more than 4000 Christmas casuals to cope with demand. To ensure Christmas gifts and cards arrive on time, Australia Post has set the following deadlines: <ul> <li>All parcels sent via regular post must be sent by Monday December 13th.</li> <li>All parcels sent via express post must be sent by Monday December 20th.</li> <li>All Christmas cards should be sent by Thursday December 16th.</li> </ul> Customers in Perth, Darwin and regional areas are advised to send their gifts and cards even earlier than the recommended deadlines to avoid disappointed. Australia Post's Executive General Manager of Business and Government, Gary Starr, said the service has been preparing for a bumper Christmas for weeks. "We're seeing record parcel volumes with more than 5.9 million households shopping online a month — that's more than half of all Australian households, and it's showing no signs of slowing as we head into the online sales season and Christmas," Mr Starr said. "That is why we've planned ahead with extra air freight capacity, weekend deliveries and recruitment of thousands of new team members to ramp up our delivery services, parcel sorting and customer care, and we'll be delivering right up until Christmas Eve.

Family & Pets

Love Island AU drops first whacky trailer

After it’s wildly popular seasons in the UK, Love Island is heading for Australian shores for a second season, releasing its first trailer. Along with a bunch of young, attractive singles looking for love, the teaser trailer includes host Sophie Monk as a flute-playing mermaid. Have a look at the trailer below. <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/tv/CTIol2phCar/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/tv/CTIol2phCar/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Love Island Australia (@loveislandau)</a> </div> </blockquote> But, that’s just the tip of whacky, love-themed iceberg. After the singles are seen reaching the island, they reappear at a pool party, complete with Sophie Monk the mermaid by the poolside. Then, a shot of the word ‘Straya’ written on someone’s back in sunscreen, a small BBQ containing a plate of lamingtons, and a vegemite sandwich in the shape of Australia all make an appearance. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843725/love-island1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e3e2a2b57a9242da96044d175abc1cbb" /> Image: Love Island AU / Instagram The trailer isn’t the only thing to cause a stir, after it was revealed that the producers are struggling to cast singles for the upcoming show. According to an episode of the <a rel="noopener" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/73-below-deck-down-under-details-love-island-castings/id1523979167?i=1000521625660" target="_blank">So Dramatic! podcast</a>, producers ended up sourcing talent from cafes in Bondi and by approaching models on Instagram to make up the numbers. With these kinds of rumours swirling, the new season is bound to be filled with drama, in one way or another. Image: Love Island AU / Instagram

Big news from Aus Post after huge jump in parcel demands

Australia Post has announced they will be teaming up with 7-Eleven to make package delivery "wonderfully easier." With over 500 new locations for parcel pick-up, Australia Post hopes to improve convenience for their customers, while also being able to more accurately handle the surge in online shopping. The pandemic has seen a rapid rise in parcel volumes for AusPost; almost 32 per cent in the 2020-21 financial year. As lockdowns across NSW and QLD continue thanks to the Delta variant of COVID-19, more and more people are relying on online shopping to get their essentials, which has been encouraged by health authorities. "To help meet the needs of the more than 9 million households who shop online, Australia Post customers will have the choice of many more parcel locker locations and will be able to access the lockers at 7-Eleven stores 24 hours a day, seven days a week," AusPost said in a statement on Thursday. <img style="width: 500px; height: 337.80833879065705px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842854/7-eleven.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0e9ddab03b66431a901e417537bd748a" /> Image credit: Shutterstock Australia Post Executive General Manager Community & Consumer Nicole Sheffield said the partnership is thanks to the millions of Aussies who have embraced online shopping in the past year. She said, “This partnership with 7-Eleven gives our customers greater choice on the most convenient way to collect what they’ve bought, at the times and places that suit them, which is why expanding our locker network into 7-Eleven stores just makes sense.” The service kicks off at more than 200 7-Eleven stores where ParcelMate lockers are already in use, with another 300 7-Eleven stores to be added for Australia Post deliveries by the end of 2021. Image credits: Getty Images/Shutterstock

News

"I don't write the rules": Ash Barty on her shock Aus Open loss

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Tennis legend Ash Barty has downplayed the impact of a controversial medical time-out used by her opposition Karolina Muchova which caused Barty to lose at the Australian Open. Barty's surprising loss has left tennis fans and experts shocked, with the rules coming under fire. “I was a bit lost on the court and my head was spinning so I took a break and it helped me,” Muchova said after the match. “I started feeling a bit lost by the end of the first set. Ash started very good. She played like no mistakes. It was very tough.” It seemed Barty was unable to recover after the 10-minute medical break and lost nine out of 11 games from the end of the second set to the end of the match. She refused to bite when pressed on the incident in a press conference. “I don’t write the rules. I abide by them. All of us players, we abide by the rules that are written,” Barty said. “If she wasn’t within the rules, the physios and the doctors would have said so. That’s the laws of our game, that we have those medical time-outs for cases that are needed. Obviously she needed that today. “I’ve played a lot of matches where there have been medical time-outs. I’ve taken medical time-outs myself before, so that shouldn’t be a massive turning point in the match,” she said. “I was disappointed that I let that become a turning point. I’m experienced enough now to be able to deal with that.” Twitter was ablaze with theories, including one from former World no. 3 and doubles great Pam Shriver. “(It) seemed legit, but it still does not sit well when it pivots a match on a dime,” Shriver said. “Muchova has won 7 of 8 games since leaving the court. Thoughts anyone?” “I am not blaming her, absolutely blaming the ridiculous rule that allows this to happen,” former world No.4 turned successful coach Brad Gilbert said. Former NBA player Jason Collins weighed in on the debate as well. “(Medical time-outs have) been a part of the sport. As a competitor you have to mentally prepare for any kind of gamesmanship from your opponent,” he wrote. “For example— We all know that if you’re up early against Novak (Djokovic), get ready for a MTO or racket smashes or long conversations with him & the chair (umpire).” Barty admitted that it felt "impossible" to turn the tide after the 10-minute medical break. “I felt like I had small windows of opportunity probably midway through the second set and wasn’t able to kind of regroup enough to be clear in the third set how I wanted to play,” Barty said. “I think I just lost my way a little bit, which is disappointing without a doubt.” </div> </div> </div>

News

"Proof of vaccination" certificates part of AUS vaccine plan

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> The Australian Federal Government has announced that Australians, once vaccinated, will get a record that will be stored and displayed on the Express Plus Medicare and MyGov mobile phone applications, which could help Aussies travel overseas again. Anyone who requires a hard copy after getting the COVID-19 vaccine can access a printout from vaccine providers and Services Australia offices. Some government leaders have their doubts about the Federal Government's ability to follow through with this plan, with Anthony Albanese voicing his opinion to the ABC. “We know that they didn’t get the [COVIDSafe] tracing app right,” he told the ABC. “So they need to, as the rollout of the vaccine occurs, make sure that they absolutely get it right because our economy, as well as our health, depends on it.” Government Services Minister Stuart Robert has said that Australians should have "enormous confidence" in the system. “Any requirement for borders to open up will require vaccination and it will require the widespread use of assured certificates, and that is what we are talking about today – the Australian assured certificate that Australians can have enormous confidence in,” Mr Robert told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/federal-government-reveals-plans-for-proof-of-vaccination-certificates-to-be-stored-and-displayed-on-phone-apps/news-story/5eec12b6058215777ed43d5221160df7" target="_blank">reporters</a> on the Gold Coast. “Importantly for Australians, they can have assurance the certificate they will have will be robust, it will be anchored to them, so they will know it’s their certificate, and it will be widely accepted.” It is expected that these certificates will simplify visits to hospitals and nursing homes and could be required for interstate travel if further lockdowns are in place. Mr Robert said that it would be a state-by-state basis as to whether proof of vaccination would be necessary to visit workplaces, restaurants or supermarkets. “We would be expecting them to issue public health orders if they see fit so I will leave that to the states and territories,” Mr Robert said. “What the federal government does is provide a record of vaccination to Australians should the need be there for Australians to use it. And Australians need to have that record, especially, depending on state public health orders but also when travelling and borders open up again.” The Pfizer vaccine is due to be rolled out nationally from the end of this month and the AstraZeneca vaccine is due in March. </div> </div> </div>

Body

Serena William praises "super strict" Aus Open COVID-19 protocols

Tennis superstar Serena Williams has praised the intense COVID-19 protocols in Adelaide as she finishes her two-week quarantine ahead of the Australian Open. She spoke on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and praised the "super intense" biosecurity rules. “It’s super, super strict, but it’s really good,” Williams said. “So, Australia right now has, the last I heard, zero cases of COVID. So that is unbelievable, right, the whole country? That is really amazing. “So when we come here in Australia, everyone has to quarantine in a room for 14 days. It’s insane and super intense but it’s super good because after that you can have a new normal like we were used to this time last year in the United States.” “They’re doing it right. It’s definitely hard with a three-year-old to be in the hotel all day, but it’s worth it because you want everyone to be safe at the end of the day.” Her praise comes after many tennis stars have been vocal about their disapproval of the intense quarantine rules. World No. 2 Rafal Nadal said that he felt "very sorry" for those in lockdown. “We knew that the measures were going to be strict because we knew that the country is doing great with the pandemic,” Nadal said. “It’s normal to complain in some way but on the other hand when you have little bit wider perspective of what’s going on … you see how many are dying around the world. “You see how many people are losing their father, their mum, without having the chance to say goodbye. It’s a real thing, that’s what’s happening in my country for example. Close people to me are suffering this situation. “You have to stay a little more positive. I feel that we are privileged people today, having the chance to keep doing our jobs.”

News

"A tool": Nick Kyrgios slams Novak Djokovic over Aus Open demands

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Nick Kyrgios has slammed Novak Djokovic after Djokovic made a list of demands to the Australian Open organisers demanding better conditions for players in quarantine. There are currently 72 tennis players in hard quarantine, which means they're unable to train outside their hotel rooms for 14 days despite being told upon arrival they would have 5-hour exemptions to train. The hard lockdown is due to positive coronavirus tests on tournament charter flights. Djokovic sent Australian Open boss Craig Tiley a list of demands that he wanted to be actioned for players currently in lockdown, which Kyrgios has slammed. “Djokovic is a tool,” Kyrgios wrote while sharing a news report. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Djokovic is a tool. I don’t mind Bernie but his Mrs obviously has no perspective, ridiculous scenes 🤦🏽‍♂️ <a href="https://t.co/MMgeriH2GJ">https://t.co/MMgeriH2GJ</a> — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickKyrgios/status/1351131106993725443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> He also slammed Bernard Tomic's girlfriend for complaining about the food served in quarantine, saying that she's had to wash her own hair. “This is the worst part of quarantine,” Sierra said on her YouTube channel. “I don’t wash my own hair. I’ve never washed my own hair. It’s just not something that I do. I normally have hairdressers that do it twice a week for me. “This is the situation that we’re dealing with. I can’t wait to get out of quarantine just so I can get my hair done.” “I don’t mind Bernie but his Mrs obviously has no perspective, ridiculous scenes,” Kyrgios wrote. This isn't the first time Kyrgios has slammed Djokovic, with Kyrgios criticising him for organising the Adria Tour exhibition event in the Balkans, where multiple people including Djokovic got coronavirus from the event. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

News

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

“A beautiful soul”: Teenager killed in Aus Day boat crash identified

Woolies boss grilled for scrapping Aus Day merch