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Shock on-air resignation plunges Kyle and Jackie O show into chaos

The Kyle and Jackie O Show has been thrown into disarray after a key player in the production announced their shock resignation live on air. On Friday, one of the show’s producers unexpectedly quit in the middle of the broadcast, shocking the radio hosts. Kyle and Jackie O were presenting their show as normal when their producer Kayla, who uses they/them pronouns, made the bombshell announcement. Upon hearing the news of their departure, Kyle was so shocked by it he spilled the coffee they were handing him onto the computer, short circuiting the system and taking them off the air. “It’s Friday and the radio show is half broken,” Sandilands shared. “We're in a weird studio because I knocked coffee all down the computers. Non-binary Kayla came in and gave me the very sad news,” he later told listeners once the technical difficulties had been resolved. “They're abandoning us to live their own life. As they were handing the coffee over I grabbed it and was in such shock I spilt it all over the equipment.” Sandilands and Henderson said they didn’t know what was going on as equipment kept beeping and going off left, right and centre, and the second studio they were moved to “also failed”. “It wasn’t just you with the coffee Kyle, something crazy is going on here,” Henderson said. “None of our studios work, the sensor machine is beeping … it’s just crazy.” The shocking incident pulled the show off the airwaves for more than an hour, as technicians were called in to fix the coffee-covered equipment. They were eventually let back into their original studio but were sat among “wires everywhere”. “It’s like we’re on M*A*S*H,” Henderson joked. “We’re in an army tent and we’ve got some little box here that’s apparently broadcasting to air.” Image credits: KIISFM

News

Feeling controlled by the chaos in your home? 4 ways to rein in clutter and stay tidy

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jamal-abarashi-1427274">Jamal Abarashi</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137">Auckland University of Technology</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/taghreed-hikmet-1469284">Taghreed Hikmet</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137">Auckland University of Technology</a> Maintaining a tidy home is a never-ending challenge. And tidiness goes beyond aesthetics – it <a href="https://theconversation.com/time-for-a-kondo-clean-out-heres-what-clutter-does-to-your-brain-and-body-109947">contributes to a person’s mental wellbeing</a>. So what are the best strategies for creating and maintaining order? A <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263007731_Home_Sweet_Messy_Home_Managing_Symbolic_Pollution">growing body of research</a> into tidiness and <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366106749_Having_Less_A_Personal_Project_Taxonomy_of_Consumers'_Decluttering_Orientations_Motives_and_Emotions">decluttering</a>, including our own, might offer helpful insights. As part of our ongoing research project, we analysed popular cleaning and decluttering videos on YouTube as well thousands of the comments below them. We also conducted 18 in-depth interviews. The goal is to better understand how people create order in their homes – and how they keep it that way. As our research shows, sustaining tidiness is about being both systematic and adaptable. <h2>Life can be the enemy of tidiness</h2> From an early age, <a href="https://books.google.co.nz/books?hl=en&lr=&id=WkrpDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA67&dq=over+consumption++consumer+culture&ots=TVTnsyV25l&sig=KRmlySvvkDrkTBiGeLAAU-gqXPQ">people are primed to shop</a>. But this culture of shopping clashes with the desire for tidy and clutter-free homes. Family members with different tidiness standards and life stages can also disrupt efforts to create order. As one young couple said: "We’ve always wanted that really amazing organised home but we could just never really get it that way and we would feel really discouraged when we tried and then just a few days later it would just go right back to messy." Some interviewees described feeling like prisoners of their possessions. Another young couple with two kids explained: "As more children arrived and our income increased, more stuff made its way into our home. We have never been hoarders, but at some point I looked around and realised that we were spending our time and resources on acquiring stuff, cleaning and maintaining stuff, storing stuff, moving stuff out of the way to get to other stuff." And the very organisation systems used to maintain tidy and clutter-free homes can <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article-abstract/41/3/565/2907524">contribute to disorganisation</a>. One professional woman we spoke with described establishing a system where every piece of clothing had a designated spot in their wardrobe based on colour, type and season. Ultimately, this became too difficult to maintain, undermining the whole approach. So what can be done to maintain a tidy home? <h2>4 strategies for keeping your home tidy</h2> Our research so far has helped us identify four key strategies to achieve long-term tidiness. 1: Simplify To achieve lasting tidiness, you need to simplify the way you organise your home. This can be done by eliminating spaces or areas in your home that encourage further organisation and classification of possessions – like extra dressers or storage units. One retired couple we spoke with did just that. "We had this dresser […] that was basically always inviting more and more stuff to be put in it. So, it was always pretty hard to have the space we always wanted. Well then we got rid of the dresser […] and once we did that we really saw the space open up and it became really nice and clear." Fewer dedicated spaces mean fewer opportunities for clutter to accumulate, ultimately making it easier to maintain a tidy living environment. 2: Create groups Another effective strategy for long-term tidiness is to simplify how you categorise and group things in your home. Replacing several small decor items with one larger one creates fewer distinct categories of things around the house, for example. One mother of two kids we spoke with switched out several small teddy bears in her lounge for one big one. A married couple we interviewed grouped smaller knickknacks onto a tray, making it easier to keep track of things and to maintain order. Having all of their knickknacks in one place also made it easier to clean. 3: Manage numbers To sustain long-term tidiness, it’s also essential to control the total number of possessions in your home. This can be achieved through various methods, such as encouraging sharing among family members and friends or following the “one in, one out” rule – for every new item you bring into the house, you get rid of an old item. Instead of buying rarely used items, like a camping tent, you could rent it when needed. Another married couple we spoke with described a cluttered kitchen with multiple pots for different cooking jobs. Looking to reduce the clutter, they switched to using a multipurpose cast iron skillet – one item that can do many jobs. A family with two kids spoke about sharing hair products to reduce the clutter in the bathroom. "We used to buy a bunch of different things but now we use the same thing for our hair so the product [my husband] uses, I use. We use the same shampoo. We actually used to buy different shampoo. So basically, we just simplified our product […] this brought the products down to half and now we have so much more peace of mind and the bathroom is so much easier to maintain." 4: Adapt and evolve Maintaining a tidy home requires flexibility and a willingness to re-evaluate and adjust your routines in response to the ever-changing circumstances of your life. A retired couple we interviewed spoke about the process of moving to a smaller place. This required getting rid of a lot of things and changing the way they lived to maximise the use of what remained. In the end, tidiness and decluttering are ongoing processes that require dedication and flexibility. By embracing these strategies for long-term tidiness, a person can create and maintain organised spaces that enhance their lives, fostering not only physical order but also mental clarity and peace.<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/212689/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jamal-abarashi-1427274">Jamal Abarashi</a>, Lecturer, International Business, Strategy and Entrepreneurship Department, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137">Auckland University of Technology</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/taghreed-hikmet-1469284">Taghreed Hikmet</a>, Senior Lecturer, International Business, Strategy and Entrepreneurship Department, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137">Auckland University of Technology</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/feeling-controlled-by-the-chaos-in-your-home-4-ways-to-rein-in-clutter-and-stay-tidy-212689">original article</a>.

Home & Garden

Officer charged with fatal tasering causes chaos in court

A magistrate has expressed his "absolute disgust" after the NSW police officer charged with the fatal tasering of a 95-year-old failed to show up in person for court. Kristian White, 33, appeared via audiovisual link in Cooma Local Court on Wednesday after being charged with discharging his weapon at Clare Nowland, a dementia patient at an aged care facility in Cooma, who fell backwards from the tasering and sustained fatal injuries. As the virtual court began, Magistrate Roger Clisdell blasted the crown prosecutor’s decision to allow the suspended police officer to appear via a video link. “Who runs this court, Ms Stuart? You or me?” he asked crown prosecutor Sally Stuart in a raised voice. He said he felt “absolute disgust” that the decision had blindsided him, which meant that “dumbo here sitting on the bench just has to suck it up.” The magistrate went on to note that the court had employed several extra security personnel “at great expense” in anticipation of the highly publicised appearance, given the media storm surrounding Ms Nowland's death. There was no reason given as to why Mr White didn't show up for court in person, given he is currently living in the community under no restrictions. In a confusing move, Ms Stuart asked the court to impose a condition which would compel him to appear in court in future. Mr Clisdell blasted the hypocritical application, asking, “You excused him today, so why should I put him at your beck and call, not mine?” Ms Stuart eventually conceded that police should have imposed bail conditions on Mr White when he was charged with the serious offences. “It is probably something that should have been considered at the time but that decision was made by police,” she said. Mr White’s lawyer Warwick Anderson opposed the request for his client to be placed on bail, telling the court it had no “meaningful efficacy”. Despite the magistrate's previous outrage, he agreed and branded the crown application an attempt to placate anyone who might be “upset” about the officer’s lack of restrictions. He declined to impose bail on the 33-year-old and said he would be excused from attending court on the next occasion. Mr White maintained a blank face as he listened to the Magistrate’s tirade from an undisclosed location. The matter will return to court in September and it will be managed by the DPP. Image credits: Nine News / Facebook <div class="media image" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; width: 705.202209px; margin-bottom: 24px; max-width: 100%;"> </div>

News

Rebel Wilson’s wedding planning chaos

It’s been an exciting couple of years for Aussie access Rebel Wilson, with 2022 marking <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/beautiful-miracle-rebel-wilson-s-huge-baby-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the arrival of her baby</a> and 2023 seeing her <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/we-said-yes-rebel-wilson-drops-major-news-about-personal-life" target="_blank" rel="noopener">engaged</a> to now-finance Ramona Agruma. Although the pair had a fairytale engagement at Disneyland, their wedding planning process has highlighted divided opinions. ”Ramona and I have discussed a lot, but it turns out we have different ideas about what the wedding should be," Wilson told E! News. "So I don't know. I don't know who's gonna win," she continued. "We'll do a very beautiful compromise.” Although preparations are well underway, the actress admitted the planning process is going “very slow”. ”I've got two movies to shoot this year," the actress said, "and with a 7-month old…so we'll probably get into it more next year.” Wilson welcomed her daughter Royce via surrogate in November 2022 — a process she started in 2019, before meeting Agruma. "It's weird. It's kind of like she came into my life at the exact right time, and then the surrogate getting pregnant and Ramona was really into that. So, it was kind of awesome. It just kind of came together at the right moment." The lovebirds met through a mutual friend, Aussie actor Hugh Sheridan. He told 2Day FM that he loves playing matchmaker, and that he’d been trying to set the two up with other people for years before realising they may be perfect for each other. "'Both were really hard to set up," he confessed in the interview. "Ramona is really smart, and Rebel is really smart. I was in New York with my ex and feeling very sad, and Rebel said she can't imagine how I feels because she's never been in love before!” "I thought, 'Gosh, she's a hard one to crack.' So I thought of Ramona straight away." Image credit: Getty

Relationships

Hallucinations in the movies tend to be about chaos, violence and mental distress. But they can be positive too

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-patterson-308185">Christopher Patterson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicholas-procter-147517">Nicholas Procter</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> Hallucinations are often depicted in the movies as terrifying experiences. Think Jake Gyllenhaal seeing a monstrous rabbit in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246578/">Donnie Darko</a>, Leonardo DiCaprio experiencing the torture of <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/reel-therapy/201002/shutter-island-separating-fact-fiction">Shutter Island</a>, Natalie Portman in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/">Black Swan</a>, or Joaquin Phoenix as the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/21/joker-mental-illness-joaquin-phoenix-dangerous-misinformed">Joker</a>. Each character experiences some form of psychological distress. Scenes connect to, or even explain, a decline into chaos and violence. Experiencing hallucinations can be distressing for some people and their loved ones. However, focusing solely on such depictions perpetuates myths and misconceptions about hallucinations. They also potentially perpetuate harmful stereotypes of mental distress. Movies such as Joker use a broad, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/21/joker-mental-illness-joaquin-phoenix-dangerous-misinformed">arguably incorrect</a>, brush to connect hallucinations, mental health issues and violence. This reinforces the misconception that hallucinations always indicate mental health issues, when this is not necessarily true. <h2>What are hallucinations?</h2> Hallucinations are perceptions that occur without a corresponding external stimulus. They can involve any of the human senses. Auditory hallucinations involve hearing things that aren’t there, such as voices or sounds. Visual hallucinations involve seeing things that aren’t there, such as lights, objects or people. Tactile hallucinations involve feeling things that aren’t there, such as a sensation of something crawling on your skin. Gustatory hallucinations involve taste and smell. People often confuse hallucinations and delusions. The two can be related, but they are not the same thing. Delusions are false beliefs, firmly held by a person despite evidence to the contrary. A person might believe someone is following them (a delusion), and see and hear that figure (a hallucination). Before the 17th century, hallucinations were commonly thought to be of <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00991/full">cultural and religious</a> significance. However, between the mid-1600s and 1700s, hallucinations began to be understood as medical concerns, related to both mental and physical illnesses. This medical lens of hallucination remains. Now we know which <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702442/">parts of the brain</a> are activated when someone has a hallucination. <h2>What causes hallucinations?</h2> Hallucinations can be a sign of serious mental health issues. The presence or experience of hallucinations is, for example, one of the criteria used to <a href="https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Practice/DSM/APA_DSM-5-Schizophrenia.pdf">diagnose schizophrenia</a> (delusions are another). Hallucinations may also provide insight into mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. However, hallucinations can also be linked to other medical conditions. Hallucinations can be caused by fever, as well as disease or damage impacting the brain or <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-charles-bonnet-syndrome-the-eye-condition-that-causes-hallucinations-122322">optic nerves</a>. Parkinson’s disease causes visual, auditory and tactile hallucinations <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7116251/">in up to 75% of people</a>. Epilepsy and migraine headaches are also linked to hallucinations, and can cause perceptual disturbances, sometimes for days. Substance use, particularly of <a href="https://theconversation.com/weekly-dose-ayahuasca-a-cautionary-tale-for-tourists-eager-to-try-this-shamanic-brew-73953">hallucinogenic drugs</a> such as LSD or ketamine, can also cause hallucinations. Hallucinations can also occur in people without any underlying medical conditions. For example, some people may experience hallucinations during times of <a href="https://academic.oup.com/schizophreniabulletin/article/46/6/1367/5939754">extreme distress or grief</a>. Environmental factors such as <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00303/full">sleep deprivation</a> can cause a range of perceptual disturbances, including visual and auditory hallucinations. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4354964/">Sensory deprivation</a>, such as being placed in a soundproof room, can also cause hallucinations. But still, the common image that hallucinations are connected only to mental health issues persists. <h2>Hallucinations can be frightening, but not always</h2> Hallucinations can be frightening for people, and their families. And the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0020764016675888">stigma</a> and misconceptions surrounding hallucinations can have a significant impact on someone who experiences them. People who have hallucinations may be afraid or embarrassed of being considered “bizarre” or “unsafe”, and therefore may avoid seeking help. But hallucinations are <a href="https://www.intervoiceonline.org/voices-visions/voices-as-a-gift">not always scary or disturbing</a>. Some hallucinations can be neutral or even pleasant. People have been sharing on social media their positive and empowering experience of hallucinations. In the example below, we see one person’s positive experience of hearing voices. Yet we rarely see such depictions of hallucinations in the movies. <hr /> <iframe id="tc-infographic-853" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/853/9f702c4fefadeb810f9d64d7b4512b39a655a262/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> <hr /> <h2>How to support someone having hallucinations</h2> If you are with someone who is having hallucinations, particularly if these are new or distressing for them, here are several ways you can support them: <ul> <li> ask the person if they want to talk about what they are experiencing and listen to them without judgment: “I cannot hear what you are hearing, can you tell me about it?” </li> <li> <a href="https://tuneinnotout.com/videos/r-u-ok-ask-experts-nicholas-procter/">listen</a>. Don’t argue or blame. Acknowledge that hallucinations are real to the person, even if they are seemingly unusual and not based in reality: “I cannot see what you see, but I do understand you see it.” </li> <li> empathise with how the person feels about their experiences. “I cannot feel or taste it, but I can imagine it would be a difficult experience. I can see how much it is concerning you.” </li> <li> support someone to seek care. Persistent or distressing hallucinations should always be evaluated by a qualified health professional. Establishing potential causes is important: “I cannot hear it like you, but let’s talk to a health professional about it. They can help us understand what might be happening.” </li> <li> encourage the person to <a href="https://www.intervoiceonline.org/national-networks#content">reach out to their peers</a> as well as to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01612840.2023.2189953?src=recsys">hearing voices groups</a> for ongoing support. </li> </ul> We’d like to acknowledge <a href="https://www.nswmentalhealthcommission.com.au/staff-profile/tim-heffernan">Tim Heffernan</a>, Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales, who contributed to this article. If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.  <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-patterson-308185">Christopher Patterson</a>, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicholas-procter-147517">Nicholas Procter</a>, Professor and Chair: Mental Health Nursing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/hallucinations-in-the-movies-tend-to-be-about-chaos-violence-and-mental-distress-but-they-can-be-positive-too-204547">original article</a>.

Caring

Kyle and Jackie O slam Nova reshuffling "chaos"

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O have taken aim at the chaotic Nova reshuffling, openly discussing the radio industry gossip on their own program. The drama has stemmed from Kate Ritchie's extended absence from Nova coming to a close, which has resulted in the exit of one of Nova's most popular and dedicated on-air talents, Sarah McGilvray. McGilvray was reportedly "squeezed out" of her position on the Fitzy & Wippa breakfast show to make way for Ritchie upon her return, as she is being drafted as Sarah's replacement. Fitzy and Wippa, also known as Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli , are reportedly unhappy with the switch as they remain loyal to McGilvray. Speaking about the changes at Nova on Thursday, Kyle Sandilands expressed sadness that McGilvray - a former producer for Kyle and Jackie O - had been pushed out in the reshuffle. His co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson also confirmed the long-standing rumour that Ritchie is being replaced on her previous drive time slot by her regular fill-in Ricki-Lee Coulter. "They're all topsy-turvy over at Nova apparently. All s**t's gone loose over there," Sandilands said at the start of the discussion. Sandilands added, "I think they're putting that chick from Home and Away [Ritchie] on the breakfast show is what I've heard." Henderson confirmed it wasn't just a rumour, saying, "Yeah, they are." The pair continued to speculate back and forth about the reasoning behind the swap, before being censored on air. Kyle said, "We probably shouldn't even be talking about this on air, but we will 'cause everyone cares about this stuff. I heard that Kate wasn't..." The live broadcast was then censored by a two-second beep, which was presumably done by a producer for legal reasons. Sandilands continued, "...show, and Nova had her on a contract and didn't know what to do with her, so a**e-holed Sarah, who's doing a great job, to squeeze Kate in with Fitzy and Wippa - and they weren't a fan of that either." Henderson interrupted to say "this is getting too gossipy" and "nasty". Ritchie announced last year she was taking a break from the Kate, Tim & Joel drive time program to focus on her health, but sources at the network said she wouldn't be returning. Ritchie has remained silent on her return date, despite teasing in January she would be back on air with her co-hosts Creasey and Blackwell in a matter of weeks. Image credits: KIIS FM

Chaos as Karl is egged by rowdy fans

TV presenter Karl Stefanovic has had to dodge more than just criticism while meeting visiting YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI. Logan, who is best known for his YouTube channel and recent foray into WWE, was with KSI, who is best known as a co-founder of the YouTube group Sidemen, for an interview with Karl Stefanovic at Channel Nine’s North Sydney HQ when chaos broke out. The YouTubers drew in a crowd of hundreds, consisting primarily of teenage boys, with some said to have camped overnight for the chance to glimpse their beloved social media stars. With Logan and KSI under each arm, Karl took to the balcony to bask in the cheers with the pair. Their delight was short lived, with an egg being launched at them as Karl asked how it felt to be so popular. “Hey!” The TV host exclaimed, “that’s an expensive suit!” Police and additional security had been called in to monitor the event in the wake of recent meet and greets that did not go sunny-side-up, hoping to avoid another descent into chaos. Karl had been left feeling scrambled earlier that same broadcast after taking to the streets with the horde of young men, when one excitable fan had burst into Karl’s shot and latched onto him. Although a security guard attempted to remove the intruder, Karl insisted that he remain, telling the security guard “he can do that, let the guy cuddle me.” This led to a swarm of boys stepping in for their five minutes of fame, announcing their social media handles to the cameras, as Karl declared it to be a “perfect Monday morning.” The early morning festivities were brought to an abrupt end, with Karl shooting back to the studio and informing them he would “try to get out” after one rowdy fan swore for the cameras. “Good luck, mate,” a bemused Sarah Abo, Karl’s Today co-host, said in response, “if you weren't awake yet, then that was certainly going to wake you up.' <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Fans have camped out the night outside the the <a href="https://twitter.com/Channel9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Channel9</a> building, all hoping to catch a glimpse of social media sensations <a href="https://twitter.com/LoganPaul?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LoganPaul</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/KSI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KSI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9Today?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9Today</a> | WATCH LIVE 5.30am <a href="https://t.co/mf1GsZLLdX">pic.twitter.com/mf1GsZLLdX</a> — The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow/status/1624850702659989504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2023</a></blockquote> Sarah, who had some thoughts about Karl’s claim that the YouTubers’ fame was comparable to that of the Beatles, admitted that she had to “google who Logan Paul was”. KSI and the controversial Logan are in Australia to promote their new energy drink, and after their stint in Sydney are set to visit Melbourne. Logan had previously been in Perth, where he held an impromptu meet-and-greet for fans at the RAC Arena. An earlier event at a shopping centre had to be cancelled over safety concerns for the attendees. Images: Today

How Prince Andrew and Prince Harry have thrown coronation plans into "chaos"

With King Charles' coronation looming closer, royal experts have claimed that the celebratory weekend will be overshadowed by controversial royals Prince Harry and Prince Andrew. Buckingham Palace recently released <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/new-details-announced-for-king-charles-coronation-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more information</a> on the slew of events that will take place over the coronation weekend in May, with a range of ceremonial, celebratory and community happenings to commemorate the new reigning sovereign. However, the plans for the grand weekend seem to already have been thrown into "chaos" by the revelation the Duke of York has amassed a £10 million ($A17.6 million) war chest to launch a case against sex abuse victim Virginia Giuffre. Plus, Prince Harry’s memoir, which quickly became the fastest-selling nonfiction book of all time, is still making headlines all over the world. Royal expert Angela Levin thinks the coronation plans will “absolutely” be thrown into chaos as a result, questioning whether the royal outcasts will even attend. She told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/21135717/kings-coronation-plans-chaos-prince-andrew-harry-meghan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun Online,</a> “I don’t even know if he and Harry are going together.” The Sun revealed on Saturday that Prince Andrew is making a bid to overturn the multimillion-dollar settlement with his sex accuser after her abuse case against a high-profile US lawyer crumbled. Angela said, “Andrew is out of control – who’s guiding him on this?” She said it seemed to be more than a coincidence that the Duke’s plans came to light less than two weeks after the release of Spare, saying “It seems very odd." “I’ve got no evidence. But the people who feel full of resentment could be going up against King Charles." “The nastiness is just beyond imagination really.” After Prince Harry's string of revelations in Spare, it has been speculated that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not attend the coronation, with no confirmation yet on whether they plan to face the royal family for the joyous occasion. Image credits: Getty Images

Family & Pets

"Revolving door of chaos": UK PM quits after 44 days in office

Liz Truss has resigned as UK Prime Minister after just 44 days in the top job. Ms Truss was sworn in as prime minister on September 6 by Queen Elizabeth II. She has now become the shortest-serving prime minister in Britain's history. Previously, this record was held by George Canning, who served for 119 days in 1827. She explained that she tried to deliver on the "vision for a low-tax high-growth economy" but was unable to continue her role following pressure from members of her party. A leadership election will be held in the next week to find Truss’ replacement but until then she will remain Prime Minister. Speaking in front of Number 10 Downing Street, Ms Truss accepted that she was unable to deliver her promises as leader of the Conservatives Party. Opposition Leader Keir Starmer said the Tory "soap opera" was damaging the country's economy and the issue needed to be sorted. "We can't have a revolving door of chaos," he told the BBC. "We can't have another experiment at the top of the Tory party. "There is an alternative and that's a stable Labour government and the public are entitled to have their say, and that's why there should be a general election." Liz Truss’ Full Speech “I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability,” she said. “Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills. “Putin's illegal war in Ukraine threatens the security of our whole continent. “And our country had been held back for too long by low economic growth. “I was elected by the Conservative Party with a mandate to change this. “We delivered on energy bills and on cutting national insurance. “And we set out a vision for a low tax, high growth economy – that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit. “I recognise though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party. “I have therefore spoken to His Majesty The King to notify him that I am resigning as Leader of the Conservative Party. “This morning I met the Chair of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady. “We have agreed there will be a leadership election to be completed in the next week. “This will ensure we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country's economic stability and national security. “I will remain as Prime Minister until a successor has been chosen. “Thank you.” Image: Getty

News

“There’s no way”: Masked Singer finale causes chaos

Warning! Spoilers ahead. The fourth season of The Masked Singer Australia has drawn to a dramatic close, with the results of the finale causing a stir online. Mirrorball, Rooster and Snapdragon were the three contestants still left in the competition, with Mirrorball taking out the win. However, as the masks came off, fans were suspicious as to how the famously clueless Dave Hughes managed to pull a surprisingly niche and accurate guess out of the bag at the last minute. Mirrorball's identity was unveiled, revealing former Pussycat Dolls member Melody Thornton as the winner. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Chzej4qrHou/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Chzej4qrHou/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Melody Thornton (@melodythornton)</a> </div> </blockquote> The 37-year-old singer was pegged as the star inside the Mirrorball costume before the season even began, as die-hard Pussycat Dolls fans could pick her voice from the teaser advertisements. But her name never came up among the judges all season, with Mel B instead frequently guessing she was her former PCD bandmate Nicole Scherzinger. Nicole was always PCD’ lead singer, with the other members (including strong vocalist Melody) barely having any solo lines. Which made judge Dave Hughes’ sudden guess of Thornton after her final performance come as a shock – particularly given his habit of making outlandish guesses throughout the season. Some viewers questioned how Hughes would suddenly pick the winner after a season of clangingly wrong guesses, asking whether Hughes was perhaps fed the guess so viewers wouldn’t ask “who?” when Thornton was unmasked. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Absolutely ridiculous. So obvious they’ve told Hughesy to say Melody Thornton. They’ve built it up for him to finally get one right <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaskedSingerAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaskedSingerAU</a> — 𝒥𝒥 (@AcousticAri) <a href="https://twitter.com/AcousticAri/status/1563833058171957248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> There’s no way Dave would know who melody Thornton is. Hell, if it wasn’t for her upstaging Nicole shersawerser, I don’t think I’d know her either and I was in peak pussycat dolls demographic. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaskedSingerAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaskedSingerAU</a> — Georgia Duncan (@_georgiarae) <a href="https://twitter.com/_georgiarae/status/1563833332558794757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The producers definitely would’ve told Dave Hughes to guess Melody Thornton because: a) They want him to finally get one right b) It would be kind of sad if no one guessed her all season (and instead guessed Nicole) c) As if Hughesy listened to Don’t Cha<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaskedSingerAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaskedSingerAU</a> — Lachlan Guertin (@LachlanGuertin) <a href="https://twitter.com/LachlanGuertin/status/1563833575870713856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2022</a></blockquote> Coming in second, the Snapdragon was unmasked as Sheldon Riley: the distinctively-voiced former The Voice and The X Factor contestant and Eurovision entrant. Third place went to the Rooster, who was unmasked as singer and actor Hugh Sheridan. Image credits: Channel Ten

Amid flight cancellations and airport chaos, is it worth traveling right now?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/frederic-dimanche-836528">Frederic Dimanche</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/toronto-metropolitan-university-1607">Toronto Metropolitan University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/wayne-smith-1136529">Wayne Smith</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/toronto-metropolitan-university-1607">Toronto Metropolitan University</a> <iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100px; border: none; position: relative; z-index: 1;" src="https://narrations.ad-auris.com/widget/the-conversation-canada/amid-flight-cancellations-and-airport-chaos--is-it-worth-traveling-right-now" width="100%" height="400"></iframe> We all realized the importance of the COVID-19 pandemic when we were asked by the government to <a href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/03/16/prime-minister-announces-new-actions-under-canadas-covid-19-response">stay home</a> in Winter 2020. When <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-travel-international-covid-advisory-1.6220428">Canadians were given the green light to travel again</a>, the government and media instilled <a href="https://theconversation.com/fear-of-travelling-canadians-need-to-put-travel-risk-into-perspective-171193">a fear of travelling</a> and many chose not to. Although <a href="https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/99225">we’re not out of the pandemic yet</a>, when it comes to restrictions, things are looking better. Take the EU for example: Restrictions have <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/28/europes-travel-rules-are-dropping-as-fast-as-its-covid-cases-.html">been dropped</a>, and as a result, <a href="https://www.doi.org/10.18111/wtobarometereng.2022.20.1.3">international trips increased 182 per cent from 2021 to 2022</a> for the first three months of the year. And while some are still preferring <a href="https://ca.news.yahoo.com/canada-travel-summer-muir-halifax-hotel-vrbo-vacation-rental-banff-niagara-whistler-153800575.html">to stay at home or avoiding international air travel</a>, many are eager to fly, but are confronted with <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/travel-chaos-flight-cancellations-2022/index.html">difficult travel conditions</a>: Flights are delayed or cancelled, people are waiting in line for hours at airports and missing their flights, luggage is being lost and emotions are high. So, is it worth travelling right now? <h2>Revenge travel and a labour crisis</h2> On one hand, the good news is many people have overcome <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2020.104261">their fear of travelling</a> amid the pandemic. They long for a time when they could visit other places, or see friends and family they’ve missed these past 30 months. <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/revenge-travel-explainer/index.html">Revenge travel</a> — a term coined to define people’s need to travel after being deprived of it — and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2021.2006858">nostalgia for travelling</a> are fuelling people’s return to travel. And Europe is a top destination. Compared to 2021, Europe <a href="https://www.doi.org/10.18111/wtobarometereng.2022.20.1.3">welcomed almost four times as many</a> international travellers during the first three months of the year, while the U.S. welcomed more than twice as many. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/477253/original/file-20220802-11-14sdbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/477253/original/file-20220802-11-14sdbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477253/original/file-20220802-11-14sdbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477253/original/file-20220802-11-14sdbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477253/original/file-20220802-11-14sdbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477253/original/file-20220802-11-14sdbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477253/original/file-20220802-11-14sdbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A mountain with homes embedded along the side is pictured by the sea" /><figcaption>Europe is a top travel destination right now. Pictured: Portofino, Italy. (Kristine Tanne/Unsplash)</figcaption></figure> On the other hand, the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/europes-summer-discontent-reveals-travel-sector-labour-crisis-2022-06-19/">travel rebound has met a labour crisis</a>: Employers are struggling to hire qualified people after many left due to pandemic unemployment. The result? Travel chaos. From lost luggage to missed connections and cancelled flights, airports are struggling. In particular, Toronto Pearson airport has received <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/toronto-pearson-airport-delays-1.6534360">poor publicity</a> the past several weeks and been ranked “<a href="https://www.statista.com/chart/27865/worst-offending-airports-for-delays/">worst in the world</a>” for the number of delayed flights (over 50 per cent of all flights) from the end of May until July 19. Is it going to be fixed anytime soon? Probably not. But airports like <a href="https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/toronto-pearson-seeing-measurable-improvements-following-weeks-of-delays-1.6015470">Pearson say they are seeing improvements</a>. In the meantime, it’s a safe bet for travellers to get accustomed to paying more for lower quality services. <h2>Plenty of health benefits</h2> But it is still worth travelling. We know how important travel is: We travel to reconnect with friends and family, to escape our normal lifestyles, to discover other landscapes and cultures. And taking vacations is actually <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0047287513496477">good for your health and wellness</a>, even when <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.1434">it’s a short trip</a>! Travelling <a href="https://travelhub.wttc.org/blog/9-reasons-travel-is-good-for-your-mental-health">has health benefits</a>, like recovering from mental and physical fatigue, improving household relationships and making people happier. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-004-5012-3">Researchers</a> have shown that satisfaction with leisure travel is positively connected to quality of life. And <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taab123">several studies</a> have even shown that international travel restrictions led to unintended negative health and social consequences. While travel for vacation is recommended, beware: According to air travel specialists, <a href="https://theconversation.com/coming-changes-to-the-canadian-airline-industry-could-lead-to-even-more-disruption-187425">more disruptions</a> are in the cards and <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/air-travel-chaos-more-to-come/index.html">more air travel chaos is on its way</a>. The labour issues that are the main reason for the disruptions are unlikely to disappear anytime soon and will continue to affect all tourism sectors, from transportation to hospitality and attractions. While travellers should not feel discouraged as the benefits outweigh the costs, it may be time to consider alternative, less environmentally damaging forms of travel: closer to home, without flying and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/19407963.2022.2100410">favouring domestic tourism as a substitute to international tourism</a>. The key to a successful trip is to properly plan for it, consider any alternatives that may be needed and be diligent about checking and double checking travel regulations and restrictions — even while on your trip, as they may change. Make sure you have digital copies of all relevant documents (like your passport, prescriptions and vaccination records) and pack at least a couple of days of clothes in your carry-on (or don’t check a bag at all). Also remember to be respectful of the people and countries you visit (wearing a mask, for example, may be encouraged or required in some countries or public places). Finally, bring some patience, flexibility and a willingness for adventure.<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/187045/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/frederic-dimanche-836528">Frederic Dimanche</a>, Professor and Director, Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/toronto-metropolitan-university-1607">Toronto Metropolitan University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/wayne-smith-1136529">Wayne Smith</a>, Professor, Hospitality and Tourism Management, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/toronto-metropolitan-university-1607">Toronto Metropolitan University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/amid-flight-cancellations-and-airport-chaos-is-it-worth-traveling-right-now-187045">original article</a>.

Domestic Travel

Shoo! PM's "dismissive gesture" causes chaos

Anthony Albanese has come under fire after being accused of making a rude gesture towards Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley while in parliament. The Prime Minister has allegedly taken to “shooing away” Liberal MPs in the last fortnight during Question Time, but his "disrespectful" gesture on Thursday left Ms Ley asking how seriously he took his pledge to treat women with respect at work. “Anthony Albanese has talked a really big game about making parliament a more respectful, fit-for-purpose workplace,” she told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/anthony-albanese-accused-of-rude-gesture-aimed-at-deputy-liberal-leader-sussan-ley/news-story/c1bbc6eb7afc268720e09e8839f9cbe5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>. “I don‘t mind the rough and tumble of politics, but I do mind the hypocrisy that he displayed in Question Time today." “If Anthony Albanese wants to be rude to a woman and dismissively wave her away when she’s trying to speak in parliament, that’s a choice for him, but it’s completely out of step with the values of a modern workplace in this country.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Was this gesture disrespectful? The Opposition called on the speaker to ask the PM to apologize for appearing to 'shoo away' Sussan Ley at the dispatch box. The speaker said there was nothing to withdraw <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SBSNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SBSNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/l99mIecS6K">pic.twitter.com/l99mIecS6K</a> — Naveen Razik (@naveenjrazik) <a href="https://twitter.com/naveenjrazik/status/1555062039122284546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2022</a></blockquote> The gesture, which was not full captured on cameras in the House of Reps, parked uproar and interjections when he made it. <div id="story-primary"> “The PM made a dismissive gesture towards the Deputy Leader of the Opposition,” Manager of Opposition Business Paul Fletcher told the House. The Speaker of the House claimed he did not see the gesture in question, but called on Albanese to apologise if he had done something disrespectful. The Liberal Party has been targeting the Prime Minister in Question Time over CFMEU donations, accusing members of the union of verbally abusing women in the workplace. “Why does the Prime Minister keep dismissing this issue when the welfare of 150,000 women working in the construction sector is at stake?” he was asked on Thursday. Albanese responded, “As I have said repeatedly, behaviour such as that, which she has described, is completely unacceptable.” Image credits: Getty Images </div>

Legal

Australians warned travel chaos will continue

An aviation expert has warned travel chaos “pain” in Australian airports could continue into 2023 as the industry struggles to meet soaring demand after stripping back services during the pandemic. Flight Centre managing director Graham Turner cautioned travellers to be wary of delays and cancellations until at least the end of the year as airlines contend with inexperienced and ill staff. “Bear in mind the aviation industry, and you know travel industry generally, has two-and-a-half years when we had to absolutely cut to the bone everything and now building that back up is quite difficult,” he said on Channel 9’s Today show. Mr Turner admitted the aviation industry was experiencing a “tough period” and asked travellers to exercise “a bit of patience” and noted the chaos was more manageable for domestic travellers despite the chaos. 40 flights between Sydney and Melbourne have been cancelled and hundreds of people were left sitting on planes after a computer outage grounded Qantas planes. Mr Turner said there would continue to be “pain” for travellers for at least the next couple of months as the industry grapples with staffing issues and the effects of the ongoing pandemic. He predicts travelling around Australia will be much easier by the end of year when “all of this really settles down”. “Domestically, it will improve and we predict certainly by October/November, assuming the Omicron does settle down, it will be much better off,” he said. While the news will surely be welcomed by local travellers, those looking to travel internationally have no reassuring timeline for when the dust will settle. Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport was recently ranked one of the 10 worst airports in the world for flight delays. Meanwhile, social media has been flooded with angry travellers reporting lost baggage, delayed or cancelled flights and staggering queues. Image: Getty

Domestic Travel

Cancelled flights, disrupted vacations, frayed tempers: FAQs about the chaos in the airline industry

People around the world are anxious to travel again as pandemic restrictions are being lifted. But those planning to jump on a plane for a vacation have been frustrated by chaos in the airline industry. In both North America and Europe, thousands of flights have been cancelled and hundreds of thousands of passengers have had their trips disrupted. Things will get worse before they get better. Air Canada has announced it will eliminate more than 150 daily flights for July and August. “Regrettably, things are not business as usual in our industry globally, and this is affecting our operations,” Air Canada president Michael Rousseau <a href="https://milled.com/air-canada/a-message-from-air-canadas-president-gQLU1OsSJMb4j5Fl">said in an email to customers when announcing the flight cutbacks</a>. So why is this happening? Here are answers to some key questions about the current problems with air travel. <h2>Why are so many flights being cancelled or delayed?</h2> The principal cause of the disruptions has been a shortage of qualified personnel at airports to handle the recent surge in passenger traffic. Airlines have been taking advantage of recent demand for air travel by returning aircraft and flight schedules to close to <a href="https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/news/21271750/air-passengers-to-reach-83-of-2019-levels-this-year-iata">80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels</a>, with the resulting volume of flights putting significant stress on the capability of the supporting infrastructure — <a href="https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2022/06/easyjet-to-scrap-more-summer-flights-from-schiphol-klm-limits-sales/">airports, air traffic control and labour conditions</a>. <h2>Are the problems only happening in certain airports or is this a worldwide issue?</h2> The congestion phenomenon in the summer 2022 travel season is rapidly spreading across a number of European and North American airports. The reason behind this concentration of congestion is quite simple: these are the air travel markets that have experienced the highest volumes of air travellers in recent months. <figure> The rapid elimination of COVID-19 protocols in these markets since March have generated a significant increase in the demand for air travel, with volumes of passengers that haven’t been seen in more than two years. This increase in volume has been highly evidenced in major airline hub airports such as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/schiphol-airport-amsterdam-photos-security-staff-shortages-europe-flight-2022-6">Amsterdam</a>, <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/airport-chaos-european-travel-runs-into-pandemic-cutbacks-1.5959561">London</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/19/us-travelers-flight-cancellations-chaos">New York</a> and <a href="https://globalnews.ca/video/8905320/frustrations-mount-over-ongoing-delays-at-toronto-pearson-airport">Toronto</a>, where tens of thousands of passengers are processed every day. <h2>Are all the problems related to the pandemic?</h2> When the global air travel market collapsed in March 2020 with the introduction of travel restrictions and border closures, the commercial aviation industry took steps to conserve cash and maintain a minimal workforce. Hundreds of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/02/01/airlines-lost-over-40000-workers-united-airlines-announced-another-14000-jobs-may-be-lost/?sh=6fa3ff1324b3">thousands of aviation workers were laid off or terminated</a>, with years of experience and technical expertise removed from the ranks of the commercial aviation communities. With the assistance of governments throughout the world, over US$200 billion of financial support was provided by governments to help the commercial aviation industry maintain minimal service and prevent financial collapse. When demand for air travel returned this March, the hiring frenzy began, but in a very different labour environment. The people who left in 2020 had, for the most part, moved on to other career opportunities and no longer had much interest in returning to an industry characterized by lower compensation and a higher employment risk. So the staff shortages have their genesis in the pandemic, and will continue to impact employment levels as travel returns. <h2>How many more people are travelling these days compared to a year ago – and compared to pre-pandemic levels?</h2> The International Air Transport Association publishes <a href="https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2022-releases/2022-06-09-01/">air travel statistics</a> relating to the volume of air travel throughout various world markets. It has noted that there is a significant difference in the volume of air travel, when compared to both 2021 and pre-pandemic levels. The air travel market that has demonstrated the highest rebound has been domestic North America — travel for April 2022 has increased more than 280 per cent compared to April 2021 traffic levels, but remains at slightly more than 30 per cent lower than April 2019 levels. In the Chinese domestic market, continuing pandemic-related travel restrictions and occasional city lockdowns have resulted in <a href="https://www.iata.org/en/iata-repository/publications/economic-reports/air-passenger-monthly-analysis---april-2022/">traffic levels down by close to 80 per cent</a> in April 2022, compared to April 2021 and 2019. <h2>What can be done to prevent delays?</h2> There are a number of perspectives that can be applied to a resolution of the current level of delays. European authorities have announced <a href="https://nltimes.nl/2022/06/16/schiphol-press-conference-many-flights-will-slashed-limit-passengers-ceo-wont-quit">specific reductions in flights</a>, while the U.S. government is <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/flight-cancellations-surge-buttigieg-demands-airlines-hire-staff-1717188">threatening to impose flight reductions</a> as a means of minimizing flight cancellations. The Canadian government has facilitated a meeting with the major aviation organizations in Canada to discuss <a href="https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/06/21/transport-minister-airlines-airports-delays/">a concerted and effective resolution </a> and <a href="https://investors.aircanada.com/2022-06-23-Air-Canada-Comments-on-Aviation-Industry-Summit-with-Federal-Transport-Minister">Air Canada announced measures</a> it was intending to implement to ease congestion at both Toronto Pearson and Montreal Trudeau airports. Canadian government officials have also announced <a href="https://www.thestar.com/business/2022/05/25/airport-delays-are-here-to-stay-for-the-long-term-due-to-a-shortage-of-workers-in-airport-security-union-says.html">plans to hire close to 2,000 additional border security and screening personnel</a> to deal with specific congestion issues. Labour groups are not certain that the problems of congestion will be addressed by such actions. The main issue is the volume of air travellers that are being drawn into the airport environment by the volume of flights operated by the airlines. Airlines have decided to grow their capacity to meet surging air travel demand, but the airport infrastructure is not equipped to handle such volumes. While such enthusiasm by the airline industry is laudable in times where adequate and experienced staff are available at airports, that is not the case now — and will not be the case for the foreseeable future. <h2>How long will this last?</h2> The summer travel season is in full flight in the northern hemisphere. Additional airline capacity and greater demand for air service by a travel-starved population will continue through at least September. Unless actions being contemplated by American, European and Canadian carriers results in a reduction of peak loading of aircraft movements across major airline hubs, in North America and Western Europe primarily, the congestion and delays will continue – and possibly worsen. Relief will most likely come in the fall, as demand for air travel is reduced with the arrival of the school season. Staffing will also reach required levels by the fall, with the arrival of normal commercial air operating conditions. Other issues that may reduce demand include <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2022/05/13/airfare-inflation-cool-demand-summer/?sh=42ae089032c3">higher airfares due to inflation and higher oil prices</a>, which may impact the survival of some airlines. <h2>What advice would you give to air travellers over the next few months?</h2> Airport authorities have been providing <a href="https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/travelling-this-summer-toronto-pearson-and-its-airport-partners-offer-travel-advice-for-passengers-822689624.html">guidance to travellers</a> on how best to prepare themselves for summer travel, including tips on how to avoid delays at security checks. In this coming summer of disruption, I would recommend travellers embark on their air journey with patience, ensure they are well-rested prior to departing for the airport and remember that airline staff are also experiencing stressful moments during their day. A smile, a thank you and, above all, a caring attitude for fellow travellers and staff is called for. The air travel experience will get better! Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/air-canada-flight-reductions-faqs-about-the-chaos-in-the-airline-industry-185750" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </figure>

International Travel

Sydney commuters warned of travel chaos

Sydney commuters will once again face a disruptive commute this week due to industrial action. Travellers will see up to a 50 percent decrease in peak hour train services on Tuesday, as trains won’t travel any faster than 60km/h. From Wednesday, a whopping 75 percent of services will be cut as well as the reduction in speed for all trains. The protected industrial action comes as unions fight for the ongoing safety concerns for their employees, as well as refusing to drive the intercity fleet which was built in South Korea and deemed unsafe. Transport for NSW is urging commuters to limit their travel over the four day strike period and have warned that roads could be busier due to the industrial action. A significant reduction in Intercity and regional services to the Central Coast, Newcastle, Hunter, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and South Coast lines is also expected on Thursday and Friday. A limited supply of buses will be available to help commuters to get to their required destination. Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary Alex Claassens said the industrial action was due to the government’s inaction. “All we want is for the government to deliver on the basic safety and workforce issues that we’ve been talking about for many months,” he said. “This has always been about safety for us.” Image: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Qantas executives attended "wellness festival" during airport chaos

As Australia's west coast airports started to crumble under mounting pressure, it has been revealed that Qantas executives and corporate staffers were enjoying a "wellness festival". According to <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/qantas-executives-enjoyed-wellness-festival-as-airports-struggled-under-pressure/855ddb48-c516-40d8-8b49-9aef52c15c29" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>, operational staff at Qantas were furious to hear of the event, which took place art the airline's headquarters in Mascot. The purpose of the event was to lure staffers who have been working from home during the pandemic back to the head office. In the itinerary for the festival, which was obtained by 9News, staff participated in activities such as meditation, Zumba and dog therapy, where office staff could pat a therapy dog. After facing backlash over the event, Qantas have said the event was not a usual occurrence and was organised a long time ago. While the majority of the event was held before the chaos started to unravel in Australian airports, the Transport Workers' Union (TWU) are furious. The TWU said the event was insulting to both the staff currently working and to those sacked by Qantas during the pandemic. "This news about Qantas, in a sense, celebrating at HQ is a kick in the guts to these people and their families," TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said. <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/aussie-airports-brace-for-record-crowds-over-easter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chaotic scenes</a> are expected to continue at airports across the nation over the Easter long weekend, as Sydney Airport is expected to see travellers in numbers not seen since March 2020. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Easter Show chaos: one teen dead, one in hospital, one arrested

A 17-year-old boy has died and another has been hospitalised following a stabbing at Sydney’s Royal Easter Show. Emergency services were called to the carnival ride section of the Show at 8 pm on Monday on reports of a fight. Two young people were found suffering stab wounds and first aid was administered at the scene before both were taken to Westmead Hospital. Paramedics worked to save the 17-year-old’s life after he suffered a stab wound to the chest but he died shortly after losing a significant amount of blood. The other victim was a 16-year-old, who suffered a stab wound to his leg and was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. “Paramedics performed CPR and a number of other critical interventions at the scene before loading the patients to Westmead Hospital,” Inspector Mark Whittaker of NSW Ambulance said. “Unfortunately despite best efforts he couldn’t be resuscitated. “There’s no doubt this would have been a very confronting scene for the dozens of witnesses who were out to enjoy an evening at the Royal Easter Show.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> An official statement on the events that took place at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on 11/04/2022. <a href="https://t.co/OwV11ukI1H">pic.twitter.com/OwV11ukI1H</a> — The Sydney Royal Easter Show (@eastershow) <a href="https://twitter.com/eastershow/status/1513536107702632449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2022</a></blockquote> A 15-year-old boy was arrested a short time after and was taken to Auburn Police Station. Attendees at the Show were removed from the area while a crime scene was established. Investigations are ongoing and a plea for eyewitnesses has been issued by NSW Police. Image: 7News

Legal

“Give us patience”: Chaos continues at Sydney Airport

Aussies hoping to fly from Sydney airport over the Easter holidays are facing ongoing chaos, as long queues build up inside the airport’s domestic terminal. It’s seen some passengers have been waiting for upwards of two hours to get through security, due to the start of the school holidays and staff shortages, which Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has attributed to Covid. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Sydney airport is absolutely insane. Security line starts inside and snakes back and forth, then it goes outside and snakes back and forth, then you can go back inside and snakes back and forth. Flights are delayed because they can't get humans through fast enough! <a href="https://t.co/NpE2AiNJkh">pic.twitter.com/NpE2AiNJkh</a> — James Ryall (@jgryall) <a href="https://twitter.com/jgryall/status/1511982559353532420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2022</a></blockquote> “At the moment the sick leave, absenteeism is twice the level of the reserves,” Mr Joyce <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-airport-delays-continue-as-queues-form-and-joyce-blames-covid-staff-shortages/a3a6164b-5483-4cc5-941e-f4c09b2366ba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the Today show. “You have 15 percent of cabin crew typically on reserve or backup to stand by, where now you’re getting up to 30 percent of people not turning up because Covid or (from being) close contacts. “Managing that, we ask people to give us patience. We again apologise for it.” The third day of delays has seen queues forming before 5am, with images from inside the packed terminal quickly circulating on social media. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Hell is… this at 5am. 🤦🏻 <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyAirport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyAirport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JetstarAirways?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JetstarAirways</a> <a href="https://t.co/Gq8VaKD5Az">pic.twitter.com/Gq8VaKD5Az</a> — Dr Darren Saunders (@whereisdaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/whereisdaz/status/1512521908050309122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2022</a></blockquote> It comes less than a week after Mr Joyce came under fire for appearing to blame customers for contributing to the delays. “I went through the airport on Wednesday and people forget they need to take out their laptops and they need to take out their aerosols,” he said previously. “So that is taking longer to get through the queue.” Going forward, Mr Joyce said changes to the rules for close contacts - which has seen the rules for isolation become more varied depending on a person’s risk of getting sick - would also help the situation. Image: Twitter

Domestic Travel

Sydney thrown into chaos by extreme floods

In just 24 hours, Sydney has been thrown into chaos by bouts of heavy rain, leading to extreme flooding all through the city. Residents woke up to road closures, flooding homes and rising water levels, with an extreme weather warning continuing to linger. Suburbs in Sydney's southwest were ordered to evacuate overnight, with public transport delays and cancellations affecting the whole city. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts another day of heavy rainfall and damaging winds, with severe weather warnings issued for parts of the Hunter, Metropolitan Sydney, Illawarra, south coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and parts of Mid North Coast, South West Slopes, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory. The damage has been widespread, with the M5 Citybound tunnel flooding and closing as a result. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Sydney M5 tunnel has become Venice. Travel safe everyone <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sydneyflood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sydneyflood</a> <a href="https://t.co/yWq871iA9k">pic.twitter.com/yWq871iA9k</a> — Shan (@shanshanw) <a href="https://twitter.com/shanshanw/status/1501053311902183426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote> Meanwhile in the eastern suburbs, a portion of the ceiling at Bondi Junction Westfield collapsed, narrowly missing unsuspecting shoppers. Footage shared by ABC journalist James Valentine showed chunks of the ceiling on the escalators however no shoppers appeared to be hurt or injured. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This collapsing ceiling at Westfield Bondi Junction, missed me by two metres! <a href="https://t.co/pyxBF1YXIS">pic.twitter.com/pyxBF1YXIS</a> — James Valentine (@Valentine702) <a href="https://twitter.com/Valentine702/status/1501025638089592837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote> In Sydney's south, entire roads near Bankstown were underwater, preventing travellers from getting home and out of the wild weather. The water from Georges River spread quickly, inundating parked cars with water. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Western Sydney Floods ( very rare that floods happen in this part ) <a href="https://t.co/IB42cFz6Nb">pic.twitter.com/IB42cFz6Nb</a> — @Georgebakhos1 (@GeorgeBakhos1) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeBakhos1/status/1500818701859553290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote> In the inner west suburb of Rhodes, flood waters tore through homes and wrecked furniture, while firefighters were called to help. They turned off the power supply to the homes, removed compromised power boards and helped residents to bail out as much water as they could. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> We are flooding in Condell Park <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSW</a> and SES are not picking up and the water is inside now all over the house!<a href="https://twitter.com/NSWSES?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NSWSES</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/7NewsSydney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@7NewsSydney</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsAUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@9NewsAUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/abcnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abcnews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BOM_NSW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SBSNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SBSNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSWFloods?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSWFloods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/floods?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#floods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sydneyfloods?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sydneyfloods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sydney?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sydney</a> <a href="https://t.co/OM1mco0lXn">pic.twitter.com/OM1mco0lXn</a> — Nasem Allam (@nasemallam) <a href="https://twitter.com/nasemallam/status/1500761403472617480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This is about a 7 minute drive from my place. Taken from a FB group. I’ve never seen flooding like this near me in Sydney. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sydneyflood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sydneyflood</a> <a href="https://t.co/WlFRO5ljM3">pic.twitter.com/WlFRO5ljM3</a> — Claudia Zappia 🩰🎭🎧🎤❤️‍🩹 (@Claudia_Zappia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Claudia_Zappia/status/1500983335761235969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote> Tragically, two lives have been lost from the floods, as police located two bodies in a stormwater canal in Sydney's western suburb of Wentworthville. The flood warnings remain in place, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with authorities warning residents not to make any non-essential trips, and to stay out of dangerous flood waters. Image credits: Facebook / Twitter

News

COVID chaos has shed light on many issues in the Australian childcare sector. Here are 4 of them

Thousands of families are without childcare as <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/resources/national-registers/service-temp-closure-info">hundreds of services</a> have had to close due to a surge in COVID cases, while many more are running at reduced capacity. Many parents dread another <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-covid-control-to-chaos-what-now-for-australia-two-pathways-lie-before-us-174325">chaotic year</a> that may have them jugging <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2022/01/06/executive-functioning-is-much-harder-for-children-from-chaotic-households/">childcare and work</a> at home. The government <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-government-has-again-rescued-the-childcare-sector-from-collapse-but-short-term-fixes-still-leave-it-at-risk-166568">rescued the childcare sector</a> several times over the past two years – making services eligible for a portion of their pre-pandemic payments as families pulled their children out. But these measures were only temporary. The childcare system was already busting at the seams before COVID. I led an <a href="https://uneprofessions.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_38j3CdPsHnM8l81">international survey</a> in 2021, during the pandemic, in which early childhood educators’ gave ideas on how their government could support their work. In Australia, 51 educators participated. Here are four preexisting the issues that have <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/early-childhood-directors-are-carrying-an-exhausting-load-during-covid-19-even-beyond-major-outbreaks-research/">increased during the pandemic</a>. <h2>1. Staff shortages</h2> Currently, many childcare services are closed and others are operating at reduced capacity because staff are either sick with COVID or close contacts that need to isolate. But staffing problems plagued the sector well before the pandemic, with <a href="https://theconversation.com/early-childhood-educators-are-leaving-in-droves-here-are-3-ways-to-keep-them-and-attract-more-153187">more than a 30% staff turnover</a>. The agency responsible for early childhood education and care, the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), released its <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-workforce-strategy">National Workforce Strategy</a> in 2021. It revealed 25% of educators have been at their service for less than a year. This high turnover harms relationships with children who need continuity. In a 2021 <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/73-of-early-educators-plan-to-leave-the-sector-within-three-years/">survey of almost 4,000 Australian educators</a>, 73% said they planned to leave their job within three years. The <a href="https://bigsteps.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Exhausted-undervalued-and-leaving.pdf">reasons</a> included low pay, overwork and being undervalued. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440392/original/file-20220112-23-1qok3m4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440392/original/file-20220112-23-1qok3m4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Child pouring out sand." /></a> 73% of early childhood educators plan to leave the profession. <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/z02yFSgVRbA" class="source">Markus Spiske/Unsplash</a> Women make up <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-workforce-strategy">91% the early childhood education and care workforce</a>. Pay is low in traditionally female occupations, and many educators leave simply because they <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0022185618800351">cannot afford to stay</a>. ACECQA has fast tracked <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/qualifications/requirements/children-preschool-age-or-under/recognition-as-an-equivalent-early-childhood-teacher">quick conversions</a> for primary and secondary school teachers into early childhood education, despite large and important differences in teaching philosophies. But there is unlikely to be a stampede to become one of Australia’s <a href="https://au.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/lowest-paid-jobs-in-australia">13th lowest paid workers</a>, just above a housekeeper. The national average salary for a childcare worker is A$29.63 per hour, but many earn as little as <a href="https://www.payscale.com/research/AU/Job=Childcare_Worker/Hourly_Rate">A$23.50</a>. This is in comparison to an average school teacher who earns <a href="https://www.payscale.com/research/AU/Job=Primary_School_Teacher/Salary">A$33.65</a> per hour. One educator in our study called for <blockquote> recognition of the equal value of early childhood educators with primary school teachers, especially for university-trained teachers, who experience a huge pay gap. </blockquote> Casualisation in the sector is another issue leading to high turnover. As part of government COVID rescue packages, permanent staff could receive JobKeeper payments, but casual staff at childcare services were not eligible. Many <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/08/05/hypervigilance-is-wearing-ecec-educators-down-as-the-pandemic-continues/">casual staff left</a> the sector. Government oversight is needed but there is always confusion about which government is responsible. Then there are also differences between community based and private services. <h2>2. Nobody is responsible for the sector</h2> Australia has one of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/quality-childcare-has-become-a-necessity-for-australian-families-and-for-society-its-time-the-government-paid-up-131748">highest levels</a> of privatisation in early childhood education in the world. This makes it harder for governments to control casualisation. However, the government sets the award wages. In a recent speech to the National Press Club, New South Wales Premier, Dominic Perrottet, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-08/perrottet-bid-to-take-over-childcare-from-commonwealth/100681344">said</a> he wanted states and territories to be able to take over responsibility for childcare from the federal government. This was part of his plan for “reform for a postpandemic world” which he said should be “state led, not Commonwealth led”. The federal government funds childcare, through subsidies, but providers are largely private and set their own fees. The state and territory governments fund community preschools. The federal government is responsible for the sector’s standards, frameworks and curricula, but the state and territory governments regulate them. This messy web makes it more difficult to reform the sector and manage costs for families. One level of government taking responsibility for childcare and preschool services will go some way to fixing the problems. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FIef0mCk7Ao?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet wants the states to take over responsibility for childcare. <h2>3. Too much paperwork</h2> In <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/07/26/acecqa-shares-findings-from-national-workforce-strategy-as-recruiting-challenges-persist/">ACECQA’s survey</a>, educators blamed <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2043610615597154">administrative overload</a> as one of the <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/07/26/acecqa-shares-findings-from-national-workforce-strategy-as-recruiting-challenges-persist/">three main reasons</a> they wanted to leave the profession. The increasing paperwork came as governments created <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi86rWw4Jv1AhUTS2wGHSpPD7MQFnoECCYQAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aasw.asn.au%2Fdocument%2Fitem%2F936&usg=AOvVaw0tkTyvOjf6LvcG5WzaJeYG">managerial systems</a> disguised as <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02680939.2017.1352032">quality assurance</a>, to try to regulate the sector. Now, educators must <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02680939.2014.924561">collect big data</a> every day, including <a href="https://bigsteps.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Exhausted-undervalued-and-leaving.pdf">mountains of checklists</a> for regulation and to document children’s learning. This extra workload <a href="https://educationhq.com/news/managerialism-has-taken-over-in-early-childhood-education-109737/">reduces time</a> spent on quality interactions. It also makes <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/10/25/bound-for-burnout-early-childhood-educators-are-swimming-against-a-gendered-micromanaged-tide/">educators feel micromanaged</a>, affecting their <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2020.1836583">identity and confidence</a>. Echoing the <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childcare/report/childcare-overview.pdf">Productivity Commission’s findings</a> in 2014, educators in our study said governments must “reduce paperwork”, which they described as “ridiculous”, “complex”, “indecipherable”, “frustrating” and “random”. As one educator said: “we need some paperwork, but we also need to be there for the children”. Over 60% felt frustrated three or more times a week. Nearly 40% of educators said the paperwork required for accreditation compliance (assessment and rating) <a href="https://educationhq.com/news/managerialism-has-taken-over-in-early-childhood-education-109737/">decreased the time</a> they spent with children. <h2>4. High burnout, low morale</h2> Despite being an essential worker, <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/early-childhood-directors-are-carrying-an-exhausting-load-during-covid-19-even-beyond-major-outbreaks-research/">educators are undervalued</a>, struggling for <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/18369391211050165">recognition</a>. Their strengths <a href="https://www.iejee.com/index.php/IEJEE/article/view/1447/532">are not mentioned</a> in <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/belonging_being_and_becoming_the_early_years_learning_framework_for_australia.pdf">curriculum</a> documents. Overwork is the <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/07/26/acecqa-shares-findings-from-national-workforce-strategy-as-recruiting-challenges-persist/">second reason</a> educators want to leave. Our study showed that during the accreditation period, when they need to fill out regulation requirement documents, 50% of staff reported working unpaid hours. <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/09/14/accreditation-effects-on-early-childhood-educator-morale/">Staff morale</a> also suffers during accreditation. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440556/original/file-20220112-21-1sgijcd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440556/original/file-20220112-21-1sgijcd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Childcare worker talking to kids." /></a> Despite doing essential work, childcare workers are burnt out and suffer from low morale. <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/preschool-teacher-talking-group-children-sitting-1214667421" class="source">Shutterstock</a> During the pandemic, educators reported an <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/18369391211040940">increased burden</a> with extra time needed for cleaning, health requirements, communicating with parents, rearranging work plans and spaces, caring for staff, and constant <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/08/05/hypervigilance-is-wearing-ecec-educators-down-as-the-pandemic-continues/">hypervigilance</a>. One said, “I would prefer to work somewhere for the same or similar wage with less stress and take-home work”. Burnout is the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13158-020-00264-6">third reason</a> educators want to leave. “The demand on educators is too high. The pressure is intense”, one told us. The National Workforce Strategy recommends directors give educators links to well-being services and strategies. While this is well-meaning, it is simplistic given the level of crisis. For example, we found 70% of educators felt overtired and 60% felt overwhelmed three or more times in the last week. Recognition of childcare as an <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/18369391211040940">essential service</a> – with assured funding provision and a more streamlined level of government regulation – is key to reforming the sector’s status, and educators’ pay. The sector is in crisis, so we need to stop talking about ideas to change it and take action towards <a href="https://thrivebyfive.org.au/">total reform</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/174404/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marg-rogers-867368">Marg Rogers</a>, Senior Lecturer, Early Childhood Education, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-new-england-919">University of New England</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/covid-chaos-has-shed-light-on-many-issues-in-the-australian-childcare-sector-here-are-4-of-them-174404">original article</a>. Image: Pixabay

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