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What to expect from the federal budget

There's just three weeks left until Treasurer Jim Chalmers unveils the federal budget. With the cost of living crisis still a major issue across the country, we can expect to see some policies aimed at alleviating the pressure. Some policies, have already been announced and here are a few others that we can expect to hear from Chalmers on May 14. Stage 3 cuts announced in January, will form a key part of this year's budget, which will direct more benefit towards low- and middle-income earners – although Australians on high salaries will still receive a tax cut. The decision was made to alleviate the cost-of-living pressures and partly address the bracket creep. The cuts lower the threshold for the lowest two brackets (so they pay less tax on that income), and raise the threshold for the highest two brackets (so they need to earn more to be taxed at a higher rate). This means that someone with average income of around $73,000 will get $1504, but how much you actually receive will depend on your income. The new version of the stage 3 cuts will come into effect on July 1. Superannuation will be paid on government-funded parental leave, with the change due to kick in for parents with babies born after July 1, 2025. They will receive a 12 per cent superannuation on top of their government-funded parental leave, with around 180,000 families expected to benefit from it. The figures will be included in the May 14 budget. Although nothing has been officially announced, there will likely be HECS-HELP debt relief for current and former students. "I think there's a range of areas where we need to do much better with the younger generation, and HECS is one of them," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on radio on April 18. "We've received a review of that... and what that has said is that the system can be made simpler and be made fairer. "We're examining the recommendations and we'll be making announcements pretty soon on that. We, of course, have a budget coming up." There have also been some hints from the government that energy bill relief will continue in this year's budget. "Our government understands that for small business – as for Australian families – energy bills remain a source of financial pressure," Albanese said, citing the existing policy that gives eligible families up to $500 off their power bills and eligible small businesses up to $650. "Our government understands that for small business – as for Australian families – energy bills remain a source of financial pressure," he said. "That's why the energy bill relief package I negotiated with the states and territories delivered up to $650 in savings for around 1 million small businesses, along with 5 million families. "And as we put together next month's budget, small businesses and families will again be front and centre in our thinking." Energy bills are also set to go down, or remain stable for the most part from July 1. Image: Getty

Money & Banking

Loyalty programs may limit competition, and they could be pushing prices up for everyone

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alexandru-nichifor-1342216">Alexandru Nichifor</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/scott-duke-kominers-1494057">Scott Duke Kominers</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/harvard-university-1306">Harvard University</a> Loyalty programs enable firms to offer significantly lower prices to some of their customers. You’d think this would encourage strong competition. But that isn’t always what actually happens. <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4377561">New research</a> shows that paradoxically, by changing the way companies target customers, loyalty programs can sometimes reduce price competition. The research also points to solutions. <h2>A win-win proposition?</h2> Joining a loyalty program is supposed to be a win-win. You – the customer – get to enjoy perks and discounts, while the company gains useful commercial insights and builds brand allegiance. For example, a hotel chain loyalty program might reward travellers for frequent stays, with points redeemable for future bookings, upgrades or other benefits. The hotel chain, in turn, records and analyses how you spend money and encourages you to stay with them again. Such programs are commonplace across many industries – appearing everywhere from travel and accommodation to supermarket or petrol retailing. But they are increasingly coming under scrutiny. In 2019, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/publications/customer-loyalty-schemes-final-report">cautioned</a> consumers about the sheer volume of personal data collected when participating in a loyalty program, and what companies can do with it. Hidden costs – such as having to pay a redemption fee on rewards or losing benefits when points expire – are another way these schemes can harm consumers. But a larger question – how loyalty programs impact consumers overall – remains difficult to settle, because their effect on competitiveness is unclear. As the ACCC’s <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/publications/customer-loyalty-schemes-final-report">final report</a> notes, on the one hand: "Loyalty schemes can have pro-competitive effects and intensify competition between rivals leading to competing loyalty discounts and lower prices for consumers." But on the other hand: "Loyalty schemes can also reduce the flexibility of consumers’ buying patterns and responsiveness to competing offers, which may reduce competition." <h2>How a two-speed price system can hurt everyone</h2> A new economic theory research <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4377561">working paper</a>, coauthored by one of us (Kominers), suggests that on competitive grounds alone, loyalty programs can sometimes harm all consumers – both ordinary shoppers and the program’s own members. It’s easy to see how the ordinary shopper can be worse off. Since a firm’s loyalty program enables it to offer discounted prices to its members, the firm can raise the base prices it offers to everyone else. Those not participating in the program pay more than they otherwise would have, and the firm can respond by saying “join our program!” instead of having to lower its price. But sometimes, even the program’s own members can end up worse off. When a given customer’s loyalty status is not visible to a firm’s competitors – as is the case in many loyalty programs today – it’s hard for those competitors to identify them and entice them to switch. The main way to compete for those customers becomes to lower the base price for everyone, but this means missing out on the high base margins achieved through the existence of your own loyalty program – remember, having a loyalty program means you can charge non-members more. It’s often more profitable for firms to just maintain high base prices. This, in turn, reduces overall price competition for loyal customers, so firms can raise prices for them, too. <h2>What’s the solution?</h2> Despite these effects on competition, loyalty programs still offer benefits for consumers and an opportunity for brands to form closer relationships with them. So, how do we preserve these benefits while enabling price competition? The research suggests an answer: making a customer’s loyalty status verifiable, transparent and portable across firms. This would make it possible for firms to tailor offers for their competitors’ loyal customers. This is already happening in the market for retail electricity. While there aren’t loyalty programs there per se, a consumer’s energy consumption profile, which could be used by a competitor to calibrate a personalised offer, is known only to their current electricity supplier. To address this, in 2015, the Victorian government launched a <a href="https://compare.energy.vic.gov.au">program</a> encouraging households to compare energy offers. This process involved first revealing a customer’s energy consumption profile to the market, and then asking retailers to compete via personalised offers. By opening information that might have otherwise been hidden to the broader market, this approach enabled firms to compete for each other’s top customers, in a way that could be emulated for loyalty programs. Such systems in the private sector could build upon “<a href="https://thepointsguy.com/guide/airline-status-matches-challenges/">status match</a>” policies at airlines. These allow direct transfer of loyalty status, but currently rely on a lengthy, individual-level verification process. For example, a design paradigm known as “<a href="https://hbr.org/2022/05/what-is-web3">Web3</a>” – where customer transactions and loyalty statuses are recorded on public, shared blockchain ledgers – offers a way to make loyalty transparent across the market. This would enable an enhanced, decentralised version of status match: a firm could use blockchain records to verifiably identify who its competitors’ loyal customers are, and directly incentivise them to switch. Both startups and established firms have experimented with building such systems. <h2>What next?</h2> New academic research helps us model and better understand when loyalty programs could be weakening supply side competition and undermining consumer welfare. A neat universal solution may prove elusive. But targeted government or industry interventions – centred on increasing the transparency of a customer’s loyalty status and letting them move it between firms – could help level the playing field between firms and consumers.<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/220669/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alexandru-nichifor-1342216">Alexandru Nichifor</a>, Associate Professor, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Melbourne, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/scott-duke-kominers-1494057">Scott Duke Kominers</a>, Sarofim-Rock Professor of Business Administration, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/harvard-university-1306">Harvard University</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/loyalty-programs-may-limit-competition-and-they-could-be-pushing-prices-up-for-everyone-220669">original article</a>.

Money & Banking

Millions of high-risk Australians aren’t getting vaccinated. A policy reset could save lives

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-breadon-1348098">Peter Breadon</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168">Grattan Institute</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ingrid-burfurd-1295906">Ingrid Burfurd</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168">Grattan Institute</a> Each year, vaccines prevent thousands of deaths and hospitalisations in Australia. But millions of high-risk older Australians <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/a-fair-shot-ensuring-all-australians-can-get-the-vaccines-they-need/">aren’t getting</a> recommended vaccinations against COVID, the flu, pneumococcal disease and shingles. Some people are more likely to miss out, such as migrant communities and those in rural areas and poorer suburbs. As our new <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/a-fair-shot-ensuring-all-australians-can-get-the-vaccines-they-need/">Grattan report shows</a>, a policy reset to encourage more Australians to get vaccinated could save lives and help ease the pressure on our struggling hospitals. <h2>Adult vaccines reduce the risk of serious illness</h2> Vaccines slash the risk of <a href="https://www.ncirs.org.au/sites/default/files/2021-03/Influenza-fact-sheet_31%20March%202021_Final.pdf">hospitalisation</a> and serious illness, <a href="https://ncirs.org.au/recent-covid-19-vaccination-highly-effective-against-death-caused-sars-cov-2-infection-older">often by more than half</a>. COVID has already caused more than <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/provisional-mortality-statistics/latest-release">3,000 deaths in Australia this year</a>. On average, the flu kills about <a href="https://www.doherty.edu.au/news-events/news/statement-on-the-doherty-institute-modelling">600 people a year</a>, although a bad flu season, like 2017, can mean <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/3303.0%7E2017%7EMain%20Features%7EAustralia's%20leading%20causes%20of%20death,%202017%7E2">several thousand deaths</a>. And pneumococcal disease may also kill <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/49809836-8ead-4da5-81c4-352fa64df75b/aihw-phe-263.pdf?inline=true">hundreds</a> of people a year. Shingles is rarely fatal, but can be extremely painful and cause <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/shingles#complications">long-term nerve damage</a>. Even before COVID, vaccine-preventable diseases caused tens of thousands of potentially preventable hospitalisations each year – more than <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/primary-health-care/disparities-in-potentially-preventable-hospitalisa/data">80,000 in 2018</a>. Vaccines offered in Australia have been tested for safety and efficacy and have been found to be <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/immunisation/about-immunisation/vaccine-safety#:%7E:text=serious%20side%20effects.-,Vaccine%20safety%20monitoring,approved%20for%20use%20in%20Australia.">very safe</a> for people who are <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/immunisation/when-to-get-vaccinated/national-immunisation-program-schedule">recommended to get them</a>. <h2>Too many high-risk people are missing out</h2> Our <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/roundabouts-overpasses-carparks-hauling-the-federal-government-back-to-its-proper-role-in-transport-projects">report</a> shows that before winter this year, only 60% of high-risk Australians were vaccinated against the flu. Only 38% had a COVID vaccination in the last six months. Compared to a year earlier, two million more high-risk people went into winter without a recent COVID vaccination. Vaccination rates have fallen further since. Just over one-quarter (<a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-update-10-november-2023.pdf">27%</a>) of people over 75 have been vaccinated in the last six months. That leaves more than 1.3 million without a recent COVID vaccination. Uptake is also low for other vaccines. Among Australians in their 70s, <a href="https://ncirs.org.au/sites/default/files/2022-12/Coverage%20report%202021%20SUMMARY%20FINAL.pdf">less than half</a> are vaccinated against shingles and only one in five are vaccinated against pneumococcal disease. These vaccination rates aren’t just low – they’re also unfair. The likelihood that someone is vaccinated changes depending on where they live, where they were born, what language they speak at home, and how much they earn. For example, at the start of winter this year, the COVID vaccination rate for high-risk Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults was only 25%. This makes them about one-third less likely to have been vaccinated against COVID in the previous six months, compared to the average high-risk Australian. For more than 750,000 high-risk adults who do not speak English at home, the COVID vaccination rate is below 20% – about half the level of the average high-risk adult. Within this group, 250,000 adults aren’t proficient in English. They were 58% less likely to be vaccinated for COVID in the previous six months, compared to the average high-risk person. High-risk adults who speak English at home have a flu vaccination rate of 62%. But for people from 29 other language groups, who aren’t proficient in English, the rate is less than 31%. These 39,000 people have half the vaccination rate of people who speak English at home. These vaccination gaps contribute to the differences in people’s health. Australians born overseas don’t just have much lower rates of COVID vaccination, they also have much higher rates of death from COVID. Where people live also affects vaccination rates. High-risk people living in remote and very remote areas are less likely to be vaccinated, and even within capital cities there are big differences between different areas. <h2>We need to set ambitious targets</h2> Australia needs a vaccination reset. A new National Vaccination Agreement between the federal and state governments should include ambitious but achievable targets for adult vaccines. This can build on the success of targets for childhood and adolescent vaccination, setting targets for overall uptake and for communities that are falling behind. The federal government should ask the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) to advise on vaccination targets for COVID, flu, pneumococcal and shingles for all high-risk older adults. <h2>Different solutions for different barriers</h2> Barriers to vaccination range from the trivial to the profound. A new national vaccination strategy needs to dismantle high and low barriers alike. First, to increase overall uptake, vaccination should be easier, and easier to understand. The federal government should introduce vaccination “surges”, especially in the lead-up to winter, as <a href="https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/09-10-2023-vulnerable--vaccinate.-protecting-the-unprotected-from-covid-19-and-influenza">countries in Europe</a> do. During surges, high-risk people should be able to get vaccinated even if they have had a recent infection or injection. This will make the rules simpler and make vaccination in aged care easier. Surges should be reinforced with advertising explaining who should get vaccinated and why. High-risk people should get SMS reminders. Second, targeted policies are needed for the many people who are happy to use mainstream primary care services, but who don’t get vaccinated – for example, due to <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-can-governments-communicate-with-multicultural-australians-about-covid-vaccines-its-not-as-simple-as-having-a-poster-in-their-language-156097">language barriers</a>, or living in <a href="https://theconversation.com/over-half-of-eligible-aged-care-residents-are-yet-to-receive-their-covid-booster-and-winter-is-coming-205403">aged care</a>. <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/phn/what-PHNs-are">Primary Health Networks</a> should get funding to coordinate initiatives such as vaccination events in aged care and disability care homes, workforce training to support culturally appropriate care, and provision of interpreters. Third, tailored programs are needed to reach <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/health-promotion">people who are not comfortable or able to access mainstream health care</a>, who have the most complex barriers to vaccination – for example, distrust of the health system or poverty. These communities are all very different, so one-size-fits-all programs don’t work. The pandemic showed that vaccination programs can succeed when they are designed and delivered with the communities they are trying to reach. Examples are “<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36366401/">community champions</a>” who challenge misinformation, or health services organising vaccination events where communities work, gather or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/aug/11/hundreds-queue-for-hours-and-some-camp-overnight-at-pop-up-vaccine-clinic-in-sydneys-lakemba">worship</a>. These programs should get ongoing funding, but also be accountable for achieving results. Adult vaccines are the missing piece in Australia’s whole-of-life vaccination strategy. For the health and safety of the most vulnerable members of our community, we need to close the vaccination gap. <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/217915/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-breadon-1348098">Peter Breadon</a>, Program Director, Health and Aged Care, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168">Grattan Institute</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ingrid-burfurd-1295906">Ingrid Burfurd</a>, Senior Associate, Health Program, Grattan Institute, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168">Grattan Institute</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/millions-of-high-risk-australians-arent-getting-vaccinated-a-policy-reset-could-save-lives-217915">original article</a>.

Body

Forcing people to repay welfare ‘loans’ traps them in a poverty cycle – where is the policy debate about that?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hanna-wilberg-1466649">Hanna Wilberg</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-auckland-1305">University of Auckland</a> The National Party’s <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/09/26/more-sanctions-for-unemployed-beneficiaries-under-national/">pledge to apply sanctions</a> to unemployed people receiving a welfare payment, if they are “persistently” failing to meet the criteria for receiving the benefit, has attracted plenty of comment and <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/09/26/nationals-benefit-sanctions-plan-cruel-dehumanising-greens/">criticism</a>. Less talked about has been the party’s promise to index benefits to inflation to keep pace with the cost of living. This might at least provide some relief to those struggling to make ends meet on welfare, though is not clear how much difference it would make to the current system of indexing benefits to wages. In any case, this alone it is unlikely to break the cycle of poverty many find themselves in. One of the major drivers of this is the way the welfare system pushes some of the most vulnerable people into debt with loans for things such as school uniforms, power bills and car repairs. The government provides one-off grants to cover benefit shortfalls. But most of these grants are essentially loans. People receiving benefits are required to repay the government through weekly deductions from their normal benefits – which leaves them with even less money to survive on each week. With <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/132980318/auckland-mother-serves-up-cereal-for-dinner-due-to-rising-food-costs">rising costs</a>, the situation is only getting worse for many of the 351,756 New Zealanders <a href="https://figure.nz/chart/TtiUrpceJruy058e-ITw010dHsM6bvA2a">accessing one of the main benefits</a>. <h2>Our whittled down welfare state</h2> Broadly, there are three levels of government benefits in our current system. The main benefits (such as jobseeker, sole parent and supported living payment) <a href="https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/benefit-rates/benefit-rates-april-2023.html">pay a fixed weekly amount</a>. The jobseeker benefit rate is set at NZ$337.74 and sole parents receive $472.79 a week. Those on benefits have access to a second level of benefits – weekly supplementary benefits such as an <a href="https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/accommodation-supplement.html">accommodation supplement</a> and other allowances or tax credits. The third level of support is one-off discretionary payments for specific essential needs. Those on benefits cannot realistically make ends meet without repeated use of these one-off payments, unless they use assistance from elsewhere – such as family, charity or borrowing from loan sharks. This problem has been building for decades. <h2>Benefits have been too low for too long</h2> In the 1970s, the <a href="https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/12967">Royal Commission on Social Security</a> declared the system should provide “a standard of living consistent with human dignity and approaching that enjoyed by the majority”. But Ruth Richardson’s “<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/124978983/1991-the-mother-of-all-budgets">mother of all budgets</a>” in 1991 slashed benefits. Rates never recovered and today’s <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/03/29/benefit-increases-will-still-leave-families-locked-in-poverty/">benefits are not enough to live on</a>. In 2018, the <a href="https://www.weag.govt.nz/">Welfare Expert Advisory Group</a> looked at how much money households need in two lifestyle scenarios: bare essentials and a minimum level of participation in the community, such as playing a sport and taking public transport. The main benefits plus supplementary allowances did not meet the cost of the bare essentials, let alone minimal participation. The Labour government has since <a href="https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-delivers-income-increases-over-14-million-new-zealanders">increased benefit rates</a>, meaning they are now slightly above those recommended by the advisory group. But those recommendations were made in 2019 and don’t take into account the <a href="https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-6-0-percent">sharp rise in inflation</a> since then. Advocacy group <a href="https://fairerfuture.org.nz/">Fairer Future</a> published an updated assessment in 2022 – nine out of 13 types of households still can’t meet their core costs with the current benefit rates. <h2>How ‘advances’ create debt traps</h2> When they don’t have money for an essential need, people on benefits can receive a “special needs grant”, which doesn’t have to be repaid. But in practice, Work and Income virtually never makes this type of grant for anything except food and some other specific items, such as some health travel costs or emergency dental treatment. For <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/02/27/very-stressful-beneficiary-says-he-cant-afford-msd-debt/">all other essential needs</a> – such as school uniforms, car repairs, replacing essential appliances, overdue rent, power bills and tenancy bonds – a one-off payment called an “advance” is used. Advances are loans and have to be paid back. There are several issues with these types of loans. First, people on benefits are racking up thousands of dollars worth of debts to cover their essential needs. It serves to trap them in financial difficulties for the foreseeable future. As long as they remain on benefits or low incomes, it’s difficult to repay these debts. And the <a href="https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2018/0032/latest/whole.html">Social Security Act 2018</a> doesn’t allow the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to waive debts. <h2>Contradictory policies</h2> Another problem is that people on benefits have to start repaying their debt straight away, with weekly deductions coming out of their already limited benefit. Each new advance results in a further weekly deduction. Often these add up to $50 a week or more. MSD policy says repayments should not add up to more than $40 a week, but that is often ignored. This happens because the law stipulates that each individual debt should be repaid in no more than two years, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Paying this debt off in two years often requires total deductions to be much higher than $40. The third issue is that one-off payments can be refused regardless of the need. That is because there are two provisions pulling in opposite directions. On the one hand the law says a payment should be made if not making it would cause serious hardship. But on the other hand, the law also says payments should not be made if the person already has too much debt. People receiving benefits and their case managers face the choice between more debt and higher repayments, or failing to meet an essential need. <h2>Ways to start easing the burden</h2> So what is the fix? A great deal could be achieved by just changing the policies and practices followed by Work and Income. Case managers have the discretion to make non-recoverable grants for non-food essential needs. These could and should be used when someone has an essential need, particularly when they already have significant debt. Weekly deductions for debts could also be automatically made very low. When it comes to changing the law, the best solution would be to make weekly benefit rates adequate to live on. The government could also make these benefit debts similar to student loans, with no repayments required until the person is off the benefit and their income is above a certain threshold. However we do it, surely it must be time to do something to fix this poverty trap.<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/212528/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hanna-wilberg-1466649">Hanna Wilberg</a>, Associate professor - Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-auckland-1305">University of Auckland</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/forcing-people-to-repay-welfare-loans-traps-them-in-a-poverty-cycle-where-is-the-policy-debate-about-that-212528">original article</a>.

Money & Banking

Private health insurance is set for a shake-up. But asking people to pay more for policies they don’t want isn’t the answer

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yuting-zhang-1144393">Yuting Zhang</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kettlewell-903866">Nathan Kettlewell</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a> Private health insurance is <a href="https://consultations.health.gov.au/medical-benefits-division/consultation-on-phi-studies/">under review</a>, with proposals to overhaul everything from rebates to tax penalty rules. One <a href="https://consultations.health.gov.au/medical-benefits-division/consultation-on-phi-studies/supporting_documents/Finity%20Consulting%20MLS%20and%20PHI%20Rebate%20Final%20Report.pdf">proposal</a> is for higher-income earners who don’t have private health insurance to pay a larger <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Medicare-and-private-health-insurance/Medicare-levy-surcharge/">Medicare Levy Surcharge</a> – an increase from 1.25% or 1.5%, to 2%. And if they want to avoid that surcharge, they’d need to take out higher-level hospital cover than currently required. Encouraging more people to take up private health insurance like this might seem a good way to take pressure off the public hospital system. But <a href="https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/publications/working-papers/search/result?paper=4682822">our research</a> shows these proposals may not achieve this. These may also be especially punitive for people with little to gain from buying private health insurance, such as younger people and those living in regional areas who do not have access to private hospitals. <h2>What is the Medicare Levy Surcharge?</h2> The Medicare Levy Surcharge was <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2013/May/A_short_history_of_increases_to_the_Medicare_levy#:%7E:text=From%20July%201997%2C%20a%20surcharge,ancillary%20insurance%20cover%20was%20introduced">introduced in 1997</a> to encourage high-income earners to buy health insurance. People earning above the relevant thresholds need to buy “complying” health insurance, or pay the levy. This surcharge is in addition to the <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Medicare-and-private-health-insurance/Medicare-levy/">Medicare levy</a>, which applies to most taxpayers. The surcharge varies depending on your income bracket, and the rate is <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Medicare-and-private-health-insurance/Medicare-levy-surcharge/Medicare-levy-surcharge-income,-thresholds-and-rates/">different</a> for families. For instance, to avoid paying the surcharge currently, a single person living in Victoria earning A$108,001 can buy basic hospital cover. The lowest annual premium for someone under 65 is <a href="https://www.privatehealth.gov.au/dynamic/Search/">about $1,100</a>, after rebates. That varies slightly between states and territories. Not buying private health insurance and paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge instead would cost even more, at $1,350 (1.25% of $108,001). <h2>What is being proposed?</h2> The <a href="https://consultations.health.gov.au/medical-benefits-division/consultation-on-phi-studies/">report</a>, by Finity Consulting and commissioned by the federal health department, reviews a range of health insurance incentives. It recommends increasing the Medicare Levy Surcharge to 2% for those with an income above $108,001 for singles, and $216,001 for families. The definition of a “complying” private health insurance policy would also change. Rather than having basic hospital cover as is required now, someone would need to buy <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/private-health-insurance-reforms-gold-silver-bronze-basic-product-tiers-campaign-fact-sheet?language=en">silver or gold</a> cover to avoid the surcharge. Under the proposed changes, people who pay the 2% surcharge would also no longer receive any rebate, which currently reduces premiums by <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Medicare-and-private-health-insurance/Private-health-insurance-rebate/Income-thresholds-and-rates-for-the-private-health-insurance-rebate/#Rebaterates1">about 8%</a> for people earning $108,001-$144,000. So, for a single person under 65, earning $108,001 and living in Victoria, the <a href="https://www.privatehealth.gov.au/dynamic/Search/">annual cost of buying</a> complying hospital cover would be at least $1,904 (without the rebate). Again, that varies slightly between states and territories. But the cost of not insuring and paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge instead would go up to $2,160 (2% of $108,001). <h2>Is this a good idea?</h2> However, <a href="https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/publications/working-papers/search/result?paper=4682822">our research</a>, out earlier this year, suggests increasing the Medicare Levy Surcharge will not meaningfully increase take-up of private health insurance. We’ve shown that people do not respond as strongly to the surcharge as theory would predict. For example, when the surcharge kicks in, we found the probability of insuring only increases modestly from about 70% to 73% for singles, and about 90% to 91% for families. It is generally cheaper to buy private health insurance than to pay the surcharge. However, we found about 15% of single people with an income of $108,001 or above don’t insure despite it being cheaper than paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge. We don’t know precisely why. Maybe people are not sure of the financial benefit due to changes in their income, or if they are, cannot be bothered, or do not have time, to explore their options. Maybe, as <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AusFinance/comments/x2909w/does_anyone_else_willingly_pay_the_medicare/">anecdotal reports suggest</a>, rather than buying private health insurance, some people would rather support the public system by paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge. The point is, people who are not buying private health insurance appear to be highly resistant to financial incentives. So stronger penalties might have little effect. Instead, we propose the Medicare Levy Surcharge be better targeted to true high-income earners. We can do that by increasing income thresholds for the surcharge to kick in, which are then indexed annually to reflect changes in earnings. <h2>How about needing more expensive cover?</h2> Requiring people to choose silver level cover or above would address criticisms about people buying “<a href="https://theconversation.com/getting-rid-of-junk-health-insurance-policies-is-just-tinkering-at-the-margins-of-a-much-bigger-issue-82749">junk</a>” private health insurance they never intend to use. However, people may be buying this type of product because private health insurance has little value to them. Requiring them to spend even more on a product they don’t want is a roundabout way of taking pressure off the public system. So we propose keeping the current level of hospital cover required to avoid the surcharge, rather than increasing it. <h2>Who loses?</h2> Taken together, the cost of these proposed changes would disproportionately fall on people with little to gain from private health insurance. These include younger people, those living in regional areas who do not have access to private hospitals, or those who prefer to support the public system directly. These groups are the least likely to use private insurance so have the least to gain from upgrading their cover. <h2>Where to next?</h2> The report also recommends keeping <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Medicare-and-private-health-insurance/Private-health-insurance-rebate/">health insurance rebates</a> (a government contribution to your premiums), the <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Medicare-and-private-health-insurance/Private-health-insurance-rebate/Lifetime-health-cover/">Lifetime Health Cover</a> loading (to encourage people to take out hospital cover while younger), as well as the Medicare Levy Surcharge. We also support keeping these three in the short to medium term. But we recommend gradually reducing public support for private health insurance. We believe the ultimate goal of reforming private health insurance is to optimise the overall efficiency of the health-care system (both public and private systems) and improve population health while saving taxpayers’ money. The goal should not be merely increasing the take-up of private health insurance, which is the focus of the current report. So, as well as our recommendation to better target the Medicare Levy Surcharge, we need to: <ul> <li> lower income thresholds for <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-private-health-insurance-rebate-has-cost-taxpayers-100-billion-and-only-benefits-some-should-we-scrap-it-181264">insurance rebates</a>, especially targeting those on genuinely low incomes. This means lower premiums only for the people who can least afford private health care </li> <li> remove rebates <a href="https://theconversation.com/private-health-insurance-premiums-should-be-based-on-age-and-health-status-122545">based on age</a> as higher rebates for older people <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13504851.2017.1299094?journalCode=rael20">do not</a> encourage more to insure. Rebates should be tied to just income, which is a better indicator of financial means.<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/210981/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> </li> </ul> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yuting-zhang-1144393">Yuting Zhang</a>, Professor of Health Economics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kettlewell-903866">Nathan Kettlewell</a>, Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Economics Discipline Group, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</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/private-health-insurance-is-set-for-a-shake-up-but-asking-people-to-pay-more-for-policies-they-dont-want-isnt-the-answer-210981">original article</a>.

Money & Banking

“You’re a flop!” Kyle Sandilands hits back at Dan Andrews’ controversial new policy

Kyle Sandilands has called out Dan Andrews and the Victorian government, as they move to ban all new homes in the state from using gas. The state government is dubbing the move as a measure to reduce cost of living pressures, claiming households will save up to $1,000 off their annual energy bills while reducing household emissions. Upon hearing the news of the proposal, the KIISFM radio host branded the Victorian Premier “a flop” and the policy “some bull***t.” “I’m sick and tired of everyone thinking we’re idiots,” he said on The Kyle & Jackie O Show. “These laws are for idiots. Losers are doing these jobs.” “They will be banning Bic lighters next, we will be rubbing two sticks together to get a cigarette lit.” “That government sucks ass. That wandering eyed flop down there can’t have the Commonwealth Games because he can’t budget, now he thinks ‘’Oh, I’ll get the woke losers to vote for me by getting rid of gas’. You’re a flop!” From January 1st 2024, planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions will only connect to all electric networks. To encourage new homeowners to go all-electric and abandon gas, eligible new home builders, as well as existing homeowners and renters, can access $1,400 solar panel rebates and interest free loans of $8,800 for household batteries. All Victorian households and businesses are also eligible for gas to electric rebates to upgrade heating and cooling and hot water heaters. Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said getting Victorians on more efficient electric appliances would lead to big savings on bills, while also helping to reduce emissions. “We know that with every bill that arrives, gas is only going to get more expensive,” she said. “That’s why we’re stepping in to help even more Victorians get the best deal on their energy bills.” “Reducing our reliance on gas is critical to meeting our ambitious emission reduction target of net zero by 2045 and getting more Victorians on more efficient electric appliances which will save them money on their bills.” Image credits: Getty Images / KIISFM

Legal

"What am I going to do?”: Centrelink mother points out crucial flaw in new budget policy for parents

An unemployed mother who relies on Centrelink benefits has broken down while noting a fatal flaw in Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ Federal Budget promises to parents. Jessica Blowers told ABC’s Q&A program that she will be forced off the Single Parent Payment when her daughter turns eight in August, leaving her unable to afford the rent increases. Currently, single parents can claim the Parenting Payment of $949.30 a fortnight until their youngest child turns eight. By September 2023, the age limit for the pay rise to when the youngest child is 14, as part of Chalmers’ budget. Ms Blowers is one of many copping the brunt of it as her daughter’s 8th birthday is four weeks before the new rules begin. She will also see a rent increase during that period from $900 a fortnight to $960. “What am I going to do? What is my choice, other than I am doing my best to get a job so that I can keep a house over my daughter's head,” she stressed to the treasurer. “When I'm applying for the jobs, I am faced with being told that more than 100 other candidates have applied for the same jobs - I'm not sure how I am supposed to compete against 100 other people for one job.” Ms Blowers added she “would like to know what measures the government has in place to bridge the gap that I and other parents in similar situations will find ourselves in”. “I don't have anywhere to go because I am paying my entire pension in rent. Everywhere else in Sydney is comparable to that.” Although sympathetic to her situation, Chalmers said those suffering like Ms Blowers were “the reason why we are lifting the age from eight to 14”. “This is something we were really keen to do in the Budget because we recognise the pressure that you are under as a single mum,” he explained. However, Chalmers was adamant that the new system could not be introduced any earlier than September 20, 2023. “We've tried to do is bring that change in as soon as possible. We think September is the soonest that we can do it,” he said. “I understand that that means a few weeks for you going from the current payment onto JobSeeker and (then) back onto the single parenting payment. “I would love to avoid that if we could, but what we're trying to do is provide this extra assistance ... that you need and deserve. If we could avoid those couple of weeks, we would, but September is the best we can do.” In total, some 57,000 single parents, 90 per cent of whom are women, will benefit from the new scheme. Previously they would have been moved onto the lower JobSeeker rate when their youngest child turned eight. “By age 14, children have typically settled into high school and need less parental supervision, and single parents are in a much stronger position to take on paid work," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said when the policy was announced. Historically, the single parent payment was eligible for singles with children aged up to 16. But former prime minister John Howard, later supported by Julia Gillard, cut the age to eight in an attempt to encourage parents back into the workforce. Two advisory bodies have called for the government to extend the payment and the eligibility criteria. It is understood mutual obligation requirements will remain in order to continue encouraging parents to go back to work. Speaking to Nova radio in Perth, Mr Albanese explained he knew “firsthand what it's like to grow up with a single mum doing it tough”. “We want to look after single parents because we know that the role that they play in raising their children is such a priority for them and they’re deserving of more support,” he said. Image credit: ABC Q&A

Money & Banking

Westminster Dog Show waises the woof

It was a furry affair when 3,000 dogs - and their human companions - descended upon New York City’s Arthur Ashe Stadium for the 147th Westminster Dog Show, with their eyes set on one prize: the coveted title of Best in Show. The Westminster show, often dubbed the ‘Super Bowl of Dogs’ by its fans and supporters, is considered one of the world’s most prestigious dog events. With categories ranging from hound group to herding group, sporting, toy, and beyond, anything is paws-ible and the competition is fierce - and you’d be barking mad to think a win comes easy. The winner of each group advances through to the Best Show category, the final event of the entire weekend, and the prize that every pooch and partner hopes to take home. In 2022, a bloodhound named Trumpet seized victory, and put his name in the history books as the first bloodhound to win the competition. In 2023, Buddy Holly the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (PBGV) followed suit, emerging victorious as the only PBGV to have claimed the title of Best in Show. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The winning moment for the Best in Show Winner, Buddy Holly, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen! 💜✨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestminsterDogShow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestminsterDogShow</a> <a href="https://t.co/jzOVYmmtNL">pic.twitter.com/jzOVYmmtNL</a> — Westminster Dog Show (@WKCDOGS) <a href="https://twitter.com/WKCDOGS/status/1656135503291244546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2023</a></blockquote> And it was celebration all around, with Buddy’s owner and trainer Janice Hayes telling Fox Sports that her canine companion is “the epitome of a show dog” as nothing bothers him, and that she had been dreaming of the win since she was just 9 years old. Rummie the Pekingese took out the runner-up position, earning the honour of Reserve Best in Show. Rummie also came in at the top of the pack for the Toy Group. As for how the show’s judges made their difficult selection, Ann Ingram explained, “like all things, beauty is subjective. A dog’s attitude in the ring can help. “If the dog loves itself, you can tell. He kind of has that attitude of, you know, ‘I’m a winner’.” Other winners included Cider the English Setter in the Sporting Group, Lepshi the Bracco Italiano for his breed’s debut, fan favourite Winston the French Bulldog in the Non-sporting Group, Monty the Giant Schnauzer in the Working Group, Ribbon the Aussie Shepherd in the Herding Group, and Trouble the American Staffordshire Terrier in the Terrier Group. “With breeds like Frenchies and bulldogs, where there are health concerns with the breathing, you want to see them be able to move without any signs of distress," Ingram noted. And when it came to her feelings towards the show and its many determined entrants as a whole, she added that “there’s bigger shows numerically, but the fact that you’re actually getting the absolute cream of the cream ... is quite exciting. “The whole razzmatazz of Westminster is very special.” Images: Getty

Family & Pets

Outrage halts New Zealand cat-killing contest

A contest planned for children in New Zealand to hunt and kill feral cats in an attempt to protect native species has been stopped following severe backlash from the public and animal rights groups. The event would have been part of a fundraiser organised by the North Canterbury Hunting Competition for the Rotherham School in the Canterbury region of South Island. A new junior category was announced by organisers on April 16 that would allow children to hunt feral cats and compete for a top prize of $NZ250 prize ($229AUD). The announcement sparked public outrage leading organisers to cancel the event the very next day, April 17. A statement released by organisers explained, "vile and inappropriate emails and messages had been sent to the school and others involved.” "We are incredibly disappointed in this reaction and would like to clarify that this competition is an independent community run event," the statement continued. Feral cats have long been an issue between animal lovers and authorities because of the potential threat they pose to other wild animals. Authorities say that in Australia, feral cats threaten the survival of more than 100 native species. Feral cats are responsible for killing millions of birds, frogs, mammals and reptiles every day, compelling authorities to arrange regular culls. Organisers of the contest maintained that the junior hunting tournament to kill feral cats, using a firearm or any other means, was about "protecting native birds and other vulnerable species”. "Our sponsors and school safety are our main priority, so the decision has been made to withdraw this category for this year to avoid further backlash at this time," it said. "To clarify, for all hunting categories, our hunters are required to abide by Firearms Act 1983 and future amendments as well as the Animal Welfare Act 1999.” Organisers had announced rules to discourage young participants from killing pets. Any child who brought in a microchip cat would have been disqualified, they said. The group mentioned that previously scheduled hunts for other categories like local pigs and deer would still go ahead. The New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it was "both pleased and relieved" that the junior cat-killing contest had been axed. "Children, as well as adults, will not be able to tell the difference between a feral, stray or a frightened domesticated cat,” it said. "There is a good chance someone's pet may be killed during this event. In addition, children often use air rifles in these sorts of event which increase the likelihood of pain and distress and can cause a prolonged death," it added. Animal rights group PETA was pleased to see the contest had been withdrawn. PETA’s Asia vice president Jason Barker released a statement, saying, ”Encouraging kids to hunt down and kill animals is a sure-fire way to raise adults who solve problems with violence ... We need to foster empathy and compassion in kids, not lead them to believe animals are 'less than' humans while rewarding them for brutality.” The contest was publicly slammed on Twitter by British comedian Ricky Gervais, who is a known animal lover with an enormous platform of 15 million followers. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> “Right. We need some new PR ideas to make the world love New Zealand. Maybe something involving kids & kittens. Yes, Hargreaves?” <a href="https://t.co/E3nPTl1IHj">https://t.co/E3nPTl1IHj</a> — Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) <a href="https://twitter.com/rickygervais/status/1648732952224833536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2023</a></blockquote> "Right. We need some new PR ideas to make the world love New Zealand," he wrote. "Maybe something involving kids & kittens. Yes, Hargreaves?” This is not the first official campaign against cats in New Zealand, including one that encouraged cat lovers to avoid replacing their pets when they die. "Cats are the only true sadists of the animal world, serial killers who torture without mercy,” said then Prime Minister John Key, who had his own cat named Moonbeam. Helen Blackie, a biosecurity consultant at the environmental planning and design consultancy, Boffa Miskell, has studied feral cats for over 20 years and said that numbers had risen in the last decade, and in some areas where pests were tracked by cameras, feral cats outnumbered other species like possums. "Historically, we know that feral cats were responsible for the extinction of six bird species and are leading agents of decline in populations of birds, bats, frogs and lizards," she told CNN affiliate RNZ. Image credit: Shutterstock

Family & Pets

Australian Idol’s chaotic "trainwreck" finale

The reboot of Australian Idol on Channel 7 saw its grand finale on Sunday, March 26, and it was a chaotic ending, to say the least. The final episode, featuring judges Kyle Sandilands, Meghan Trainor, Harry Connick Jr and Amy Shark suffered major technical issues during a key moment in the show, as well as an unfortunate accident by one of its final three contestants. The trio competing for the top spot were 15-year-old Phoebe Stewart, Royston Sagigi-Baira, 23, and Josh Hannan, 20. Josh was the first to be eliminated, leaving Phoebe and Royston to wow the crowd. Just moments before the winner was to be announced, 15-year-old Phoebe slipped, resulting in her falling down the stairs and land on the ground. Her fellow competitor Royston was quick to lend a hand, helping her back up while she joked, “Good role models don’t do that, guys. That’s not a good example. Continue!” The teen again referenced her fall, telling the audience, “I just want to say thank you, everyone, and for not laughing too much when I fell down the stairs. Seriously, this has been the best. I’m so proud of myself and everyone. This has just been a gift. I’m just so grateful for everything.” Unfortunately, that wasn’t the last of the mishaps during the finale. Royston was eventually announced as the winner, taking to the stage to sing his single, Invincible, and although he was able to capture the crowd with his powerhouse voice, it was apparent that the audio was less than perfect. During his performance, he turned around with a baffled look, mumbling the lyrics until he muttered “What?”, tapping his ear, indicating he could not hear the guide track. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> What a train wreck of an ending! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/australianidol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#australianidol</a> — Mel (@Melwerri) <a href="https://twitter.com/Melwerri/status/1639935380605763586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Hilarious ending lol won’t be back next year <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AustralianIdol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AustralianIdol</a> — Not Cheryl Kernot (@notcherylkernot) <a href="https://twitter.com/notcherylkernot/status/1639934496786247681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This final is so awkward…. Awkward jokes, awkwardness, awkward moments of talking over others, awkwaaardddd <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/australianidol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#australianidol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianIdol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AustralianIdol</a> — 💕🧡 (@m_ishka) <a href="https://twitter.com/m_ishka/status/1639939721903353856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2023</a></blockquote> Despite the technical issues during his performance, Royston was still able to celebrate his win, which included $100,000, a record deal with Sony Music and a trip to the US to work with industry icons. “I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who voted for me. Thank all this mob up here, all my family and friends for coming. Everyone who’s been voting, thank you so much!” Royston addressed the crowd. Connick Jr jumped to praise the Idol winner. “Your journey through the process has been one of the greatest I’ve seen. It’s been cool. It’s going to be fun to watch your career. I’m proud of you, man, really proud of you.” Image credit: YouTube/Twitter

Competitors put their best paw forward on the final day of Crufts

Over 19,000 dogs from across the globe made their way to the NEC in Birmingham for four days of competition, each hoping to go home with the Crufts Best In Show trophy tucked between their paws. Over the course of the prestigious event - which began in 1891 - the dogs undergo intense grooming sessions, demonstrate their agility, show off their obedience skill, and more. And this year, a four-year-old Orca made history, becoming the first dog of her breed to take the top honour. Orca is a lagotta romagnolo, a breed that The Kennel Club describes as being “lively and affectionate”, as well as boasting an impressive and “unique talent” for hunting truffles with their heightened sense of smell. Orca’s human handler, otherwise known as Javier Gonzalez Mendikote, had to drive for 25 hours to get the pair to the show, though it seems every minute of the trip was worth it - to both of them. Of their reception back home, Javier felt strongly that they would be pleased, stating that he was “sure we will have a huge party.” One that it seems Orca will be more than happy about - like, it seems, all things in her life - with the audience informed that she “never stops wagging” her tail. As Ante Lucin, one of Orca’s owners, put it, “she is a little superstar, but this is beyond all expectations. I was crying too much watching from the seats, it was very emotional. “Orca is everything you could ever want in a dog, she is happy and healthy.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> What a winner! Orca the Lagotto Romagnolo is your 2023 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crufts?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crufts</a> Best in Show!🐶🏆💚 <a href="https://t.co/oVldA3oR3Y">pic.twitter.com/oVldA3oR3Y</a> — Crufts (@Crufts) <a href="https://twitter.com/Crufts/status/1635022538312138753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2023</a></blockquote> Javier went on to stress his belief that Orca’s win is “really important” for her breed, especially as it increases in popularity across both the UK and the US. Although Orca was crowned Best In Show, her success wasn’t limited to that one award. The curly-coated canine also won in the gundog group - one of seven categories in the 2023 competition, this one evaluating dogs that were originally trained in finding live game. An honourable mention, of course, goes to the Channel 4 People’s Vote winner - an Irish wolfhound called Paris, whose owner is Chris Amoo, lead singer of The Real Thing. The show’s manager, Vanessa McAlpine, was pleased with the year’s events, declaring it to be “triumphant”. “Congratulations to Orca, who helped end this year’s competition on a real high, taking the coveted best in show award alongside her handler, Javier,” she said. “The pair were very deserving winners and it was clear to see their strong relationship together in the ring.” Images: Getty

Family & Pets

Kate Middleton flexes her competitive side against Prince William

Prince William and Kate Middleton have gone head to head in a seemingly friendly competition as the royal couple attended a spin class in South Wales. The Prince and Princess of Wales took each other on in a 45-second spin class sprint at the Aberavon Leisure and Fitness Centre in Port Talbot, with Kate leaving her husband in the metaphorical dust. Much to her surprise, the princess took out the title in the "Tour de Aberavon" and was handed a little gold cup, which she looked at proudly. Kate's win was made even more impressive as she competed while wearing a black-and-white houndstooth-print skirt, which was paired with Gianvito Rossi suede boots with a 10-centimetre heel. For the competition, Prince William was dressed in a navy suit and suede lace-up shoes for the series of engagements the couple made on the trip ahead of St David's Day – a day celebrating the nation's patron saint. The virtual race was themed to be an uphill ride through the Italian mountains, as Prince William told others in the room, "Sorry for ruining your spin class." As he climbed on the stationary bike, the royal realised his wife's shoes, pointing out, "You have got high heels on". Kate agreed, saying, "Not sure I am dressed for this." However, once on her bike the mum-of-three was seen adjusting the gears, asking as she laughed, "Can I make it harder?" Kate was visibly catching her breath at the end of the race, while Prince William gasped for air. "Talk to you in a minute," he joked to the class. The competitive dad-of-three, who has regularly been spotted cycling with his kids near their Norfolk home, had everyone laughing soon after. "I think I tore my pants!" he said. The couple visited the fitness centre to hear about how the facility was helping the local community with mental health through exercise. Image credits: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

Woolworths announce major giveaway

Woolworths is giving its Everyday Rewards members a year’s worth of free food - here’s how to enter. Woolworths has announced a major giveaway to mark the start of its new Bricks Farm promotion. To celebrate the official launch, Woolworths is giving its Everyday Rewards members a chance to win a year’s worth of fresh food. The latest collectibles campaign starts Wednesday, February 8th, where shoppers also have the chance to score one Bricks Farm pack with any $30 purchase in-store and online. The supermarket is also giving away 10,000 Everyday Rewards points to 100 members as part of the promotion. Entering is easy - customer’s just need to spend $30, scanning or linking their Everyday Rewards card and they’ll be in with a chance to win a share of $180,000 in Woolworths gift cards. The latest collectibles campaign is focused on the journey from farm to supermarket, praising the hard and important work Aussie farmers do. “As Today’s Fresh Food People, it is important that we share and celebrate the role our Aussie farmers play in providing the fresh produce customers enjoy,” Woolworths Group Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Hicks said. The lego-style collectibles include a farmer, a beekeeper, various farm animals, fruit and vegetables, a chicken coop, a drone, a fruit and vegetable buyer and fruit trees. The idea is for customers to create their own farm ecosystem. This is the second promotion Woolworths has done in partnership with Bricks Farm. “We hope the second chapter of our Bricks collectible once again encourages our customers to learn more about where their food comes from through interactive play.” Hicks said. Image credit: shutterstock

Food & Wine

Stunning winners of the Historic Photographer of the Year awards

The stunning winners of the 2022 Historic Photographer of the Year competition have been announced. With over 1,200 entires submitted, judges were looking for photographs that "capture the very best historic sites that the world has to offer", while showing "originality, composition and technical proficiency". The contest is run by content platform History Hit, who said, "Entries ranged from ancient structures steeped in legend, to well-known, incredibly preserved historic sites around the world." "While some photographs gave new perspectives on prestigious historic sites such as the ancient city of Petra, others highlighted surprising histories of industrialisation, abandonment and endurance." Dan Snow, Creative Director at History Hit, said, "As always, judging these awards was a highlight for me. It is clear that the stunning entries that make up the shortlist are the product of patience, technical skill, and an awareness of both the past and the present. The creativity and talent on show was next to none." The winning photographs feature extraordinary weather phenomenons in the UK, abandoned structures, historic villages in Asia, ancient cities in the Middle East, and other-worldly displays in a Spanish church. All image credits: Historic Photographer of the Year 2022

Art

Restaurant owner praised for hiring policy that targets "oldies"

Like many in the hospitality business, Barry Iddles was struggling to find staff to fill shifts at his restaurant 360Q in Queenscliff when he was struck by inspiration. The 67-year-old decided to put the call out to “oldies”, adding an invitation to retirees to come and work at his waterfront venue on the back of his winter postcards. “We sent out 42,000,” he said. “I put, ‘We’re recruiting – juniors, come and learn the skills of hospitality. Millennials, come and show us what you can do. And seniors and retirees, come back to the workforce for one or two shifts per week.’ “I sent it out by mail and off we went. We had a great response.” He stressed that potential employees didn’t need a resume or hospitality experience and could just come in for a chat. Now, Iddles has 12 staff working for him aged over 50, including former nurses and healthcare workers, a mechanic, small business owner and florist. "We've got two 74-year-olds, a 70-year-old, and then we've got [people aged] 57, 60, 64, 66 and 67," Mr Iddles said. "There is a labour shortage and a labour crisis, [but] I don't have one. I have five too many staff at the moment. And I could actually open another venue to keep them all gainfully employed." <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgNZSgSvoqP/?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/CgNZSgSvoqP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Barry Iddles (@barryiddles)</a> </div> </blockquote> Iddles said most of his older staff at the 150-seat restaurant, which also includes outdoor dining and an upstairs function venue, work during functions and that there has been a major benefit to both older and junior workers working alongside each other. “It’s amazing, the interaction is absolutely incredible,” he said. “It’s good for their life skills – the oldest have got a great work ethic.” Since his story was shared by the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-15/defying-ageism-older-workers-fill-gaps-in-workforce/101651806" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a> on Tuesday, Iddles said his phone has been ringing non-stop and his hiring practice went viral. “Everyone wants to talk about hiring old people,” he said. One of Iddles’ employees, 67-year-old Kenton Savage, told the ABC he wanted to retire after selling his distribution business - but his plans went awry when it went bankrupt during the pandemic. Without super and amidst rising living costs, Savage and his wife had no choice but to find jobs. "The pension just didn't pay enough. So I looked around for a job and Barry was hiring," he said. "I think it just keeps me fit and healthy and happy. Being able to get out and about, it's really been good for me," he said. 73-year-old Susan Borton, another employee, said she applied to boost her confidence and contribute. “Covid made a lot of people depressed,” she said. “And I know amongst the older ones, we’re all saying we’re actually finding it quite difficult to get out and about again. [Working] makes me feel better. And I love putting in, I love contributing.” The Council for Older Australians chief executive Ian Yates praised Iddles for his hiring practice. “Many older people will have experienced a lot of knock backs and not being taken seriously as prospective employees,” he told the ABC. “The labour market is so tight, that employers are being forced to look at channels and groups that they wouldn’t normally look at, including older Australians.” Speaking to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/queenscliff-restaurant-360q-sees-huge-response-after-inviting-oldies-to-come-and-work/news-story/7e08f752c17bc86dd109581ef602b4c5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>, Iddles said others should adopt his policy too, and that it applies to both young and old. “Age discrimination can be quite bad, at both ends of the spectrum,” he said. “If I’ve got a 15-year-old coming for a job I’ll give them a job immediately. Too many people go, you’ve got no experience. But they actually want to work. “It’s a great mix to have [employees ranging] from 15 to 75.” Image: Facebook

Retirement Life

What you need to know about smoking on major cruise lines

Cruising is a highly popular holiday option for travellers. Many changes have been made to the cruising industry to accommodate the influx of travellers. One of the changes that have come with the popularity of cruising is tighter smoking policies. Here is a guide to the different smoking policies of various cruise lines. P&O Cruises For P&O cruises, smoking is not permitted indoors in any of their ships. This rule includes your room and balcony. Smoking is allowed in selected areas outdoors. Electronic cigarettes can also only be used in the designated outdoor smoking areas. Carnival Cruise Line Travellers are allowed to smoke in the designated areas which include some public areas including certain areas of a casino, dance club and some jazz clubs on certain ships. Other public areas are non-smoking zones including dinning and public rooms. Rooms and balconies are non-smoking areas. Princess Cruises Princess Cruises allows smoking in the cigar lounge, the casino and some areas on the open decks. Smoking is prohibited in cabins, balconies and all food areas. On open decks cigar and pipe smoking is allowed. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Royal Caribbean ships do not allow smoking in dining rooms, cabins and open or closed decks on the portside of the ship. Smoking is allowed on the starboard side of open decks, and designated area of a public room. Most casinos with this line allow smoking except for select cruises from China which will have a non-smoking area. Crystal Cruises Crystal Cruises once allowed smoking in cabins but now they don’t. Smoking is allowed in certain outdoor areas of the ship and a designated smoking lounge is also available. Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Cruise Line permits smoking on certain areas of open decks, in a casino if you are a player and in the cigar bars. Smoking is not allowed in cabins and balconies. Smoking is allowed on the starboard side of the Waterfront on the Getaway and Breakaway, except for in the dinning areas. Holland America Holland America allow smoking on balconies but not in cabins. Opens decks and designated areas in most public rooms are free to smoke in. If you are in the casino you can only smoke if you are an active player. Disney Cruise Line Smoking is prohibited in any indoor areas for Disney cruises. For the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder ships smoking is allowed on the starboard side of the deck 4 at 6pm to 6am and decks 9 and 10 in the Quiet Cove Area. On the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, smoking Is allowed from 6pm to 6am in designated areas on decks 4, 12 and 13. Should people be allowed to smoke on cruises? Image: Getty

Cruising

Artists furious after AI-generated art wins contest

A stunning artwork generated by artificial intelligence has claimed first prize at an art competition, enraging the art world and calling into question what it means to be an artist. The work was “created” by Jason M Allen, a game designer from Colorado, who won first place in the emerging artist division's "digital arts/digitally manipulated photography" category at the Colorado State Fair Fine Arts Competition. His winning image, titled Théâtre D'opéra Spatial (French for Space Opera Theatre), was made with Midjourney — an artificial intelligence system that can produce detailed images when fed written prompts by the user. "I'm fascinated by this imagery. I love it. And I think everyone should see it," Allen, 39, told CNN Business. Allen's winning image looks like a bright, surreal cross between a Renaissance and steampunk painting. As per the category Allen competed in, he told officials that Midjourney was used to create his image when he entered the contest, as the category dictated entrants use "digital technology as part of the creative or presentation process". Midjourney is one of a growing number of such AI image generators, joining the likes of Imagen and DALL-E to give the artistically-challenged the means to create stunning images. Despite the parameters of the category, many artists were angered by Allen’s win due to his reliance on technology to create the artwork. "This sucks for the exact same reason we don't let robots participate in the Olympics," one Twitter user wrote. "This is the literal definition of 'pressed a few buttons to make a digital art piece'," another Tweeted. "AI artwork is the 'banana taped to the wall' of the digital world now." Yet while Allen didn't use a paintbrush to create his winning piece, he assured people there was plenty of work involved. "It's not like you're just smashing words together and winning competitions," he said. "Rather than hating on the technology or the people behind it, we need to recognise that it's a powerful tool and use it for good so we can all move forward rather than sulking about it," Allen said. Image credits: Jason M Allen - Midjourney

Art

Stunning finalists’ images for photography competition revealed

The phenomenal images from the finalists of the prestigious Weather Photographer of the Year have been revealed. Photographers from 119 countries submitted their stunning images which range from dramatic storms, frozen and frosty vistas, spectacular sunsets, impacts of climate change and curious weather phenomena. The talented professionals and amateur photographers were able to capture spectacular landscapes which are affected differently depending on the weather. Professor Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) said the competition is an exciting opportunity to explore never before seen moments. “I am always amazed by something new, something I haven’t seen before, or a new angle that reignites my passion for discussing the weather,” she said. “As the competition has grown over the past seven years, it has allowed us to create a platform where more stories can be told about the majesty and awe of the world’s weather and witness scenes of the impacts of climate change, which can help to prompt action.” Members of the public will be able to vote for their favourite photograph with the winners expected to be announced on October 6. Check out some of the exciting photos below. Images: RMetS

International Travel

Australian Life photography finalists announced

From capturing the devastating impact of this year’s floods to celebrating Australia’s numerous cultures, the 28 photographers who have made this year’s finalists list for the <a href="https://www.artandabout.com.au/australian-life-photography-competition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Life</a> photography competition have met and exceeded the brief. The annual competition, run by the City of Sydney, calls on casual, amateur and professional photographers to capture the stories, people and scenes that make up the personality of Australia. Finalists are in the running for two awards: a $10,000 Grand Prize awarded to the most outstanding work in the exhibition as decided by a panel of judges, and The People’s Choice Award, which offers an Olympus professional pack valued at over $5,000 to the photographer who receives the most votes from the public. Public voting will be open until 5pm on September 13 through the City of Sydney’s <a href="https://news.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/photos/australian-life-photography-competition-finalists-2022?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_content=post&utm_campaign=aus-life22&fbclid=IwAR1aHNAa-se4izUakcxCyEkV8MC3nCJYlqOu7TkinaXCygc2rm-vh4Ar8aQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>. The carefully chosen finalists will be on show in an outdoor gallery at Sydney’s Hyde Park from September 15 until October 9, with the winners of the awards to be announced when the exhibition opens. To help you decide on your favourite, we’ve compiled all of the finalists below. Images: Matthew Abbott / Bob McKendry / Elise Derwin

Family & Pets

"My mind is blown": MasterChef winner crowned!

Billie McKay has been announced as MasterChef Fans & Favourites winner! The seventh season winner was up against Sarah Todd, who came ninth on the sixth season of MasterChef. The pair went head-to-head for the glorious $250,000 prize money on Tuesday night which saw Billie beat Sarah by just a few points. This makes Billie the first person to win two seasons of MasterChef. The first round of the grand finale gave Billie and Sarah the option of choosing between a mystery box or to cook a dish that was both sweet and savoury. Both Billie and Sarah opted for the latter and made cumin panna cotta with rosemary and rhubarb and sticky chicken wingettes with glaze respectively. Sarah was praised by the judges for “hitting the brief” with Melissa Leong describing it as a “very well-balanced plate of food.” She received 26 points. Billie’s panna cotta unfortunately did not set in time which saw her accept the “major fail”. “I am so disappointed for you. It’s the foundational aspect of this entire dish and it’s not set – that’s a really tough pill to swallow,” Melissa said. While judge Andy Allen said it was “delicious – but it could be better with a set panna cotta.” She received 21 points. The second and final round was tough for Billie who was already five points behind Sarah but the pair rallied on. Guest chef Heston Blumenthal arrived and gave Billie and Sarah five hours and 15 minutes to replicate his epic dish, taffety tart. Both contestants were faced with a few mishaps along the way before placing their dish to be judged. Once again, Sarah went first with judge Jock Zonfrillo saying her dish was “just as good” as Heston’s. Melissa called it an “extraordinary effort”. Andy however pointed out a few issues which gave a bit of a window for Billie. Sarah received 30 points out of 40 bringing her total score to 56. The judges' tasted Billie’s dish and were in awe at the precision and taste. Andy described the dish on “another level of precision and finesse”. “Everything is there, present and correct. My mind is blown,” Melissa said. Billie shot to the lead when she received 37 points out of 40 bringing her total score to 58. Image: Channel 10

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What to expect from the federal budget

Loyalty programs may limit competition, and they could be pushing prices up for everyone

Millions of high-risk Australians aren’t getting vaccinated. A policy reset could save lives

Forcing people to repay welfare ‘loans’ traps them in a poverty cycle – where is the policy debate about that?

Private health insurance is set for a shake-up. But asking people to pay more for policies they don’t want isn’t the answer

“You’re a flop!” Kyle Sandilands hits back at Dan Andrews’ controversial new policy

"What am I going to do?”: Centrelink mother points out crucial flaw in new budget policy for parents

Westminster Dog Show waises the woof

Outrage halts New Zealand cat-killing contest

Australian Idol’s chaotic "trainwreck" finale

Competitors put their best paw forward on the final day of Crufts

Kate Middleton flexes her competitive side against Prince William

Woolworths announce major giveaway

Stunning winners of the Historic Photographer of the Year awards

Restaurant owner praised for hiring policy that targets "oldies"

What you need to know about smoking on major cruise lines

Artists furious after AI-generated art wins contest

Stunning finalists’ images for photography competition revealed

Australian Life photography finalists announced

"My mind is blown": MasterChef winner crowned!

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

What to expect from the federal budget

Loyalty programs may limit competition, and they could be pushing prices up for everyone

Millions of high-risk Australians aren’t getting vaccinated. A policy reset could save lives

Forcing people to repay welfare ‘loans’ traps them in a poverty cycle – where is the policy debate about that?

Private health insurance is set for a shake-up. But asking people to pay more for policies they don’t want isn’t the answer

“You’re a flop!” Kyle Sandilands hits back at Dan Andrews’ controversial new policy

"What am I going to do?”: Centrelink mother points out crucial flaw in new budget policy for parents

Westminster Dog Show waises the woof

Outrage halts New Zealand cat-killing contest

Australian Idol’s chaotic "trainwreck" finale

Competitors put their best paw forward on the final day of Crufts

Kate Middleton flexes her competitive side against Prince William

Woolworths announce major giveaway

Stunning winners of the Historic Photographer of the Year awards

Restaurant owner praised for hiring policy that targets "oldies"

What you need to know about smoking on major cruise lines

Artists furious after AI-generated art wins contest

Stunning finalists’ images for photography competition revealed

Australian Life photography finalists announced

"My mind is blown": MasterChef winner crowned!

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