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Official interest rates have been cut, but not everyone is a winner

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/isaac-gross-737430">Isaac Gross</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p>The Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates for the first time in four years has triggered a round of celebration.</p> <p>Mortgage holders are cheering the fact their monthly repayments are now slightly lower, while the Albanese government hopes the small easing in the cost of living will <a href="https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-will-albanese-opt-for-an-april-election-now-a-rate-cut-has-him-breathing-more-easily-250136">lift voters’ moods</a>.</p> <p>This is despite the Reserve Bank’s warnings that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-reserve-bank-has-cut-rates-for-the-first-time-in-four-years-but-it-is-cautious-about-future-cuts-249704">further rate cuts may not eventuate</a>, depending on how much further progress is made on taming inflation.</p> <p>But it’s important to remember not everybody benefits from an interest rate cut. Some will be worse off.</p> <h2>Savers lose out</h2> <p>Not all Australian households are net borrowers. Many are net savers, retirees or prospective homebuyers, who actually lose out when rates fall.</p> <p>For starters, <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/fsr/2024/sep/contents.html">only about a third of households</a> are in hock to the banks when it comes to a monthly mortgage repayment.</p> <p>Another third of households have paid off their mortgage entirely, and so don’t benefit from a reduction in mortgage interest rates. And the remaining third are renters, who also don’t pay a mortgage.</p> <p>So while this news is generally a good thing for borrowers, a fall in mortgage rates only directly benefits a minority of households.</p> <p>Here are some of the ways lower interest rates might actually hurt rather than help the typical Australian household.</p> <h2>Higher house prices</h2> <p>One of the most immediate effects of lower interest rates is their impact on the housing market. With cheaper borrowing costs, more buyers can afford larger loans, bidding up house prices. This is great if you already own a home, but terrible if you’re still trying to buy one.</p> <p>For young Australians locked out of home ownership, a rate cut makes things even harder. It drives prices higher, forcing prospective buyers to stretch their finances further just to get a foot in the market. <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2024/sp-ag-2024-05-16.html">Reserve Bank calculations </a> suggest that, in the long run, higher house prices from lower rates can outweigh the benefit of lower mortgage repayments.</p> <h2>Lower returns on savings</h2> <p>If you’re a saver rather than a borrower, interest rate cuts are unequivocally bad news. Whether you’re saving for a home deposit, retirement, or just an emergency fund, lower rates mean you earn less on your bank deposits. The money in your savings account is now growing more slowly, making it harder to build wealth over time.</p> <p>Indeed, more than 20 banks actually cut their term deposit rates in advance of the Reserve Bank’s decision on Tuesday, according to <a href="https://www.canstar.com.au/home-loans/banks-slash-term-deposit-rates-february-2025/">Canstar research</a>.</p> <p>Analysis of HILDA data, <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2020/jun/household-wealth-prior-to-covid-19-evidence-from-the-2018-hilda-survey.html#:%7E:text=The%20HILDA%20Survey%20is%20a,observation%20available%20is%20for%202018.">which surveys household wealth and income</a>, suggests net savers tend to be younger households without property, retirees living off savings, and those who are not in full-time employment. For these groups, lower rates mean less income and fewer financial opportunities.</p> <h2>Retirees will feel the squeeze</h2> <p>Many <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2012/dec/pdf/bu-1212-3.pdf">retirees rely on income</a> from interest-bearing assets such as term deposits or cash savings. When rates fall, their returns shrink. The cost-of-living crisis has made it harder for retirees on a fixed income to fund their lifestyles, and a rate cut only makes things worse.</p> <p>While some retirees have exposure to the stock market via superannuation, many prefer the stability of cash savings. With rates falling, they face the tough choice of either reducing their spending or taking on more investment risk in their old age.</p> <h2>Bad news for the dollar, and overseas travellers</h2> <p>When the Reserve Bank cuts rates, it tends to <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/education/resources/explainers/drivers-of-the-aud-exchange-rate.html">weaken the Australian dollar</a>. A weaker dollar makes overseas travel more expensive for Australians. That pint of beer in London, that piña colada in Puerto Rico, or that shopping trip to New York all become pricier.</p> <p>For Australians planning international holidays, rate cuts are a blow. A strong Australian dollar makes travel cheaper, and lower rates work against that. So while mortgage holders might celebrate, anyone hoping to travel overseas finds themselves worse off.</p> <h2>More expensive imports</h2> <p>Just as a weaker Australian dollar makes travel more expensive, it also increases the cost of imported goods. And Australia imports a lot – especially cars and petrol.</p> <p>Since the closure of domestic car manufacturing, all new vehicles sold in Australia are imported. Petrol, the second-largest import, is also sensitive to currency fluctuations. When the Australian dollar weakens due to lower interest rates, the cost of these essential goods rises. For the millions of Australians who rely on their cars for daily life, this is a significant financial burden.</p> <p>This isn’t to say rate cuts don’t benefit a large portion of Australians. Anyone with a significant mortgage debt will find themselves with lower monthly repayments, and that’s undoubtedly a financial relief.</p> <p>But the public narrative around interest rates tends to treat cuts as a universal good, ignoring the many Australians who are left worse off.</p> <p>Falling interest rates are a sign the high inflation that has caused the cost-of-living crisis has abated. That is <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2025/mr-25-03.html">an economic success</a> that ought to be celebrated. But that now rates are falling again, we should at least acknowledge the costs that come with them.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/250140/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/isaac-gross-737430">Isaac Gross</a>, Lecturer in Economics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p><em>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/official-interest-rates-have-been-cut-but-not-everyone-is-a-winner-250140">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Money & Banking

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"Abrupt!": Viewers stunned by I'm A Celeb winner's reveal

<p>After a gruelling month of bug-eating, celebrity bonding and questionable jungle hygiene, Season 11 of <em>I’m A Celebrity! … Get Me Out of Here</em> wrapped up in a fashion so abrupt that even the credits seemed caught off guard.</p> <p>And the winner is…</p> <p>Sam Thaiday! The former Brisbane Broncos NRL player has joined an elite group of reality TV champions, becoming the sixth man (and fourth pro athlete) to claim the jungle crown. A remarkable feat, though fans barely had time to process it before the show’s ending hit like an unexpected power outage.</p> <p>Thaiday’s victory was followed by what can only be described as the world’s fastest television sign-off. No emotional speech, no teary gratitude, no dramatic last look at the jungle – just the words “Sam Thaiday wins” and a sudden, jarring cut to whatever program followed (presumably an infomercial about knives that never go dull).</p> <p>Viewers, understandably, were left bewildered. Social media reactions ranged from “abrupt” to “anticlimactic”, with one user likening the finale to “watching the season finale of Game of Thrones, only with fewer dragons and more termites”.</p> <p>Adding to the mystery, Thaiday, fellow contestant Matty J and host Julia Morris were spotted arriving at Sydney Airport earlier on Sunday – while the live finale was still airing. Either they had access to a teleportation device, or <em>I’m A Celeb</em> filmed multiple endings, choose-your-own-adventure style, before hastily selecting the right one based on viewer votes.</p> <p>This wouldn’t be the first time reality TV pulled such a move, but it does raise a few questions – like, did Sam even know he won? Or was he as surprised as everyone else when he touched down in Sydney to find himself suddenly more famous?</p> <p>Thaiday’s triumph capped off a season filled with unexpected eliminations – Dave Hughes and Sigrid Thornton among them – and some genuinely emotional moments. The final three, including two-time Big Brother champion Reggie Bird and former Bachelor star Matty J, had their families visit in the finale, leading to a lot of misty eyes and possibly the jungle’s first recorded case of a crocodile shedding tears out of sympathy.</p> <p>While Thaiday took the title, Bird remained a sentimental favourite. Ahead of the season, she revealed that her $250,000 winnings from her 2022 <em>Big Brother</em> victory had gone toward staying afloat rather than securing her dream home. “I feel like I’m a mouse in one of those spinning wheels," she told news.com.au "I just can’t get off this vicious circle.” A brutally honest assessment that may also apply to viewers endlessly watching reality TV finales that don’t quite deliver the dramatic payoff they expect.</p> <p>She also spoke about the harsh reality of the housing market: “I went to the bank to get a loan and couldn’t, because you need to borrow well over half-a-million dollars to buy a house on the Gold Coast, and I don’t have a job. No-one wants to employ me because of my vision. I’ve been trying to get a job, but I just can’t get any work, so I can’t get a loan.”</p> <p>It’s a sobering reminder that even reality TV winnings can’t always buy real-world security. And perhaps a sign that the true ultimate survival challenge isn’t the jungle – it’s the Australian property market.</p> <p>As for Thaiday, whether his jungle win translates to bigger opportunities remains to be seen. But if nothing else, he now has bragging rights as the man who won <em>I’m A Celeb</em> so decisively, the show itself barely had time to process it.</p> <p><em>Images: Network Ten</em></p>

TV

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The hilarious winners of the 2024 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

<p>The winners of the 2024 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have been announced, with this year's finalists showcasing the funniest parts of the animal kingdom. </p> <p>The contest, which has been dubbed the '"funniest and most popular photography competition in the world", featured over 9,000 images, with judges narrowing it down to their top 45 picks.</p> <p>Despite the extensive range of hilarious snaps, it was Milko Marchetti who was announced as the overall winner of the 2024 competition for his photo, entitled "Stuck Squirrel". </p> <p>The hilarious photo shows a red squirrel entering a tree, with its legs at right angles to the trunk. </p> <p>"I have taken many, many photographs of squirrels, in many situations over the years in Italy," Mr Marchetti explained.</p> <p>"But this one struck me as really funny and such a strange position, because it is that exact moment when the squirrel is detaching its back legs from the trunk to enter its hide."</p> <p>"Whenever I show this image at the nature seminars at my local photography club, the audience always explode with raucous laughter, so I had to enter it!"</p> <p>The judges explained that Mr Marchetti's image really reflects the "enchanting" aspect of nature, as Stefan Maier, Senior General Manager of Marketing at Nikon Europe, said, "We are thrilled to celebrate Milko Marchetti's outstanding achievement in the Nikon Comedy Photography Awards 2024."</p> <p>"His image, 'Stuck Squirrel', brilliantly captures the playful and unpredictable moments that make nature so enchanting. This year's competition received a record number of entries, each one a testament to the power of photography in evoking emotion."</p> <p>"We look forward to continuing to inspire the next generation of wildlife photographers through these wonderful awards."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nikon Comedy Wildlife / 2024 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards</em></p>

International Travel

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The Block billionaire faces unlawful lottery charges

<p>Adrian Portelli has responded after being charged by South Australian authorities for unlawful lottery. </p> <p>The billionaire his business Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, which trades as LMCT+, have had charges brought against them by South Australia’s Consumer and Business Services.</p> <p>The charges come just days after the 35-year-old was praised for <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/the-block-billionaire-s-generous-christmas-stunt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">giving away $150,000 </a>in grocery vouchers at two Coles in Western Sydney. </p> <p>Portelli has been charged with nine counts of conducting or assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery, while his business has been charged with 10 counts of the same offence.</p> <p>He has since responded to the charges, writing  “It’s okay SA we still love you," in a post shared to his business Instagram account. </p> <p>“Your gambling commissioner won’t allow you to win major life-changing prizes so I’ve decided to run exclusive, DAILY $1000 cash giveaways to you guys instead,” he added. </p> <p>“We still love you and I’ll definitely be visiting to do more grocery voucher handouts.”</p> <p>His business, LMCT+, is a shopping tool and rewards club which has three membership tiers that all offer different prizes for their regular giveaways. </p> <p>The first prize in these giveaways can range from a new car to major cash prizes of $500,000 and $1,000,000, with each membership tier having different benefits including the amount of entries into the giveaways. </p> <p>Consumer and Business Service alleged unlawful lottery activity occurred between January 29, 2023, and May 16, 2024.</p> <p>The matter is set to be mentioned in Adelaide Magistrate’s Court on January 15.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Legal

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Grandmother mistakes $50m Powerball win for solar panel sales call

<p>A quiet Thursday evening turned into an unforgettable moment for one Central Queensland grandmother, who was expecting yet another pesky solar panel sales pitch but instead received news that would blow the roof off any house – solar panels or not.</p> <p>The elderly couple held one of two division one winning entries in Thursday night’s $100 million Powerball jackpot, pocketing a life-altering $50 million. While most of us might faint, dance or immediately Google "how to buy a private island", the grandmother’s first reaction was a calm, “You’re joking.”</p> <p>“I expected you to ask if we have solar panels, not to tell us we’ve just won $50 million," she told the Lott official, still recovering from the whiplash of going from potential sales target to multi-millionaire. “There’s going to be a few more prezzies under the tree on Christmas day.”</p> <p>The grandmother confessed that their winning ticket wasn’t even the result of her usual superstitious number-picking strategy. “I’ve been playing for a long time now – since the game first started. I had always used the same numbers, but this ticket was just a QuickPick. I’m in a total state of shock."</p> <p>The couple, long-time residents of Rockhampton, said the windfall would primarily benefit their family. Of course, that family might now include second cousins they've never met and a few random people claiming they once smiled at them in Woolies.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the second winner – hailing from Melbourne’s City of Darebin – remains blissfully unaware they’re sitting on $50 million at the time of writing. The unregistered ticket holder has yet to come forward, sparking a local hunt. Lott officials have urged residents to check every ticket – even the crumpled one in your car’s cupholder.</p> <p>So, next time your phone rings and you brace yourself for a sales pitch, remember: it might just be the universe handing you $50 million. Or, you know, another pitch for that unlimited mobile plan.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Money & Banking

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The Block winners revealed after nail-biting auction

<p>The winners of the 2024 season of <em>The Block</em> have been crowned, after the nail-biting auction came to a dramatic end on Sunday night. </p> <p>In a break from tradition, it was the last house sold that made the most money, with sisters Maddy and Charlotte making a huge $1,550,00 profit from their house, as well as the $100,000 prize money.</p> <p>The sisters, aged just 25 and 22, were in disbelief at how quickly it was all over. </p> <div id="paragraph-9"> <div> <p>“It took us a second to be like, ‘No, no. Like, you just won <em>The Block</em>.’ And I think I was a bit of a stunned mullet,” Maddy said.</p> </div> </div> <div id="paragraph-10"> <div> <p>“I was expecting anticipation and to be, like, ‘Oh, what’s gonna happen next?’ It was like, ‘Well, you’ve won.’ It’s like … time to go. It was the quickest auction of the day; it was over so quickly.”</p> </div> </div> <p>Coming in second were Courtney and Grant with $1,300,050 profit, followed by Kristian and Mimi in third place with $1,030,000.</p> <p>Fourth were Haydn and Ricky who made $750,000 and coming in last, but still smiling, were Kylie and Brad who made $650,000. </p> <p>Kylie, who was embroiled in much on-screen drama this season, said all the hardships of the show were worth it, and they were happy with their result. </p> <p>"It was worth it," she said. "Unfortunately. Because I was a different person here. But… we made it. We're very grateful."</p> <p>Millionaire "Lambo guy" Adrian Portelli made a splash at what he said would be his final <em>Block</em> auction, as he ended up spending $15,030,000 in one day and breaking a Block record by purchasing every single house.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine </em></p>

TV

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"You are incredible": The Voice 2024 winner revealed

<p>In a thrilling conclusion to <em>The Voice's</em> 13th season, Reuben de Melo from Team LeAnn emerged as the winner after the public votes wrapped up on Sunday night. </p> <p>The finale saw  Annie Jones, Skÿe, Reuben and Jaedyn Randell each perform a duet with their coach and then a solo number.</p> <p>Reuben sang a stirring rendition of the Coldplay ballad <em>Fix You</em> with his coach. He then performed <em>House of the Rising Sun</em> by The Animals, a rendition which his coach described as "insane". </p> <p>The FIFO worker and father of three has previously said that winning <em>The Voice</em> and taking home the 100k grand prize would allow him to get out of the minds and spend more time with his family. </p> <p>“I never thought I’d get this far, this is crazy," Reuben said of his win, which also comes with a music masterclass and industry recording development package. </p> <p>“I’m so proud," LeAnn said. "You deserve every bit of this moment and I’m so honoured that I could be on this journey with you. You are incredible."</p> <p>LeAnne also explained why she'd taken to Reuben since his first blind audition, even using her "Ultimate Block" tool to stop the other coaches from snagging him for their teams. </p> <p>“I knew as soon as he opened his mouth, and I heard him sing. There was just so much feeling there. There was no way I was letting any of the other coaches get to him before I did,” she said.</p> <p>Earlier in the night, Skÿe from Team Guy, who was another strong contender, hit the stage with the Goo Goo Dolls' iconic song<em> Iris</em> and then sang <em>Against All Odds</em> by Phil Collins as his duet with Guy Sebastian.</p> <p>Annie Jones sang <em>Youngblood</em> by 5SOS as her solo and <em>Barracuda by Heart </em>for her duet with Adam Lambert, while Jaedyn performed Empire of the Sun's <em>Walking on a Dream </em>as a duet with Kate-Miller Heidke and then <em>Snow Angel </em>by Renee Rapp.</p> <p><em>Image: Seven</em></p>

Music

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Breathtaking winners of the 2024 Panoramic Photo Awards

<p>The finalists of the 2024 Epson International Pano Awards have been revealed, with the talented photographers capturing the wonders of nature in all its glory. </p> <p>The annual contest is the world's largest competition dedicated to panoramic photography. </p> <p>With over 4,500 entries from more than one thousand professional and amateur photographers across 95 countries worldwide, all of them have captured the beauty of our planet.  </p> <p>But the overall winner is Kelvin Yuen, from Hong Kong, who captured "astounding" photographs from China to Patagonia, with a drone shot of a lightning strike above  China's Guilin karst formations landing him the title of  2024 Open Photographer of the Year. </p> <p>"On the day I took this photo, I woke up at 3am and was supposed to hike up for the sunrise. However, a heavy thunderstorm struck out of nowhere, so I decided to shoot it" he said of his winning shot, pictured above. </p> <p>David Evans, competition curator has praised all the entries from the 15th year of the Pano Awards. </p> <p>"The quality of entries is astounding, and I am endlessly fascinated by the spectacular windows to the world presented by highly talented photographers far and wide," he said. </p> <p>A few other photos that caught the attention of the judges include dolphins playing in Western Australia, a sunrise over Japan's Mount Fuji, and Norway's Northern Lights. </p> <p>Take a look at some of this year's best entries below.</p> <p><em>Images: The 15th Epson International Pano Awards</em></p> <p> </p>

International Travel

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Dally M award winner surprised with emotional haka from teammates

<p>The Dally M award ceremony has ended in tears after the coveted award winner was surprised with an impromptu haka from his teammates. </p> <p>Melbourne Storm player and New Zealand native Jahrome Hughes took home the 2024 Dally M award, and at the end of the broadcast, watched on as his teammate Will Warbrick approached the stage.</p> <p>Warbrick then began performing the haka with his Storm teammate Eliesa Katoa and Canberra Raiders player Joseph Tapine joining in. </p> <p>Hughes was left with a tear in his eye as his Kiwi friends honoured his win. </p> <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/reel/DAnvbqxBgDW/?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/reel/DAnvbqxBgDW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by NRL (@nrl)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“That meant a lot,” Hughes said after the award ceremony. “To see that brought a tear to my eye. For them to do that is truly special. For myself, my culture and family, it just topped off an awesome night."</p> <p>“It’s such a surreal feeling. I was nervous, I didn’t come with too much expectations, but when it got down to the wire I was really nervous."</p> <p>“To win this award is massive for myself. You look at the quality of players were have in the game, to be up there is a real honour. I am very humbled.”</p> <p>Warbrick said he was inspired to perform the haka for Hughes after witnessing similar scenes at the 2018 Dally M awards and wanted to follow suit. </p> <p>“I was a bit nervous. I just wanted to show my respect to Jahrome and acknowledge him,” Warbrick said. “We both have Maori culture, that’s what it’s all about."</p> <p>“It was just off the cuff, I’m glad a couple of boys jumped in with me to make it look better. Jahrome is an integral part of the Kiwis team. It was rightful to acknowledge him by doing the haka for him.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

TV

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Readers response: What would you do if you won $1,000,000 in the lottery tomorrow?

<p>Many people, especially those who indulge in weekly lottery tickets, like to fantasise about what they would do if they came into a huge sum of money.</p> <p>For some people, their first purchase would be a house or a once in a lifetime holiday, while others would give the money to family or charity. </p> <p>We asked our reader what they would do if they won $1 million in the lottery tomorrow, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said.</p> <p><strong>Anne Hare</strong> - I'd find a really good accountant and put him on retainer. I'd tell no one until I'd got my finances in order. Then I'd go nuts!</p> <p><strong>Irene Winters</strong> - Give most of it to our children and grandchildren, and keep a bit to pay for our old age.</p> <p><strong>Erica Whitehead</strong> - Help my family and do a kitchen and bathroom renovation.</p> <p><strong>Julie Armstrong</strong> - 1 million would be perfect for us to buy a house and live out the rest of ours days comfortably and not have to stress over the rent increases. Plus, we could pay off our daughter's mortgage.</p> <p><strong>Darlene Challen</strong> - Fix this house up properly, sell it and find my dream little house for myself and my dog, might spend Christmas in NY and/or go on a tropical cruise, then put the rest away for my 9 grandies.</p> <p><strong>Karen Neilson</strong> - Give a big chunk to my children and grandchildren, then give some to each of my siblings and Brother in Law. Keep some for myself, just enough to live comfortably for the few years I’m still on this earth! Give some to Cancer Research, The Heart Foundation and the Rescue Chopper. Give some to a couple of friend who do it tough.</p> <p><strong>Marlene Hassett</strong> - Buy a new car and a couple of things around my house and the rest to my kids and grandkids.</p> <p><strong>Alex Elson</strong> - I would finally, finally take our van out of the shed and go away for a while! </p> <p><strong>Jeannine Litmanowicz</strong> - I would open a scholar fund for my grandchildren so they have money for higher education when they grow up. And also, since they are still young, I would treat them to a week travelling around with them and my daughters and husbands to the Balkans.</p> <p><strong>Christine Whyte</strong> - Keep myself very comfortable till it was time to distribute to 10 grandkids.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Money & Banking

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Aussie swimmer pays tribute to late father on the winner's podium

<p>Australian backstroke champion Kaylee McKeown has paid tribute to her late father on the winner's podium at the Paris Games. </p> <p>The 23-year-old emerged victorious from the 100m backstroke, beating American pair Regan Smith and Katharaine Berkoff in a thrilling finish to take home the gold medal. </p> <p>As she took to the podium, McKeown paid tribute to her late father Sholto, who passed away in August 2020 after a two-year battle with brain cancer. </p> <p>She said that it was her father's dream to see both of his daughters compete at the Olympics.</p> <p>He got to see Kaylee’s older sister Taylor, also a swimmer, at Rio in 2016 but never got to see Kaylee compete because of the delay to Tokyo 2020 amidst the Covid pandemic.</p> <p>Speaking to <em>Nine</em> after her win, McKeown said her dad helped her secure the victory.</p> <p>“Expectation, I think, is a privilege, and if you get that privilege, it’s something special,” she said.</p> <p>“I like to think I have a little superpower, and that’s my dad. I believe he was with me tonight. I’m just over the moon. It feels really nice. I wasn’t sure if I could get up and get there tonight, the Americans gave me a red hot push."</p> <p>“It just feels wonderful to be here.”</p> <p>The emotional Aussie said her dad would be immensely proud, saying, “I’m not going to swear but we can all put words together.”</p> <p>“He’d be extremely proud. It’s great to have my family here because I know that he’s here in spirit. No words can really amount to how much I appreciate (my family’s) support. They deal with a lot of s***, so thank you for all of that.”</p> <p>Since his passing, Australia’s backstroke golden girl had a message dedicated to Sholto tattooed on her left foot, which says: ‘I’ll always be with you’.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Family & Pets

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"This is crazy": MasterChef Australia 2024 winner crowned

<p>MasterChef Australia has crowned its 2024 winner! </p> <p>Nat Thaipun has emerged as the winner of the coveted title and took home a whopping $250,000. </p> <p>In the intense finale, the final two contestants Josh Perry and Nat Thaipun had 75 minutes to cook up something spectacular for the judges using black peppercorns as the key ingredient. </p> <p>While Perry went with a rib-eye with some brussels sprouts and peppercorn sauce, with a spin on the vegees and some pureed sauce, Thaipun went with a Thai twist on a hearty pub meal, the scotch egg. </p> <p>In the first round, Thapun managed to secure a total of 36/40, while Perry walked away from round one with 33/40. </p> <p>In the second round, the contestants were asked to recreate renowned British chef Claire Smith's "Core-teaser", an incredibly detailed version of the classic Malteaser, with 113 steps to follow. </p> <p>Both contestants struggled with the dessert, but Perry ended up struggling the most with one of the dish's key elements which resulted in his malt sugar ball going "pear-shaped". </p> <p>Perry "absolutely nailed it" despite missing an element of the dessert, and Thaipun was "pretty bang on" with the flavours of the dish, but the judges thought her texture was off. </p> <p>Despite this, it was the extra points in the first round that gave Thaipun the advantage of winning the show. </p> <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/C9e3cmaP66A/?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/C9e3cmaP66A/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by MasterChef Australia (@masterchefau)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Speaking about her huge win, she told the judges: “I feel so good. This is crazy, it feels like a dream, but it’s not!”</p> <p>Former MasterChef winner Julie Goodwin congratulated Thaipun on her win on Instagram. </p> <p>"Congratulations Nat and to all who competed. Best wishes for whatever adventures come next!" she wrote. </p> <p>Fans also congratulated Thaipun. </p> <p>"From the immunity pin winner to the Masterchef winner !!! 👏👏👏" wrote one. </p> <p>"Omg, congratulations! She's so consistent and strong and clever innovative from start to the grand finale!🙌" added another. </p> <p>"What a great finale cook!!! Truly enjoyed this season. So many talented cooks but so delighted Nat won 💛" a third wrote. </p> <p><em>Images: C</em><em>hannel 10/ Instagram</em></p>

Food & Wine

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"Rest in love": All Blacks legend and Dancing with the Stars winner dies at 55

<p>The sports and entertainment communities are mourning the loss of former All Blacks hooker and <em>Dancing with the Stars</em> winner Norm Hewitt, who has passed away at the age of 55.</p> <p>Hewitt, a beloved figure both on and off the rugby field, succumbed to a lengthy battle with motor neurone disease, as confirmed by his family in a heartfelt statement.</p> <p>"Although rugby dominated his early life, he established a thriving human relations consultancy after retirement, and his services were much in demand both nationally and internationally," his family shared. "He walked confidently in both Māori and Pākehā worlds and was a particular role model for troubled youth, citing his own background, and offering inspirational teachings that one’s present life need not be one’s future."</p> <p>Hewitt leaves behind his wife Arlene and their two children, Elizabeth and Alexander. Born and raised in Pōrangahau, southern Hawke’s Bay, Hewitt's rugby career was nothing short of illustrious. Over 13 seasons, he played 296 representative matches for Hawke’s Bay, Southland and Wellington, earning 23 caps for the All Blacks. Hewitt was also a pivotal member of the Hurricanes during the formative years of Super Rugby, missing only one match in the first five years.</p> <p>The rugby community has been profoundly affected by Hewitt's passing. Former teammate Ofisa Tonu’u posted a touching tribute on Facebook: "I’m just devastated finding out the news today. I will never forget how you always stuck up for me during the Black Tracker days when no one else would, you always look after all the players and we always followed you into battle. No more pain, brother, you can now rest in Love. Fa’afetai tele lava my uso for having my back as I did yours. I know the other boys will be welcoming you with open arms at the gates. Rest in Love, Normy."</p> <p>Beyond his rugby career, Hewitt transitioned into a public speaker and mentor, focusing heavily on violence prevention programmes and advocacy. He worked with the SPCA as an animal cruelty and anti-violence publicity officer, visiting schools to spread his message. In 2005, Hewitt showcased his versatility by winning the first season of<em> Dancing with the Stars</em> alongside professional dancer Carol-Ann Hickmore.</p> <p>Hewitt's life was not without its struggles. In 1999, he made a public apology for a drunken incident in Queenstown, marking a turning point as he renounced alcohol and dedicated himself to helping others facing similar challenges.</p> <p>The outpouring of tributes was immediate, with The All Blacks expressing their sorrow: “We are saddened by the loss of All Black #938 Norm Hewitt who passed away yesterday in Wellington. Hewitt played 9 Tests and 14 Games between 1993 and 1998. Our thoughts are with Norm’s family and loved ones at this time.”</p> <p>Podcaster Martin Devlin shared his personal experience: “RIP Norm Hewitt. Not a lot of people know how kind & generous this man was. A truly wonderful person. Reached out to me and helped me considerably a long time ago when things were very rough. Love & respect.”</p> <p>Richard Hills echoed the sentiments of many: “This is bloody sad. A sad way to lose a kiwi icon so young. He had a really rough childhood and upbringing and faced it and turned his life around to become not only a rugby legend but also helped others who’d been through similar issues.”</p> <p>Norm Hewitt’s legacy will endure through the lives he touched and the positive change he inspired. His story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the profound impact one individual can have on the world.</p> <p><em>Image: Radio New Zealand</em></p>

Caring

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World's best airline for 2024 revealed

<p>The world's best airline has been revealed for 2024, with the winning airline being voted above the rest for quality, customer service and overall flying experience. </p> <p>Qatar Airways, the Doha-based airline, reclaimed the title in the annual Skytrax’s World Airline Awards dubbed “the Oscars of the aviation industry”, returning to the top for an unprecedented eighth time.</p> <p>The 2023 winner, Singapore Airlines, fell back a spot to second place, while Emirates came third.</p> <p>Coming in next on the list was  ANA All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Japan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, EVA Air, Air France and Swiss International Air Lines in 10th spot.</p> <p>Qatar also took home three other awards: World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge and Best Airline in the Middle East.</p> <p>It’s also become the first aviation group to win Best Airline, Best Airport and Best Airport Shopping, in the same year in Skytrax history.</p> <p>“This is a proud moment for Qatar Airways. I am honoured to share this award with my dedicated team,” Qatar Airways group chief executive officer, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said at the Skytrax event in London on Monday.</p> <p>“This award is a testimony to our relentless commitment to providing unparalleled service and innovation. We look forward to continuing to serve our customers with the highest level of excellence.”</p> <p>The Skytrax awards are based on the votes of travellers across over 100 nationalities, with any airline in the world eligible to be nominated.</p> <p>In terms of Aussie airlines, Qantas plummeted seven spots to be ranked 24 this year, while Virgin Australia fell from 46 to 54 and Jetstar from 69 to 75. </p> <p>However, Australian regional airline REX climbed from spot 56 to 50.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

International Travel

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Winner of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest announced

<p>The annual World's Ugliest Dog contest has unearthed some true diamonds in the ruff, with one long-tongued frizz-ball being honoured with the title of the ugliest dog in the world. </p> <p>At the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, an eight-year-old Pekingese called Wild Thang was crowned the winner and collected the $5,000 cash prize, after failing to take home the prize five years in a row. </p> <p>"He was a fan favorite … he's kind of like the bridesmaid and never the bride," judge Fiona Ma told the <em>Associated Press</em>.</p> <p>"He really tugged at our heart strings and deserved to win."</p> <p>Wild Thang's strange looks stem from a virus he contracted as a puppy that almost killed him, but instead left him with permanent damage.</p> <p>As a result, his teeth never developed, so his tongue flops out, and his right front leg paddles all the time.</p> <p>"He's never had a hair cut so that is the way he is and [his owner] shaves his stomach and he likes to sleep on ice packs," Ma added.</p> <p>"He is just a sweet dog – I was just holding him and he loves to be held and cuddled. That's part of it, these rescue dogs, they just need forever homes, so please adopt, don't shop."</p> <p>Organisers stressed that the contest is not about making fun of the unusual looking dogs, "but having fun with some wonderful characters and showing the world that these dogs are really beautiful!"</p> <p><em>Image credits: JOHN G MABANGLO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Family & Pets

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