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Nine Publishing on strike. Request the public avoid Nine mastheads including Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Financial Review, and Brisbane Times.
> Don't cross the virtual picket line at Nine Publishing. > > From 11am AEST on Friday, July 26 until 11am AEST on Wednesday, July 31, we will join the virtual picket line in support of the #MEAAmedia members at Nine Publishing on strike. > > That means we will not share or click on any articles from Nine mastheads, Sydney MorningHerald, The Age, Financial Review, Brisbane Times and WA Today, and won’t buy the papers.
- www.abc.net.au 'Un-Australian' swimming coach to face consequences over Korea comments, but only after Paris Olympics
Swimming Australia head coach Rohan Taylor says coach Michael Palfrey will face "consequences" for his inflammatory comments when the Paris Games finish.
Seriously? Why is this an issue?
Sounds like the coach has a known personal connection with the Korean swimmer, and was showing support and solidarity with his international friends and competitors.
From my reading his behaviour sounds very Australian. And good on him. Sure maybe he could've just wished him well, but in the excitement and business of the day who can blame him for being a little over the top.
We aren't really a country that expresses a win at all costs attitude, but thats the impression i get about the other team members quoted in the article. Their comments seem a bit un-Australian to me.
- www.theguardian.com How Gina Rinehart and her backers pressured the NGA to remove her portrait
National Gallery of Australia director sent a warning to federal arts minister that mining billionaire was ‘rallying’ influential friends, documents reveal
The article isn't entirely clear to me, but it seems that her pressure was unsuccessful.
- www.abc.net.au Long Centrelink wait times as 11 million calls go unanswered
More than 11 million calls to Centrelink and Medicare were unanswered in the year to April, while wait times increased to almost an hour for some categories of support.
LPT: if anybody needs to but can't get through to Centrelink, go into one of the services Australia branch. If they can't fix your problem, they'll connect you to an internal number which doesn't just hang up on you.
It's fucking disgraceful that they don't even answer the phone anymore. Seriously one of the stupidest things they've rolled out. There's no ifs or buts about it, it's disgusting and needs to stop.
You can also try calling the complaints number and they can do the same thing as the branch people, but I've heard conflicting reports about this. It used to be how you had to get through, but I've heard recently that sometimes that number just hangs up on you too. But if they do answer, they'll will usually just put you through to a non hanging up number, at least if it means you won't make them do the paperwork to lodge a complaint.
Also, when you do get through, please try to remember that they're just minimum wage people doing a shitty job. They don't make the phones hang up on you, and they aren't the reason your claims take months to process, or you were underpaid, or whatever's gone wrong. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. You can express your annoyance to them, but abusing or yelling at them doesn't fix the problem, and won't make them answer quicker.
If you really want somebody to yell at, write a letter or email to your local MP. Or the minister for social services. Or anyone else who's penny pinching tactics caused this whole mess
Also remember you'll get through this soon, even though it doesn't feel like it in the moment
- www.sbs.com.au The Australian passport is now more powerful. Here's where you can travel visa-free
The Australian passport is now among the top five most powerful, according to the latest rankings, which also show a Southeast Asian nation has retained its top spot. Here's how our little blue book fared.
> > > The Australian passport is now among the top five most powerful [based on visa-free access to countries], according to the latest rankings, which also show a Southeast Asian nation has retained its top spot. Here's how our little blue book fared. > >
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No need to spend money on sex workers because NDIS recipients already get f**ked every day, government says
theshovel.com.au No Need to Spend Money on Sex Workers Because NDIS Recipients Already Get Fucked Every Day, Government Says — The Shovel“It’s inadequately funded, overly complex and under-resourced, so I can assure you people are getting fucked. It’s already built into the system. There’s no need to pay extra”.
> > > Bill Shorten has confirmed the Government will ban access to sex workers via the NDIS, saying it is ‘unnecessary’ when so much of the NDIS is designed to fuck recipient. > > > > “It’s inadequately funded, overly complex and under-resourced, so I can assure you people are getting very fucked, very regularly. Shorten” said. “The fucking is built into the system, there’s no need to pay extra for this”. > >
(title semi-censored to attempt compliance with swearing-in-titles guidance)
- theconversation.com A major multiculturalism review has recommended bold reforms. How far is the government prepared to go?
The review recommends bold changes, like dismantling the Department of Home Affairs. It remains to be seen how much the government will enact.
> > > A year ago, the government instigated an independent review of the national multicultural framework. > > > > As more than half of Australia’s population is either born overseas or has one parent who was, this policy is important. It underpins how multiculturalism works in almost every part of life. It aims to ensure equity and inclusion for people from minority groups, and attempts to whittle away at structural racism. > >
> > > The review recommends bold changes, like dismantling the Department of Home Affairs. It remains to be seen how much the government will enact. > >
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Are we going down the same path as US politics?
What a pair of clowns (ALP and LNP)...
Also I really hate TikTok.
> There are currently no rules at either the state or federal level to stop political parties and candidates from using AI-generated material in election campaigns.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-22/qld-premier-slams-opposition-for-ai-generated-tiktok/104126936
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-23/labor-questioned-over-ai-generated-tiktok-of-peter-dutton/104131228
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Katy Perry to headline 2024 AFL Grand Final
www.afl.com.au MCG set to ROAR: Katy Perry to headline GF entertainmentKaty Perry has been confirmed to headline the Telstra Pre-Game Entertainment at the 2024 Toyota AFL Grand Final
- www.theguardian.com AFP dismisses allegation witness gave false evidence to robodebt royal commission
Investigation did not ‘identify sufficient admissible evidence’ the person intended to mislead, police say
- www.abc.net.au Nurse collapses in court after being jailed for attempted murder of husband with insulin
A Perth woman collapses in a court dock after being sentenced to nine years in prison for trying to murder her husband who had been diagnosed with dementia.
Super sad case. She tried to kill him to ease his suffering. If he'd been on the record supporting her decision, I think the sentence would have been very different. And she lost him to natural causes anyway. 😞
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ADF whistleblower David McBride moved to maximum security and "has no access to natural light & restricted contact with his daughters."
screenshot of https://x.com/MurdochCadell/status/1814279642628710605
ALT text > Dave’s been in jail for 64 days. Due to immediate concerns for his safety, we can’t say more except to say his situation is grim. He has no access to natural light & restricted contact with his daughters. Help #FreeMcBride by donating to his fundraiser👇🏼🙏 > > https://chuffed.org/project/davidmcbride
- www.abc.net.au MediSecure reveals 12.9m Australians had personal data stolen in cyber attack
Online eScripts provider MediSecure has revealed 12.9 million Australians had personal data stolen in a cyber breach earlier this year, making it one of the largest data hacks in Australian history.
- www.abc.net.au Live: Cyber security company CrowdStrike linked to global IT outage
Computer security company CrowdStrike is linked to a major IT outage affecting banks, airports, supermarkets and businesses across Australia and the world. Follow live.
Country's fucked again!
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Where was Planet America when the US was going into meltdown? (SONG)
YouTube Video
Click to view this content.
- www.crikey.com.au 'Grow up': Rudd goes after Tenacious D for a Trump joke. It's 2024, baby!
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has demanded Jack Black 'grow up and get a decent job', following calls from a supposed 'free speech' senator. Politics in 2024 is quite something.
The joke was dumb, the online reaction to the joke was dumb, a random UAP senator's dumb comments being quoted globally was dumb and Rudd telling famous musicians and actors to "grow up and get a job" was very dumb. What a time we live in.
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A sovereign citizen group is using a fake court to justify child kidnapping and extortion
www.abc.net.au After being arrested and becoming a global punchline, Helen invented a fake courtA radical sovereign citizen group co-invented by a fugitive mother is using a fake court to justify attempted child abduction, extortion, and intimidation of court officials.
>Over the past six months members have filmed themselves entering or attempting to enter court houses, police stations, local council chambers and commercial offices across the country.
>During these interactions, an NDA "sheriff" typically approaches a polite, but often confused, front desk worker to proclaim Australia is now a "demilitarised zone" and that all government authority has been dissolved before handing them a written notice.
>The notice warns "failure to be fully compliant" with NDA's rules "will certainly place you at severe risk of possible persecution, imprisonment or financial ruin".
>Over time, these interactions have become more confrontational.
>Video seen by ABC Investigations showed police forcefully ejecting members of the group from Gympie Court House in May.
What in tarnation?
- www.smh.com.au King Charles, Queen Camilla will visit Australia, Buckingham Palace confirms
The 75-year-old, who began a “schedule of regular treatments” after he was diagnosed with cancer in February, will make his first trip as sovereign.
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Please allow other stuff over the aussie flag on canvas!!!
Hello! Please don't damage other stuff on the aussie flag unless they are destructive, and if they are try to reach agreement.
The germans have agreed to take the top left until the stem of the union jack and NOT more, don't damage it
There is some pixel art, go behind it.
Arsenal will make their logo bottom right, it will not cover any stars.
there will likely be more, please allow it. we can't cover everything with a flag, it blocks others from using the canvas
- www.abc.net.au Two Australians charged with spying offences for allegedly conspiring to share ADF secrets with Russia
Two Russian-born Australian citizens are accused of obtaining Australian Defence Force material to share with Russian authorities.
> - In short: Two Russian-born Australians have been charged with spying offences, the first time the new laws have been used. > > - The couple allegedly conspired to send sensitive Australian Defence Force material to Russian authorities. > > - What's next? Police say further spying charges could be laid as Operation BURGAZADA continues.
🚔
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There is a cheaper alternative to supermarkets, but most people don't know it exists
www.abc.net.au There is a cheaper alternative to supermarkets, but most people don't know it existsFamilies and neighbours shopping through informal co-ops are saving hundreds, but the business model could help apply major competitive pressure to the major supermarkets.
> - In short: Families are making significant savings on their grocery bills by forming small shopping co-ops. > > - Cooperative business structures account for less than 1 per cent of the supermarket sector in Australia. > - What's next? The peak body for co-ops is calling for more government support for the business model.
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"I'm in prison for blowing the whistle on the Australian Defence Force"
> I told the truth about the Australian Defence Force’s unethical, harmful and highly politicised leadership which fostered a culture of impunity in Afghanistan. As my team and I continue to fight these unjust criminal charges, I am asking for your support!
You can support David's appeal here: https://chuffed.org/project/davidmcbride
---- (Edit) More information:
The latest from his Twitter / X account - run by his legal team: https://x.com/MurdochCadell
David McBride sent to prison | The West Report https://michaelwest.com.au/david-mcbride-sent-to-prison-the-west-report/
What Fate for David McBride? - with lawyer Eddie Lloyd | Consortium News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czj540q8YDQ
Michael West interviews McBride - https://michaelwest.com.au/david-mcbride-full-interview/
video by BoyBoy https://youtu.be/sYt4CxFfQUU?si=P_E2FLkKYMKRbHRT
video by friendlyjordies https://youtu.be/jdYYIVoCvsM?si=Nhc2Uxnj0kadKUIu
[Article] Afghan war crimes whistleblower David McBride sentenced to prison, by Michael West | May 14, 2024 https://michaelwest.com.au/whistleblower-david-mcbride-sentenced-to-jail/
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An Aussie man who "waited six months" to have his local council fill a huge hole left by an uprooted tree outside his home has been slapped with a $11,500 fine for eventually doing it himself.
9now.nine.com.au Man fined almost $12k for filling hole left on nature strip by giant treeA Melbourne man questioned by his local council over a tree — in an interview reminiscent of a police inter...
- reneweconomy.com.au South Australia locks in federal funds to become first grid in world to reach 100 per cent net wind and solar
South Australia locks in funding deal with Canberra to ensure it can become first grid in world to reach 100 per cent net renewables via wind, solar and storage.
- www.abc.net.au The Raes say their fridge malfunctioned, triggering illness, and their refund offer included a 'gag clause'
Victorian couple Adele and Alex Rae say they were exposed to a "really strong" chemical smell coming from their Samsung fridge, which caused Ms Rae to collapse. They've been offered a refund on the condition they never talk about it again.
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Australian agency says China-backed hackers behind cyber crimes
Australia's government cybersecurity agency on Tuesday accused a China-backed hacker group of stealing passwords and usernames from two unnamed Australian networks in 2022, adding that the group remained a threat.
A joint report led by the Australian Cyber Security Centre said the hackers, named APT40, had conducted malicious cyber operations for China's Ministry of State Security, the main agency overlooking foreign intelligence.
"The activity and techniques overlap with the groups tracked as Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) 40," said the report, which included inputs from lead cyber security agencies for the United States, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Germany.
China's embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
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Canvas is starting in 2 (and 2 thirds) days!
The links for the aussie flag templates and chat:
The links for canvas groups:
Last Canvas end:
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OzBargain user claims that chicken parma/parmi is "just chicken nuggies for adults"
> > > [post by randomvis] > > > > I'm going to cop flak for this— but I don't care. > > > > I don't even care if I ruin this pub favourite. The truth is more important. > > > > This has gnawed away at me ever since I sat eating a chicken parmi and realized my son's kid's meal, nuggets + chips + salad and sauce is just a miniaturized concept. Rather, the parmi is just the 'adultified' version of the nuggets. You can @ me if you want to argue about the nuances about additional mozzarella, the difference between the sauces or even the number of nuggets versus the size of parmi, but I won't respond. You and I both know now you are eating a kids meal and you need to grow up. > > > > One thing remains constant, crumbed chicken, sauce, chips and salad. > > > > You can't run from it, you are eating a kids meal dressed in an adult's name. > >
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Rezoning = private profit?! (Couple loses property fight after highway swallows $5.5 million dream)
www.smh.com.au Couple loses property fight after highway swallows $5.5 million dreamRaymond and Wendy Dibb saw a chance to make money out of a small rural property. They were not planning on a $2.2 billion highway barrelling through their plans.
Tip of the iceberg when it comes to examining the corruption of land ownership in Australia. It's hardly talked about. The linked article doesn't even talk about it.
The public as a whole (and traditional owners) should be the only financial beneficiaries of rezoning.
I suspect private maximisation of rezoning profits is the reason behind why urban developments here are almost universally that awful single-story no-greenspace roof-to-roof packed suburban hellscape.
- johnmenadue.com News Corp is ailing. How long will the Murdochs prop it up? - Pearls and Irritations
Few things say “company in decline” louder than the annual round of job cuts in the news media segment of global media behemoth News Corp
Job cuts continue across the empire as the business model dies a slow death.
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Sources of specialist physician fee variation: Evidence from Australian health insurance claims data
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/24630642 [email protected]
> #### Highlights > > > - This study investigates why specialist physician fees vary. > > - We consider variation between patients, physicians, specialties, and other factors. > > - We find variation between physicians dominates other sources. > > - Contrary to common beliefs, patient factors account for little of the variation. > > - Our results inform policy to improve price transparency in specialist care market. > > #### More context: > > > Although Australia has a publicly funded health system that provides universal health coverage, about 44 % of the population holds private health insurance. Specialist physician fees in the private sector are unregulated; physicians can charge any price they want, subject to market forces. > > > We find that patient risk factors account for a small portion of the variance in fees and out-of-pocket payments > > > Physician-specific variation, responsible for much of the variation in total fees and OOP payments, could include physician characteristics that patients value, such as bedside manner, experience or reputation, or factors related to physicians’ circumstances or preferences. A key physician-level factor that may drive the variation is the perception of quality or skill differences between physicians. This perception can come from either consumers or physicians themselves about their quality or skill levels in comparison to other physicians in the physician's local market. [...] which can lead to large price variation and non-transparency of fees. > > #### Recommendations > > > The government, private health insurers and physicians themselves could all play a more active role than they currently do. The government, for example, could mandate the disclosure of price and quality information for all procedures that receive government subsidies, insurers could provide incentives for the disclosure of such information, and physicians could change their referral practice to give preferences to other physicians who are willing to be transparent about their prices and quality. >
- www.abc.net.au Most Australians take more than 30 minutes to get to work. How does that compare to other countries?
The time it takes Australian workers to get to work is increasing. What do experts think will help improve them?