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Adorable Collie sells for world record-breaking price

A border collie has been sold for a world record-breaking amount at the Ray White Rockhampton Working Dog Sale and Trial. Helen and James Parker paid $40,000 for Liz, a border collie who they describe as the "whole package". The couple, who run a wagyu cattle farm in Monto, Queensland are keen to welcome the pup who will help them muster cattle as part of the day-to-day running of the farm. "We leave in the morning early, they might do three to four hours mustering in the morning, then we get the cattle to the yard and then in the afternoon we'll walk them away," Helen said. "Our mustering round's about a week, so all day for a week, so some big days and it's hot up here in summer so they need to be able to travel and follow us on a horse and big days in hot conditions so we can't do the job without them." Liz, who was raised by Joe Leven, is the second dog the couple have purchased from Joe, and they say the price was worth it. "We weren't planning on breaking records but we're happy to have her," Helen told 2GB's Ben Fordham. "She's the whole package, she's got breeding behind her, she has all herding ability, natural instinct. I just think she's a great asset to our team." Although Liz is an unusual name for a cattle dog, it is actually a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth. "Joe named them and there's a bit of a story behind how Liz got her name. She was born the year that Queen Elizabeth passed away, so she's really upheld her name, she's the queen," Helen explained. The Rockhampton Working Dog trial and Sale was a success for Joe and Cabra Glebe Working Dogs, who managed to sell another dog, Jenny for $38,000. Image: Ray White Working dog sale Facebook

Family & Pets

"Doesn't add up": New theory emerges in Perth brothers' deaths

A private security worker in Mexico has cast doubt on the police narrative on how two brothers from Perth were found dead. According to Mexico police, Callum and Jake Robinson were caught up in a robbery gone wrong while they were on a surfing holiday in Baja California with an American friend. “They approached, with the intention of stealing their vehicle and taking the tyres and other parts to put them on the older-model pick-up they were driving,” Baja California Attorney-General Maria Elena Andrade Ramírez said. “When they (the victims) came up and caught them, surely, they resisted." “And these people, the assailants, took out a gun and first they killed the one who was putting up resistance against the vehicle theft, and then others came along and joined the fight to defend their property and their companion who had been attacked, and they killed them too.” However, those with intimate knowledge of the turbulent area have offered another theory about how the Robinson brothers were killed, suggesting a much more sinister alternative. A source who does private security work in Mexico told the New York Post that the police narrative "doesn't add up", and it is far more likely that the trio were killed by cartel members who were in search of a rival gang. “Basically, the reasoning of them being carjack victims gone wrong makes very little sense,” the source said. The source described the situation as “deeply disturbing”, while also sharing how Baja California is in the midst of a drug war. “These surfers were well travelled and would most likely know better than to try to fend off a truck jacking. My guess is they were mistakenly identified as a rival criminal organisation and murdered." “That being exposed would create an ongoing investigation that no cartel wants to deal with and would create a devastating impact on tourism in the area, which is popular with surfers and visitors from the US," the source explained. Three people have been arrested in connection with the deaths of the three men, although no charges have yet been laid. Travel website SmartTraveller notes Mexico as a dangerous destination, warning tourists of Baja California in particular, as one of multiple areas most affected by drug-related and gang violence. “Mexico has a high risk of violent crime, including murder, armed robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping. Don’t travel at night outside major cities. Drug-related violence is widespread,” Smartraveller warns. “Kidnapping and extortion are serious risks. Don’t draw attention to your money or business affairs. Only use ATMs in public spaces and during the daytime. Stop at all roadblocks, or you risk getting killed.” According to the New York Post, Baja California is one of Mexico’s most violent states because of organised crime gangs, and their relationships with corrupt police officers. Heritage Foundation Latin America expert Andres Martinez-Fernandez said corruption could easily be at play with the Perth brothers and the true nature of their deaths. “The case is highly unusual, as presented by Mexican police, who say the supposed robbery was done by small-time criminals who ended up destroying the vehicle they were allegedly trying to steal,” he told the Post. “Given the deep and widespread corruption in the Mexican police, it hard to dismiss the possibility of a cover-up, potentially to shift blame away from a powerful drug cartel. This would certainly align with the Mexican government’s efforts to downplay the severity of cartel violence in Mexico,” he added. Just days after they went missing, the bodies of Callum and Jake Robinson, along with Jack Carter Rhoad, were found down a well with fatal gunshot wounds to the head. Image credits: Instagram / 7News <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">

Travel Trouble

World's most disappointing tourist hotspots revealed

While many travellers tend to flock to must-see tourists attractions while exploring somewhere new on their holiday, it turns out not everyone is impressed with the hype. A host of scathing online reviews have targeted landmarks such as Stonehenge, the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and even Bondi Beach, calling the sites "unimpressive", "boring" and "pointless". According to travellers, there are 15 tourist hotspots that don't live up to the hype, with many leaving the destinations feeling disappointed. Mona Lisa - Paris, France One of the most "disappointing" attractions, according to travellers, is da Vinci's masterpiece the Mona Lisa, which hangs in the Louvre in the French capital city. According to online reviews, nearly four in ten (37.1 per cent) visitors posted negative comments about visiting the work, saying it did not live up to their expectations. One review left on TripAdvisor described the experience as "a bit boring", adding, "The Mona Lisa was very small and not as beautiful as I thought it would be." Several other reviews stated how irritating the experience of actually seeing the artwork was, with one person claiming the Louvre had a "zoo-like atmosphere". The Eiffel Tower - Paris, France Tourists visiting France were double disappointed, after also being let down by the iconic Eiffel Tower, which many described as "not a very special place... it's just an iron building." "It's boring, nothing special about it. You have to wait in a long queue just to go up and take pictures," another person wrote. Others claimed the landmark is nothing but a "tourist trap", claiming it is "seriously underwhelming". Stonehenge - England For many, Stonehenge continues to be a wonder of mystery, as one of the most architecturally sophisticated ancient stone sculptures in the world, but for others, it's just a "big disappointment". One reviewer went so far as to say it was the "biggest disappointment of my life", saying, "I was expecting so much more. Do not waste your time people. The only magical thing about this place is that somehow it has the power to draw people on to look at it." Another person put simply, "It's a pile of rocks. Pointless." The Leaning Tower of Pisa - Italy While many tourists visiting Italy opt to check out the famous leaning tower, others tend to lean away from it, calling it a "tourist trap". One person reviewed the famous landmark, saying, "It's literally just a leaning tower. I wouldn’t make a stop here just to see it. It is overly crowded and hot in the summertime." Others claim they were hassled by countless street sellers, writing, "The whole area is crawling with at times aggressive street hawkers who feel it is OK to keep hassling and trying to sell you tourist crap." Checkpoint Charlie - Berlin, Germany Set up as a reminder of the former border crossing and the partition between East and West Berlin during the Cold War, Checkpoint Charlie is often known as a must-see spot. However, others have been left feeling let down by the historic spot. One traveller rated the site just one star, writing, "The only place in Berlin where we encountered street traders who were deeply unpleasant. The museum is overpriced and very tired. The whole area was uninspiring and a complete waste of our time." The Empire State Building - New York City, USA Every year, thousands of people pay to head to the top of the iconic Empire State Building to catch a glimpse of the New York City skyline. However, given the over-crowding of the observation platform and the hefty cost to enter, many have left feeling "underwhelmed" and "ripped-off". One person reviewed the landmark, writing, "Wow! What a waste of $185 for a family of three to struggle to fight our way to finally see a view obscured by a metal crisscross railing. Long lines, rude staff, cheesy "museum", and overpriced. It's as bad as an amusement park." Bondi Beach - Sydney, Australia A trip to Bondi Beach is often at the top of a tourist's travel itinerary when heading Down Under for the first time. But as the beach gains popularity, travellers have been increasingly underwhelmed by the picturesque beach given the over-crowding. One review read, "The beach is all the hype and show but it's like having a bath with your entire family and a dozen strangers. It's packed on any normal day and should be regulated with a fence line and tickets so it's not like cramming sardines into a can." Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Qantas apologises after rejecting cancer patient's refund request

Qantas has issued an apology for rejecting a cancer patient's refund request after his case allegedly did not qualify based on “compassionate reasons”. Neil Ross, 62, decided to book a holiday to Cairns with his wife for a couple of weeks, but two weeks later he was diagnosed with face cancer. “It hit me like a rock,” Mr Ross told news.com.au. “I wasn’t in the life of me, expecting that news.” The Brisbane local was initially told he had Bells Palsy, but was later diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo a 13-hour operation to remove the tumour, causing the right side of his face to be significantly disfigured. He underwent radiation almost every day for six weeks saying it “knocked him to no end”. “I was very thankful that my wife had helped me and still is helping me to get through this.” Ross is yet to be given the all-clear and is still undergoing treatments, including rehab following the loss of muscle mass. He will also undergo plastic surgery to reconstruct the right side of his face. “I had notified Flight Centre that I needed to cancel my flight due to finding out that I had cancer and that l needed treatment urgently,” he said. “As I said to the girl at Flight Centre – ‘look at my face, do you think I want to get a refund for the hell of it? I rather be healthy and go on holiday.” Ross said that the airline issued him a credit note until April 22 of this year, but with his current circumstances, he was unable to travel before that date and applied for a full refund. He also claims that despite sending two medical certificates - the first which stated that Ross was unfit to fly for 12 months, and the second which included detailed information about his condition - it “did not meet requirements on compassion”. “I thought ‘what the hell, what more can I do?’ This has done nothing but cause me a great deal of stress that I don’t need," he said. Ross submitted two different refund requests, one on March 20, which was rejected on the fourth of April, and another on April 9 which was rejected two weeks later. The email from a Flight Centre representative reportedly said: "They have advised that ‘the attached medical certificate does not fit into the GF guidelines for a refund due to compassionate reasons’." According to news.com.au, Qantas has since contacted Ross and issued a refund, after an error was made in processing the supplementary material, by not connecting it to the earlier application. “We apologise to Mr Ross for this experience and have let him know we’re processing a refund for him.” They have also reportedly apologised for any distress they may have caused and are investigating how the error occurred so that it doesn't happen again. Images: news.com.au/ Getty

Travel Trouble

3 common travel illnesses (and how to avoid them)

Nobody wants to fall sick when they’re on holidays but it happens and is actually quite common. Not every travel illness is foreseeable, but the most prevalent ones usually can be managed if you’re prepared and know what to look out for. Here are three of the most common illnesses travellers experience and what you can do to avoid them. Traveller’s diarrhoea It may be an unpleasant topic of conversation, but as diarrhoeais the most common travel sickness, it’s important to be prepared. It is estimated diarrhoeais experienced by almost half of travellers at some point on their holiday, but mainly by those visiting developing countries. It’s contracted by eating or drinking contaminated food and water and in severe cases can last for days. How to avoid it: Stick to bottled or purified water, freshly cooked meals and fruits and vegetables you can peel yourself. Talk to your doctor for antibiotics you can take in case you are struck with traveller’s diarrhoea. Motion sickness Whether it’s by boat, plane, or car, many travellers experience motion sickness. This occurs when your eyes see motion but your body doesn’t register it, leading to a conflict of the senses. It often results in nausea, vomiting, headaches, and sweating. How to avoid it: If flying, try to sit near the wings of plane. If cruising, get an outside cabin in the middle of ship, and if in a car, sit up front. Don’t play with your devices, as looking at a small screens often exacerbates the problem; instead try to look far to the horizon. Have a light meal before travelling and avoid spicy, greasy or rich foods. You can talk to your doctor about over-the-counter medication that can help motion sickness as well. Bug bites There are all sorts of infectious diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever you can pick up from bug bites, especially in developing nations. While you should always talk to your doctor about the types of vaccines you need to take for your travel destination, it is always advisable to protect against insect bites. How to avoid it: Apply insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants where possible and try to avoid outside activity around dust and dawn when mosquitos are active. If sleeping outdoors, it is advisable to use curtain nettings. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

Tragic new details emerge over Aussie brothers missing in Mexico

Authorities have recovered three bodies in the Baja California region of Mexico, believed to be those of brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend who went missing while on a surfing trip. The Perth siblings and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad went missing last week after they failed to show up at their planned accommodations. Mexican Authorities believe that the brothers were attacked in a robbery gone wrong, and fought back, prompting gunfire from the alleged thieves. The three bodies had gunshots to the head, execution-style, and were found 10 metres down a well outside Santo Tomás about 2km away from what is believed to be the men's campsite. While officials are waiting for DNA results, they believe that there is a "very high probability that it is them". "They were in a state of decomposition. That is why we have to run the genetic tests," Baja California Attorney General Maria Elena Andrade Ramírez told 9News. Police have also said that shell casings were found at the scene. <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/arrests-made-over-aussie-surfers-missing-in-mexico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Two men and one woman</a> have been arrested in connection with the attempted robbery, after they were found in possession of methamphetamines and one of the missing men's phones. Ramírez also said evidence found along with the abandoned tents was linked to the three people being questioned about the missing foreigners. Local TV network Milenio reported that the suspects appeared to have stolen the surfers’ truck and some of its parts were found in another truck belonging to one of the suspects. "A working team (of investigators) is at the site where they were last seen, where tents and other evidence was found that could be linked to these three people we have under investigation," Ramírez said on Thursday. "There is a lot of important information that we can't make public." A fourth body was also found deeper down the well, but Ramirez confirmed that it had no connection to the investigation. Image: Nine

Caring

Elderly couple left stranded by cruise ship

An elderly American couple was left behind by a Norwegian Cruise Line while on holiday in Spain this week. Richard and Claudene Gordon- aged 84 and 81 - were on a Mediterranean cruise aboard the Norwegian Viva with plans to celebrate Richard's birthday before things went downhill. The couple decided to take an independent excursion by themselves while the ship was docked in Motril, Spain, but on their return, their bus was delayed for an hour due to poor weather, so they ran late for the 5:30pm all-aboard time ahead of a scheduled 6pm departure. “I am a very experienced traveler and have probably been on as many as 30 cruises during my lifetime,” Richard told CNN. “Never before have we ever missed catching a ship on time at a port. So we are not someone who abuses the system.” Richard claimed that at 5:45pm they notified a relative on board who raised the alarm that they were nearby and running late, but nothing could be done at that point as the ship had to leave on time. By the time the couple arrived at 6:10pm, the boat had left the harbour, but Richard claimed that the cruise line had a tendency to depart behind schedule, and made no attempt to contact them until late Tuesday. “Our cruise began in Lisbon and we departed from Lisbon about one and a half hours after the scheduled departure at 4pm,” he claimed. “Then the next night or two, at least a half-hour late from the dock, so it is clear that they do not always leave on the exact moment scheduled.” The couple were left stranded without their medication, eyeglasses and spare hearing aid batteries, which were left on board. Their daughter ended up having to book her parents a flight to Palma de Mallorca, where the boat was making its next call Wednesday morning, according to the publication. By the time the couple got to Mallorca, they were met with "a beautiful black BMW limousine" which took them back to their ship. "There we were met by the head of ship services who escorted us inside the ship to meet the general manager of the ship, then they escorted us to breakfast, then they escorted us to our cabin.They said they have already complained about the harbour master who was supposed to take care of things for them. "But of course the ship had not contacted us directly for two days so that doesn’t speak so well for them.” The Norwegian Cruise Line disputed the couple’s account of what happened. “After several attempts to contact these guests with the phone numbers provided, as well as trying to phone their emergency contact, we were unable to speak to them directly. However, we worked closely with the local port agents to make arrangements for the guests to rejoin the vessel,” a spokesperson said. “It is important to note that a delayed departure has the potential to impact the ship’s ability to deliver its planned itinerary and thus influence the experience for all guests on-board. While this was a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time.” Image: Getty

Travel Trouble

“Selfish” husband leaves wife behind for first class upgrade on their honeymoon

A woman has shared her frustration over a journey she took with her new husband to their honeymoon destination. The wife’s “selfish” husband was quick to ditch her on their way to Mexico for their honeymoon after he was offered an upgrade to business class. The woman took to Reddit to share the story of what began at the airport shortly after their wedding, while also explaining that as a frequent flyer, she had racked up a hefty amount of points. In comparison, her new husband is an anxious flyer, who often relies on her to keep him calm during take off and landing. “When I booked our flights I requested to use my points if an upgrade to business class became available, but made it clear I only wanted this upgrade if two seats became available... and then I basically forgot about it,” the wife explained in a Reddit thread. “Then comes the day of our flight. I was so excited for this trip, I checked us in online, all is going well, and then when we go to board, the employee scanning our boarding passes stops us.” “She says it seems that my husband was upgraded to business class, but only him and asks if that is okay.” The wife immediately replied, “No, we are on our honeymoon and would like to stay together”, however, her husband interjected, saying, “No it’s fine, I’ll go to business class.” Approximately 500 of her hard earned points went to his upgrade, while she was left alone in economy for the trip. Stunned by his response, she said: “I look at him in complete shock and he tells me that I fly all the time and have been in business class before, but he hasn’t. So he deserves a chance to experience it. “I see we are holding up the line, so I feel like I just need to agree and get on the plane. “To say I am p***ed off is an understatement.” After boarding the flight, the woman became overcome with emotion over her new husband’s actions. “Within maybe five to 10 minutes of sitting there, trying to hold back tears because my husband left me alone on our flight during our honeymoon — and use my points for his upgrade no less, he starts to text me saying he feels anxiety over flying.” Instead of expressing sympathy, she decided to ignore his texts. “I stopped looking at my phone,” the wife said. Just one hour into the flight, her husband began looking for her in economy class. “He comes to the back of the plane to find me, offers me half of his business class breakfast and asks me why I was ignoring him... because he was scared and needed me to tell him it’d be okay since I am such an experienced flyer,” she explained. “I told him maybe he should have thought about that before leaving me alone before our honeymoon even really began.” “He gets angry, tells me that this may be the only time he gets to fly business class and he was giving me half his breakfast to make up for it so I could at least be supportive of his genuine fear.” When they landed in Mexico, she tried to just “move on and forget” about what her husband did so they could enjoy their honeymoon. “But he guilt tripped me about not comforting him via text before take off and now I am wondering if I am being unreasonable and should have just let him enjoy his time in business class and assure him it’d be okay?” she wondered. She asked the internet whether she was being the a**hole for not being supportive of her husband. Many jumped to the wife’s defence, with one suggesting, “Definitely not the a**hole. Tell your husband actions have consequences and since he wanted to be in business class without you, he gets to fly without you. The fact he did this on your honeymoon trip just makes it worse.” Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Two men charged over felling of iconic Sycamore Gap tree

Two men have been charged with cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in northern England. Daniel Graham, 38, and Adam Carruthers, 31, were charged with causing criminal damage to the tree and damaging Hadrian’s Wall, which was built by Emperor Hadrian in AD 122 to guard the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) added that they will appear in the Newcastle Magistrates Court on May 15. “There has been an ongoing investigation since the Sycamore Gap tree was cut down," said Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney, the Senior Investigation Officer on the case. “As a result of those inquiries, two men have now been charged. “We recognise the strength of feeling in the local community and further afield the felling has caused, however we would remind people to avoid speculation, including online, which could impact the ongoing case.” According to The Sun, the two men were arrested back in October and released on bail. The iconic tree became internationally famous when it was used for a scene in Kevin Costner's 1991 blockbuster film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The felling caused widespread <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/you-can-t-forgive-that-teen-arrested-after-felling-of-iconic-200-year-old-tree" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outrage</a> at the time, as police tried to find the culprit behind the "deliberate" act of vandalism. Efforts are currently underway to see if the tree can be regrown from the sycamore's stump, with The National Trust hoping that a third of the seeds and cuttings it collected from the tree could be planted later on. Image: Getty

Travel Trouble

What just happened to Bonza? Why new budget airlines always struggle in Australia

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-douglas-2932">Ian Douglas</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/seena-sarram-1469656">Seena Sarram</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a> The history of budget jet airlines in Australia is a long road <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/travel-news/grounded-five-of-australias-biggest-airline-failures-20221216-h28pzn.html">littered with broken dreams</a>. New entrants have consistently struggled to get a foothold. Low-cost carrier Bonza has just become the industry’s <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/bonza-flights-cancelled-as-aircraft-repossessed-20240430-p5fnjf">latest casualty</a>, entering voluntary administration on Tuesday after abruptly cancelling all flights. Losing the airline would be heartbreaking for the 24 regional Australian locations that were <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/domestic-airline-competition-report-february2024_0.pdf">not connected directly</a> by any other airline. It would also mean even less competition in a heavily concentrated domestic air travel market. Over 85% of routes are operated by just <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/domestic-airline-competition-report-february2024_0.pdf">three airline groups</a>. But Bonza hasn’t just fallen into this situation by chance. Strategic missteps likely played a key role from the very beginning. <h2>What went wrong</h2> First, running an airline is an expensive business – any cost savings airlines can find are extremely valuable. Bonza chose to enter the Australian market with a very small fleet of <a href="https://skybrary.aero/aircraft-family/b737-series">Boeing B737</a> jet aircraft. But these had no operating cost advantage over the B737s already flown by Qantas, Virgin and Rex. Bonza’s small fleet also lacked any scale advantage in scheduling aircraft or crew. Second, to sell tickets, Bonza adopted a radically different “<a href="https://flybonza.com/media/bonza-gets-wheels-up#:%7E:text=Bonza%20is%20the%20first%20airline,uniform%20including%20custom%20Bonza%20sneakers.">app first</a>” approach. The only place customers could search for and book tickets directly was the official Bonza app. But this meant potential customers using conventional search tools – such as search engines or booking websites – often couldn’t find Bonza flights. The fact Bonza <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/business/qld-business/gold-coast-airport-sweetheart-deals-raise-concern-for-bonza/news-story/5ecdfe749b7c8a636cfe740ee0359ba3">struggled</a> to gain traction on its routes to Gold Coast airport, which handles a sizeable 250,000 domestic passengers each month, underscores this issue with the company’s approach. And third, although it served a unique range of locations, Bonza’s flight schedule across its network was far from optimal. In some cases, routes were flown only once weekly, compared to much more frequent gateway city services on Rex and QantasLink. For European airlines like easyJet or Ryanair, less-than-daily flights to smaller tourist destinations might be viable. But these airlines have the scale and connectivity to offer customers alternative pathways across their networks. Unlike Bonza, small regional routes are not at the core of their business model. <h2>Making an airline succeed</h2> Bonza isn’t the first Australian budget carrier to fail, and likely won’t be the last. Why are so many new entrants doomed to fail? Making a jet airline succeed hinges on optimising three key factors – market scale, airport access, and geography. For would-be budget airlines, Australia offers a brutal starting ground on all three. Market scale <a href="https://www.icao.int/sustainability/Pages/Low-Cost-Carriers.aspx">Low-cost carrier</a> and ultra low-cost carrier airlines have successfully gained strong footholds in Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia. But these markets are orders of magnitude larger than Australia. The US, for example, offers airlines a market of <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/183600/population-of-metropolitan-areas-in-the-us/">large cities across a large area</a>. New York’s population is approaching 20 million, Chicago 9.6 million, Houston 7.1 million, and Miami 6.1 million. The population of the European Union is close to 450 million. And if you include the UK, there are over 30 cities in Europe with populations over 1 million. Australian carriers have only a handful of cities on that scale. Australia lacks both the population density of Europe, and the range of secondary airports that European low-cost carriers have leveraged to access nearby markets and to drive down operating costs. After more than a year of operation, Bonza had only achieved an overall market share of <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/domestic-airline-competition-report-february2024_0.pdf">about 2%</a>. Airport access Airport access is the next key barrier facing low-cost and ultra low-cost market entrants. The main routes between large Australian cities are all in a corridor along the east coast, and the largest flow into Sydney. Use of Sydney airport is heavily constrained, both by the incumbent operators who <a href="https://australianaviation.com.au/2023/07/sydney-slot-system-a-threat-to-bonza-owner-hints/">hold most of the slots</a>, and by regulations that artificially limit the flow of aircraft at peak times to just 80 movements (take-offs or landings) per hour. In contrast, London Heathrow, another constrained two-runway airport, delivers a capacity of <a href="https://www.caa.co.uk/media/dwfgyk53/estimating-the-congestion-premium-at-heathrow.pdf">88 movements per hour</a>. Completion of the new Western Sydney Airport will provide some relief from this capacity constraint. But it will not alter the fact Sydney Airport operates under an imposed constraint on operations. Geography Geography is the third constraint in Australia. Unlike Europe, the US, or Southeast Asia, most of our major cities are in a line on the east coast. There is no hub to connect our major cities with smaller regional points. Towns that are too distant for convenient rail or road links often have populations that are too small to support viable – let alone frequent – flights to the larger centres. Some regional routes are successfully serviced by small “<a href="https://nbaa.org/business-aviation/business-aircraft/turboprop-aircraft/">turboprop</a>” aircraft. Operating these incurs a higher cost per passenger than the passenger jets connecting the major cities. But it makes no sense to fly larger aircraft on these routes if the planes are half empty. <h2>A big loss for regional Australia</h2> The combination of Australia’s small population, the capacity constraints imposed on Sydney Airport, the presence of strong incumbent airlines, and our linear east coast market make new entry difficult. Virgin Blue occupied the space created by the collapse of Ansett. But Impulse, Tiger, Air Australia, Ozjet, and two versions of Compass were unsuccessful market entrants. Even Air New Zealand – which has the fleet, brand strength, and market access to support entering the market – chooses not to operate domestically in Australia. Understanding why new entrants fail offers little consolation to underserved regional towns in Australia. But given Bonza’s small footprint, capital city travellers looking for more competition on the major east coast routes will hardly notice a change.<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/228995/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-douglas-2932">Ian Douglas</a>, Honorary Senior Lecturer, UNSW Aviation., <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/seena-sarram-1469656">Seena Sarram</a>, Lawyer and Casual Academic, UNSW School of Aviation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a> Image credits: Bonza - PR Image 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/what-just-happened-to-bonza-why-new-budget-airlines-always-struggle-in-australia-228995">original article</a>. </div>

Travel Trouble

"A little bit steep": Jetstar passenger hit with "wild" excess baggage fee

A Jetstar passenger has been slapped with a "wild" excess baggage fee after her luggage was less than just one kilogram overweight. Monique McCreanor was flying from Melbourne to Sydney after competing in a fitness competition when she was hit with the unexpected fees. Travelling with only carry-on luggage, Ms. McCreanor said she made a mad dash to the airport to catch her flight, only to be stopped at the gate due to the weight of her bag. Because of the prizes she won at the competition, her bag was just 900g over the 7kg limit, and she was issued a $75 fine. Ms. McCreanor took to TikTok to share a warning with other travellers to triple check the weight of your bag, as even being over the limit by mere grams will set you back. “This isn’t a complaint, this is merely just warning you guys,” she said in the clip. “If you do fly with Jetstar on a domestic flight, and your bag is even 100g overweight, you’re going to get charged $75 at the gate for that excess luggage." “Now, this kind of sucks, because I’m like damn, I could have had 15kg in this bag to really make it worthwhile." “I got hit with $75, so just make sure are booking the extra checked baggage, it is better to be safe than sorry, because $75 is a little bit steep for just 900g overweight.” While her video quickly garnered thousands of views, many were left divided in the comments about her complaints. One person sided with the airline, saying, “No sorry, it clearly gives a weight allowance. You went over, you pay.” “Seriously it doesn’t matter who you are with, you will have to pay any way, they are the rules,” another added. Others were quick to empathise, sharing their own experience of encountering excess baggage fees. “They did this to me on my honeymoon... I was p****d,” one person said. Image credits: TikTok

Travel Trouble

"It loses its value": Calls for the Last Post to be canned from Anzac Day footy

A radio host has called for the Last Post to be canned from the majority of Anzac Day football games, saying it has lost its meaning over the years, leaving people with "bugle fatigue". An Anzac Day AFL match has taken place every year at the MCG on Anzac Day since 1995, with Collingwood and Essendon going head to head year after year. It was the brainchild of then Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy who had also served in the Australian Army during his playing days for Richmond. The game started as a one off-match, which quickly snowballed into an entire round of games, while the NRL also joined in and created their own Anzac Day matches. Traditionally, each game starts with a ceremony of recognition of our veterans and a performance of the Last Post. before the game kicks off. The addition of the several extra games, all which begin with the Last Post, prompted radio host Greg 'Marto' Martin from Brisbane's Triple M Breakfast with Marto, Margaux & Dan to call for The Last Post to be scrapped from all matches, except the annual fixture between Essendon and Collingwood. "Football has now turned [The Last Post] into a gimmick," he said. "Back in 1995 when Kevin Sheedy, the coach of Essendon, he said, 'Let's have an Anzac Day clash at the MCG,' I reckon it's the most… spine tingling three minutes or so." "97,000 at the MCG… not one person yelling out while that's being played and, the honour that they give to all serving soldiers and returned soldiers is quite extraordinary." "But now what's happened, as football always does, and I'm not just talking AFL I'm talking rugby league as well, they've taken a wonderful thing and they've gone, 'Oh that's good —'" Margaux interrupted saying: "How can we capitalise!" Marto continued, "So what's going to happen this week in all eight games of the AFL and all eight games of the rugby league… every single one of them will play this [The Last Post] and you'll get ANZAC - you'll get bugle fatigue." "We have to stop it somewhere." Margaux said, "It gets saturated, so it loses its value. They all think they are doing the right thing, but all they are doing is turning it into a mockery." The AFL has confirmed that all nine matches across round seven will hold special Anzac observance ceremonies ahead of each game, with AFL General Manager Commercial Peta Webster saying, "Anzac Day is one of our country's most important national occasions so I'd encourage all fans attending matches throughout the round to arrive early to soak up the atmosphere and pre-match formalities that will no doubt be another moving tribute to the sacrifices of our past and present service men and women." Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Tourist slapped with $225k bill after simple mistake

An American tourist has revealed the moment he was charged with a $US143k (AU$225k) bill after a short holiday to Switzerland. Rene Remund and his wife Linda went on the trip last September. Prior to their travels, Remund made sure to inform his mobile phone provider, T-Mobile, that he was going overseas and as a customer of 30 years, he was told he was “covered”. So, with no worries at all, the tourist shared photos of his moments in the Swiss countryside with friends and family via photo messages. Imagine his surprise when he came home to a six-figure bill, after he racked up thousands and thousands of dollars in daily roaming costs. “I get this T-Mobile bill and it doesn’t bother me very much because I was reading $143,” he explained, adding it wasn’t until he went to pay the bill that he realised a few more zeros were involved. “I look at the bill and I say, ‘excuse me’,” he said. “$143,000 … are you guys crazy?” According to the bill, Remund had racked up 9.5 gigabytes of data while in Europe, which cost him thousands of dollars each day. While it wasn't a huge amount of data, not being covered by roaming fees will cause a user to run up a huge bill very quickly. “I called [T-Mobile] and the girl put me on hold for a while,” he explained. “She said let me check this out and I’ll get back to you. She gets back and says, yeah this is a good bill. “I said, ‘what do you mean it’s a good bill?’ And she says ‘well, this is what you owe’. “I said ‘you’re kidding me … you’re crazy’.” After confirming that his bill was in fact AU$225,000, Remund hired a lawyer to argue the fact that he was covered for international roaming. His lawyer issued a letter to the president of T-Mobile, and they only received a reply a few days ago. The letter from T-Mobile allegedly said that the service provider was “sorry” for the charges, and that Remund would receive a “credit” to eliminate the entire bill. In an email shared to local media Scripps News Tampa, the mobile phone provider said that customers should always “check the travel features of their plan, such as international data roaming, before departing”. “If a customer is on an older plan that doesn’t include international roaming for data and calling, they’ll need to make sure they’re using aeroplane mode and wi-fi when using data to be certain the device doesn’t connect to an international network.” <em style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #323338; font-family: Figtree, Roboto, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;">Images: ABC Action News

Travel Trouble

The worst country for pickpockets revealed

When it comes to travelling abroad, there are always different rules to abide by in order to have a stress-free holiday experience. Common sense is a huge key player in staying safe while travelling, with holiday goers often taking extra precautions to keep themselves and their belongings safe in foreign countries. However, there will always be sneaky people who prey on tourists, with these pickpockets having the power to turn a holiday potentially disastrous. While lots of savvy travellers will share their stories about a particular city and a close call they encountered on their journeys, a new survey has proven which European cities are the worst for pickpocketing. Travel insurance experts at <a href="https://www.quotezone.co.uk/presszone/european-pickpocketing-index-top-tourist-destinations-to-watch-out-for">Quotezone</a> have compiled a list of the top 10 cities tourists (as well as locals) are likely to be pickpocketed while travelling around Europe, based on customer feedback and complaints. Italy has come in at the top spot, with the major cities reporting the biggest number of theft complaints in comparison to any other European countries. Tourists named hotspots such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon in Rome, as well as the Duomo di Milano in Milan and the Gallerie Degli Uffizi in Florence as places they were targeted by pickpockets. Coming in at second place was France, with major tourist hotspots in Paris all being named as places to be wary of pickpockets. Greg Wilson, Founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk, said that unfortunately this new research shows that thousands of people have complained about pickpockets in Europe while experiencing the best that European holiday destinations have to offer. He said, “Theft can happen anywhere and tourist hotspots are convenient places for criminals to target holidaymakers’ wallets and purses whilst they are busy taking in the sites.” “It is essential always to remain vigilant, leave valuables, like expensive jewellery, in a safe in the hotel and always travel with a secure cross-body bag with zips to secure phones and wallets or even a money belt.” Check out the entire top ten list of destinations with the highest pickpocketing rates below. 10. Poland 9. Ireland 8. Turkey 7. Portugal 6. Spain 5. Greece 4. Germany 3. The Netherlands 2. France 1. Italy Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Allan Border's desperate plea to PM

Allan Border has joined Parkinson’s Australia chief executive Olivia Nassaris in a plea for the Federal Government to provide more funding and research into the condition. The 68-year-old cricket legend is one of over 150,000 Australians living with Parkinson’s, after being diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder back in 2016. A new report from the organisation revealed that there are 19,500 new cases every year, with one Australian diagnosed with the condition every 27 minutes. “A lot of people know the disease but they don’t know the impact that it has — 150,000 people in Australia have the disease, it does present in different ways,” Border said. “When I was told I was suffering, my first image was of (boxer) Muhammad Ali and the Olympic torch, I just thought people suffered from a tremor. “But there’s about 100,000 different ways of it presenting.” Border joined the Parkinson’s Australia chief executive on April 11 to raise awareness for World Parkinson’s Day. Nassaris estimated that the number of Australians impacted by Parkinson’s would almost triple by 2050. “At the moment we don’t have a cause or cure, so it is frightening that a disease like this is going to almost triple in numbers,” she said. Responding to the cricketer’s plea, the Prime Minister described Border as a “great Australian” and hinted at a potential boost to government support in providing more resources into the condition. “Our heart goes out to him,” the PM said on Thursday. “I will have a word with the Health Minister about what more we can do. We have contributed over $100m to research into Parkinson’s. “There’s also a pilot program for nurses about people suffering from Parkinson’s at the moment. There’s some $6.5m being used for that pilot program. We want to wait and see what the assessment of that is.” Images: Getty

Caring

"Height of selfishness": Photo at iconic beach sparks debate over etiquette

A photo taken at Bronte Beach has sparked the age old debate over whether picnickers should be allowed to reserve picnic tables by dumping their stuff on them. The image taken at one of Sydney's most popular beaches, showed two picnic tables under the same hut with table clothes and bags on them, but there was no human in sight. “There were at least half a dozen of these tables ‘reserved’ for a couple of hours on Sunday morning from very early in the day,” one annoyed beachgoer wrote on Reddit. “We got there at 7am and left a few hours later. No one was using the tables the entire time we were there.” The post has received hundreds of comments from other annoyed picnickers, with one going as far as calling it "unAustralian". “It's not acceptable,” one person said. “You can reserve it by sitting there yourself, but not by leaving an item.” “Yes, you should be actually using it, not leaving your s**t on there to reserve it for later,” another added. “It's the height of selfishness.” “Move their stuff, move yourself in, and say, ‘it was like this when I got here’,” one commenter suggested. “All I see is a free tablecloth and free bag,” another quipped. However, a few others pointed out that there were other available seats, and that there are unspoken rules around reserving picnic spots. "In this instance, it’s probably okay,” one wrote. “The back table is free, go grab it.” "As long as there’s people there minding the tables, not just throwing a bunch of tablecloths down and walking off, I’m fine with it,” another added. “First come first served.” “If I was bringing a few things from the car I might do this,” a third commented. “Like dropping off the tablecloth and backpack before grabbing the esky etc. But I'd maintain line of sight. Anything else isn't justified in my opinion.” A spokesperson for Waverly Council have asked people to "refrain from reserving tables and always have a back up plan". “Waverley is the second-most densely populated local government area in Australia outside of the City of Sydney, and we attract millions of visitors every year, so our recreational spaces are at a premium," the spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia. “On weekends and at other peak times, picnic tables and barbecues do invariably fill up. So we ask people to share our spaces so that everyone can have a turn.” Images: Reddit

Travel Trouble

Outraged Qantas flyer captures "absolutely unacceptable" act

Qantas staff have been condemned for leaving a pet crate abandoned on a Sydney tarmac in torrential rain. An outraged passenger captured the moment she saw the pet carrier, and a trolley full of suitcases, left in the rain at Sydney Airport on Friday, and shared it to social media. Sydney was hit with heavy rain on Friday, with some parts of New South Wales recording a month's worth of rainfall within a single day. After passengers had been loaded onto the Qantas aircraft, the concerned traveller noticed the animal had been abandoned in the rain. "Unfortunately the weather was unavoidable, but this luggage was left out in the open in Sydney for 30 mins and the animals for 15 minutes — one facing the rain," the furious passenger wrote on Facebook. Travellers on the same flight were quick to comment on the woman's post, saying their luggage had arrived soaking wet. "[I was on] on same flight, my luggage came home wet. Thinking a cover in these conditions would be nice," they wrote. Others expressed their concerns for the animal left in the crate in the rain, saying it was "animal abuse" to leave a furry friend in those conditions. "Those poor fur babies," one person wrote. "I'd report this if I saw it. Should have brought this to the attention of ground crew ASAP." A third added, "I'm unimpressed by the luggage but those pet carriers out there is absolutely unacceptable. I'd be fuming if my boy was stuck on the tarmac in a cage in torrential rain, making an already stressful situation even worse." "Disgusting to leave those fur babies out in the rain. Almost animal abuse," another said. A spokesperson from Qantas told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/qantas-photo-catches-airline-in-unacceptable-act-id-be-fuming-222149288.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a> that they are investigating the incident and that the airline "takes the safety and welfare of pets travelling with us very seriously". Image credits: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Dad kicked off Jetstar flight for breaking cardinal rule

A dad has been kicked off a Jetstar flight after snapping a picture of his family boarding the plane from the tarmac. Jimmy Mitchell was with his wife Pauline and their two children as they went to board their flight from Sydney to Brisbane, where they were embarking on a cruise. As the family were boarding the plane from the tarmac, Jimmy quickly took a picture of his kids and his wife who were walking up the rear stairs of the plane. According to Jimmy, who is a seasoned traveller, he didn't hear an announcement be made that passengers were prohibited from taking photos on the tarmac because the plane was refuelling. He was eventually able to board the flight after being confronted by cabin crew, but described the debacle as “one of the most traumatic experiences” he’s had. In a viral TikTok, he alleged that while he was taking the photo, a cabin crew member called him an “idiot”. He said that when she tried to get his attention to put the device away it left him embarrassed and shocked. “This is the worst experience I’ve ever had flying,” he said in the clip. “I try and get on the plane, I take a photo of my kids as they get on the plane, in flight mode, and the lady calls me an idiot,” he said. After he confronted the staff member, Mr Mitchell claims he was told he won’t be allowed to board the flight. “I turned around in disbelief because I was half way up the stairs at this point. I basically stormed over to her and I was like, ‘Are you serious? What did you just call me?’ “She was basically saying ‘you can’t take photos on the tarmac, you can’t take photos on the tarmac’.” The pair allegedly went back and forth before the father-of-two, known for his travel content, was rejected from boarding the plane. “If she had literally just said anything else, like ‘get off your phone’, I would have done it.” “Apparently, they made an announcement, but I had noise cancelling headphones, Pauline (wife) told me after the fact – I didn’t hear it, there was no notifications about it, there was no signage, no nothing." “All she had to do was say something constructive. ‘Get off your phone,’ ‘you can’t have your phone out’ and I would have been like ‘sorry’, but she screams across the tarmac calling me an idiot.” “I can see how she maybe felt I was being intimidating because I am a big guy and I am a loud guy. She turns around to me and goes ‘you almost assaulted me, get off the tarmac, you’re not getting on this plane’.” Mr Mitchell then walked back inside the terminal where he awaited further instructions, and was later able to board the flight “after cooler heads prevailed” but wants the airline to apologise to him and his family over the “stressful” situation. “The way they treated Pauline and the kids and not allowing me to communicate with them what was going on, was completely unacceptable,” he said. The debacle has sparked a huge debate on his TikTok and Instagram over who is in the wrong. “Wow … that’s insane! So sorry that happened to you!” one person wrote. “Take it further and don’t let them get away with what they have done,” a second person said. However, others were quick to comment that as a seasoned traveller, Jimmy should've been well versed in the rules of not taking photos on the tarmac. Image credits: TikTok

Travel Trouble

Politicians slam Albanese's "hypocritical" private jet use

Anthony Albanese has been urged to consider his carbon footprint after his controversial usage of a private jet. A group of independent MPs have asked the Prime Minister to offset his carbon usage after it was revealed that he and two other ministers chartered two private planes to attend the same clean energy event in the NSW Hunter Valley. Albanese was joined by Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic to fly to the region from Canberra on Thursday to announce a $1bn to support Australian manufacturing in solar technology. Teal MP Zali Steggall urged the leaders to offset their carbon emissions from the short journey when it was revealed that the three men flew separately in two separate Royal Australian Air Force jets. “I certainly hope they were offsetting the emissions of those two jets with companies, like Green fleet and other places like that where you can offset the emissions of your travel,” Ms Stegall told Sunrise. “I certainly hope and I call on the Minister for Climate Change to do that. Look, as a lowly independent, we don’t get the luxuries of flying in the ADF jets.” Private jets have a dramatically higher carbon footprint per passenger than commercial planes, with the average private jet emitting two tonnes of carbon an hour. Mr Bowen defended the use of the planes, saying the use of two private jets was a decision made by the airforce for safety reasons. “The Prime Minister has a large jet available to him and that would normally be what we take,” he said on Monday. “The runway at Scone wasn’t strong enough to take a large jet so the air force … decided for two jets.” Opposition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie said the government should consider “jet pooling” and should make a conscious effort to cut down on the harmful use of private jets, which emit more carbon per passenger than commercial planes. “I fail to see why these guys, when they’re leaving from the same place on the same day, within 30 minutes of each other, couldn’t have either shared the plane or indeed, some of them, if they couldn’t all fit, use the commercial options that were available to them to fly direct from Canberra to Newcastle to make the announcement,” Senator McKenzie said. “It’s quite incredible.” Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

"Worst experience of our lives": Aussies break silence after being stranded by cruise ship

An Australian couple have spoken out about how their dream holiday turned into a nightmare after they were abandoned by their cruise ship and left stranded in Africa. Violetta and Doug Sanders were two of eight travellers on the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship who took off on a private tour not organised by the cruise while they were docked on the small African island of São Tomé. After their <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/the-key-decision-that-led-to-cruise-passengers-being-abandoned-by-ship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">private tour ran late</a>, the Aussie pensioners and their fellow travellers were unable to rejoin the cruise as the ship was ready to disembark from the port, and were left stranded. Doug and Violetta are still attempting to rejoin the cruise in Senegal to be reunited with valuables such as their passports to finish out their journey. The couple spoke to Sunrise on Wednesday, detailing their nightmarish experience in the foreign country. “It’s been the worst experience of our lives to be abandoned like that in a strange country, can’t speak the language — Portuguese or an African (language),” Violeta said. “We have no money, our credit cards aren’t accepted.” The group of stranded travellers have been racing through six African countries to get to where the ship is docking in Senegal in time, but US travellers Jill and Jay Campbell have cast doubt on whether they will re-board the ship. “We believe that it was a basic duty of care that they have forgotten about — although there are a set of rules, they have followed them too rigidly,” Jill told US media overnight. The group, which included four elderly people, a pregnant woman, a quadriplegic and a person with a heart condition, were set to rejoin the ship last Sunday in The Gambia, however, low-tide meant the ship couldn’t dock at the African port. The Campbells have been using their credit card to look after the entire group, spending more than $5,000 USD so far. Norwegian Cruise Lines has said it is up to guests to be back on time. “Guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time, which is communicated broadly over the ship’s intercom, in the daily communication and posted just before exiting the vessel,” it said. The cruise line later said it was in contact with passengers and had been “working closely with authorities” to allow the guests to re-join the ship. Image credits: Sunrise

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Adorable Collie sells for world record-breaking price

"Doesn't add up": New theory emerges in Perth brothers' deaths

World's most disappointing tourist hotspots revealed

Qantas apologises after rejecting cancer patient's refund request

3 common travel illnesses (and how to avoid them)

Tragic new details emerge over Aussie brothers missing in Mexico

Elderly couple left stranded by cruise ship

“Selfish” husband leaves wife behind for first class upgrade on their honeymoon

Two men charged over felling of iconic Sycamore Gap tree

What just happened to Bonza? Why new budget airlines always struggle in Australia

"A little bit steep": Jetstar passenger hit with "wild" excess baggage fee

"It loses its value": Calls for the Last Post to be canned from Anzac Day footy

Tourist slapped with $225k bill after simple mistake

The worst country for pickpockets revealed

Allan Border's desperate plea to PM

"Height of selfishness": Photo at iconic beach sparks debate over etiquette

Outraged Qantas flyer captures "absolutely unacceptable" act

Dad kicked off Jetstar flight for breaking cardinal rule

Politicians slam Albanese's "hypocritical" private jet use

"Worst experience of our lives": Aussies break silence after being stranded by cruise ship

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Adorable Collie sells for world record-breaking price

"Doesn't add up": New theory emerges in Perth brothers' deaths

World's most disappointing tourist hotspots revealed

Qantas apologises after rejecting cancer patient's refund request

3 common travel illnesses (and how to avoid them)

Tragic new details emerge over Aussie brothers missing in Mexico

Elderly couple left stranded by cruise ship

“Selfish” husband leaves wife behind for first class upgrade on their honeymoon

Two men charged over felling of iconic Sycamore Gap tree

What just happened to Bonza? Why new budget airlines always struggle in Australia

"A little bit steep": Jetstar passenger hit with "wild" excess baggage fee

"It loses its value": Calls for the Last Post to be canned from Anzac Day footy

Tourist slapped with $225k bill after simple mistake

The worst country for pickpockets revealed

Allan Border's desperate plea to PM

"Height of selfishness": Photo at iconic beach sparks debate over etiquette

Outraged Qantas flyer captures "absolutely unacceptable" act

Dad kicked off Jetstar flight for breaking cardinal rule

Politicians slam Albanese's "hypocritical" private jet use

"Worst experience of our lives": Aussies break silence after being stranded by cruise ship

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