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Passengers on cancelled flights to be compensated under new reforms

Plane passengers could soon be entitled to compensation or refunds for delayed or cancelled flights in Australia. The long-awaited Aviation White Paper will be handed down this morning, as part of the federal government's crackdown on the aviation sector. The white paper makes 56 recommendations, including the the establishment of an Aviation Industry Ombudsman Scheme, which will have the authority to make it compulsory for airlines to provide support to passengers and give travellers more rights. The Aviation Industry Ombudsman Scheme will also be able to refer to allegations of misconduct for investigation and enforcement. It will also introduce a new "Charter of Rights" entitling airline customers to refunds for flights that are disrupted, cancelled, or unreasonably delayed. Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the changes were critical to ensure that passenger had better experiences in the air, and will provide them with a baseline for the services they can expect on flights. "The aviation customer experience has deteriorated post-COVID, with an urgent need to better protect the rights of the travelling public," she said. She added that Australians were often not being dealt with fairly by airlines. "The bottom line is if people don't get the service that they are expecting, then customers deserve to get their money back or they deserve to get an equivalent service," she said. "And that's really not what's been happening when it comes to the consumer space." Under the Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme, airlines will also have to "show cause" and provide a valid reason why a flight has been delayed or cancelled, and the ombudsperson has the right to request additional information. Airlines will also be required to provide support to people to make alternative travel arrangements. As part of its white paper, the government will also establish new minimum standards for airlines to make their services more accessible to those with disabilities. Legislation to establish the aviation ombuds office will be introduced next year, but the government plans to appoint an interim ombudsperson. The scheme is expected to be fully implemented in 2026. Image: Shutterstock

Legal

If Australia had an aviation ombudsman, passengers could get compensation for cancelled flights

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/justin-wastnage-489752">Justin Wastnage</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a> The financial difficulties of <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-02/rex-airlines-staff-notified-of-termination/104172020">Rex Airlines</a>, coming so soon after the bankruptcy of <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-26/bonza-directors-accused-of-trading-while-insolvent/104022496">Bonza</a>, have brought into sharp focus one of the federal government’s key priorities for aviation: enhancing passenger rights. In each case, passengers were left with tickets for flights that did not fly. In the case of Rex, tickets were honoured by rivals Virgin Australia and Qantas, possibly trying to recapture the small toehold Rex had established in the Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne golden triangle. The Bonza story was more complex as the fledgling airline, which collapsed in May, had sought to exploit under-serviced routes to smaller leisure-based cities including Maroochydore and Port Macquarie. In many cases, passengers were left out-of-pocket and stranded. <h2>Support for an ombudsman</h2> These failures will have emboldened the federal government’s plans to introduce stronger passenger protections and an airline ombudsman. The release of its <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-white-paper">policy white paper</a> is imminent. The paper covers aviation issues including competition between airports and airlines, the sector’s environmental impact and better mechanisms for consultation. After years of opposition, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com.au/article/qantas-and-virgin-change-tune-on-aviation-ombudsman-ahead-of-white-paper-release/">Qantas and Virgin quietly fell in behind the idea in May</a>, signalling a deal is close to being announced. The ombudsman is designed to protect consumer rights in what is often monopolistic or quasi-monopolistic operating environments. With the exception of residents of southeast Queensland and the western suburbs of Melbourne, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0967070X18302063">most Australians only have one airport from which to fly.</a> This, coupled with an effective airline duopoly, can lead to higher prices and poorer service for consumers, the <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Airline%20competition%20in%20Australia%20-%20June%202023%20report.pdf">Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC)</a> has argued. The ACCC has been calling for better passenger rights for more than a decade. But its calls grew louder after it fined Qantas <a href="https://theconversation.com/qantas-has-finally-settled-its-ghost-flights-lawsuit-for-120-million-whats-next-229368">A$120 million for selling “ghost” flights in May</a>. Passengers did receive refunds, but the process was not easy compared to many overseas jurisdictions where compensation is automatic and based on distance travelled. Australia is rare among developed countries for not having automatic compensation if a flight is cancelled or delayed. <h2>The EU model</h2> The leader in air passenger rights, as in many areas of consumer protection, is the European Union. <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/261/oj">The EU Passenger Rights regulation</a> is 20 years old and now also applies to rail and bus passengers. The regulation favours the passenger and awards compensation <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/ec-regulation-261-2004/">of up to €600 (almost A$1,000) for delays or cancellations</a>. There are clauses for when a delay is unavoidable, but generally airlines have now built the scheme into their costs of doing business. The scheme is well publicised and in 2022, about <a href="https://schengen.news/8-million-passengers-affected-by-flight-cancellations-airport-strikes-are-eligible-for-compensation-of-up-to-e600/">eight million passengers were eligible for refunds</a>. Air passenger rights in the UK continued in the EU mould after Brexit and were even strengthened. But in a 2023 review into the UK scheme, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reforming-aviation-consumer-policy-protecting-air-passenger-rights/outcome/response-to-the-aviation-consumer-policy-reform-consultation#chapter-3-compensation-for-delays-and-cancellations">some airlines argued</a> “private insurance was a better option for some passengers”, particularly those with disabilities. The same reasoning led to the removal of Australia’s previous consumer protection scheme for airline passengers, the <a href="https://www.travelmanagers.com.au/peaceofmind/#:%7E:text=The%20Travel%20Compensation%20Fund%20continued,and%20until%2030%20June%202014.">Travel Compensation Fund</a>, which refunded customers when airlines or travel agencies went bankrupt. The scheme was ended under the Abbott government in June 2014, with travellers told instead to take out their own travel insurance. Labor is expected to reintroduce an element of corporate responsibility for airline delays, not least since Brazil, Canada and Türkiye have also followed the EU’s lead. Brazil’s scheme is particularly generous, with up to R7,500 (A$1,950) available to passengers who have to pay for last minute accommodation if their flight is cancelled. Lawmakers there countered claims by airlines that low cost airline passengers could stay in cheaper hotels, by applying the compensation uniformly, regardless of travel class. <h2>Popular with voters</h2> Air passenger rights can be a vote winner, too. Before he withdrew his bid for reelection, US President Joe Biden trumpeted the <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-harris-administration-announces-final-rule-requiring-automatic-refunds-airline">automatic airline compensation scheme</a> the US Department for Transportation will bring in this year. Until now, airline compensation was mandated by the states without coordinated processes meaning some airlines used vouchers, some credits and a few cash to compensate customers. Despite this, about <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-harris-administration-announces-final-rule-requiring-automatic-refunds-airline">US$3 billion (A$4.6 billion)</a> in refunds have been issued to US passengers since 2020, including more than US$600 million to Southwest Airlines passengers alone. This was due to a serious scheduling crisis which forced the low-cost carrier to cancel almost 60% of its flights in the 2022 summer. By contrast, in Australia, air passengers have only had basic protections under <a href="https://consumer.gov.au/australian-consumer-law/legislation">consumer rights law</a> since deregulation in 2002. There is no guarantee of a seat or even flight the consumer purchased. This has led consumer advocates including <a href="https://www.choice.com.au/consumer-advocacy/policy/policy-submissions/2023/november/aviation-green-paper">Choice</a> to support calls for an airline ombudsman and automatic delay and cancellation compensation.<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/235679/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/justin-wastnage-489752">Justin Wastnage</a>, Adjunct Industry Fellow, Griffith Institute for Tourism, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-australia-had-an-aviation-ombudsman-passengers-could-get-compensation-for-cancelled-flights-235679">original article</a>. </div>

Travel Trouble

Singapore Airlines offers huge compensation to turbulence victims

Singapore Airlines has offered compensation to passengers who were on board the SQ321 flight, that encountered deadly turbulence last month. One man died of a heart attack and a dozen others were <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/victim-identified-after-plane-hits-deadly-turbulence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">injured </a>when the flight from London to Singapore experienced sudden and extreme turbulence while flying over Myanmar. The flight carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing, where the injured were treated, with some suffering spinal, brain and skull injuries. In a recent statement, the airline said that they will offer anyone injured on the flight from US$10,000 (AU $15,150) in compensation. "For passengers who sustained minor injuries from the incident, we have offered US$10,000 [$15,150] in compensation," they said. "For those who sustained more serious injuries from the incident, we have invited them to discuss a compensation offer." The airline said they sent out the compensation offers on June 10. "Passengers medically assessed as having sustained serious injuries, requiring long-term medical care, and requesting financial assistance are offered an advance payment of US$25,000 to address their immediate needs," the compensation offer read. They will also provide full refunds of the air fare to all passengers who were on flight SQ321, regardless of their injuries. All passengers were also provided AU$1,120 for their expenses in Bangkok. "SIA has also been covering the medical expenses of the injured passengers, and arranged for their family members and loved ones to fly up to Bangkok where requested," the airline said. Under international regulations, airlines must offer compensation when passengers are injured or die on a plane. Director of Carter Capner Law, Peter Carter, who is representing passengers on the flight, said all passengers should seek legal advice before signing anything with the airline. "I doubt there is anyone on the aircraft who did not suffer an injury one way or the other. The insurer should clarify that the $10,000 offer covers all passengers including those who endured the terror of the moment but were fortunate to escape physical injury," he told ABC News. "Those with any sort of injury should exercise extreme care and should be evaluated by their own medical specialists to determine how this accident might still affect them." Image: Andrew Davies/X

Travel Trouble

The shocking amount of compensation awarded to the Abdallah family

The Abdallah family have been awarded a tiny amount of compensation, four years after the deaths of three young kids. In February 2020, Samuel William Davidson was driving in the Sydney suburb of Oatlands when he struck a group of four kids, killing Abdallah children Antony, 13, Angelina, 12 and Sienna Abdallah, 9, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11. Now, four years on, father Danny and mother Leila have won a payout from Davidson totalling a mere $90,000. The NSW District Court ordering Davidson pay $60,000, plus costs, to Abdallah's three surviving children, Liana, Alex and Michael. Mr Abdallah sued Mr Davidson last year seeking payment for ongoing trauma to Liana, who was injured but survived the catastrophic accident, and his sons who suffered the psychological trauma of losing their siblings. The court order, obtained by <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13234123/Abdallah-family-compensation-Oatlands-crash.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a>, said that the net sum for three children was to be paid to the NSW Trustee and Guardian for investment until each of them turns 18 years old. Following the deadly crash, Samuel William Davidson, who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of the incident, was sentenced in 2021 to 28 years' jail with a non-parole period of 21 years, which was reduced on appeal last year to a maximum of 20 years with a minimum of 15 years. Mr Abdallah's court action against Davidson, who will be in prison until at least 2035, is believed to have been lodged against the driver's insurance company which will make the payout. Image credits: Facebook

Legal

Dad awarded compensation after developing heart issue from mandatory vaccine

An Adelaide father is set to receive hefty compensation after a mandatory Covid jab left him with a debilitating health condition. In 2021 at the height of the Covid pandemic in Australia, 44-year-old Daniel Shepherd was required to receive tow Covid vaccinations, due to his hands on role at an aged care facility. After having two Pfizer vaccines, he suffered some adverse effects, but dismissed his symptoms as nothing serious. In the months after, Shepherd was required to have a booster shot when he began a new job with the Department of Child Protection in October of the same year. In January 2022, the father was told if we wanted to keep his job as a health and childcare worker, he needed to have the jab. After eventually agreeing to the booster, Shepherd has his third dose of Pfizer in late February 2022, but began suffering from chest pains just hours later. "It felt like someone had their knee right on my chest," he told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/adelaide-news-covid-vaccine-man-to-get-government-compensation-after-developing-heart-condition/55cc0fbf-4631-4cf0-b395-8c8b6c71a43f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">9News.</a> The pain kept getting worse until he was rushed to hospital a few weeks later when he thought he was having a heart attack. There he was diagnosed with post-vaccine pericarditis: an inflammation of the membrane around the heart. His illness meant he was unable to work full time, and also meant he was unable to keep up with his young son. "Even today with just mild exertion [I get] chest pains and then it's followed by fatigue, like severe fatigue," Shepard said. "It's heartbreaking to have to say 'sorry buddy, daddy's tired'." Mr Shepherd decided to take legal action after he was unable to work, launching a workers compensation claim against the government. In a landmark ruling in mid-January, the South Australian Employment Tribunal agreed to pay weekly compensation and medical bills to Shepherd. Doctors were unanimous in his case that the vaccine was the cause of his inability to work, but the government argued emergency directions that were in place at the time trumped the laws around workplace injury. Pericarditis is meant to clear within a few months, but Shepherd's symptoms have plagued him for almost two years. Image credits: 9News

Legal

Aussie actress in catastrophic bus crash offered $16 voucher as compensation

An Aussie tourist left injured and stranded after a fatal bus crash in southern Italy has claimed the travel company only offered her a meal voucher for the inconvenience. Australian actress Sinead Curry, who has starred in TV shows like The Haunting of Nancy Drew and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, said that nine hours following the crash, the European bus company offered her a $16 meal voucher for her troubles. Curry and partner Salma Salah, both from Sydney, boarded the FlixBus in the city of Bari on June 3 for the long journey to the Northern city of Bologna with a transfer to Rome. However, two hours into the trip Curry said the “bus hit something”. “We were all asleep, it went airborne and spun around a bunch of times,” she said in a TikTok video posted the following day, showing her in hospital wearing a neck brace. Curry told followers the bus was “flung around like in a blender” before it landed down by an embankment, which she claimed was “on the other side of the road”. “Several cars then hit the bus moving the bus closer and closer to the side of the road,” Curry explained in her video. Italian and German media reported the bus crash occurred near the town of Avellino, approximately 50km east of the southwest city of Naples. Five cars were caught up in the accident and local emergency services were quoted as saying the “lifeless body of a man was found” along with 14 people sustaining injuries. Curry said there were 38 people on the bus, including another Aussie woman called “Caity”, who suffered a broken collarbone. After Curry was discharged from the hospital, fearing her nose was broken but was assured it was not, she made another video emphasising how she felt abandoned by the bus company. “FlixBus none of your numbers are working,” an emotional Curry urged. “They ring out and they hang up on us. We cannot get any information from FlixBus, we cannot get our luggage back. “They offered us by text a 10 euro ($16) meal replacement voucher for the inconvenience. “There are a bunch of people here who nearly died we don't have any information.” Curry later claimed FlixBus even blocked her on social media. “We just want some information and some help,” she explained, complaining that she was still waiting on her luggage to be returned. FlixBus issued a statement claiming “a support line and email” was provided to all passengers and their families following the incident. "Outbound calls were made to passengers who had registered their mobile numbers, and emails were sent to passengers with instructions,” the bus company said. “At all times, the safety of its passengers and drivers is of highest priority to FlixBus.” Two days following the incident Curry received her luggage and was in Rome after an emergency shuttle had been deployed for stranded passengers. However, she said that as they arrived in Rome, passengers were finding “shrapnel” from the crash in their bodies and she had gotten a piece out of herself. On June 5 Curry took to TikTok again, saying she and her partner were grateful to be “safe and in Rome”. Although safe, she did note that they were heading to the hospital to get checked again as she was suffering from “very severe headaches” and had intense pain in her jaw. Curry then thanked the “heroes” in Italian fire and rescue, who she said took her and her partner in and gave them pasta, crackers, water and a change of clothes. She said FlixBus had rung her twice at a later date to tell the couple to keep receipts for a full refund. Curry jetted to Europe for her dream holiday but given the incident, she and her partner are dumping their Italian plans to recuperate in Rome. “We are so grateful to be alive please hold your loved ones close,” she said. Image credit: TikTok

Legal

“How do you pay someone for 20 years?”: Folbigg’s big compensation question

Since her <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/kathleen-folbigg-pardoned-after-20-years-behind-bars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">release from prison</a>, Kathleen Folbigg has been the centre of a media frenzy, with networks battling it out to secure an exclusive tell-all interview. Following a fierce bidding war, Seven Network has won the rights over Nine for the interview believed to have cost more than $400,000. A source from Seven said the exclusive interview will be aired on the Sunday evening current affairs show, 7News Spotlight. Others have proposed the deal has cost the network close to $1 million. The deal could see her on the list of select few Australians awarded seven-figure sums in light of their wrongful convictions, including Linda Chamberlain. Chamberlain’s lawyer Stuart Tipple said Folbigg needs to be declared innocent and be given compensation for her years in prison, noting she had a solid case. “The sad thing is all she can get is money, how do you pay someone for 20 years?” he said. “And also, I think we need to reflect on an injustice just doesn’t affect Kathleen. “I feel tonight very much for her husband and the father of those children and the injustice that just affects so many people, so many lives. “I feel very, very badly for him tonight and I just think of the whole process of just how harmful it is to them and to our society and our confidence in the whole judicial system.” Robyn Blewer, director of the Griffith University Innocence Project, noted two recent cases to illustrate how Folbigg could be compensated for her 7,300 days in jail. West Australian man Scott Austic received $1.3 million in May 2023 on top of an earlier payment of $250,000 after serving nearly 13 years for murdering his pregnant secret lover. He had sought $8.5 million after being acquitted on appeal in 2020. Both payments were ex gratis, unlike David Eastman’s award of $7 million in damages by the ACT Supreme Court in 2019. Eastman served almost 19 years over the 1989 shooting murder of federal police assistance commissioner Colin Winchester, where he was acquitted at a second trial. "The difference is it was in ACT which has a human rights act and under that, there is an entitlement for compensation under human rights," Dr Blewer told AAP. "Mr Eastman was then able to sue because there was a right to compensation. "The court assessed his damages in the same way they would a tort ... the court went through every time he was injured.” Like Austic, Chamberlain was awarded an ex grata or grace payment. She was awarded $1.3 million in 1992 which now equates to about $3 million. Folbigg will need specific legal advice about whether a civil claim is possible due to NSW lacking a human rights act like that of the ACT. Dr Blewer said she could become reliant on what the government was willing to pay. "Twenty years is a substantial amount of time lost," she said. "It might depend on the good grace of the NSW government." No further steps can be taken until Folbigg’s lawyers obtain the final report of former Chief Justice Tom Bathurst. An application to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal to quash her convictions will likely follow. Image credit: Facebook / Instagram

Legal

Airline sends woman 13 brand new suitcases as compensation

A woman has been left shocked and confused after being sent 13 brand new suitcases as compensation. Giséle Rochefort was flying with Delta Airlines in the US when her luggage was badly damaged on her flight. "Delta destroyed my suitcase. I filed a claim, they agreed to replace it," Rochefort explained in a now-viral TikTok video. Giséle’s suitcase had some of the fabric ripped off the cover, while one of the wheels had been completely knocked off. Soon after filing her claim with the airline, Rochefort received a notification that she had been issued a replacement for her luggage and it was ready to be picked up. However, she was greeted with 13 boxes, each one containing a new suitcase in varying sizes and designs: all the same brand of her destroyed luggage. <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7205751910886837547&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40gisele_rochefort%2Fvideo%2F7205751910886837547%3Fq%3DGis%25C3%25A9le%2520Rochefort%26t%3D1678421013573&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F0c0dca39b4c14fafa59759c9312e38ad%3Fx-expires%3D1678442400%26x-signature%3DnoEZd10erItVG8BuGildr1uEaAk%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> "I was crying laughing, It felt like an April Fools' prank. I thought I was done, only to realise 3 of the large bags had small ones inside them," she added in the comments section of her video. "I think they made a mistake," she added. Rochefort said the bags, which retail for as much as $300 (AUD) each, are currently stacked up on a wall at her home. "It's called interior design sweetie, look it up," she joked, adding, "Thanks Delta!" Her video has been viewed one million times, with many of her followers wondering how they can get their hands on such a haul. "I think I know what everyone is getting for their bday or the holidays," one commented. "Keep two and sell the rest," another suggested. "And here's an extra 12 Incase we break anymore," another joked. Image credits: TikTok

Travel Tips

Do you need travel insurance for domestic trips?

When adding up your travel budget, insurance can seem like an unnecessary extra that you never really use – especially on a domestic trip. But before you dismiss the idea, here are a few reasons why you should insure every trip. 1. If you fall ill or injure yourself within Australia Medicare will cover your treatment, so you won’t need to call on your insurance. But a broken leg or stay in hospital most likely means you’ll need to change flights or cancel accommodation, and that won’t be covered by Medicare. Travel insurance will reimburse you for any changes you need to make. 2. You’ve booked your tickets, packed your bags and bought your sunscreen – then disaster strikes. There can be any number of reasons that you need to cancel a trip: a close family member gets sick, you have an accident, a cyclone hits the resort you’re staying at or your employer cancels your leave. Travel insurance will cover the out of pocket costs associated with cancelling flights, rental cars or accommodation. It can also cover any additional expenses that you incur if an airline cancels your flights. 3. Theft doesn’t just happen overseas and insurance will cover you for any of your property – and, sometimes, cash – stolen while you’re travelling. It can also cover items that are lost or accidentally damaged during your trip. 4. No one thinks they will injure another party or cause damage to property while they’re travelling, but it happens. If you’re at fault you could be sued and damages can run into the millions. Travel insurance generally includes coverage for personal liability, which covers you for legal expenses and compensation you may be required to pay to the other party. 5. If you travel a few times a year, purchasing an annual policy makes domestic insurance really cheap. Because you are covered by Medicare premiums are much lower than international policies. For only around $200 a year you can have full coverage around the country – and that’s less than the cost of one night in a hotel because of a delay.

Travel Trouble

Grieving stepdad slams new bride after "delusional" request

A new bride has been slammed online by her stepfather, after demanding compensation from guests who missed her wedding ceremony to attend a funeral. The grieving man shared the story of his wife's daughter on Reddit, explaining the "delusional" decisions of his 27-year-old stepdaughter. Posting on Reddit's "Am I the A**hole?" thread, he wrote, "My stepdaughter Tara, 27, recently got married." "Six days before her wedding my father died unexpectedly. The people invited to her wedding from my family was myself, my two kids, my brother, and one of my sisters." The man explained that he had flown to another state to see his mother after hearing of his father's passing, while his wife stayed at home to help prepare for the upcoming wedding. "[My family] were aware of Tara's wedding and tried to be mindful of it and also give our family time to get in town for the funeral," he explained. "The funeral home serves the area my parents live in and the dates available for service were 3 before the wedding, day of the wedding, day after the wedding. They went with the day after." He went on to explain how his siblings understandably skipped the wedding due to the logistics of being able to attend both the wedding and the funeral that were happening several hours away. "My kids and I stayed for Tara's wedding, took photos, and left right after the ceremony since it was a 6-hour drive, and airline prices were insanely high and I'd already dropped a good bit of money on the first flight after dad died," he said. "Day after the funeral, those of us who missed the wedding were sent requests for $125 by Tara as a refund for meal and favor bags," he shared. "My kids and siblings asked if she was serious and I told them I'd call her to find out. When I called, she said she was serious and we had cost her money and owed her for missing her wedding." The man said that both his wife and his stepdaughter said the group should have left after the ceremony, despite the man already giving countless reasons why that was not possible. "My brother and sister couldn't afford two plane tickets or get that many days off, and they had sent their apologies and wedding gifts to her. I also pointed out we couldn't all fit in one car to drive there," he continued. "My wife insists I should pay all the refunds and my mother shouldn't have scheduled a funeral the day after the wedding and worse for me to leave on Tara's wedding day." When he asked Reddit users for their opinion on if he and his family were in the wrong, they did not hold back. "I am really shocked by how calm you seem about this. This was unthinkably callous on her part," one wrote. One person put it bluntly, commenting: "There are a few reasons why missing a wedding after rsvp'ing yes is acceptable and that includes a death in the family/funeral. There is something seriously wrong with your wife and step daughter." "That was your dad's funeral. She's delusional and so is your wife," added another. Image credits: Getty Images

Family & Pets

What to do if your luggage goes missing

If there’s one thing every traveller fears is arriving at their holiday destination without their luggage. As international airport chaos continues, many are facing the reality of not having their luggage and having to deal with airport lost and found services before their holiday even begins. Even before the pandemic, lost luggage was already the second most common travel mishap Aussies had to deal with, according to a survey by Finder. "Lost luggage is the last thing you want to happen when you're on holiday," James Martin, <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.finder.com.au/travel-insurance__;!!LBk0ZmAmG_H4m2o!p3qtXTKGX6cpzRIS1Wd6r_1aRVhQ0pXAZiVMdczaZRAuQe_AALAw0tK1NEeuan-2-NPNHVDTqO34yLxbSC6GUytct910wIYG$">Finder</a> travel insurance expert, told <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/travel-advice-what-to-do-if-your-luggage-goes-missing-at-airport-expert-tips/d9427010-46cc-453f-b7fe-b15645e5882c">9Honey</a>. Luckily, there are some pre-departure precautions you can take to ensure your luggage arrives safely. According to James Martin, preparing for the worst is a must. He said, "Rest assured, there are things you can do to increase your chances of finding your belongings, or receiving compensation for a complete loss.” "If you can, keep laptops/tablets or other valuables like jewellery in your carry on." Expedia Travel Expert, Lisa Perkovic, also has some packing advice. "The best thing you can do to safeguard your luggage is make sure your bag is labelled with your details in case it goes missing, and for extra peace of mind," Perkovic said. "One savvy tip is to invest in a digital tracking device to help you monitor where your luggage is. If you have room in your carry-on, it's also a smart idea to pack valuable items and a change of clothes, in case your checked baggage is delayed." Sometimes, despite these precautions, luggage can go missing with no rhyme or reason. It’s important to take these next steps to ensure you get your valuables back, or at the very least receive compensation for your lost luggage. File a report As soon as you realise your luggage is not turning up, the first step is to file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) directly with the airline you flew in on, Martin explains. "If you had flights on multiple airlines, you'll need to lodge the PIR with the airline that you last flew on," he says. "Be sure to include as much information about your luggage as possible. Noting the approximate size, brand, colour, and any identifying marks such as baggage tags or ribbons will help to improve your chances of getting it back.” "Your PIR report will have a reference number that you can use to track the status of your luggage once it's been located.” "It is the airline's responsibility to compensate you for buying necessities until you are reunited with your belongings, such as a toothbrush, underwear and socks." Lodging a report before you leave the airport is vital, as it increases the chances of a timely solution. Lost vs delayed Once you’ve left the airport, all you can do is hope your luggage turns up and keep checking in with the airline. Best case scenario, you'll find out your luggage has been held up and your airline should make arrangements to get your belongings back to you as soon as possible. Most airlines will organise a courier to deliver your luggage to your accommodation. "If you're travelling internationally, it's a good idea to leave your accommodation details in case your mobile phone provider does not offer coverage overseas," Perkovic says. Officially, you need to wait three weeks for the status of your baggage from “delayed” to “lost” before you can take further action with your airline. Claim compensation from your airline If your baggage was lost for less than a three week period and is eventually delivered back to you, you can lodge a compensation claim with your airline to reimburse for necessities you had to replace. These forms can be done online through your chosen airline. If your luggage has been lost for good, you may be eligible for a much higher compensation payment to replace your belongings. Lodge a travel insurance claim While you may be eligible for a payout to replace lost items, sometimes these amounts from the airlines can be less than the total of the items lost. If there's a shortfall between what the airline pays you and that value, that's when you can lodge a claim for the difference with your travel insurance. "If you're bringing things of high value, make sure to take out a travel insurance policy that will cover the value of your item. You can usually pay a bit extra to cover those valuables" Martin points out. What happens to lost luggage at airports? Airlines usually give themselves a maximum of 90 days to find the owner of lost luggage before auctioning it off to the highest bidder or donating the contents to charity. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

Man sues company for celebrating his birthday

A man has been awarded $US450,000 ($A611,000) after his colleagues threw a birthday party, despite him asking not to due to his anxiety disorder. Kevin Berling was working as a lab technician at Gravity Diagnostics in Kentucky when his fellow employees threw a celebration for his birthday on August 7, 2019. The 29-year-old suffered a panic attack following the celebrations and was eventually fired from his job. Mr Berling then filed a compensation lawsuit, seeking damages and compensation for lost income. “Managers started giving him a hard time for his response to the birthday celebrations,” his lawyer Tony Bucher told local TV news outlet WKRC. “They actually accused him of stealing his co-workers’ joy.” Mr Berling specifically told his boss in 2018 that he did not want any celebrations for his birthday at work due to his anxiety. His employer claims to have “forgot” about the request which resulted in a panic attack on that fateful day in 2019. It took Mr Berling almost an hour to recover from the awful ordeal in his car, which was then questioned the following day. Following the interrogation, Mr Berling suffered another panic attack. A week later, he was fired from his job with his manager being “worried about him being angry and possibly becoming violent”. Mr Berling was awarded a $US450,000 ($A611,000) judgment against the company by a unanimous jury. The settlement included $US120,000 ($A163,000) in lost wages and benefits, $US30,000 ($A40,000) in future wages, and $US300,000 ($A408,000) for “past, present and future mental pain and suffering, mental anguish, embarrassment, humiliation, mortification, and loss of self-esteem”. Image: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

Couple receives $3000 from Aus Post for botched deliveries

Australia Post has been forced to pay out over $3000 to a Melbourne couple after drivers repeatedly failed to deliver parcels to their home for over a year during the pandemic.Wayne Short and Veronica Libson took the postal giant to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in December to seek compensation, claiming that Australia Post failed to deliver parcels to their home and continued sending them to the local post office instead.Mr Short said some of the parcels contained important items such as medication for their daughter, who is waiting for a liver transplant, and other contained goods for their hire party business.He told the tribunal that the issues began in 2019, when the couple started experiencing difficulties getting parcels delivered to their home.Despite filing a complaint directly to Australia Post at the time, it was not responded to.Then in March 2020, the couple were undertaking renovations on their stairs and Mr Short said delivery drivers couldn’t safely deliver parcels for a week.However, after the renovations were completed the parcels were still not delivered, with the driver claiming they were still unsafe to climb.After this, Australia Post drivers stopped delivering parcels altogether, instead sending SMS messages to the couple to pick up their parcels at the post office.In June of the same year, the couple filed a second complaint, this time to the local post office. The manager reassured Mr Short that the issue would be sorted out.A few days later, a heated argument erupted between Mr Short and a delivery driver at the couple’s home.When the driver handed over the parcel, Mr Short then told the driver they were tired of tracking down all their other parcels. The driver responded by taking back the parcel and telling Mr Short they could “go pick up their own parcels”.According to the tribunal, Mr Short lost his temper, grabbing the parcel abc and telling the driver to “get the f**k off his property”.After the incident, all deliveries apart from their normal mail ceased.As for how the compensation was calculated based on how long it took the couple to collect their parcels.Having found that they spend around 30 minutes travelling to the post office every week between June 2020 and December 2021, VCAT member Neil Campbell calculated the compensation of $3100.He said the tribunal found the deliveries were “not undertaken with due care and skill” as they were “not delivered to the residential address” and there was “no basis for them not to be”.In a statement shared with <a style="background-image: initial;background-position: initial;background-size: initial;background-attachment: initial;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;vertical-align: baseline" href="https://7news.com.au/business/australia-post/australia-post-ordered-to-pay-3000-to-melbourne-couple-over-botched-deliveries-c-5556891" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News.com.au</a>, a spokesperson for Australia Post said the company respected the tribunal’s decision.“Australia Post respects the decision of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and can confirm that parcel delivery has recommenced to the address,” they said.Image: @auspost (Instagram)

Legal

Woman awarded $24,000 after being sexually harassed and stalked by a colleague

Image: Getty A female security guard in New Zealand has been awarded $NZ24,000 ($22,600) in compensation after she claimed a colleague sexually harassed her. The woman said the man physically restrained her, stalked her on social media and told her he would follow her home and watch her sleep, according to The NZ Herald. The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) upheld the woman’s personal grievance claim of unjustifiable action, agreeing her employer did not deal with her sexual harassment complaint fully. The ERA suppressed the names of the woman, the male security guard and the workplace to protect the woman. The woman started working for the security company on January 11, 2019, and for the first five weeks of her employment she worked at the same bar in central Christchurch. The sexual harassment then went on to start in February 2019, the woman said. It was verbal, consisting of unwanted and unacceptable sexual comments. She tried ignoring the harassment and avoiding the colleague but the harassment only got worse. It escalated to the point where she was so anxious around the man she started having panic attacks and was increasingly concerned about what he might do. The ERA found the man was “brazen in his behaviour and unrepentant, he did not stop the behaviour when asked”. It was found he stalked the woman on social media and told her he was doing this. He said he would follow her home and watch her sleep, and there had been one incident at work where the man had physically restrained her against her will. After hiding in her car one night to avoid the man, the woman approached another colleague, who encouraged her to go to their team leader. The team leader immediately changed the woman’s shifts so she was no longer working with the man. The business owner was also informed. The owner sent a message to the woman asking to meet so he could find out what was going on. She messaged back saying she was scared to say anything at first because she didn’t know how it would “be handled”. She said she had been sexually harassed and it had “gotten to the point where I’m scared and uncomfortable to be around him”. “He just turned up to [the bar] and I got the worse [sic] anxiety and had to go in my car until he had left.” The owner gave assurance the woman would be kept safe at work. The pair met in early April 2019 and the owner said he was meeting the company lawyer to discuss what steps to take. “I really don’t understand what’s going through his head, it’s like he’s trying to either intimidate me or something … I really don’t know what to do anymore.” In reply, the owner said he had told the colleague to leave the woman alone and that his behaviour could be considered serious misconduct. From April until July there were various meetings and messages and the business owner told the woman he would investigate and report back to her. He said he would speak to the lawyer about the next steps to take. She reiterated she felt intimidated and said, “I don’t think he should be working in this industry in the type of workplace he is because of the harassment. It’s not something that should be taken lightly because of the extent of it and how confident he was doing it.” The owner asked for a timeline of evidence so he could progress it to the next level and the woman provided a document outlining the harassment. A month later the woman received a message from another manager at the company that said the matter was still under investigation and “you need to let us deal with it”. The manager continued, “Personal issues don’t come to work and affect a professional environment because then it gets ugly. Just don’t let whatever kind of issue this is interfering with our business operations please, we’ve worked too hard to build a professional reputation I get on edge when it’s being damaged.” On May 10th, police called the woman to say her complaint was a work issue and needed to be dealt with at work.The call sparked a panic attack and the woman called her father. Her father called the owner of the business and complained about the lack of action and support. This prompted the owner to apologise to the woman. He also said the harassment wasn‘t happening at work so it was “a police issue now”. He offered to go to the police station with the woman but then never confirmed a time.The woman’s father then contacted the owner again and said nothing had been done. The father had heard the colleague accused of sexual harassment had been telling others at work everything was made up. The father asked, “What are your steps to getting this solved or have you lied to me and swept it under the carpet?” The ERA found that despite meetings and messages, the company had not completed the investigation into sexual harassment. This had come after the woman had trusted that the owner would resolve the complaint. She hadn’t received a report and no outcome had been reported to her. The ERA found the woman’s claim for personal grievance was not that the company had failed to protect her but that it failed to deal with the sexual harassment complaint appropriately. It found the woman was disadvantaged at work because she felt unsafe. The woman was awarded $NZ24,000 compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity and injury to feelings.

Legal

No compensation after 43 years of wrongful imprisonment

US man has been freed after being imprisoned for more than four decades over crimes he didn’t commit. Kevin Strickland was convicted of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second degree murder in relation to a triple homicide in 1978. The then 18-year-old was accused of killing Larry Ingram, 21, John Walker, 20, and Sherrie Black 22, at a home in Kansas City. He maintains that he was at home watching television at the time of the murders. He received a 50-year life sentence with no parole as an eighteen-year-old, and has always maintained that he wasn’t involved. “I’m still in disbelief,” the 62-year-old <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/man-walks-free-after-spending-four-decades-behind-bars-for-crime-he-didnt-commit-c-4692536" target="_blank">said</a> moments after his release on Wednesday. “Thank you (to the judge) for reviewing all the no evidence against me to begin with. I really appreciate him taking his time to listen and understand what really happened in 1978 and how I was an easy mark and the police took advantage of me.” <img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845887/kevin-strickland1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/273081ddd4ee44d68dcb6e42f689fdbc" /> Kevin Strickland was the first witness to testify at the hearing that secured his freedom. Image: KCTV5 Mr Strickland learned of the court’s decision to free him from prison while watching a soap opera, when the news scrolled across the television screen. He said fellow inmates began screaming. “I’m not necessarily angry. It’s a lot. I think I’ve created emotions that you all don’t know about just yet,” he told reporters while leaving the Western Missouri prison. “Joy, sorrow, fear. I am trying to figure out how to put them together.” All of Mr Strickland’s charges were dismissed after his legal team presented evidence to exonerate him. During the proceedings, family members of the sole surviving witness, Cynthia Douglas, said she was pressured by police to name Strickland as one of the men she saw on the night of the murders. Cynthia passed away in 2015, but her mother and daughter appeared before the court to testify. “We were talking, she said, ‘Mother, I picked the wrong guy. The officer told me that was the guy,” <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.kctv5.com/news/local_news/kevin-strickland-first-to-testify-at-long-awaited-hearing/article_5ecc3214-40f1-11ec-b53b-1f9e37137c18.html" target="_blank">said</a> Senoria Douglas, Cyntha’s mother. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845888/kevin-strickland2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/46cf4c1eccd248cab801dbdad9f03e58" /> Cyntha Douglas’ mother, Seroria, spoke about how her daughter told her she ‘picked the wrong guy’. Image: KCTV5 Sherrie Jordan, Cynthia’s daughter, said: “She started saying (that) Kevin Strickland was the wrong guy. And she was trying to get him out, by going through the right procedures.” Judge James Welsh, a retired court of appeals judge, made the ruling to free Mr Strickland after a Jackson county prosecutor requested an evidentiary hearing, saying evidence used to convict him had since been recanted or disproven. “Under these unique circumstances, the Court’s confidence in Strickland’s convictions is so undermined that it cannot stand, and the judgement of conviction must be set aside,” Welsh <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/24/kevin-strickland-freed-42-years-wrongful-conviction" target="_blank">wrote</a> when ordering Mr Strickland’s immediate release. Since securing his freedom, one of the first things Mr Strickland did was visit his mother’s grave. “That was the first step. I didn’t have a chance to visit her in the last years … I revisited those tears that I did when they told me I was guilty of a crime I didn’t commit,” he told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2021/11/24/kevin-strickland-prison-release-newday-vpx.cnn" target="_blank">CNN</a> on Wednesday. But, Mr Strickland will not receive any compensation from the State of Missouri for his time spent in prison, and a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kevin-strickland-after-wrongful-conviction" target="_blank">GoFundMe</a> set up to help him restart his life has received more than $400,000 in donations. Image: Midwest Innocence Project

Legal

Prince William and Harry’s nanny compensated for abortion claims

The former nanny to Prince William and Prince Harry will reportedly be paid damages over claims BBC reporter Martin Bashir alleged she had an affair with Prince Charles that resulted in her aborting his child. Investigations into how Bashir secured the tell-all 1995 interview with Princess Diana found that Bashir had faked an abortion receipt for Tiggy Pettifer - née Legge-Bourke. Bashir told Diana that Charles was in love with the nanny, claiming the pair went on a holiday together for two weeks. A source told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2021/09/17/former-royal-nanny-offered-significant-damages-bbc-martin-bashir/" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a> that the BBC will pay Ms Pettifer £100,000 ($AUD 189,119) in damages after acknowledging the suffering that resulted from the false claims. “Tiggy Legge-Bourke was right at the centre of Bashir’s manipulation and it is right that the damage caused to her is recognised by the BBC,” the source told the publication. At the time of Bashir’s interview, Diana’s friend Rosa Monckton confirmed in The Daily Mail that Bashir’s claims had had a significant impact on the princess. “Diana changed from being very concerned with day-to-day matters, just like any normal friend, to suddenly becoming obsessed with plots against her,” she wrote at the time. Ms Monckton said Diana had also become “obsessed” with the idea that Prince Charles was having an affair with Ms Pettifer and believed claims the nanny was pregnant. The abortion and affair claims were some of the alleged underhanded methods Bashir used to secure the interview. Since the allegations have come to light, Bashir has stood down from the BBC. Ms Pettifer was hired by Prince Chales as a nanny shortly after he and Diana separated in 1993. Ms Pettifer would join the family on holidays and has maintained a close relationship with the royals, especially with the princes. She attended both of their weddings and was named as the godmother of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first child, Archie. Image: Getty

Legal

Pensioners, students and unemployed will receive $50 million in compensation from NAB

National Australia Bank (NAB) will pay $49.5 million to tens of thousands of customers who were sold junk credit card and personal loan insurance. The major lender and its subsidiary MLC Limited have agreed to settle a class action taken against them by law firm Slater and Gordon in the Federal Court. The class action, which is taken on behalf of tens of thousands of Australians, alleged NAB and MLC engaged in unconscionable conduct by selling consumer credit insurance (CCI), credit card insurance and personal loan insurance that did not adequately cover the customers. Slater and Gordon practice group leader Andrew Paull said the policies were “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-20/nab-class-action-consumer-credit-insurance-compensation/11721820">next to worthless</a>” to many of the people they were sold to. He said it was the first consumer class action settled in relation to the royal commission into the finance sector, and the compensation was the largest that had ever been paid by a big-four bank to its customers. “A $49.5 million settlement is a terrific result for the tens of thousands of people who fall within the class,” Paull said in a statement. “If any NAB customers think that they have been paying for either NAB credit card cover or NAB personal loan cover, we’d encourage them to register their details on our website.” The compensation payments will be limited to pensioners, students and unemployed customers who were sold the insurance policies under scrutiny. Paull said the amount of payment each customer could receive would depend on their premiums, which ranged from hundreds to over a thousand dollars per year. “Those amounts are very significant for the types of people who are participating in this action,” he said. “For a person who is unemployed, for a person living on the disability pension, a few hundred dollars a year or a thousand dollars a year makes a very big difference.” NAB’s legal counsel Sharon Cook said the settlement was “the right thing to do” to regain customer trust. “As we have said, we can only move forward if we deal with the past, so that we can earn trust among customers and the broader community and grow confidence in the future of NAB,” she said. “It is important to note NAB no longer sells CCI products through any of its banking channels, and has implemented a remediation program for CCI customers.”

Money & Banking

Woman sues Bunnings for $500,000 after she was "crushed"

<div> <div class="replay"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply_body"> <div class="body_text "> Bunnings is being sued for more than half-a-million dollars after a shopper was crushed by a box of broom handles whilst being on the job. Robyn Handasyde was employed by a separate company that was required to restock the shelves at a Bunnings store in Southeast Melbourne when the accident happened. According to documents obtained by <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6983349/Woman-suing-Bunnings-half-million-dollars-crushed-box-broom-handles.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail Australia</a>, it is claimed that Handasyde was carrying out her duties on May 5, 2010 when a fellow Bunnings worker driving a mechanical lifting machine dropped or dislodged a heavy box of broom handles on top of her. The box landed on Handasyde’s neck and shoulders, causing her serious injuries. The Victorian Workers Association (VWA) has lodged a statement of claim with the Supreme Court of Victoria arguing that Bunnings has breached its duty of care to the injured worker. The VWA barristers acting on behalf of Handasyde claim that she has been left with lifelong injuries, which left to her further breaking her ankle. The statement of claim reads: “The accident was caused as a result of negligence and/or breach of statutory duty of the Defendant, its servants or agents.” A breakdown of Handasyde’s claim says that Bunnings owes her $365,227 in lost earnings since she was injured. The majority of her claim is made up of medical bills and rehabilitation. However, VWA has issued a warning saying that the payout could be up to $503,937 if this goes to trial. In a defence letter filed by Bunnings' legal team, the company refutes nearly all of the allegations made against it. The company did accept that Handasyde made an injury claim on May 26, 2010. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Home & Garden

Grandmother furious after 12-year-old grandson served alcohol on flight

A grandmother has revealed how horrified she was after her 12-year-old grandson was mistakenly served alcohol on a Jetstar flight from Brisbane in Queensland to Denpasar in Bali. Taking her grandson – who lives with her – on the trip of a lifetime, after saving up to fly business class on his first overseas trip, Debra Pettigrove did not expect her young grandchild to be served alcohol during the Boxing Day flight last year. Her grandson Dean was allegedly served what she described as a double gin and squash by cabin crew, in what was reportedly a mix-up after the plane hit turbulence during the business class flight. Debra claims her grandson suffered an allergic reaction and was constantly sneezing after being served the beverage by accident, which was intended for another passenger on the flight. “Dean said, ‘This tastes yuck,’” Debra recounted to <a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/confidential/glitter-strip-bare-gold-coast-news-and-gossip/news-story/b9aebe574835410f31a393a513b72d75">The Courier Mail.</a> “I thought it must have been lo-cal squash or something … the furthest thing from my mind was that it had alcohol in it.” Debra continued to recall: “I had a swig and, no joke, it burnt my throat – it tasted like metho (methylated spirits). I thought, ‘What the hell is this?’ I went straight for the head guy (cabin steward) and said, ‘What in God’s name is in this drink? Get me a water ASAP.” The concerned grandmother went on to explain, “He [Dean] had a headache and was in a lot of discomfort. It was terrible.” She added, “I was horrified, I couldn’t believe it. You pay for business class airfares and you’re supposed to get business class service, not this.” Debra has since called in lawyers to help her seek compensation from the airline. While Jetstar did offer her a $400 flight voucher, she has hired national litigation firm Shine Lawyers to take on her case. The firm’s travel law manager, Thomas Janson, said, “Our client paid a premium price to have the best care for her grandson on his first international flight, and this has tarnished his experience. “Jetstar have a duty of care to every passenger, and that duty was undeniably breached in this instance,” Thomas added. Jetstar claims the cabin crew manger on duty at the time of the incident did apologise to the family and served them complimentary drinks, as well as checking on the 12-year-old throughout the remainder of the flight. A Jetstar spokesman confirmed, “We are in contact with a family after a mix-up of drinks occurred on a flight six months ago which resulted in a child having a few sips of an adult customer’s drink, according to our crew on-board reports. “Nothing was mentioned to our crew on board the flight about the child feeling unwell,” the airline’s spokesman added. Have you ever experienced a food or beverage mix-up on a flight before? Tell us in the comments below.

Travel Trouble

Bill Shorten demands compensation for victims of bank misconduct

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has written to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull demanding he consider a compensation scheme for the victims of banking misconduct. The Labor leader also demanded an apology from the prime minister for failing to agree to a royal commission sooner and to extend the one now if needed. The Turnbull government is under pressure to admit it got it wrong after delaying the probe into the banking sector, with Financial Services Minister Kelly O'Dwyer refusing eight times on Sunday to acknowledge the government should have acted sooner. In the letter to Mr Turnbull, Mr Shorten says the first 14 days of the commission has heard shocking evidence of systemic wrongdoing and a culture of cover-up in the industry. “Along with many Australians, I can't help but wonder how many customers were ripped off by this kind of misconduct in the two years it took the government to relent and agree to Labor's calls for a royal commission,” he wrote. “How many Australians continued to be hit with 'fees for no service' in the two years the government continued to protect the banking industry from a royal commission?” Given the shameful evidence uncovered in the commission, Mr Shorten says the government needs to consider a compensation scheme for the victims of proven wrongdoing. “Further, the victims of this shocking misconduct deserve an apology from your government that this royal commission was not established sooner,” Mr Shorten says to Mr Turnbull, in a letter also sent to acting prime minister Michael McCormack. Treasurer Scott Morrison announced last Friday tough new penalties for shonky bankers and corporate criminals, with individuals found guilty of misconduct in the finance sector to face up to 10 years behind bars. Corporations could be fined up to 10 per cent of their turnover.

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Man sues company for celebrating his birthday

Couple receives $3000 from Aus Post for botched deliveries

Woman awarded $24,000 after being sexually harassed and stalked by a colleague

No compensation after 43 years of wrongful imprisonment

Prince William and Harry’s nanny compensated for abortion claims

Pensioners, students and unemployed will receive $50 million in compensation from NAB

Woman sues Bunnings for $500,000 after she was "crushed"

Grandmother furious after 12-year-old grandson served alcohol on flight

Bill Shorten demands compensation for victims of bank misconduct

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