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Even after the government’s aviation crackdown, Australia will lag behind on flyers’ rights

<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> When it comes to consumer protections for airline passengers, Australia has long been dragging its feet. The limited protections we do have rely heavily on the general <a href="https://consumer.gov.au/index.php/australian-consumer-law">Australian Consumer Law</a>. The “consumer guarantees” provided in this law only require services to be delivered in the arguably vague framework of a “reasonable time”. That might be okay if we’re just getting a sofa delivered from a furniture retailer. The cost of a late delivery is low. But these guarantees were not tailored to the unique impacts delayed or cancelled flights can have on travellers. Australia’s lack of aviation-specific protections has long been a severe <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Airlines%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20Report.pdf">pain point</a> for flyers, only heightened by pandemic disruption. The government’s much-awaited <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-white-paper">Aviation White Paper</a>, released in full on Monday, promised to address this issue. At the heart of the reforms, Australia will get a new aviation ombud scheme, and a new charter of customer rights for passengers. The recognition that new protections are needed is a step in the right direction. But this once-in-a-generation white paper missed the chance to achieve far more, by moving Australia to the style of consumer protection that have now been offered for 20 years in <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/ec-regulation-261-2004/">Europe</a>. <h2>Why is air travel unique?</h2> Airline customers have a reasonable expectation of arriving at their destination, at (or close to) the time published by the airline in its schedule at the time the reservation was paid and ticketed. If this can’t be achieved, they should at least arrive at some amended time that was advised far enough in advance to allow related reservations and bookings to be adjusted. Air travel has to be punctual because it doesn’t have any substitutes. On even a modest deadline, driving from Perth or even Sydney to Melbourne, for example, is not a comparable option. And a passenger’s options to adapt their travel plans diminish as the departure date approaches. In the final days before travel, hotel cancellation deadlines pass and alternative connecting flight options sell out or spike in price. In some cases, travelling to a specific event can become pointless for a passenger if a delay is lengthy enough. <h2>Australia is playing catch-up</h2> In contrast with Australia, aviation-specific protections have long existed in many other developed economies. In the European Union (EU), for example, <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM%3Al24173">regulations</a> make clear that airlines have specific obligations and responsibilities in the event of delays, cancellations and denied boardings. This includes the <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/ec-regulation-261-2004/">right to compensation</a> of up to €600 (A$988). These protections and the levels of compensation payable for failure to meet specified requirements for different kinds of flights are comprehensively legislated. Canada has a <a href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2019-150/index.html">slightly different approach</a> – smaller regional carriers have different obligations to mainline operators. But as with the European regulation, it imposes an obligation to get the passenger to the ticketed destination, or to refund the ticket if the journey has become pointless. The absence of such legislated protections in Australia means we typically have to rely on the goodwill of the airline when things go wrong. <h2>Real action has been delayed</h2> The centrepiece proposal of the <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-white-paper">white paper</a> is to create a new ombud scheme with “the power to direct airlines and airports to provide remedies to consumers and investigate customer complaints about airlines’ and airports’ conduct”. This will replace the existing <a href="https://www.airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au/General/Default.aspx">Airline Customer Advocate</a>. A new charter of customer rights, to be produced by the scheme, will aim to give flyers “greater certainty about what they can expect when flights are cancelled and delayed” and require airlines to be more transparent about their performance. The white paper noted the poor on-time performance of Australian carriers. It also pointed out that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Airlines%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20Report.pdf">identified</a> problems with consumer protections for air travel in Australia as far back as 2017. But its proposals offer no real quantifiable or enforceable improvements to consumer rights. Despite the well-established models in comparable countries – many of which have <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-australia-had-an-aviation-ombudsman-passengers-could-get-compensation-for-cancelled-flights-235679">followed the EU’s lead</a> – Australians will need to wait for yet another discussion process to be complete before they see what protections may eventually be introduced. The government’s white paper has largely just kicked the can down the road. At a minimum, passengers on Australian carriers deserve the assurances given to those travelling in and from Europe: in the event of a cancellation or long delay, that they will be transported to their destination on an alternative flight as quickly as possible. They should also be given appropriate meals and accommodation until they can make this onward journey, receive compensation for lengthy delays, and have the option to return home with a full refund if their travel has become pointless.<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/237469/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> 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/even-after-the-governments-aviation-crackdown-australia-will-lag-behind-on-flyers-rights-237469">original article</a>. </div>

Domestic Travel

Hundreds arrested in domestic violence crackdown

More than 550 people in NSW have been arrested in a state-wide crackdown on domestic and family violence. Operation Amarok VI ran from last Wednesday to Saturday, and in that time police arrested 554 people and made a total of 1070 charges. Of those arrests, 226 were wanted by police for alleged serious domestic violence offences, according to a NSW police spokesman. "Anyone who commits this heinous crime can expect a knock at their door," Police Minister Yasmin Catley said. "Operation Amarok is just one part of the police response. Last year, almost 150,000 calls for assistance were made to the NSWPF for domestic violence-related matters. "This shows the severity of the situation, the huge amount of police time and resources that go into addressing this epidemic and how important it is for prevention, early intervention and crisis support services to work together." Some of most significant arrests include a a 53-year-old man who allegedly threatened a woman with an imitation gun in Kempsey. Officers searched the home and seized the weapon and some cannabis. A 23-year-old woman was also arrested in the state's west after allegedly stabbing a relative around 2:30 am on May 17. The older relative received multiple stab wounds to the abdomen, head, and back and was taken to a local hospital where police were called. She was later flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition. The 23-year-old was charged with wound person intend cause grievous bodily harm and was refused bail to appear in Dubbo Local Court on May 18. NSW Police Executive Sponsor for Domestic and Family Violence, Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell said that the operation allowed police to conduct a targeted blitz of those who have been flagged as the worst domestic violence offenders. “We demonstrated last week that we will target and arrest the offenders no matter where they are located. We saw significant arrest numbers in our regional communities, and we also saw arrests for offences that occurred allegedly while the offender was in jail," he said. "These Amarok VI results send a powerful message to offenders, and the community at large, that we do not tolerate domestic and family violence in any form, and our efforts will continue." Images: NSW Police

Legal

Crackdown on vapes after state records shocking number of toddlers smoking

Victoria has recorded an alarming number of toddlers ingesting nicotine from vapes. In the last year, Health Minister Mark Butler said that 50 children under four were recorded vaping, and that it is now the biggest behavioural issue in primary schools across the country. “The Victorian poisons hotline has reported that in the last 12 months, more than 50 children under the age of four have had to be reported to the hotline because of the dangerous ingestion of nicotine,” Butler told ABC Radio. “This is now the biggest behavioural issue in primary schools,” he added. Health ministers across the country are looking for ways to implement greater import and enforcement controls after the use of vapes has exploded in recent years, despite current regulations. Last year, a new rule was enforced where nicotine vapes were only available with a prescription. However a black market has emerged, and this market primarily targets children. “This is an industry shamelessly marketing, not just to teenagers but to young children. When you look at these things, pink unicorns and bubblegum flavours aren’t marketed to adults,” Butler said. The Health Minister also added that the multi-million dollar industry is threatening to undo all the hard work dedicated to phase out smoking. “This is an industry that is trying to create a new generation of nicotine addicts so they get around all of the hard work our country and other countries have done over recent decades to stamp out smoking,” he said. Butler used the example of a “very young” child who had been found with an “insidious” vape in her pencil case, in an attempt to disguise it as a highlighter. Earlier this month footage of an <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/jail-them-fury-after-baby-forced-to-vape-while-family-laughs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">11-month-old baby boy smoking a vape</a> went viral, when the distressed child was seen struggling for air as his teenage mother laughed at him. Butler said that when it comes to cracking down on the industry, “all options were on the table,” including better import and sales control. Butler refuses to normalise e-cigarettes, something that has been proposed by David Littleproud, the leader of the Nationals party. Butler said: “We can’t just say oh, well, it’s all too hard, let’s just normalise it because we know why these products exist”. “These products are pushed so hard by the tobacco industry because they want to create a pathway back to cigarettes.” Butler also cited research that showed that those who vape are three times as likely to take up cigarettes. Image: Getty, Facebook

Caring

"You can't be in two places at once": ATO boss warns of new tax crackdown

As our lives have changed quite a bit over the past two years, the ATO has warned one particular group of Australians are not reflecting this change when processing their tax returns. The ATO says Australians who drive to work have become accustomed to filing a number of expenses for their car, but those types of expenses could land them in trouble this year. In an interview, the ATO assistant commissioner Tim Loh said it would be looking very carefully at car-related expenses this tax time. “What we are seeing is people continuing to claim car and travel expenses at pre-pandemic levels,” he said. “We do expect car and travel expenses to go down quite significantly because if you’ve been working from home, you can’t be at two places at once.” According to the ATO, travel to and from work cannot be claimed as a tax deduction but petrol costs for trips to a job-related task can be submitted. If you are to be audited, you will have to prove to tax officials you used your car for work, and not just to buy groceries or visit your mates. The ATO is preparing to crack down on Australians who are over-claiming work-related expenses to help with the rising cost of living. One of the steepest rises in everyday goods is in petrol prices. We’ve seen them hit record highs in recent months as the war in Ukraine squeezes supplies. With the national petrol price at 211.9 cents a litre, CommSec calculated an average Aussie family spent $296.66 a month filling up their car – just shy of the recent record high of $297.50 in May. It means that the average monthly fuel bill has increased by $74.48 compared to the beginning of 2022. However, It’s not just motoring expenses the ATO will be keeping a close eye on. Rapid antigen tests are also an area the ATO will be looking at. He said Australians who claimed rapid antigen tests on their tax return would also need to prove it was work-related and not for personal use. “Now with those rapid antigen tests used for work purposes, you need to satisfy three rules: you must have spent the money yourself and not be reimbursed by your employer,” Mr Loh said. “It must be related for work-related purposes.” Big change to work-from-home expenses After the lockdowns of the past 12 months, many of us will be claiming deductions for working from home. The good news is that this year, there is still an easy system in place for working out how much you’re owed. Since the pandemic began in March 2020, professionals have been able to claim a flat 80 cent-an-hour rate for their expenses instead of having to manually add them up. The flat-rate was meant to have ended on June 30, 2021 but the tax office extended it for another year as Sydney and Melbourne were put into long lockdowns. That means you can use it on this year’s tax return, which you have until October 31st to complete. However, a big change is coming from July 1st, meaning that from the next financial year you will be required to keep your electricity, internet and phone bills and manually add up your expenses to claim a lower 52-cent an hour deduction if you’re working from home permanently. It basically means that those of us working from home will have to get into the habit of keeping receipts in the new financial year.

Legal

The major $2.1 billion crackdown coming to Centrelink

A major Centrelink overhaul would be able to save the government $2.1 billion by adapting the way welfare recipients report their employment income. Over 1.2 million people receiving welfare payments could soon be made to specifically report the actual fortnightly income to Centrelink, rather than giving a calculation based on their wage and hours worked. Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston says she hoped the proposal will make the process simpler. “We want to make sure that Australians who need financial support are able to get the support that they are eligible for – no less and no more,'” Minister Ruston said. “The current system of calculating earnings can be confusing and lead to misreporting especially when accounting for overtime or penalty rates. “These changes will make accurate reporting much easier for people getting a social security payment.” Under the system currently in place, welfare recipients are required to report their or their partner’s earnings based on the number of shifts they have worked and their hourly rate. The coalition hopes that by simplifying the reporting system, it will become more accurate and prevent those receiving payments being left owing money or having to repay the government for being overpaid. The new change would additionally allow employment and income data to be pre-filled online, as it is also occurs with online tax returns. Draft legislation detailing the changes will be released for consultation this week. The coalition has hopes to bring the proposed laws to parliament when it resumes next week. The new system, which has already been dubbed “<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/D_Melissa2/status/1221911564933926912?s=20" target="_blank">robodebt 2 on steroids</a>”, comes months after robodebt was deemed unlawful after a legal challenge in the Federal Court. The government has wound back on the original scheme, which is also facing a potential class action lawsuit.

News

The 5 items that could bring you under ATO crackdown

The Australian Taxation Office has launched a new crackdown on Australians with a specific group of “lifestyle assets”. More than 30 insurance companies have been asked to hand over information on Australian taxpayers who own items such as yachts, fine art, thoroughbred horses, private planes and luxury vehicles. The investigation will see the ATO receive financial information on 350,000 taxpayers since mid-2015 as part of the agency’s <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Gen/Data-matching-protocols/">data-matching protocols</a>. “If a taxpayer is reporting a taxable income of $70,000 to us but we know they own a $3 million yacht then this is likely to raise some red flags,” ATO deputy commissioner Deborah Jenkins said on Wednesday. She said the crackdown is aimed at ensuring that Australians are paying their share of tax for the community. “Regardless of your level of wealth, we all need to pay the correct amount of tax,” Jenkins said. “Doing things like being untruthful about your income or failing to declare capital gains is effectively stealing from the community. “This is money the community is missing out on to pay for infrastructure and services we all rely on like schools, hospitals, and roads.” Those who were found to claim GST credits incorrectly will be asked to make full repayment along with any applicable interest and penalties. Self-managed super funds and undeclared capital gains on the disposal of certain assets will also be examined. People who suspect they have failed to comply with their tax or superannuation obligations will be given reduced penalties and interest charges if they turn themselves in. Insurers have been ordered to provide information on assets at or above the below thresholds: <ul> <li>Marine vessels: $100,000</li> <li>Motor vehicles: $65,000</li> <li>Thoroughbred horses: $65,000</li> <li>Fine art: $100,000 per item</li> <li>Aircraft: $150,000</li> </ul>

Money & Banking

“You don’t take chances”: Scott Morrison reveals security fears for daughters after bikie gang crackdown

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has gotten surprisingly candid about the security detail that was needed for his family when he expelled a key gang leader from Australia. In an exclusive interview with <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6112704392001" target="_blank">Sky News</a>, Morrison told Graeme “Richo” Richardson that an increase in security was needed after he banned Rebels bikie gang boss Alex Vella from the country. As Morrison was Immigration Minister at the time of the ban in 2014, he cancelled Vella’s visa three days after the bikie boss known as the “Maltese Falcon” left Australia for overseas. Richardson asked Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny if they ever stayed in the Sutherland Shire, but Morrison said that they didn’t. “The whole security bandwagon is, well, it’s quite inconvenient to my neighbours,” he said. He then went onto explain what happened when he moved on the Rebels gang boss in 2014. “When I was Immigration Minister we had, sadly, had to have full time security there for a quite long period of time...there was some amendment and changes made to the house at that time,” Mr Morrison said. “That was when we kicked out Vella, the head of the bikie gang. “And for some time we had, and even the kids on that occasion. “Now thankfully nothing came of that, but when you are dealing with outlaw motorcycle gang bosses, you don’t take chances.” At the time, Morrison’s daughters were four and six years old. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B12dXiyHwYD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B12dXiyHwYD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Scott Morrison (@scottmorrisonmp)</a> on Aug 31, 2019 at 6:55pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Vella had lived in Australia for decades and had a wife and children living in Sydney. However, he never became a citizen and is threatening a legal challenge to having his visa cancelled. Despite the Rebels gang boss and many of his friends and family raising money and campaigning for Vella’s, Morrison remains firm in his decision. “I stand by my decision to cancel his visa and I stand by the decision not to review that decision. “He is in Malta and according to our government’s policy, that’s where he will stay. “They can pursue this through the courts, and they will do that no doubt. “It is not the government’s plan or policy or demeanour to give this character a visa. “We cancelled the visa that Labor renewed when it came to Mr Vella and I stand by that 100 per cent.”

News

Cop crackdown: Greek restaurants slammed for ripping off tourists

Tourists may be having the last laugh after a number of complaints about restaurants overcharging foreigners insanely high food and drink bills has led the Greek police to be involved. Mykonos has become the destination of dreams over the last decade especially and Greek restaurant and bar owners have used the ignorance of tourists to scam more money than necessary for meals and drinks – including $840 for six pieces of calamari. The Greek finance ministry has plans to conduct more than 50,000 raids in the next few weeks to target restaurants attempting to cheat customers. A number of tourists have complained about the insane charges made for simple meals, including six pieces of calamari that rounded up to AUD$840. The squid was apart of a $1350 rip-off bill that came with a AUD$97.20 grilled chicken dish. Another customer was faced with a hefty bill as well when he was charged more than AUD$220 for two glasses of prosecco at a different restaurant. Reports claim officers have already closed down dozens of businesses who have been caught scamming their customers. Mykonos restaurant owners have denied the allegations of scamming tourists – claiming customers are fully aware of prices before they place an order. However, foreigners have spoken out against the “scam culture” on the island. “Me and my wife were dragged for a drink only to pay €230 ($AUD376) for a €20 ($AUD33) bottle of wine and a couple of sides,” tourist Yannis Psarras, from London, said according to <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/9361217/greek-cop-restaurants-tax-evasion-fraud/">The Sun.</a> “These guys run the ultimate scam. “They invite you in on a non-existent offer — like free sunbeds — they don’t show you the price list. They list prices by 100 grams rather than per portion or per kilogram or something more standard. “It’s really a playbook of scamming tourists.”

Retirement Life

Police crackdown on little known road rule that could cost you $448

Police are getting stricter on a road rule most people aren’t even aware they’re breaking. Authorities in Northern NSW have started a campaign to increase public awareness on level crossings. In the Tamworth area, law enforcement is keeping a keen look out for risky motorist behaviour around railway crossings. Residents living in nearby suburbs were informed of the enforcement period through letterbox drops. Electronic billboards are also now in the area, reminding motorists to take care when driving through level crossings. In a new initiative to raise awareness for road safety relating to level crossings, NSW law enforcement are cracking down on motorists who do not leave a 20 metre distance when stopping at train tracks. While stopping at flashing lights and stop signs at train tracks is not something on driver’s minds and something we rarely even think twice about – there are motorist’s putting themselves and others in danger by ignoring these rules. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7824923/ra.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/99f4cced27374654964d109c18905c52" /> Greg Rolph, the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command’s acting Assistant Commissioner told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/on-the-road/nsw-police-cracking-down-on-bad-drivers-at-level-crossings/news-story/e0f3a62dc28386d3320baa1e99bdbaf4" target="_blank">news.com.au</a> that drivers who ignore any of the rules are putting themselves in an extreme amount of danger. “In the past month, there have been two incidents where vehicles are queuing too close to the tracks, forcing the drivers of approaching passenger trains to apply emergency brakes,” Mr Rolph explained. “In one case, a boom gate came down on the cabin of a truck, and it was only good fortune that the vehicle involved was able to clear the tracks before trains appeared.” Police will keep an eye out for motorists who queue over railway tracks, speed near level crossings, disobey flashing lights and stop signs and use their phones when approaching level crossings. Drivers who get caught will be hit with a pricey AUD$448 fine and have three demerit points scraped from their license. Almost 1000 penalty notices for level crossing traffic offences state-wide have been issued in the last two years. “This is why we need to continue running these localised campaigns and reinforce our Train to Stop message to motorists at level crossings,” Mr Rolph said. 11 people have died between July 2001 to June 2018 from collisions between trains and vehicles in NSW, the Centre for Road Safety executive director, Bernard Carlon said. “This enforcement operation is all about saving lives and preventing injuries,” Mr Carlon explained. “But we need drivers to be responsible and play their part in reducing trauma at level crossings.”

Legal

Are you guilty of this? Qantas cracks down on sneaky passengers

Qantas has announced that the airline will be cracking down on passengers who try to dodge the carry-on baggage rules. Currently, Qantas allows for passengers to take two 7kg bags on domestic and international flights. However, some customers have been ignoring the weight restrictions and choosing to check in online, in order to avoid weighing their overloaded bags at the terminal. Now, Qantas has revealed that it will be placing a “renewed focus” on carry-on weights to ensure the system is “fair” for all passengers. Over the past few weeks, auditing has been implemented on the busiest flight routes in Australia. A Qantas spokesman said: “Qantas offers the most generous amount of cabin baggage of any Australian airline and we know customers like the convenience of not having to check in luggage.” “But we’re getting feedback from regular flyers who say all customers need to be reminded about how much luggage they can take on board. So we’re renewing our focus to keep cabin baggage within the allowances and to ensure everyone has their fair share of space.’’ The spokesman said enforcing the carry-on weight limit will help reduce delays and lessen the safety risk of overcrowded cabin bins. If a Qantas passenger is found with carry-on that is oversized, it will be moved to the cargo hold. Other airlines have also been targeting passengers who push the boundaries with their carry-on luggage. Earlier this year, Jetstar introduced a new policy to allow customers to purchase an extra 3kg of carry-on baggage. Virgin Australia said the airline warns customers about carry-on restrictions at various stages before they depart on their flights. Do you always to stick to your carry-on weight restrictions? Let us know in the comments below.

Travel Tips

Centrelink's big crackdown in this Aussie state

As the government hits back against dole bludgers, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is starting its crackdown in the area with the most welfare cheats in the country. Those cheating the systems in Werribee, a suburb in Melbourne’s southwest, can expect to see investigators when they next pay a visit to Centrelink, after it was identified as the country’s dole bludging hotspot. Investigators from the AFP and Federal Department of Human Services (DHS) will be sent to the Werribee and Sunshine Centrelink offices. Officers will also be located at Pacific Werribee Shopping Centre, so members of the public can provide tip-offs. Human Services Minister Michael Keenan has encouraged the public to come forward if they know of someone who was cheating the welfare system. “Tip-offs are an important source of information for investigators and it is not uncommon for fraudsters to be dobbed in by their own families or neighbours if they are doing the wrong thing,” he said in a statement. This crackdown will see people with a history of cheating the welfare system, or those with suspicious activity on their case files, targeted for “snap audits”. When Werribee was last investigated in 2015, it was found that almost $11 million worth of benefits were being taken by 2600 individuals who weren’t entitled to payments. In the previous operation, 19 of these investigations were carried out across Australian and Werribee was found to have the highest number of dole bludgers. “The dollar figure was the largest from a single site in the taskforce’s three-year history and represents more than one quarter of the $40 million in debts that have been raised from a total of 19 operations conducted right across Australia,” Mr Keenan said. Mr Kennan said those who made a genuine mistake when receiving their benefits shouldn’t worry about the investigation. “This operation is not about penalising people who make genuine errors. Its focus is on enforcing the law and targeting those who deliberately set out to commit welfare fraud,” Mr Keenan said. The investigation is part of an ongoing joint operation between the AFP and DHS, which first started three years ago.

Money & Banking

Major crackdown on shoppers dumping trolleys

An Adelaide council has declared war on the scourge of abandoned supermarket trolleys. The Marion council is giving a new army of patrol officers the power to fine serial offenders. “It’s got to stop, we’ve had a gutful at council,” City of Marion mayor Kris Hanna said. In just four days, 230 trolleys were found on the streets becoming both an eyesore and safety hazard. Residents told 7 News they were sick of seeing dumped trolleys and it was “quite common to see at least 20” in some areas like Shearer Avenue and Windamere Street. In a drastic bid to curtail the growing problem, half a dozen council workers will be on patrol for the next few months. The council is warning anybody caught dumping a trolley could be slapped with a hefty $5000 fine.

Legal

Major crackdown for drivers who break this road rule

New South Wales will be the first place in the world to introduce speed-camera-style technology to detect illegal mobile phone use by drivers. NSW Minister for Roads, Melinda Pavey, said the decision to introduce cameras to detect illegal phone use by drivers was similar to the ''revolutionary'' decision on December 17, 1982 to introduce breath-testing technology to catch drivers driving under the influence. The introduction of breath-testing cut fatal accidents by 48 per cent. The new rules passed by NSW Parliament on Wednesday also extend mobile drug testing to include cocaine and toughen penalties for motorists under the influence of drugs. “The community wants safer roads and better driver behaviour,” said Mrs Pavey. "Three quarters of those surveyed supported the use of cameras to enforce illegal mobile phone use." Between 2012 to 2017, 184 crashes involved illegal mobile phone use, and resulted in seven deaths and 105 injuries. More than 40,000 people were fined by NSW Police for illegal mobile phone use in the 2016-17 financial year. Parliament was told that 20 seconds of mobile phone use in a car travelling at 60km/h was equivalent to driving blind for 330 metres. Mrs Pavey stressed the new rules were not a revenue-raising measure because the new legislation directed funds raised from fines into a Community Road Safety Fund. A fully licensed driver illegally using a mobile phone will cops a $330 fine and four demerit points. Fully licensed drivers may only use their mobiles hands free to play audio, make or answer a call, or for navigation. Drivers cannot hold phones, nestle them in laps or cradle them between shoulder and ear.

Legal

Centrelink crackdown to hit welfare recipients hard

A Centrelink crackdown is set to hit welfare recipients hard, with the Federal Government flagging its intention to go after the 170,000 Australians with welfare debts. <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/" target="_blank">ABC reports</a> the government is threatening to charge interest on funds owed, which has spiralled into debts totalling more than $900 million nationally. "Some of these debts go back up to 15 years," Human Services Minister Michael Keenan said. The Federal Government has not charged interest on these sort of debts before, but Mr Keenan believes it has been far too lenient in the past. "People just haven't made any effort to repay it, and the Commonwealth has continued to engage with people, reminding them to repay it," Mr Keenan said. "There's all sorts of ways that we can escalate that, including sending our debt collectors." <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/" target="_blank">ABC reports</a> the Department of Human Services has started to get in touch with people with outstanding debts, telling them they have a month to commit to a repayment plan otherwise they risk being slugged interest charges. "If people are deliberately defrauding us, then we will make referrals of that to the police, and they will look at it in conjunction with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions," Mr Keenan said. What are your thoughts? Think this is fair?

Retirement Income

Aussies being treated like "criminals" at US airports

Australians have shared horror stories of being interrogated at the US border and being stuck in limbo over visa applications due to the US immigration crackdown. Australians are finding it harder to visit and work in the US after President Donald Trump’s administration has tightened rules on granting visas to foreigners in a bid to increase border security. 32-year-old Brisbane compliance director, Jinda Baikham, said she felt “very violated” after being questioned at the US border in Hawaii for a visit to Iran years before. Jinda recently travelled to Hawaii for her fourth time with her mum, dad and three sisters. Jinda declared the Iranian trip on her visa waiver but when a customs officer saw the stamp on her passport, she was moved into a room and interrogated for three hours. “I was told nothing. I had to sit and watch an officer go through my entire phone at the counter for over an hour,” she told <a href="http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/aussies-treated-like-criminals-at-us-border/news-story/d3748c9b67f4f9fcbc59a535e878a4bd" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. “Every now and then, he would ask who certain people were, like texts from my sister, and he commented that I have a lot of photos of my dog.” “After he went through everything on my phone, he decided there was nothing threatening on my phone against America.” Jinda was eventually allowed into the country but has said it is unlikely that she will return. “I felt very violated,” she said. Another Aussie, who wished to be known as Julie, said she was “traumatised” after attempting to enter the US with a valid J-1 visa but did not have a particular form that was needed. “You would’ve thought I was a criminal,” she told news.com.au. “I was whisked away to a separate holding area, whilst my partner was separated and cleared through customs to baggage collection, where I proceeded to sit for three hours, the first 2.5 of these with no explanation, interaction or any idea of what was going on.” “Post a 17-hour transit, this was considerably painful.” “Finally when someone called me through, I was yelled at for a good 10 to 15 minutes, asking where my form was (I had told them repeatedly) and that I needed to get someone from Australia to fax them one straight away, being 1 am Queensland time — and who owns a fax machine?” “Over-tired, overstressed, the tears started from me. Keep in mind, at this whole stage they were yelling — not just discussing like rational people.” “After being passed on [through customs], the result was I basically just needed to fill out a form with my personal details and send it back in before 30 days. I’m still slightly traumatised by the experience and, to be honest, post this trip I don’t think I will return to the US.” An Australian immigration lawyer based in the US, Zjantelle Cammisa Markel, said there is “more scrutiny than ever before” for Aussies who want to work in the US. She explained that US immigration and consulate staffers have been given increased powers to deny foreigners access to the country due to White House-sanctioned updates to the Foreign Affairs Manual, which guides the issuance of visas. The updates allow officials to refuse visas, if granting one would harm the US’s best interests. Ms Camissa Markel highlighted that the increased authority was commonly being applied if there was a suspicion that a foreigner was taking a job away from an American. She also said that there has been increased scrutiny for foreigners who want to change their visa statuses within the first three months of their trip. Visa holders who get a job or marry an American without telling an immigration official could be accused of lying on their application and deported. “If you do anything that’s inconsistent with your visa application within 90 days, it can be considered a misrepresentation,” Ms Cammisa Markel said. Immigration lawyers have urged Aussies to be vigilant with paperwork and transparent with their intentions when visiting the US.

International Travel

Government announces crackdown on welfare “cheats”

The government is set to come down hard on Centrelink welfare “cheats”, announcing a crackdown on people gaming the system ahead of next week’s Federal Budget. Figures reported in <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au" target="_blank">The Australian</a> found 7,006 jobseekers missed appointments last year, only to reengage at the end of the fortnight to retain their $570 Newstart payment. An additional 16,492 jobseekers were flagged for “unusual” behaviour and 3,415 more reengaged with the department every 56 days to avoid having payments cut off. It should be noted however that the group identified as those “gaming the system” only comprises about 3 per cent of the 759,000 people receiving the Newstart allowance. Employment minister Michaela Cash told <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au" target="_blank">The Australian</a>, “Australia’s welfare system is there to provide a safety net for those in need — not to fund a lifestyle choice. The Coalition continues to look at ways in which to strengthen the system so that community expectations are met and to ensure that those that can work, do work.” This was reiterated by her colleague, Human Services Minister Alan Tudge, who warned of “immediate and proportionate” punishment for repeat offenders. Mr Tudge said, “It is in their interests as much as the community’s for them to get back to work as quickly as possible, because the longer a person is on welfare, the steeper the road back to employment. “We need a system that recognises that some have serious issues in their life and need assistance. But for those who are gaming the system, we need to introduce stronger, more immediate consequences.” What’s your take? Do you think the government is being a little too harsh, or are they justified in this move?

Money & Banking

Crackdown on drivers using cell phones

A record number of drivers have been caught paying more attention to their cellphones than to the road. Police say a West Aucklander with a beer in one hand and a phone in the other was among the 4195 drivers caught and fined a total of $331,680 during a crackdown in September. The latest police figures show a more than threefold increase in the number of drivers caught nationwide on their phones that month, compared with the average monthly numbers. In the entire Auckland region, 1932 drivers were caught on their phones in September, compared with 963 in August. The number of Wellingtonians snapped increased 75 per cent to 273, and the number of Cantabrians caught almost doubled, with 830 drivers fined. Road policing national manager Superintendent Steve Greally said the figures were horrifying. "People are just flouting it. They don't understand the risk of taking your eyes off the road even for just two seconds. "Even for just a second, you could kill a cyclist, another driver – even yourself. It's a huge issue for us." Greally said he understood how drivers idling in gridlock or at a red light might think it was safe to use their phones, but it was illegal because it was risky. "Even if you're going 5 or 6 kilometres per hour, you're going to cause a nose-to-tail. Or a small child might run out in front of you who doesn't know any better." A record number of drivers were fined in September for using mobile phones while driving. He said officers had not been given quotas during the two-week September sting, but all officers, including detectives who did not usually do road policing, were asked to pull over drivers on cellphones when they spotted them. Breaking the rules results in an $80 fine and 20 demerit points. If 100 points are accumulated within two years, drivers automatically lose their licences for three months. Greally said he was unaware of anyone who had lost their licence purely for repeated phone offences, but thought it likely. "With technology, you've getting a lot more things that you can do with your phone. "They are not just used for calling or for texting. It's apps – the more that increases, the more we'll be having people using phones while driving." The Automobile Association congratulated police on the crackdown, saying multi-tasking impaired drivers' judgment. "There's no doubt it takes your attention away from your driving and increases your risk," spokesman Dylan Thomsen said. "There's a reasonable difference between talking on your phone and to passengers who are in the same environment as the driver and more likely to realise what is going on. Passengers tend to mute their conversation." As many people's phones doubled as music players, the AA's interpretation was that "infrequently" touching a phone attached to a car stereo to change a song would not be breaking the law, any more than changing the radio station would be, Thomsen said. Ministry of Transport figures from 2014 showed distracted drivers were a factor in 12 per cent of crashes. Distracted driving killed 22 people, seriously injured 191, and chalked up an estimated $297 million in social costs. Between 2011-13, 163 fatal or injury crashes were attributed to drivers using cellphones. Backing up the NZ data, a new report out of the US has suggested that smartphones and other driving distractions could be making roads there more dangerous. Preliminary stats released Thursday (NZ time) showed US road deaths for January-June 2015 had risen 8.1 per cent to 16,225 which is a rate more than double an increase in overall driving spawned by falling fuel prices and a growing economy. "The increase in smartphones in our hands is so significant, there's no question that has to play some role. But we don't have enough information yet to determine how big a role," said Mark Rosekind, who heads the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the US government's auto safety watchdog. While US officials said it was too early to identify contributing factors. But Rosekind told reporters that officials are looking at likely causes including distracted driving and the possibility lower fuel prices have encouraged more driving among "risky drivers" such as teenagers. Unlike NZ's laws, Rosekind also criticised an absence of effective laws in US states that prohibit hand-held smartphones by drivers or require the use of seatbelts and motorcycle helmets. The New Zealand Transport Agency has even looked at independent research into hi-tech mobile phone detectors as it considered whether to nationally trial the devices in 2014. They are designed to detect transmissions from passing drivers' phones and sort them from the background noise of other phones in the area. The researchers concluded the detectors would be useful alongside visual observation – but there were concerns the detectors might pick up emails, calls and texts being received by a phone without the driver touching it. Written by Talia Shadwell. First appeared on <a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

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