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Woolies CEO quits after disaster interview

Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci has announced his retirement amidst a flurry of challenges facing the Australian supermarket behemoth. As the company grapples with a staggering loss and contends with allegations of price gouging and unfair dealings with suppliers, the announcement of Banducci's departure marks a significant shake-up at the top. The supermarket giant wasted no time in appointing a successor, promoting Amanda Bardwell to the coveted position after what was described as an "extensive international search process". Bardwell, a veteran of the company with 23 years of experience, currently leads WooliesX, a vital sub-division within Woolworths. Banducci's retirement comes hot on the heels of Woolworths' latest financial results, which revealed a substantial $781 million statutory loss. This loss was largely attributed to a $NZ1.6 billion ($1.5 billion) writedown in the value of its New Zealand grocery business and a $209 million reduction in the value of its stake in ASX-listed alcohol and hotels spin-off Endeavour. Despite these setbacks, Woolworths managed to announce a 2.5 per cent rise in half-year profit to $929 million, buoyed by a 4.4 per cent increase in revenue compared to the previous year. However, amidst these financial intricacies lies a more troubling narrative. Woolworths has found itself embroiled in allegations of price gouging and unfair practices with suppliers, casting a shadow over its operations. The spotlight intensified with the release of an ABC investigation featuring a contentious interview between Banducci and reporter Angus Grigg. The interview, part of a comprehensive examination of the Australian supermarket industry amid the ACCC's investigation into allegations of unfair pricing, saw Banducci visibly flustered and defensive. The program scrutinised how supermarkets profit from rising prices amid a cost of living crisis and included conversations with key industry figures, including Banducci and Coles boss Leah Weckert. Banducci's exchange with Grigg, particularly his dismissal of former ACCC head Rod Sims' remarks, underscored the tension surrounding the allegations. Banducci's subsequent request to edit his comments mid-interview, followed by a brief exit to confer with his PR team, highlighted the sensitivity of the issue. Grigg, reflecting on the incident, described Banducci's reaction as "pretty startling", while pointing out that the lack of scrutiny faced by supermarket executives over the years was very significant. Images: ABC / Woolworths

Retirement Life

Spin cycle disaster: man puts winning Lotto ticket through the wash

In a harrowing tale that's sure to wring out a chuckle or two, a man in his late 20s from Belmont, Western Australia, narrowly escaped laundering his way out of a $2.8 million windfall – after nearly sacrificing his winning lottery ticket to the treacherous depths of his washing machine. It all started innocently enough at the Here's Luck Lottery Centre in Belmont Forum, where our hero – who very sensibly prefers to remain incognito – purchased what would turn out to be a life-changing ticket for the Saturday Lotto. Little did he know, his unassuming trousers would soon become the epicentre of a near-catastrophe. In a classic case of absentmindedness, our hero forgot to take his ticket out of his pants pocket before succumbing to the siren song of laundry day. "I forgot to take the ticket out of my trousers and put it in the washing machine," confessed the forgetful winner. "After five minutes I realised and stopped the washing machine to grab the ticket, fortunately, it was safe." Indeed, it was a race against the spin cycle as the man scrambled to rescue his potential fortune from a soapy demise. "I couldn’t think, I couldn’t sleep, I am still processing the win," he admitted with palpable relief. But our protagonist emerged victorious from this sudsy saga, managing to salvage his ticket just in the nick of time. With a sigh of relief, he made his way to Lotterywest HQ to claim his well-deserved prize. Lotterywest spokesman James Mooney chimed in, highlighting the importance of registering tickets to avoid potential mishaps of this magnitude. "For this player, it all came out of the wash okay, but it’s a reminder for players to register their ticket to prevent what could be a multimillion-dollar mistake," he wisely advised. Image: Getty

Money & Banking

"Absolute f***ing disaster": The Block presenter slams former contestants

Shelley Craft has ripped into two former contestants of The Block, saying the team was an "absolute f***ing disaster". The Block presenter was chatting candidly about the formula of the show on Hit radio show Breakfast with Maz & Matty, where she described what she thought was the ultimate pairing for a team to partake in the renovation show. Shelley was asked about the calibre of contestants on the upcoming season, admitting that the show’s producers generally cast for “characters,” rather than previous experience. “I always thought the best team would be an accountant and an HR manager, because you have to be able to manage your money and manage your trades,” she said, revealing her own personal pick for a successful team. “[But] we sort of had that last year and it was an absolute f***ing disaster. That was the worst team that there is, it’s not the recipe!” she continued, to laughter from the radio hosts. “We’re really after great people that are happy to give it everything they’ve got, and we’ve got five teams this year who are ready to give it a red hot crack.” The “disaster” Craft is referring to is last year’s most controversial couple, lawyer-turned actor Sharon and her accountant husband Ankur, who copped a fierce backlash from viewers over their apparent negative attitudes while filming The Block. The couple repeatedly clashed with their builders, foremen Keith and Dan and host Scott Cam, and also declared on camera numerous times that they wished they’d never signed up to do the show. The couple even had their finances frozen by Scott Cam due to their apparent inability to manage their budget during the intense renovation project. Sharon and Ankur later said they felt “ambushed” and were upset at how they’d been portrayed on the show, prompting Cam to later say in an interview that he thought the couple had “made [the experience] harder” on themselves than it needed to be. Image credits: Getty Images

6 cruise ship disasters

While a cruise nowadays is a safe way to explore the world in consummate luxury, in the early days catching a cruise ship was by no means smooth sailing. Here are 6 cruise ship disaster stories. 1. The Titanic After colliding into an iceberg somewhere in the North Atlantic the “unsinkable” Titanic sank two miles to the bottom of the ocean. More than 1,500 lives were lost, with the disaster continuing to intrigue. 2. S.S. Eastland In 1915 Western Electric hosted an employee picnic aboard the S.S Eastland on the Chicago River which took an unfortunate turn when the ship tipped over (while still at the dock!). 3. The Norwegian Dawn In a journey between New York City and the Bahamas, The Norwegian Dawn was hit by a 70-foot wave that ended up flooding 62 cabins. Thankfully only two people suffered minor injuries. 4. The Splendor On a seven-day cruise to Mexico the engine room of the Splendor caught fire. The cruise was shortened to three days, and 3,299 passengers didn’t have access to toilets for 13 hours. 5. The Costa Concordia The Costa Concordia unfortunately sank in 2012, after the ship hit shallow seas off the coast of Italy. Navy divers reportedly used explosives to access the inside of the ship, and managed to refloat the vessel to dismantle the wreckage. 32 lives were lost. 6. Carnival Conquest Well, we’re just going to have to take their word for it, but apparently the Carnival Conquest ship is haunted by a tall man in a trench coat, who appears in the middle of the night. Image credits: Getty Images

Cruising

Disaster, opulence, and the merciless ocean: why the Titanic disaster continues to enthral

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kristie-patricia-flannery-1220337">Kristie Patricia Flannery</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a> The question on many minds this week is why did some of the world’s richest men risk death to venture to the bottom of the sea in a cold and cramped <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/20/us/oceangate-titanic-missing-submersible.html">“experimental” submersible</a> for a chance to glimpse the wreck of the Titanic? The “unsinkable” ship that sunk on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic in 1912 after colliding with an iceberg is arguably the world’s most well-known boat. The Titanic is recognisable to more of the world’s population than, say, the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria (Christopher Colombus’s fleet that launched the Spanish conquest of the Americas), or Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour (the tall ship that set in motion the British conquest of Australia). The Endeavour’s long-forgotten wreck was found scuttled off the coast of Rhode Island <a href="https://theconversation.com/has-captain-cooks-ship-endeavour-been-found-debate-rages-but-heres-whats-usually-involved-in-identifying-a-shipwreck-176363">just last year</a>. The Titanic’s maiden voyage and calamitous end was one of the biggest news stories of 1912, and has continued to fascinate us ever since. The disaster inspired songs and multiple films in the twentieth century, including James Cameron’s 1997 epic romance, which long reigned as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films#Timeline_of_highest-grossing_films">highest-grossing film of all time</a>. More recently, Titanic exhibitions that invite visitors to examine relics and <a href="https://titanicexhibition.com/nyc/#sec_instafeed">explore the ship’s recreated rooms have attracted huge crowds in New York, Seville and Hong Kong</a>. <h2>Opulence and immigrants</h2> There are two reasons why we are so drawn to the Titanic, and why the super-rich are apparently willing to part with their money and even risk their lives to catch a glimpse of its broken hull. The first is its opulence. The White Start Line that built the Titanic advertised the ship as the most luxurious ever to set sail. Wealthy passengers paid up to £870 for the privilege of occupying the Titanic’s most expensive and spacious first-class cabins. To put this 110-year-old money in perspective, when the first world war broke out in 1914, infantry soldiers in the British army were paid a basic salary of around £20 per year. Titanic movies and exhibitions are popular because audiences enjoy the voyeurism of gazing on the ship’s beautiful furnishings, the stunning clothes worn by its rich and beautiful passengers, and their elaborate meals in fancy restaurants. First-class passengers feasted on <a href="https://online.ucpress.edu/gastronomica/article-abstract/9/4/32/93511/The-Night-the-Good-Ship-Went-Down-Three-Fateful">multi-course dinners</a> with salmon, steak, and pâté de foie gras. Chefs in Australia and around the globe occasionally <a href="https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/things-to-do/titanic-dining-experience">recreate Titanic meals</a> for curious clients. Hundreds of poor immigrant passengers, represented by Jack (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) in Cameron’s movie, were also aboard the Titanic. They lived in crowded quarters and enjoyed less thrilling meals such as boiled beef and potatoes. If their ilk were the only people on board the Titanic, the ship would arguably have faded quickly from memory. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/erAQ9LkftwA?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>The power of the sea</h2> The fact the Titanic was touted as unsinkable also adds to its allure. The ship, whose name evoked its massive size, was engineered to cheat the ocean. When it departed England it symbolised man’s domination over nature. At the bottom of the Atlantic, it serves as a visceral reminder of the indomitable sea’s awesome power. The same two factors - the excess of the voyage, and its defeat by the sea – are now driving the current global interest in the Titan submersible disaster. Few world events garner so much attention, including statements from Downing Street and the White House, and live news blogs from The New York Times and the Guardian. The Titan, like the Titanic, commands our attention because of its obscenely rich passengers, who each reportedly paid US$250,000 (or between four and five times the average US salary) to visit the wreck of the famous ship that battled the sea and lost. And then there is the intriguing mystery and power of the sea. News outlets are publishing helpful graphics that try to teach our terrestrial brains to comprehend just how deep the ocean is, and how far below the sea’s surface the Titanic and possibly the Titan lie. <h2>The limits of human knowledge</h2> Last night I spied <a href="https://neal.fun/deep-sea/">Neal Argawal’s Deep Sea</a> website circulating on social media. The site allows viewers to scroll from the sea surface to the sea floor, diving down past images of various marine animals that inhabit different oceanic depths. At 114 metres is an orca, and 332m marks the the deepest depth a human has ever reached using SCUBA gear. It takes a lot of scrolling to descend to the Titanic almost 4,000m below the waves. Besides gross income inequality, reflecting on the Titan and the Titanic invite us to confront just how little we can “see” of the sea in this age of mass surveillance. Not even the powerful US navy, assisted by the Canadian, UK and French governments, can muster the resources and technology required to locate, let alone rescue, the missing submersible. As the sea seems to have swallowed yet another ship, we are reminded of limits of human knowledge and mastery over the ocean.<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/208200/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kristie-patricia-flannery-1220337">Kristie Patricia Flannery</a>, Research Fellow, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/disaster-opulence-and-the-merciless-ocean-why-the-titanic-disaster-continues-to-enthral-208200">original article</a>.

Travel Trouble

Eerie link between OceanGate pilot and Titanic disaster

A chilling link has been discovered between pilot Stockton Rush, who was onboard the OceanGate submersible, and the Titanic disaster in 1912. Mr Rush, who was at the helm of the vehicle bound for the Titanic wreckage, has a personal connection to two of the victims who were onboard the Titanic when it sank over 100 years ago. His wife, Wendy Rush, is the great-great-granddaughter of Isador Straus, who co-founded Macy’s department store, and Ida Straus, who were among the wealthiest people aboard the Titanic’s ill-fated transatlantic voyage, according to archived records obtained by the New York Times. The Strauses have long been remembered for their display of love and affection when the ocean liner hit the iceberg before infamously sinking in the North Atlantic, claiming the lives of more than 1500 people. Survivors of the disaster reported seeing Ida refuse a place on the lifeboats, which were reserved largely for women and children, and decided to stay onboard the sinking vessel with her husband of more than 40 years. Their tragic love story was depicted in James Cameron’s fictionalised version of the tragedy, his 1997 blockbuster Titanic, which features a scene showing an elderly couple holding on to each other in bed as waters rise around them. Wendy Rush is descended from one of the couple’s daughters, Minnie Strauss, who married Dr. Richard Weil in 1905, and their son, Richard Weil Jr., served as president of Macy’s New York, His son, Dr. Richard Weil III, is Wendy Rush’s father, Joan Adler, the executive director of the Straus Historical Society. Isador’s body was found at sea weeks after the Titanic sank, but his wife’s body was never recovered. Wendy also worked for OceanGate as their communications director, with her LinkedIn indicating she had been on several trips to the wreckage of the Titanic herself. The OceanGate submersible <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/surprising-cause-of-death-revealed-for-missing-titan-sub-crew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly imploded</a> hours after it went missing, with all five people on board believed to be dead. Image credits: OceanGate / Wikimedia

Family & Pets

4 worst travel disasters and how to avoid them

After all the stress involved in preparing and booking an overseas trip, it can be quite disheartening for something to go wrong while you’re on holidays aboard. With a bit of planning however, you can be sure that even if you fall victim to one of these travel disasters you’ll be in a good position to continue your trip. Here are four of the worst travel disasters, and how to avoid them. These travel disasters can easily turn the trip of a lifetime into one that you’d rather forget. 1. Missed flight The prospect of running through a crowded terminal only to be greeted by a closed door at the gate is one that sinks the heart of even the most nonchalant traveller. And missing a flight can really throw a spanner in the works for your travel plans. If your plane has taken off without you, it’s recommended that you immediately go to your airline’s desk who can get you on the next flight. Whether or not you will have to pay for this is another matter entirely, and depends on who’s at fault for the missed flight. The best safeguard in this case, is having travel insurance that covers you for missed connections. 2. Lost luggage There’s few feelings in the world of travel that are worse than the one you get hours after disembarking from your flight, standing at a now-empty baggage carousel, and knowing that two weeks of holiday clothing is anywhere in the world but here. Make sure you hang onto your baggage ticket and if this ever happens head to counter or office at your airport and fill out a missing baggage form. If your bag has indeed been lost or damaged and the airline is at fault you may be compensated, but it’s another one of those circumstances where it is just best to have travel insurance to make sure you’re prepared. 3. Becoming sick From cold to migraines to something more serious, there is nothing in the world that ruins your dream trip like becoming sick. If you have fallen ill overseas it’s recommended you seek medical assistance as soon as possible. In some countries you may have to pay for your treatment upfront, and if this is the case then you may have to contact your travel insurance provider (they generally have 24 hour contact centres) to arrange payments. If you don’t have insurance and are in a situation where you have to pay for treatment upfront you must contact your financial institution or a family member. 4. Lost passport Opening your daypack only to find your passport missing is every traveller’s worst nightmare. If this has happened to you, it’s important to contact the local police and then the New Zealand embassy, who will be able to provide you with an emergency passport so you can return home. Carry an extra copy of your passport in a separate part of your luggage. Images: Getty

Travel Trouble

Bride’s online dress disaster

Bride-to-be Zuzanna was full of excitement ahead of her engagement party - she was free of stress, and she had an amazing dress … until she didn’t. Zuzanna had been under the impression that her Amazon find - a gorgeous white lace maxi dress with nearly 3000 promising reviews - was going to be everything she dreamed. But that dream was destined to become a nightmare, with the online retail supergiant sending her a much shorter version of the garment. Gone was any vision of a long skirt swirling around her ankles as she strode in to her upcoming engagement party, with the new hem barely grazing Zuzanna’s knees in a picture she posted to Facebook group What I Asked For VS What I Got. “It’s not a bad dress at all,” she wrote, “but it’s really not what I was going for.” Continuing from there, Zuzanna took the opportunity to warn others who might have had the same idea as her, pleading for them to “be careful what you order. I bought this dress for my engagement party on Saturday … I definitely will not be wearing it!” She then explained that it had taken her by surprise to open her package and made the unexpected discovery, as the reviews for the product had been so positive. Her misfortunes weren’t to end there, however, with Zuzanna noting that the dress’ “material is super cheap feeling, but I feel like I could have worn it once before it fell apart in the wash.” She hadn’t had any problems with her Amazon purchases before, and hadn’t even considered that poor outcome, though it now meant she’d have to go out in search of another dress for her party. “I don’t hate the dress,” she surmised, “it's just not right for the occasion and that's so sad.” And although Zuzanna seemed to have come to terms with her fate, and didn’t seem too upset about it, people in the comments still wanted to offer her their support, with a few suggestions on how she should proceed with Amazon. “They have a short dress on the site, they probably scanned the wrong item when they sent it to you,” one said. 'It's probably a mistake,” another wrote, before sharing that they actually “had several of these maxi dresses” and that Zuzanna should try contacting the company. Meanwhile, others seized the opportunity for some fun, with one asking “where's the other half of the dress?” “Wow,” said another, “you must be really tall!” Images: Facebook

Beauty & Style

“Fun until it wasn’t”: Grant Denyer takes smiling selfie moments before disaster

Former Sunrise presenter Grant Denyer has taken to Instagram to report that he was involved in a disastrous biking accident. Grant, who has been training ahead of the 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour race this weekend, was with friend and training partner Mick when they ran into trouble. Despite dubbing the incident a “huge stack”, it seems no real injury was sustained, with Denyer’s sharing a light hearted take with his 408k followers. “No joke, 2 mins after this photo we had a huge stack doing wheelies and clipping handlebars,” he captioned the image. The photo in question features Grant and Mick on their bikes, cycling along a country road, with big smiles on each of their faces. “D*ckheads,” Grant said of the pair, and added that they were “putting in the big yards for the @bathurst12hr this weekend. Doing a lot of riding. New to it. As our crash proves … Thx Mick from @bathurstaquapark for being a great training partner. Most of the time”. Grant’s post was met with great amusement from his followers, with most making fun of the situation along with him. It didn’t seem to phase Grant, who met their comments with lighthearted jokes of his own. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CoEdKdkrFGG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CoEdKdkrFGG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Grant Denyer (@grantdenyer)</a> </div> </blockquote> “Two hands for beginners, legend,” wrote one. “Yeah um…. Was fun until it wasn’t!” Grant responded, going on to mention that they “took each out and ended up in the scrub. Naturally we did it on the last kilometre of the run. It’s always the ‘last run’ isn’t it?” “Yep, you certainly were putting lots of effort into the big hill as I was passing,” said one supporter, suggesting they had spotted Grant out on the road. Grant, who mentioned that he was new to riding in his original caption, responded to confirm that “it does not come natural I can assure you!! These little legs work HARD”. Mick, Grant’s riding partner, came up in a few of the comments, and Grant made sure to praise his skill while still poking some fun at the whole situation. “He’s a wildcat that’s for sure! A beast on the bike.” He said of his training partner, “bloody talented at everything. Except keeping to himself”. Grant, who has quite the history with motorsports under his belt, will still be participating in the Bathurst 12 hour, an international endurance race that will span Friday through to Sunday. Images: Instagram

Travel Trouble

Why The Block 2023 is looking at a potential disaster

The Block's producers and contestants may suffer financially in what could be the "worst series yet" in 2023, given the current economic climate, according to experts. However, there is one saving grace for the next instalment of the Channel 9 reality series and that is the new location that’s been selected. The hugely successful series sees five couples renovate a property each before selling it at auction, with contestants able to keep any profit above a set reserve. In 2023 they'll be up against a different property market compared to the heated conditions enjoyed by fans of the show in previous series. After staging a "tree change" season in Gisborne, located in Victoria's Macedon Ranges this year, The Block will return to Melbourne's Bayside in 2023 – the location having already been leaked. Producers bought five classic brick homes in Hampton East at 14 Charming Street, 16 Charming Street, 18 Charming Street, 20 Charming Street, and 22 Charming Street, securing them all at once, costing $14.3 million. The humble Charming Street blocks, which measure around 600sqm to 700sqm, will this time next year be occupied by high-end trophy homes, with the show's producers and contestants hoping to net big profits. "The Block has paid a premium there, double what we would expect the properties to be worth. It could be financially the worst series yet. "They're $7 million behind the eight-ball from day dot." The median house price in Hampton East is $1.55 million, down from a price peak of $1.57 million in February, with a further drop in price expected. Nationally, home prices have slipped 3.53% since March. To be able to recoup their money in 2023, producers will have to do some good advertising and sponsorship deals, he added. Local real estate agents remain skeptical that the renovated properties will be able to sell and turn a profit. Nevertheless, Mr Sibley, director of Buxton Hampton East remains optimistic The Block can set a new suburb benchmark and current property owners could benefit. Mr Valentic said while it was "hard" to get buyers willing to pay $4 million on a property in Gisborne, it shouldn't be as hard to find those willing to spend $3 million in Melbourne's Bayside. The question is whether that price will be good enough for producers and contestants. Images: Channel 9

Emergency response via wifi proposed to solve a wicked problem

Concern that tourists and travellers are not receiving local, up to date emergency information has sparked the idea that won the inaugural Natural Hazards Research Australia Disaster Challenge Final in Brisbane. Dr Kamarah Pooley and Mark Owens are behind the winning concept, which addresses what Natural Hazards Research (NHRA) describes as “a wicked problem” in the pantheon of problems caused by climate change. Pooley and Owens proposed using Wi-Fi captive portals to reach tourists and tourism workers with disaster preparation and prevention information. According to Pooley, an early-career researcher from Fire and Rescue New South Wales, the idea focuses on positive and practical information that people can use while on holiday to stay safe from floods, bushfires, cyclones and other natural hazards. The concept outlines a short video with tips about how to access emergency information and what to do if disaster strikes – customised to the local area – which would play before tourists access Wi-Fi services at accommodation or eateries. “Accessing free Wi-Fi is essential for holiday makers and our approach is another way to reach people who are hard to reach through current communication channels,” said Owens, an early-career researcher from the Country Fire Authority in Victoria. “Wi-Fi portals are a way that holiday makers can receive the vital information they need to make informed decisions during a natural hazard.” As NHRA CEO Andrew Gissing explained, “emergency management is full of wicked problems and new thinking is our way forward. We cannot keep doing things the same way and expecting a different result.” Pooley told Cosmos “Existing sources of disaster information build resilience in communities through targeted programs, resources and messages that are designed for defined, static populations. “While existing efforts are effective at reducing the risk and consequences of disasters for permanent residents and workers, there is little evidence to suggest that these approaches are applicable to transient communities. “Tourists have unstructured routines, making them difficult to access in a systematic way. Travellers are inherently difficult to reach. This is especially concerning when travellers are from overseas and are not aware of any of the usual sources of information, such as which radio stations to listen to, social media accounts to follow, or mobile applications to download.” <h2>So why would tourists access the emergency response content?</h2> “While our idea does not require tourists and tourism workers to access a Wi-Fi network, it taps into the large-scale adoption of wireless services and the everyday behaviours of an increasing tech savvy population to reach people who are on the move. “Australia has embraced wireless services and Wi-Fi is now considered an integral part of public infrastructure. Free Wi-Fi is increasingly rolling out, particularly in places frequented by tourists and tourism workers, such as accommodation, information centres, cafes, restaurants, parks, airports, and on airlines and buses. “Captive portals are web pages that users must view and interact with before accessing a Wi-Fi network. Any tourist or tourism worker who attempts to access a Wi-Fi network will have to watch a disaster preparedness video tailored to that time and place. After they have viewed the video, they will be provided with access to the Wi-Fi network. “Travellers are heavy consumers of wireless services. By tapping into Wi-Fi, we can deliver systematic disaster preparedness information to a large proportion and wide variety of travellers.” Emergency agencies and local media and the ABC have spent fifteen years trying to ensure they can deliver emergency information to local communities. Pooley says travellers require different messaging to permanent residents. “Many tourists are new to the local area and are unaware of the temporal and place-based factors influencing risk. They do not have accurate perceptions of risk and how disasters may interact with that season or place. They generally do not know what to do when a disaster occurs in that context. As a result, travellers need tailored information. “For example, while most locals know the local area, travellers often do not. We recommend that travellers download an offline map of the local area so that, in the event of a disaster and loss of telecommunication services, they have access to a map that will help them leave an area that is unsafe. “While most locals will know to listen to their local ABC radio, scroll through local emergency services social media pages, and download certain mobile applications such as the NSW RFS’ Fires Near Me app, travellers will not, especially if they are from overseas. “Our messaging will show travellers what apps to download and which channels to follow. During the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis, tens of thousands of travellers rushed to petrol stations and supermarkets, emptying local towns of fuel and food. “Our messaging encourages travellers to keep their fuel tank full, carry extra food and water, and leave early to avoid placing additional pressure on local communities and critical infrastructure. These are just a few examples of the additional information tourists and tourism workers need to adequately prepare for disasters. Natural Hazards Research Australia will now work with Poole and Owens to develop their concept, which is explained in this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdsmSPhQ9iM&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">short video</a>. Second place in the Disaster Challenge went to Griffith University postgraduate students Jane Toner, Sheridan Keegan, Ahmed Qasim, Lynn Lue-Kopman, Yunjin Wang and Manori Dissanayaka, alongside Cristina Hernandez-Santin from RMIT University. Their pitch was a disaster-activated information hub that harnessed the value of creative place-making and art to bring communities together and provide emergency information to tourists, titled Beacons of Hope. Third place was awarded to Jyoti Khatri K C and Mohammed Alqahtani, Queensland University of Technology PhD students, who drew on their personal experience of the 2022 Queensland floods to propose ways to harness community connections with culturally and linguistically diverse communities to increase emergency preparedness amongst migrant communities, whose knowledge of potential natural hazards in Australia may be low. The next Disaster Challenge will take place in 2023 This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/news/emergency-response-solved-via-wifi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ian Mannix. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

‘Patently ridiculous’: State government failures have exacerbated Sydney’s flood disaster

For the fourth time in 18 months, floodwaters have inundated homes and businesses in Western Sydney’s Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley. Recent torrential rain is obviously the immediate cause. But poor decisions by successive New South Wales governments have exacerbated the damage. The town of Windsor, in the Hawkesbury region, has suffered a particularly high toll, with dramatic flood heights of 9.3 metres in February 2020, 12.9m in March 2021 and 13.7m in March this year. As I write, flood heights at Windsor have reached nearly 14m. This is still considerably lower than the monster flood of 1867, which reached almost 20m. It’s clear that standard flood risk reduction measures, such as raising building floor levels, are not safe enough in this valley. We’ve known about the risk of floods to the region for a long time. Yet successive state governments have failed to properly mitigate its impact. Indeed, recent urban development policies by the current NSW government will multiply the risk. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> BBC weather putting Sydney’s downpour into context. More rain there in 4 days than London gets in a year. <a href="https://t.co/FDkBCYGlK7">pic.twitter.com/FDkBCYGlK7</a> — Brett Mcleod (@Brett_McLeod) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brett_McLeod/status/1544071890431623169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2022</a></blockquote> We knew this was coming A 22,000 square kilometre catchment covering the Blue Mountains and Western Sydney drains into the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system. The system faces an <a href="https://theconversation.com/sydneys-disastrous-flood-wasnt-unprecedented-were-about-to-enter-a-50-year-period-of-frequent-major-floods-158427" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extreme flood risk</a> because gorges restrict the river’s seaward flow, often causing water to rapidly fill up the valley after heavy rain. Governments have known about the flood risks in the valley for more than two centuries. Traditional Owners have known about them for millennia. In 1817, Governor Macquarie lamented: <blockquote> it is impossible not to feel extremely displeased and Indignant at [colonists] Infatuated Obstinacy in persisting to Continue to reside with their Families, Flocks, Herds, and Grain on those Spots Subject to the Floods, and from whence they have often had their prosperity swept away. </blockquote> Macquarie’s was the first in a long line of governments to do nothing effective to reduce the risk. The latest in this undistinguished chain is the NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts. In March, Roberts <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-planning-minister-scraps-order-to-consider-flood-fire-risks-before-building-20220321-p5a6kc.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly revoked</a> his predecessor’s directive to better consider flood and other climate risks in planning decisions, to instead favour housing development. Roberts’ predecessor, Rob Stokes, had required that the Department of Planning, local governments and developers consult Traditional Owners, manage risks from climate change, and make information public on the risks of natural disasters. This could have helped limit development on floodplains. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Michael Greenway knows that as soon as he sees floodwater, it’s time to get the three boxes of family photos and move to higher ground. He’s lived in his Richards home for years and has experienced six floods - three of which have been this year <a href="https://t.co/t8Tgckc5lx">https://t.co/t8Tgckc5lx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSWFloods?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSWFloods</a> <a href="https://t.co/ErN6sf6hBn">pic.twitter.com/ErN6sf6hBn</a> — Laura Chung (@Laura_R_Chung) <a href="https://twitter.com/Laura_R_Chung/status/1543890156675276800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2022</a></blockquote> Why are we still building there? The Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley is currently home to 134,000 people, a population <a href="https://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/expert-advice/hawkesbury-nepean-flood-risk-management-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">projected to</a> double by 2050. The potential <a href="https://theconversation.com/to-stop-risky-developments-in-floodplains-we-have-to-tackle-the-profit-motive-and-our-false-sense-of-security-184062?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economic returns</a> from property development are a key driver of the <a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/26393302" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lack of effective action</a> to reduce flood risk. In the valley, for example, billionaire Kerry Stokes’ company Seven Group is <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-raising-the-warragamba-dam-wall-could-be-a-win-for-billionaire-kerry-stokes-20220222-p59yke.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly a part owner</a> of almost 2,000 hectares at Penrith Lakes by the Nepean River, where a 5,000-home development has been mooted. Planning in Australia often uses the 1-in-100-year flood return interval as a safety standard. <a href="https://nccarf.edu.au/living-floods-key-lessons-australia-and-abroad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This is not appropriate</a>. Flood risk in the valley is increasing with climate change, and development in the catchment increases the speed of runoff from paved surfaces. The historical 1-in-100 year safety standard is particularly inappropriate in the valley, because of the extreme risk of rising water cutting off low-lying roads and completely submerging residents cut-off in extreme floods. What’s more, a “medium” climate change scenario will see a <a href="https://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/expert-advice/hawkesbury-nepean-flood-risk-management-strategy/resources/publications-and-resources/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">14.6% increase</a> in rainfall by 2090 west of Sydney. This is projected to increase the 1-in-100 year flood height at Windsor from 17.3m to 18.4m. The NSW government should impose a much higher standard of flood safety before approving new residential development. In my view, it would be prudent to only allow development that could withstand the 20m height of the 1867 flood. No dam can control the biggest floods The NSW government’s primary proposal to reduce flood risk is to <a href="https://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/expert-advice/hawkesbury-nepean-flood-risk-management-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raise Warragamba Dam</a> by 14m. There are many reasons this <a href="https://www.giveadam.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposal should be questioned</a>. They include the potential inundation not just of <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/traditional-owners-launch-federal-bid-to-stop-raising-of-warragamba-dam-wall-20210128-p56xkt.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cultural sites</a> of the Gundungarra nation, but threatened species populations, and part of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The <a href="https://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/media/2855/infrastructure-nsw-resilient-valley-resilient-communities-2017-jan.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cost-benefit analysis</a> used to justify the proposal <a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-submission-details.aspx?pk=65507" target="_blank" rel="noopener">did not count</a> these costs, nor the benefits of alternative measures such as upgrading escape roads. Perversely, flood control dams and levee banks often result in higher flood risks. That’s because none of these structures stop the biggest floods, and they provide an illusion of safety that justifies more risky floodplain development. The current NSW transport minister <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/emergency-minister-says-raising-dam-wall-could-lead-to-more-development-on-floodplain-20210329-p57evo.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suggested such development</a> in the valley last year. Similar development occurred with the construction of the Wivenhoe Dam in 1984, which hasn’t prevented extensive flooding in <a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/26393302" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brisbane</a> in 2011 and 2022. These are among the reasons the NSW Parliament Select Committee on the Proposal to Raise the Warragamba Dam Wall <a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/listofcommittees/Pages/committee-details.aspx?pk=262#tab-reportsandgovernmentresponses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recommended</a> last October that the state government: <blockquote> not proceed with the Warragamba Dam wall raising project [and] pursue alternative floodplain management strategies instead. </blockquote> What the government should do instead The NSW government now has an opportunity to overcome two centuries of failed governance. It could take substantial measures to keep homes off the floodplain and out of harm’s way. We need major <a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-submission-details.aspx?pk=65507" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new measures</a> including: <ul> <li>preventing new development</li> <li>relocating flood prone residents</li> <li>building better evacuation roads</li> <li>lowering the water storage level behind Warragamba Dam.</li> </ul> The NSW government should help residents to relocate from the most flood-prone places and restore floodplains. This has been undertaken for many Australian towns and cities, such as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420914000028" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Grantham</a>, Brisbane, and <a href="https://nccarf.edu.au/living-floods-key-lessons-australia-and-abroad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">along major rivers worldwide</a>. <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/5/4/1580/htm#B10-water-05-01580" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Relocating residents isn’t easy</a>, and any current Australian buyback and relocation programs are voluntary. I think it’s in the public interest to go further and, for example, compulsorily acquire or relocate those with destroyed homes, rather than allowing them to rebuild in harm’s way. This approach offers certainty for flood-hit people and lowers community impacts in the longer term. It is patently ridiculous to rebuild on sites that have been flooded multiple times in two years. In the case of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, there are at least <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/federal-government-insurers-stop-housing-in-floodrisk-zones/news-story/cba71269eff2b0ea00d93445ff0e9f73" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5,000 homes</a> below the 1-in-100-year flood return interval. This includes roughly <a href="https://www.hawkesburygazette.com.au/story/7657492/near-1000-flood-related-home-insurance-claims-already-in-hawkesbury/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1,000 homes flooded</a> in March. The NSW government says a buyback program would be <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/farcical-minister-shoots-down-flood-relocation-says-residents-know-the-risks-20220308-p5a2qg.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">too expensive</a>. Yet, the cost would be comparable to the roughly $2 billion needed to raise Warragamba Dam, or the government’s $5 billion WestInvest fund. An alternative measure to raising the dam is to lower the water storage level in Warragamba Dam by 12m. This would reduce the amount of drinking water stored to supply Sydney, and would provide some flood control space. The city’s water supply would then need to rely more on the existing desalination plant, a <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032116001817" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strategy assessed as cost effective</a> and with the added benefit of bolstering drought resilience. The flood damage seen in NSW this week was entirely predictable. Measures that could significantly lower flood risk are expensive and politically hard. But as flood risks worsen with climate change, they’re well worth it.<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/186304/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jamie-pittock-7562" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jamie Pittock</a>, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian National University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/patently-ridiculous-state-government-failures-have-exacerbated-sydneys-flood-disaster-186304" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.

Legal

Natural disaster declared for NSW

The Australian Government has declared a natural disaster for parts of New South Wales. Torrential rain has continued to batter the state as tens of thousands of residents have evacuated flood prone areas, others have been left stranded waiting to be rescued by the SES, and 21 people are stuck in a cargo ship following an engine failure. The SES said there were 5,300 calls for help, 252 people were rescued overnight and a further 45,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. Despite the rain expecting to ease today, SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns there’s concern for certain areas. "Our biggest concern today is ongoing riverine flooding along the Hawkesbury, Nepean and the Georges rivers, with our focus areas being McGraths Hill, Pitt Town, Woronora, Liverpool and Milperra," he said. A natural disaster has been declared in 23 Local Government Areas which have been left submerged by rising waters. The residents in the 23 LGAs affected by the severe storms and flooding since June 27, will now be eligible for disaster relief payments funded by the NSW government and the Commonwealth. The LGAs include Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Canterbury Bankstown, Campbelltown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Fairfield, Georges River, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Kiama, Lithgow, Liverpool, Northern Beaches, Penrith, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Sutherland, The Hills, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and Wollongong. “We have seen some of these impacted communities being hit by floods for a third and fourth time in 18 months, which is extremely distressing to the residents of these communities,” Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Watt said. “The Australian and New South Wales governments have worked very cooperatively through this latest flood emergency, to ensure defence and other resources were deployed early and fast. “Similarly, we’re now working hard together to make sure that impacted communities get the financial and other assistance they need as soon as possible.” It comes as a delicate rescue operation continues for bulk carrier ship Portland Bay after it lost power on Monday leaving 21 crew members stranded. The ship then began drifting towards the coast of the Royal National Park, south of Sydney but the crew managed to drop two anchors in the wild 5.5m swells. John Finch, chief operating officer at Port Authority, said the main objective was to move the ship to deeper waters. "The priority is getting this vessel and its crew into safer waters and away from land and the potential of grounding," he said. "All tugs have now arrived and connected to the ship so the operation has commenced to raise its anchors and move this ship safely out to sea in a slow and controlled manner. "The conditions make the towage operation quite difficult. In eight-metre swell, the vessel is going to be rising and falling and rolling. That's going to put a lot of stress on the equipment and the tug lines." The port authority has managed to move the ship about 20 nautical miles offshore and out of immediate danger. Images: SES/Nine News

News

9 tips for keeping your pet safe during a natural disaster

1. Be prepared for the worst Embrace the Boy Scout motto: Always be prepared. You don’t want to find yourself in the middle of an emergency and not have the tools you, your family, and your pets need to survive. Russell Hartstein, acclaimed dog and cat behaviourist, trainer and nutritionist, says that the most common mistake people make during a natural disaster is leaving pets behind. “You can’t leave a dog or cat at home thinking they will be OK with a bunch of food and water. They won’t be OK, and they will likely die,” he warns. 2. Keep extra food on hand Always have enough food on hand to last your pet for at least two weeks, recommends Hartstein. Keep plenty of treats handy as well, he says. These can help your pet stay calm and happy. The treats will also be useful for getting your pet to behave during this stressful time. Lastly, buy a few collapsible bowls for your pet to eat and drink out of; they’re easier to transport and take up less space. 3. Grab comfort toys or blanket Hartstein emphasises that it’s essential to have “special toys or comfort items to relieve boredom and reduce stress.” Whether your pet has a favourite toy, blanket, or just loves bones, it would be helpful to have their comfort items on hand to help them relax. Going through a natural disaster and heading to an unknown destination is scary for your pet; these familiar items will put them at ease. 4. Invest in pet first-aid kit While you no doubt have a first-aid kit for family emergencies, you may not have one for your furry friends. You don’t have to be a veterinarian to help your wounded animal. Hartstein recommends you look for one that can handle paw care, small cuts, wound dressing, hydrogen peroxide, tweezers, scissors, gauze pads and rolls, adhesive tape. Consider adding hand sanitiser, a muzzle, paper towels, sheets, bowls, toys and peanut butter or any food that really motivates your pet to help deal with an actual procedure, he says 5. Keep vaccination and prescription records with passport Keep all of your pet’s medical records in a folder next to your important papers so that they’ll be easy to grab when you’re heading out the door. If your dog is on prescription medications, take proof of that with you in case you need to visit a pharmacy on the road. You should also have proof that your dog is licensed and up to date on vaccinations. And keep an up-to-date photo: “Bring current photos of your pets and descriptions,” says Hartstein. Write down the detailed markings of your pets, he says, so you can find them if you become separated. 6. Consider protective pet wear A life vest or anything else that would help keep them afloat in a flash flood is also important. A tight-fitting anxiety vest can be consoling for pets who are prone to anxiety. Hartstein adds, “Consider purchasing dog boots to protect your dog’s paws from the elements.” Rough surfaces and debris can cause injury, as can hot summer roads. 7. Clean water During a state of emergency, experts recommend you boil your water for at least one minute (three, if you’re above 1,500m elevation) to make it potable before drinking it – and before giving it to your pets. (Don’t forget to let it cool first!) As an alternative, Hartstein says, you can purchase water purifying tablets, filters like the LifeStraw, or a UV device. These methods are simple and can prevent illness in both you and your pet. 8. Get a ramp for bigger dogs Small dogs, cats and other pets will be easy to carry out of trouble. Large dogs – especially elderly ones – can be more of a challenge, Hartstein says: “If you are not strong enough to lift your dog, or if your dog is too old to lift without injuring them, think about a ramp to walk them into your truck or car.” 9. Practice with your pets A disaster will be much less stressful if you and your pets are ready to handle severe situations. Try going through your evacuation drill with your pet by collecting the first-aid kit, comfort items, and getting the animal into the carrier or car. Make it fun, Hartstein explains: “Condition your dog and cat to love all of the items and process of evacuation. Most importantly, expose them positively to new stimuli and environments gradually, only with positive reinforcement. Have them looking forward to road trips and different or unfamiliar sounds, smells, surfaces and sights.”

Family & Pets

‘One of the most extreme disasters in colonial Australian history’

The deluge dumped on southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales this week has been catastrophic. Floodwaters peaked at around 14.4 metres high in Lismore – two metres higher than the city’s previous record. So how does this compare to Australia’s previous floods, such as in 2011? And can we expect more frequent floods at this scale under climate change? The answers to questions like these aren’t straightforward. Climate change doesn’t tell the whole story, as extreme rainfall can occur for a <a href="https://theconversation.com/like-rivers-in-the-sky-the-weather-system-bringing-floods-to-queensland-will-become-more-likely-under-climate-change-176711">variety of reasons</a>. What’s more, it’s too soon to officially state whether this event is directly linked to climate change, as this would require a formal event attribution study. This can take months or years to produce. In any case, we do know extreme events like this will occur more frequently in a warmer world. And the rising death toll, ongoing evacuations and destroyed homes make this one of the most extreme natural disasters in colonial Australian history. How this compares to floods in our past The east coast is a common place for heavy rainfall and flooding. The Yugara and Yugarabul people have <a href="https://www.oxleycreekcatchment.org.au/history/">traditional stories about great floods</a> in the Brisbane river region long before European colonisation, and sediments from floodplains indicate floods as severe as those in 2010–2011 have occurred <a href="https://theconversation.com/old-floods-show-brisbanes-next-big-wet-might-be-closer-than-we-think-70392">at least seven times in the past 1,000 years</a>. Instrumental records and <a href="https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/overview-brisbane-river-floods">documentary accounts</a> show severe floods have inundated southern Queensland’s cities and towns in the 1820s, early 1840s and 1890s, 1931, 1974 and, of course, in 2010–2011. Each of these events have been devastating, and record-breaking, depending on which records you’re interested in. The floods in 1841 and 1893 are considered highest in terms of <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-16/brisbane-flood-history-should-not-take-people-by-surprise/13051826">water levels recorded in Brisbane city</a>, reaching over 8m. Australia’s wettest day on record was also recorded in 1893, when Crohamhurst in the Glasshouse Mountains measured 907 millimetres in one day. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/449172/original/file-20220301-4202-1lwf5fm.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/449172/original/file-20220301-4202-1lwf5fm.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/449172/original/file-20220301-4202-1lwf5fm.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/449172/original/file-20220301-4202-1lwf5fm.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/449172/original/file-20220301-4202-1lwf5fm.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/449172/original/file-20220301-4202-1lwf5fm.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/449172/original/file-20220301-4202-1lwf5fm.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Black and white image of men in a small boat in front of a tall brick building that is half submerged in flood water. The building had 'West End Brewery' written on it" /><figcaption>The West End Brewery in Brisbane in 1890. The Brewery building was damaged even further in the 1893 flood, when the Brisbane River rose 10 feet above the 1890 record. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland</figcaption></figure> The 1974 event was associated with extreme rainfall totals in many coastal areas, including 314mm in one day in Brisbane, and more than a metre of rainfall was recorded over three days in places such as Mount Tamborine and the northwest of Surfers Paradise. The 2010–11 flood, while not as severe in terms of extreme rainfall totals, <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs24b.pdf">was notable for its inland extent</a>, and was the final act of Australia’s wettest July to December on record. The current flood has peaked at 3.85m in Brisbane, below the 2010–2011 levels of 4.46m. But it’s breaking records in other areas such as Lismore in northern NSW. The rainfall statistics associated with this event are also nearing the highest on record for many places, possibly due to the slow-moving nature of the associated weather system. Four of the top six highest rainfall totals in NSW were <a href="https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/second-heaviest-daily-rainfall-ever-observed-in-nsw/536322">recorded on 28 February</a>, and Brisbane has just experienced three days of over 200mm. These aren’t the highest daily totals ever recorded in the city, but the first time three days of such intense falls have been documented, in data that go back to 1841. Disentangling the role of climate change When it comes to understanding the role of human-induced climate change in extreme events, there is the temptation to ask the wrong question: “did climate change cause this event?” Since any extreme event is always a manifestation of climate variability, large weather systems, local-scale weather and climate change, it’s impossible to categorically answer this question with a simple “yes” or “no”. Instead, the question we should be asking is “did climate change contribute to this event?” Well, firstly, there has actually been a slight decrease in summer rainfall in southeast Queensland and northeast NSW since the mid-20th century. But, there’s very high variability in rainfall for this region, and La Niña – a natural climate phenonenon associated with wetter weather – often brings flooding to this area, as we saw in 2010/2011 and in the 1970s. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/449171/original/file-20220301-15-1h65whn.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/449171/original/file-20220301-15-1h65whn.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/449171/original/file-20220301-15-1h65whn.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/449171/original/file-20220301-15-1h65whn.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/449171/original/file-20220301-15-1h65whn.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/449171/original/file-20220301-15-1h65whn.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/449171/original/file-20220301-15-1h65whn.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/449171/original/file-20220301-15-1h65whn.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>Trends in maximum 3-day rainfall in summer (December-February) from 1959/1960 to 2019/2020 show mixed trends in the flood-affected region. White areas are where station coverage is sparse or the dataset fails a quality control test. Author provided</figcaption></figure> Indeed, the effect of La Niña (and its counterpart El Niño, associated with drier weather) makes identifying a climate change-related trend more difficult. In other words, while a human-induced climate change signal may be present, the naturally high variability makes it hard to spot. The atmosphere can hold approximately 7% more moisture for every degree Celsius of global warming. However, we also need the right weather systems in place to trigger the release of moisture from the air and cause extreme rainfall. The climate change effect on these systems is uncertain. Climate change and weather systems The severity of the flooding in southeast Queensland is partly due to a weather system called an “<a href="https://theconversation.com/like-rivers-in-the-sky-the-weather-system-bringing-floods-to-queensland-will-become-more-likely-under-climate-change-176711">atmospheric river</a>” sitting over the region for days. To make matters worse, the rain fell on an already sodden ground due to both the higher-than-average rainfall from the current La Niña, and the La Niña in the 2020-2021 summer. This made a huge difference to the scale of the floods. We don’t fully understand how the persistence of these natural systems will change in future, but recent work shows climate change will cause long-lasting atmospheric rivers over Sydney to occur <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2021GL095335">almost twice as often</a> by the end of the 21st century. We don’t know yet if that’s also true further north of Sydney. To complicate things further, there’s <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/expect-twice-as-many-extreme-la-nina-events-under-climate-change-study-warns">evidence</a> to suggest climate change may be influencing the frequency, intensity and impacts of El Niño and La Niña events. <a href="https://interactive-atlas.ipcc.ch/regional-information#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">Climate change projections</a> also suggest we may see small increases in the number of extreme one-day rainfall events which typically lead to flash flooding, in eastern Australia. But there’s a lot of uncertainty. And worldwide, <a href="https://theconversation.com/mass-starvation-extinctions-disasters-the-new-ipcc-reports-grim-predictions-and-why-adaptation-efforts-are-falling-behind-176693">Monday’s report</a> from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projected that global warming of 2℃ this century will bring twice as much flood damage compared to 1.5℃ warming. This jumps to 3.9 times more flood damage at 3℃ warming. While the role of climate change is hard to pin down in Australia’s biggest floods, we know flooding often strikes our east coast. Building greater resilience to severe flooding would help lessen their impact. Taking steps like concentrating new housing and infrastructure projects in areas above flood plains would help make us less vulnerable to these events. <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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/178153/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-king-103126">Andrew King</a>, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/linden-ashcroft-152419">Linden Ashcroft</a>, Lecturer in climate science and science communication, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-perkins-kirkpatrick-58472">Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick</a>, Chief Investigator on the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes; ARC Future Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a> 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/one-of-the-most-extreme-disasters-in-colonial-australian-history-climate-scientists-on-the-floods-and-our-future-risk-178153">original article</a>.

Domestic Travel

Four things tsunami-vulnerable countries must do to prepare for the next disaster

The eruption of an underwater volcano and subsequent tsunami that hit Tonga on January 16, was one of the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-60106981" target="_blank">most violent natural disasters</a> in decades. While this event had <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/tonga-struggles-with-ash-psychological-trauma-after-eruption-tsunami-2022-01-23/" target="_blank">catastrophic consequences</a>, such incidents are relatively common as volcanoes are naturally unstable, unpredictable and exist throughout the world. I have spent most of my career conducting post-disaster field research, improving coastal defences and supporting people to become more resilient to tsunamis and less anxious about the risk. The challenge facing countries in these naturally vulnerable parts of the world is to adapt and educate their citizens to take their own safety actions. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442734/original/file-20220126-13-1wfggn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442734/original/file-20220126-13-1wfggn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Map showing areas of the world at risk from tsunamis." /></a> Sketch of global tsunami hazard (as of May 2009). <a rel="noopener" href="https://reliefweb.int/map/world/world-sketch-global-tsunami-hazard-may-2009" target="_blank" class="source">UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction</a> Here I have outlined four things that vulnerable countries must urgently do to mitigate the consequences of tsunamis: 1. Educate people to be more resilient Education is one of the most effective defences. Regardless of the size of the wave or strength of seawalls, people are much more likely to survive a tsunami if they know exactly how to react once an alert is triggered. Vulnerable countries must therefore urgently create an educated, close-knit community that is aware that they are exposed to the risk and accept it as an aspect of their life and culture. I conducted focus group meetings with people, businesses and communities in Indonesia <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/krakatoa-is-still-active-and-we-are-not-ready-for-the-tsunamis-another-eruption-would-generate-147250" target="_blank">after the Anak Krakatoa tsunami in 2018</a>. In these groups, we established designated high ground areas and clear signage directing people to these safe zones. Evacuation events, such as mock tsunami drills, must be practised regularly so that people are familiar with safe areas and know where to go in the instance of a real tsunami. In Tonga specifically, where a third of the population is under the age of 15, tsunami safety must be taught at both primary and secondary school levels. Familiarising their young population with tsunamis, as well as other natural hazards such as <a rel="noopener" href="https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/disasterfacts.pdf" target="_blank">cyclones and earthquakes</a>, will create a more resilient and less anxious adult population. 2. Create effective early warning systems A decrease in ocean water surface levels is a clear sign that a tsunami is about to hit. Vulnerable countries must create early warning systems using satellites, drones and tide gauges to measure the vertical rise or fall of water to identify tsunamis before they happen. In light of the tsunami in Tonga, it would also help to place equipment such as <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.whoi.edu/what-we-do/explore/instruments/instruments-sensors-samplers/conductivity-temperature-depth-ctd-sensors/" target="_blank">conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD)</a> instruments, seismometers and thermal cameras near underwater volcanoes, while also observing the waters above with satellites. Buoys that measure the height and direction of waves can also be placed out at sea. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442939/original/file-20220127-28-ypjzpu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442939/original/file-20220127-28-ypjzpu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A yellow buoy in the ocean" /></a> A tsunami detection buoy off the coast of Thailand. The Mariner 4291 / shutterstock When water levels are triggered, tsunami alert messages are sent out, giving people enough time to escape the impact zones. I experienced this myself while conducting fieldwork in a small town on the southern coast of Japan in 2018. There was <a rel="noopener" href="https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20181102/p2a/00m/0na/018000c" target="_blank">an earthquake</a> during my stay and before the ground had even stopped shaking my colleague received a text alert from the regional government with instructions. I grabbed my passport and prepared to go towards a nearby hill if he received a follow up “red alert” text – fortunately, that particular earthquake did not cause a tsunami, and we were able to stay where we were. 3. Establish a strong coastal defence scheme Tsunami-vulnerable countries must urgently create strong coastal defence schemes of offshore breakwaters, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2018/mar/09/after-the-tsunami-japan-sea-walls-in-pictures" target="_blank">tsunami walls</a> and flood levees. Tsunami waves hit hard, so ideally these foundations will be made of reinforced concrete to avoid erosion. Natural protections like <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.princeton.edu/news/2006/12/15/living-coral-reefs-provide-better-protection-tsunami-waves" target="_blank">coral reefs</a> could be strengthened with nature-based solutions such as rock armour or heavy sandbags, which will lower the cost for developing countries. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442947/original/file-20220127-4868-6qoq3p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442947/original/file-20220127-4868-6qoq3p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Man walks along concrete wall" /></a> A new coastal dyke in the city of Sendai, Japan, built after the 2011 tsunami. Ravindra Jayaratne, Author provided Critical infrastructure like power plants, densely populated communities and tourist hotspots must be built on higher ground, where possible. A good example of this comes from Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, Japan, which were badly hit by the 2011 Tohoku tsunami (the one which caused a nuclear disaster in neighbouring Fukushima). Some towns were <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/japan-tsunami-2011-fukushima-rebuilt-city-rikuzen-takata-residents-still-scared/" target="_blank">rebuilt on elevated ground</a> that had been filled in with compacted soil. If space is available, coastal forests with tall trees could be planted between communities and the beach to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.naturebasedsolutionsinitiative.org/publications/vegetation-bioshields-for-tsunami-mitigation-review-of-effectiveness-limitations-construction-and-sustainable-management/" target="_blank">act as a buffer zone</a>, limiting the impact of waves and reducing flooding, while also improving the local ecosystem. These defences may damage the tourist-friendly aesthetic of white sandy beaches, but they could save lives. 4. Form a regional approach to tsunamis The effects of the underwater volcano eruption and tsunami in Tonga were felt around the Pacific in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and America. These vulnerable countries must implement a regional approach to defending and responding to tsunamis. Aid must be given before tsunamis hit, not just after. This can be done through sharing data, expertise, research facilities and equipment. It is vitally important that this information is specifically given to developing countries to help strengthen their own defences. The underwater volcano near Tonga is active. And even if the recent eruption was a one in 1,000 year event, there is still a strong chance that it will erupt again since geological deposits show that major eruptions like this one tend to involve a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-the-tonga-eruption-was-so-violent-and-what-to-expect-next/" target="_blank">series of many individual explosive events</a>. Countries that are threatened by tsunamis can’t prevent these natural disasters from happening, but they can adapt to be better prepared for when they do. Foreign aid will be vital for Tonga to recover from this horrific incident. However, education and collaboration will be its most important defence in the longer term.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/175721/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ravindra-jayaratne-1147986" target="_blank">Ravindra Jayaratne</a>, Reader in Coastal Engineering, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-east-london-924" target="_blank">University of East London</a> This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/four-things-tsunami-vulnerable-countries-must-do-to-prepare-for-the-next-disaster-175721" target="_blank">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Domestic Travel

What a disaster: federal government slashes COVID payment when people need it most

With Australia’s official COVID-19 infection numbers topping <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/australia-covid-cases.html">100,000 a day</a>, the federal government has slashed its last remaining pandemic support payment. The decision is ill-timed, irresponsible and heartless. It is stripping away support for those most affected by the pandemic at the time they need it most. It will place those in low paid and precarious work in further financial stress as they lose income to isolate when infected or in close contact with someone else with COVID-19. The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment was introduced in August 2020 in response to concerns casual workers and others without sick or pandemic leave entitlements could not take time off work when infected or in contact with someone with COVID-19. The leave payment was initially available to those not qualifying for JobKeeper – or, after JobKeeper ended in March 2021, the “disaster payment” introduced in response to <a href="https://theconversation.com/support-package-for-sydney-better-and-more-fit-for-purpose-than-jobkeeper-164394">the Sydney lockdown</a> in July 2021. Since that payment ended the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is the only individual financial support the federal government provides. Available to people who had contracted COVID, were a close contact or needed to care for someone who had COVID, until this week it paid A$750 a week for two weeks. You could claim the payment regardless of the number of hours of paid work you lost. On January 18 the rules tightened – a move announced via a <a href="https://ministers.pmc.gov.au/mckenzie/2022/changes-pandemic-leave-disaster-payment">press release </a> on January 8 (a Saturday). Now it only pays $750 if you lose 20 hours or more of paid work a week. If you lose 8-19 hours you get just $450 a week. If you lose less than eight hours you get nothing. Getting the payment has also been made more difficult by imposing a 14-day time limit to apply, from the start of the isolation period. To qualify, you must show evidence of a positive PCR or rapid antigen test. Considering the difficulty of obtaining RATs, and delays in PCR test results <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/test-samples-no-longer-suitable-after-seven-day-wait-20220108-p59ms1.html">of a week or more</a>, this is a unreasonable and unnecessary constraint. <h2>Flawed eligibility rules</h2> A major flaw in the eligibility rules for the leave payment it is not available to people receiving social security payments. This excludes all JobSeeker recipients, despite about <a href="https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/dss-payment-demographic-data/resource/80cc89a3-3208-4e0d-9745-598f7a882e28">one in four</a> being in some form of paid work – generally low-paid casual jobs. The leave payment has been a vital part of the economic supports to help people stay safe and protect their loved ones and the community. The peak body for the community services sector, the Australian Council of Social Service, has <a href="https://www.acoss.org.au/media-releases/?media_release=another-income-hit-for-casual-workers-massive-cut-to-pandemic-leave-disaster-payment">condemned this decision</a>. It says cutting the payment will leave people without enough to cover basic costs, let alone the extra costs of isolation such as delivery fees, rapid tests (if you can get them) and personal protective equipment. <h2>Worst time possible</h2> There could scarcely be a worse time to cut this payment, with Australia now in the worst stage of the pandemic. Between August 5 2020 and July 8 2021 the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment provided <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp2122/Quick_Guides/COVID-19DisasterPayments">almost 15,000 grants</a> to support those in need. During this period the peak COVID case rate was just over 500 day, in August 2020. Consider, therefore, the likely need now we’re at more than <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/australia-covid-cases.html">100,000 a day</a>. With no other form of federal income support available you may apply for an unemployment or sickness payment like JobSeeker. But Services Australia advises this will be paid about <a href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/when-youll-get-your-first-jobseeker-payment?context=51411">two weeks after</a> a claim is granted. That is of little help to cover rent while you’re isolating with COVID. JobSeeker is also a maximum of $315 a week – inadequate to cover basic costs. This cut will affect many of the same people <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/pm-announces-national-day-of-thanks-for-pandemic-heroes/news-story/174c8ccb94814aaa554d79eea0193e4f">lauded as the heroes of pandemic</a> – essential workers employed casually in health and aged care, supermarkets, hospitality venues and warehouses. It will also hurt temporary visa holders, who are entitled to the leave payment and do not qualify for any other federal income support. Last week <a href="https://www.acoss.org.au/media-releases/?media_release=community-sector-calls-for-collaboration-and-decisive-leadership-from-national-cabinet-to-deal-with-covid-debacle">ACOSS called for</a> the establishment of a civil society COVID Rapid Response Group to work alongside National Cabinet. We need the interests of people most at risk in the room at the highest levels when decisions like the future of the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment are made. Cutting this payment now is effectively telling low-paid workers at the worst stage of the pandemic in Australia that they’re on their own.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/175146/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cassandra-goldie-94635">Cassandra Goldie</a>, Adjunct Professor and UNSW Law Advisory Council Member, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-a-disaster-federal-government-slashes-covid-payment-when-people-need-it-most-175146">original article</a>. Image: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Retirement Income

Man’s skin ruined after tanning injection disaster

Before a much anticipated holiday to Spain, 28-year-old Dylan Wright wanted to boost his golden tan. To get the glow he was searching for, he purchased $18 tanning injections, and administered two of them before leaving for the airport. However, at the end of his six-day trip, his complexion was a lot darker than he expected. Dylan says that looking back, he probably should’ve used only one syringe, but didn’t want to run the risk of bringing the injections through airport security. “I bought them before to make the most of the sun. I went on the sunbeds a bit before the holiday but didn’t take the injections until just before I left,” he told <a href="https://swns.com/">SWNS</a>. Sharing his story to TikTok, Dylan said he has been left with permanent physical reminders of the injections, and even experienced a cancer scare as a result. “The doctors called me an idiot and told me it’s a side effect from the drug, but now I’m stuck with [freckles],” he said. “I’ve got freckles like I’m in my 50s or 60s. It feels like my skin’s aged.” The injections contain a lab-made hormone called melanotan II to increase melanin production, but at the cost of lasting skin damage. Now that Dylan’s excessive tan has faded, he is trying to spread awareness of the dangers of tanning injections, and urging people to do their own research. “It’s really not worth it. There’s safer ways to tan, like fake tanning,” he said. “It gave me a wake-up call … It’s a classic case of being 20 and thinking you’re invincible.” Image credits: TikTok

Beauty & Style

Apocalyptic films have lulled us into a false sense of security about climate change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)‘s sobering <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58130705" target="_blank">“code red for humanity”</a> report comes on the heels of months of devastating weather events around the world. Our front pages have been dominated by photos that look as if they’ve come from a film – images of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-58147674" target="_blank">heroic teams tackling forest fires</a> against a bright orange sky, of planes dropping water and fire retardant, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.voanews.com/europe/german-floods-kill-least-133-search-survivors-continues" target="_blank">cars sinking into flooded streets</a> and destroyed buildings. One image – that of a ferry, carrying evacuees from the Greek Island of Evia, surrounded by fire, helpless and in the middle of crisis – drew comparisons to the ferry scenes in the 2005 remake of War of the Worlds. In the film, people poured onto a vehicle ferry in a desperate attempt to escape the extraterrestrial invasion. In Greece, the ferry made safe landing, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58141336" target="_blank">all passengers were accounted for</a>. But in the film, few, bar the protagonists, survived that moment. While War of the Worlds ends happily – with the alien lifeforms that had ravaged the world succumbing to their vulnerability to microbes on Earth – the footage from Greece is just one scene in a story for which the ending is not yet fully written. It might seem frivolous to compare such moments to films, but these comparisons play an important role in helping us to comprehend and make sense of particular moments in history. Like all works of art, films reveal much about the social and political zeitgeist in which they are conceived and produced, often acting as magnifying lenses for humankind’s hopes and anxieties. Psychoanalysis researcher Vicky Lebeau <a rel="noopener" href="https://cup.columbia.edu/book/psychoanalysis-and-cinema/9781903364192" target="_blank">has noted</a> that films can reveal the desires and fears of the societies that watch them. We have seen this in science fiction films, such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Day the Earth Stood Still, which flourished <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.humanities.org/blog/movie-critic-robert-horton-discusses-sci-fi-films-the-cold-war-and-today" target="_blank">during the cold war</a>, inspired by the space race and the arms race. The proliferation of blockbuster disaster films just before the turn of the millennium (Twister, Dante’s Peak, Armageddon, Deep Impact, to name a few), fed off theories that <a rel="noopener" href="https://davefox990.medium.com/what-disaster-movies-say-about-us-536a5dabbad1" target="_blank">the world would end</a> as we entered the year 2000. And it is also no accident that during the early months of the COVID pandemic the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/contagion-coronavirus-download-watch-online-otorrent-warner-bros-cast-twitter-a9403256.html" target="_blank">most watched films online</a> were Contagion, Outbreak and 28 Days Later –- all of which depict degrees of pandemic apocalypse. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/415428/original/file-20210810-15-7k1ul5.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> A video of people being evacuated from the Greek island of Evia drew comparisons with the 2005 remake of War of the Worlds. Apocalypse now? Through these stories, directors have offered us an enthralling yet terrifying glimpse of what the end of the world might look like. It could be caused by zombies (Walking Dead, I Am Legend, Shaun of the Dead), biological demise (Children of Men, Logan’s Run), climate change (The Day After Tomorrow, Snowpiercer, Flood), nuclear accident or war (Dr. Strangelove), or ancient prophecy (2012). However, none of these are truly end-of-world narratives. Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic films start with the risk of total destruction, but more often than not, after the cataclysmic event of the story, a form of normality returns –- balance is restored to the world and life can once again move forward. This way of storytelling brings these films closer to the true meaning of apocalypse. The root of the word “apocalypse” comes from the ancient Greek term αποκαλύπτειν (apokalýptein), which <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/apocalypse" target="_blank">translates roughly</a> as “unveiling” or “revealing”. The implication being that the near destruction of the city or planet allows for a new understanding, a shift in priorities and a new way of seeing the world – or a renewed and better existence. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This is some horrifying War of the Worlds shit right here. We have got to start electing governments that actually fight climate change, above all, and start demanding more of ourselves and of companies that can change things. <a href="https://t.co/9JDGI2fWgH">https://t.co/9JDGI2fWgH</a> — Helen O'Hara (@HelenLOHara) <a href="https://twitter.com/HelenLOHara/status/1423980516181741570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2021</a></blockquote> The scenes of flooding and fires that fill our news programmes echo those we see in movies. But for them to be truly apocalyptic, rather than merely world ending, they must reveal something to us. As we watch the real-world events unfold, the IPCC report makes clear what they reveal – that humans have changed the climate and we are on a trajectory to make much of our environment unlivable. But unlike the films, not everyone is going to be saved in 90 thrilling minutes. By comparing reality to films, we are seeking the hope for renewal that these apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic narratives give us. Nevertheless, they are ultimately fiction. While rehearsing the end of the world through film can exorcise fears, at the same time they may have desensitised us, lulling us into a false sense of security that all will be well in the end – and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20130731-the-lure-of-the-disaster-movie" target="_blank">that we are immortal</a>. If our own apocalypse is a three-act film, then the last 200 years of environmental harms have been the setup, the exposition. We are now at the moment of confrontation. We all, as the lead characters, must confront the reality of what is around us. If not, the third act, the resolution, may not be the ending we hope for. As French philosopher Jacques Derrida warned: “the end approaches, but the apocalypse is long lived”.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/165837/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/doug-specht-530827" target="_blank">Doug Specht</a>, Senior Lecturer in Media and Communications, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-westminster-916" target="_blank">University of Westminster</a> and <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/silvia-angeli-1258983" target="_blank">Silvia Angeli</a>, Visiting Lecturer in Media and Communication, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-westminster-916" target="_blank">University of Westminster</a> This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/apocalyptic-films-have-lulled-us-into-a-false-sense-of-security-about-climate-change-165837" target="_blank">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

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Woman's spray tan disaster goes viral

UK woman has gone viral after she shares photos of her pre-wedding fake tan disaster. Derrie Matthews, aged 36 from the UK, had asked a beautician to spray her twice in the darkest tan shade, admitting this “seemed like a good idea at the time”. However, when she got home following her appointment, her partner and daughter couldn’t stop laughing. “Dolly was nearly crying in case any of her friends saw me. I thought they were overacting,” Derrie wrote on Facebook, alongside a series of snaps showing off her new tan. “I woke up this morning and absolutely shat my pants. Thank the Lord a shower sorted me but RIP bed sheets.” Derrie says she was going to a wedding and wanted to add some colour to her “super pale” complexion. “So, I just asked the girl if she would do it twice, so much darker,” she said. The beautician told her to leave it on for eight hours and then wash it off but Derrie didn’t want to, out of fear it would stop developing. Derrie’s post has since attracted more than 3000 comments and 18,000 likes since sharing snaps of her fake tan disaster over the weekend.

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