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Sad end in search for young boy swept out to sea

<p>A body has been recovered in the search for a young boy swept out to sea in front of his family while on a fishing trip at The Entrance, NSW over the weekend.</p> <p>Laith Alaid, 11, was crossing a channel about 5pm on Sunday when he was caught in the outgoing tide. </p> <p>His father managed to save his other three sons aged, three, seven and nine, but he could not reach Laith in time.</p> <p>Bystanders looked after the three children while Laith's father tried to reach him. </p> <p>“(The father) came here by himself and with his four beautiful boys ... and he tried to save them all, he saved three and by the time he turned around (Laith) was gone ... in a split second,” family member Zeid Alhirz said. </p> <p>The family were visiting the Central Coast from Sydney and had been fishing when it is understood they took a shortcut across the channel between an estuary and the ocean. </p> <p>Relatives said they had visited and fished at the popular tourist spot for years and had crossed the channel at least three times before tragedy struck. </p> <p>An extensive multi-agency search was conducted and on Wednesday police were called back to The Entrance after a body was found in the water. </p> <p>“While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the missing boy,” NSW Police said.</p> <p>Inspector David Piddington said “lots of people try to move across that channel” but he advised against it.</p> <p>A report will be prepared for the coroner.</p> <p><em>Images: 7News</em></p>

Caring

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The most underrated Europe destinations to see in 2025

<p dir="ltr">When travellers usually decide to head to Europe on their next holiday, they tend to stick to the capital cities and major tourist attractions.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, there is a lot to be said for going off the beaten track and exploring hidden gems. </p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.timeout.com/europe/travel/most-underrated-travel-destinations-europe">Time Out</a> has made your next European getaway even easier, compiling a list of the 21 most underrated destinations to put on your 2025 travel bucket list. </p> <p dir="ltr">The influential guide shared their arguments for exploring the lesser known corners of Europe, writing, “This summer saw a series of anti-tourism demonstrations in European hotspots, as locals reached breaking point with years of overtourism; Amsterdam is cracking down on new hotels, Venice is set to double its tourist tax in 2025.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“So there's never been a better time to think outside the box for your travels – especially when so many incredible European spots are getting overlooked.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“These destinations have got everything you want from your next holiday, with the added bonus of far fewer people jostling to see the same attractions.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Coming in at number one on the list is the hidden gem of Ulcinj in Montenegro, which is located at the southern tip of the country.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the Time out guide, Ulcinj “provides a different vibe to the more celebrated spots up north. Ulcinj’s Old Town is arguably the most dramatically situated in the country, and its beaches provide excitement and serenity in equal measure.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Check out the entire list of 21 underrated European destinations below. </p> <p dir="ltr">21. Ponza, Italy</p> <p dir="ltr">20. Pamukkale, Turkey</p> <p dir="ltr">19. Isles of Scilly, UK</p> <p dir="ltr">18. Landes, France</p> <p dir="ltr">17. Dordrecht, Netherlands</p> <p dir="ltr">16. Imotski Lakes, Croatia</p> <p dir="ltr">15. Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina</p> <p dir="ltr">14. Vilnius, Lithuania</p> <p dir="ltr">13. Faroe Islands</p> <p dir="ltr">12. Extremadura, Spain</p> <p dir="ltr">11. Tartu, Estonia</p> <p dir="ltr">10. Emilia-Romagna, Italy</p> <p dir="ltr">9. Cluj-Napoca, Romania</p> <p dir="ltr">8. Bergen, Norway</p> <p dir="ltr">7. Levi, Finnish Lapland</p> <p dir="ltr">6. Plovdiv, Bulgaria</p> <p dir="ltr">5. Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland</p> <p dir="ltr">4. Gozo, Malta</p> <p dir="ltr">3. Gerês, Portugal</p> <p dir="ltr">2. Aarhus, Denmark</p> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">1. Ulcinj, Montenegro</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p></p>

International Travel

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Most popular wedding song revealed

<p dir="ltr">A classic 1980s hit has been crowned the most popular wedding song according to a recent study. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to the new research by Breezit, an online wedding vendor search tool that collates data, Whitney Houston’s pop ballad <em>I Wanna Dance With Somebody</em> is the most popular song for couples tying the knot. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 1987 hit, which was on Houston’s second studio album, ‘<em>Whitney</em>’, appeared 484 times across the 2,000 wedding-themed Spotify playlists the company poured through, which contained a total of 49,091 songs.</p> <p dir="ltr">Among thousands of playlists, <em>I Wanna Dance With Somebody</em> featured on more than 24 per cent of those nuptial-centric compilations.</p> <p dir="ltr">Coming in second on the list of most popular wedding songs was ABBA’s 1976 worldwide hit <em>Dancing Queen</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Music plays an incredibly important role in wedding celebrations, and it’s fascinating to see which songs are still hailed as wedding classics, even years after their initial release,” Arturas Asakavicius, co-founder and CEO of Breezit, told <em><a href="https://www.brides.com/all-time-most-popular-wedding-song-new-study-8733497">Brides</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Wedding playlists can help create lasting memories” he added, “capturing both the joy of the dance floor and the romance of walking down the aisle. Certain songs have become intertwined with the celebration of a wedding, which is why some have become timeless classics for many couples’ big day.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p> </p>

Music

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Readers response: What’s the most interesting cultural experience you've had while travelling?

<p>When travelling abroad, we are often exposed to new and fascinating cultures that can open our eyes to different ways of life.</p> <p>We asked our readers to share the most interesting cultural experience they've had while travelling, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said.</p> <p><strong>Sandra Beckett</strong> - Staying overnight in a Ger in Mongolia miles from anywhere, listening to Throat singing accompanied by two traditionally dressed musicians playing Horsehead fiddles. Also, travelling across Russia by train, visiting the Galapagos islands, Skara Brae in the Orkneys, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.</p> <p><strong>Denise Ryan</strong> - Listening to glorious classical music played in Havana’s Plaza de la Catedral and attending a stunning performance of Swan Lake in the Grand Theatre of Havana.</p> <p><strong>Deedee Cullum</strong> - Visiting Ypres in Belgium and staying the night so we could see the evening ceremony at the Menin gate.</p> <p><strong>Alison Davenport</strong> - 50 years ago visiting a Fijian village made me realise everyone didn't live like I did. Have been amazed at all travel experiences since.</p> <p><strong>Glenn Turton</strong> - Staying in a farmhouse in Normandy for a week. Visiting D-Day beaches and Mont St Michel from there and local villages and markets on the days between. Back to the farmhouse each night to cook local produce and sit by an open fire.</p> <p><strong>Karen Psaila</strong> - Sitting in a small ally sipping black sweet tea in Egypt looking at the pyramids and sphinx whilst camels are strolling by. Amazing.</p> <p><strong>Patricia Watson</strong> - Darwin. Spending a day with First Nation Women and Children in the bush and learning about food that grows and is edible in that area.</p> <p><strong>James Langabeer</strong> - This are my three top three most interesting cultural experiences.</p> <p>1. Japan's Tea Ceremony: Attending a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto, Japan, where I learned about the intricate rituals and Zen Buddhism's influence.</p> <p>2. Indian Holi Festival: Celebrating Holi, the Festival of Colors, in Mumbai, India, surrounded by vibrant colors, music, and joyful locals.</p> <p>3. Moroccan Hammam: Experiencing a traditional Moroccan bathhouse (hammam) in Marrakech, where I discovered local customs and relaxation techniques.</p> <p><strong>Margaret Mason</strong> - Staying for a couple of days in a small, traditional village in China.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

International Travel

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"Most loathed woman in parliament": Karl Stefanovic grills Lidia Thorpe

<p>Karl Stefanovic has labelled Lidia Thorpe as “the most loathed woman in parliament” during a fiery interview on the <em>Today </em>show. </p> <p>The <em>Today </em>host interviewed the politician on Thursday morning, noting that her decision to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/you-are-not-my-king-lidia-thorpe-interrupts-charles-parliament-house-visit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heckle King Charles</a> was not winning her much support. </p> <p>“Lidia, good morning to you. Nice to see you. I think it’s fair to say you might very well be the most loathed woman in parliament in Canberra at the moment. And that’s really saying something,’’ Stefanovic said. </p> <p>However, the Senator had no regrets and said that she was used to being "the black sheep" of politics. </p> <p>“Oh, well, it’s just another day in the colony, Karl. I’m used to that treatment,” she said.</p> <p>“You know. I am the black sheep of the family, if you like. But I wanted to send a message to the King. I got that message across. The whole world is talking about it.</p> <p>“And my people are happy because my people have been protesting for decades and decades. As you all know, for exactly this. And so the message has been sent, delivered. Now it’s up to the King of England to respond.”</p> <p>Stefanovic then asked her: “The question this morning you were being asked is, why the hell doesn’t Lidia Thorpe just do everyone a favour and get out of Canberra? Will you?”</p> <p>To which she replied: “I’m about truth telling. I’m loud, proud, black. Get used to it and listen to what I have to say.</p> <p>“We need to grow up as a nation and get rid of him and have our own head of state.”</p> <p>The broadcaster then showed a video of her swearing allegiance to the late Queen Elizabeth. </p> <p>“Did that hurt a little when you swore your allegiance? Did it take a little bit of your soul?’’ Stefanovic asked.</p> <p>“Absolutely it did. And I had to go through a process with my family prior to doing that, because swearing allegiance to someone else from another country whose ancestors have done a lot of damage to my ancestors, I think is completely inappropriate,” she replied. </p> <p>This comes after Thorpe's <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/lidia-thorpe-s-pledge-to-queen-elizabeth-raises-questions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pledge to Queen Elizabeth's</a> "hairs" instead of "heir" came to light.</p> <p>“We don’t need to be paying the Governor-General $800,000 a year to sign a piece of legislation. And we paid for that man to come here. How many millions of dollars did that cost?” she continued. </p> <p>Karl hit back saying that Thorpe herself is “getting paid pretty well to be part of the process and to be part of parliament, a place you clearly despise.”</p> <p>She replied: “Yeah. I’m being paid to do my job. You could say it’s paying the rent if you like." </p> <p>“This government has walked back a treaty. I know the opposition is not interested in treaty. So where else do you go? You go to the King of England. Who? Whose ancestors treated with other countries but didn’t treaty here. So there’s unfinished business. I’ll spend the next three years getting that unfinished business done.”</p> <p><em>Images: Nine</em></p>

TV

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Are older adults more vulnerable to scams? What psychologists have learned about who’s most susceptible, and when

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/natalie-c-ebner-1527554">Natalie C. Ebner</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/didem-pehlivanoglu-1527551">Didem Pehlivanoglu</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a></em></p> <p>About 1 in 6 Americans <a href="https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/05/2020-census-united-states-older-population-grew.html">are age 65 or older</a>, and that percentage <a href="https://www.ncoa.org/article/get-the-facts-on-older-americans">is projected to grow</a>. Older adults often hold positions of power, have retirement savings accumulated over the course of their lifetimes, and make important financial and health-related decisions – all of which makes them attractive targets for financial exploitation.</p> <p>In 2021, there were more than 90,000 older victims of fraud, according to the FBI. These cases resulted in <a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2021_IC3ElderFraudReport.pdf">US$1.7 billion in losses</a>, a 74% increase compared with 2020. Even so, that may be a significant undercount, since embarrassment or lack of awareness <a href="https://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/fraud-victims-11.pdf">keeps some victims from reporting</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://ncea.acl.gov/elder-abuse#gsc.tab=0">Financial exploitation</a> represents one of the most common forms of elder abuse. Perpetrators are often individuals in the victims’ inner social circles – family members, caregivers or friends – but can also be strangers.</p> <p>When older adults experience financial fraud, they typically <a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/AgeandFraud/Infographic">lose more money</a> than younger victims. Those losses can have <a href="https://doi.org/10.1057/sj.2012.11">devastating consequences</a>, especially since older adults have limited time to recoup – dramatically reducing their independence, health and well-being.</p> <p>But older adults have been largely neglected in research on this burgeoning type of crime. We are <a href="https://ebnerlab.psych.ufl.edu/natalie-c-ebner-phd/">psychologists who study social cognition</a> and <a href="https://ebnerlab.psych.ufl.edu/didem-pehlivanoglu/">decision-making</a>, and <a href="https://ebnerlab.psych.ufl.edu/">our research lab</a> at the University of Florida is aimed at understanding the factors that shape vulnerability to deception in adulthood and aging.</p> <h2>Defining vulnerability</h2> <p>Financial exploitation involves a variety of exploitative tactics, such as coercion, manipulation, undue influence and, frequently, some sort of deception.</p> <p>The majority of current research focuses on <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3052">people’s ability to distinguish between truth and lies</a> during interpersonal communication. However, deception occurs in many contexts – increasingly, over the internet.</p> <p>Our lab conducts laboratory experiments and real-world studies to measure susceptibility under various conditions: investment games, lie/truth scenarios, phishing emails, text messages, fake news and deepfakes – fabricated videos or images that are created by artificial intelligence technology.</p> <p>To study how people respond to deception, we use measures like surveys, brain imaging, behavior, eye movement and heart rate. We also collect health-related biomarkers, such as being a carrier of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8346443/">gene variants</a> that increase risk for Alzheimer’s disease, to identify individuals with particular vulnerability.</p> <p>And <a href="https://doi.org/10.20900/agmr20230007">our work</a> shows that an older adult’s ability to detect deception is not just about their individual characteristics. It also depends on how they are being targeted.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=339&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=339&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=339&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=426&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=426&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=426&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A figure with two circles and an arrow between them. One circle shows icons that symbolize individual susceptibility to deception -- like a brain, and a walking cane -- while the other has icons of types of deception, like mail or a text message." /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Vulnerability depends not only on the person, but also the type of fraud being used.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Natalie Ebner and Didem Pehlivanoglu</span></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Individual risk factors</h2> <p>Better cognition, social and emotional capacities, and brain health are all associated with less susceptibility to deception.</p> <p>Cognitive functions, such as how quickly our brain processes information and how well we remember it, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691619827511">decline with age</a> and impact decision-making. For example, among people around 70 years of age or older, declines in analytical thinking are associated with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/xap0000426">reduced ability to detect false news stories</a>.</p> <p>Additionally, low memory function in aging is associated with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gby036">greater susceptibility to email phishing</a>. Further, according to recent <a href="https://osf.io/preprints/osf/6f2y9">research</a>, this correlation is specifically pronounced among older adults who carry a gene variant that is a genetic risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life. Indeed, some research suggests that greater financial exploitability may serve as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104773">an early marker</a> of disease-related cognitive decline.</p> <p>Social and emotional influences are also crucial. Negative mood can enhance somebody’s ability to detect lies, while <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/xap0000426">positive mood in very old</a> age can impair a person’s ability to detect fake news.</p> <p>Lack of support and loneliness exacerbate susceptibility to deception. Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa077">increased reliance on online platforms</a>, and older adults with lower digital literacy are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnac188">more vulnerable to fraudulent emails and robocalls</a>.</p> <p>Finally, an individual’s brain and body responses play a critical role in susceptibility to deception. One important factor is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2020.10.007">interoceptive awareness</a>: the ability to accurately read our own body’s signals, like a “gut feeling.” This awareness is correlated with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.3714">better lie detection</a> in older adults.</p> <p>According to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glx051">a first study</a>, financially exploited older adults had a significantly smaller size of insula – a brain region key to integrating bodily signals with environmental cues – than older adults who had been exposed to the same threat but avoided it. Reduced insula activity is also related to greater difficulty <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1218518109">picking up on cues</a> that make someone appear less trustworthy.</p> <h2>Types of effective fraud</h2> <p>Not all deception is equally effective on everyone.</p> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1145/3336141">Our findings</a> show that email phishing that relies on reciprocation – people’s tendency to repay what another person has provided them – was more effective on older adults. Younger adults, on the other hand, were more likely to fall for phishing emails that employed scarcity: people’s tendency to perceive an opportunity as more valuable if they are told its availability is limited. For example, an email might alert you that a coin collection from the 1950s has become available for a special reduced price if purchased within the next 24 hours.</p> <p>There is also evidence that as we age, we have greater difficulty detecting the “wolf in sheep’s clothing”: someone who appears trustworthy, but is not acting in a trustworthy way. In <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50500-x">a card-based gambling game</a>, we found that compared with their younger counterparts, older adults are more likely to select decks presented with trustworthy-looking faces, even though those decks consistently resulted in negative payouts. Even after learning about untrustworthy behavior, older adults showed greater difficulty overcoming their initial impressions.</p> <h2>Reducing vulnerability</h2> <p>Identifying who is especially at risk for financial exploitation in aging is crucial for preventing victimization.</p> <p>We believe interventions should be tailored, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, perhaps machine learning algorithms could someday determine the most dangerous types of deceptive messages that certain groups encounter – such as in text messages, emails or social media platforms – and provide on-the-spot warnings. Black and Hispanic consumers are <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/combating-fraud-african-american-latino-communities-ftcs-comprehensive-strategic-plan-federal-trade/160615fraudreport.pdf">more likely to be victimized</a>, so there is also a dire need for interventions that resonate with their communities.</p> <p>Prevention efforts would benefit from taking a holistic approach to help older adults reduce their vulnerability to scams. Training in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01259-7">financial, health</a> and <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-08437-0.pdf">digital literacy</a> are important, but so are programs to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10363-1">address loneliness</a>.</p> <p>People of all ages need to keep these lessons in mind when interacting with online content or strangers – but not only then. Unfortunately, financial exploitation often comes from individuals close to the victim.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/227991/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/natalie-c-ebner-1527554"><em>Natalie C. Ebner</em></a><em>, Professor of Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/didem-pehlivanoglu-1527551">Didem Pehlivanoglu</a>, Postdoctoral Researcher, Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>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/are-older-adults-more-vulnerable-to-scams-what-psychologists-have-learned-about-whos-most-susceptible-and-when-227991">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Money & Banking

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Desperate search after Aussie man swept out to sea while saving swimmer

<p>A desperate search is underway for an Australian man who got swept out to sea while saving a tourist from drowning on a Bali beach. </p> <p>Craig Laidley, 56, was walking along Balian Beach about 4.15pm on Wednesday when he heard 29-year-old Micro Stalla calling out for help.</p> <p>The Perth man rushed into the water to save the German tourist, but unfortunately Laidley never made it back to shore after being swept out to sea by an "extreme" wave. </p> <p>Laidley, who reportedly lives in Bali, was last seen “drifting back out to the ocean”.</p> <p>He was reported missing to police about three hours later, and they immediately launched a search, with  with Denpasar Search and Rescue Office head Nyoman Sidakarya confirming the search is still ongoing. </p> <p>“[On Wednesday] night our team tried to search for victims using land searches and today the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office dispatched 10 people with land and sea SRU divisions,” Sidakarya said. </p> <p>“Information from the team at the location is that the wave conditions are extreme," he added. </p> <p>Rescue teams used rubber boats to search for Laidley within a 10km radius of where he was last seen and also scoured the coastline on foot.</p> <p>Police have also conducted interviews with witnesses as part of their ongoing search. </p> <p>One witness said that there were no warning signs around the beach, despite the dangers. </p> <p>“Incidents like this happen often here,” he told the ABC.</p> <p>“About four months ago, a foreigner went missing. He was found dead 4 hours later. In the last five years, there have been five incidents like this.”</p> <p>Laidley's family have appealed to the public to help find him. </p> <p>“Hello, our family is seeking assistance from the public in Bali,” Craig’s nephew posted on Facebook.</p> <p>“Craig was last seen helping a male that was reportedly drowning in the ocean between Tebing Balian rocks near Balian Beach.</p> <p>“He was then seen drifting back out to the ocean after saving this man’s life.”</p> <p>The search is set to continue on Friday morning. </p> <p>The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said it is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian reported missing in Indonesia.</p> <p><em><strong>Editors Update: </strong></em></p> <p>Craig Laidley’s body has been found on the beach on Friday morning by searchers. His two brothers, Bruce and Glenn, arrived in Bali overnight to join the search. </p> <p>His family are  still coming to terms with the loss, but have told <em>7News </em>that they are proud of his heroic rescue and glad that his brothers were there to bring him home.</p> <p><em>Images: Denpasar Search and Rescue Agency/ Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Pokies? Lotto? Sports betting? Which forms of problem gambling affect Australians the most?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-russell-133860">Alex Russell</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-browne-97705">Matthew Browne</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-rockloff-569">Matthew Rockloff</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a></em></p> <p>Gambling, especially sports and race betting, is a hot political issue at the moment.</p> <p>This is largely due to the recommendations from a 2023 report from a nonpartisan federal government committee, chaired by the late Peta Murphy, called <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Social_Policy_and_Legal_Affairs/Onlinegamblingimpacts/Report">You Win Some, You Lose More</a>.</p> <p>This report <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Social_Policy_and_Legal_Affairs/Onlinegamblingimpacts/Report/List_of_recommendations">recommended</a> “the Australian government, with the cooperation of the states and territories, implement a comprehensive ban on all forms of advertising for online gambling”.</p> <p>This has led to lots of debate and controversy.</p> <p>Recently, Peter V’landys, head of the NRL and Racing NSW, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/nanny-state-nrl-afl-storm-the-field-over-gambling-ads-20240920-p5kc2q.html">claimed</a> lotteries were more harmful than race and sports betting combined, citing independent statistics.</p> <p>Let’s explore the relative harm of different types of gambling and see if this claim holds up.</p> <h2>Australians love a punt</h2> <p>Gambling is widespread in Australia, with <a href="https://www.gamblingresearch.org.au/publications/second-national-study-interactive-gambling-australia-2019-20">more than half of adults</a> engaging in at least one form each year.</p> <p>According to the <a href="https://www.gamblingresearch.org.au/publications/second-national-study-interactive-gambling-australia-2019-20">latest national data</a>, lotteries are the most common type (40% of Australians buy a ticket annually), followed by race betting (17%), pokies (16%), scratchies (15.7%) and sports betting (9.6%).</p> <p>However, the popularity of a gambling form doesn’t necessarily reflect its harm. Different gambling activities have distinct characteristics.</p> <p>Two key factors mean that some gambling forms are more harmful than others: the speed of gambling and bet size.</p> <p>Pokies allow for frequent, small bets, with spins every three seconds. Race and sports betting can involve much larger sums and betting that is relatively fast, but still slower than pokie spins.</p> <p>Sports betting, in particular, is getting faster with in-play betting and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30386964/">microbetting</a>.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hI_XFOc4is0?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Poker machines, or ‘pokies’ are the biggest single source of gambling losses in Australia.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>Lotteries, on the other hand, are much slower-paced.</p> <p>People typically spend a small amount on tickets and wait for a draw to find out if they’ve won.</p> <p>Although it’s possible to spend a lot on tickets, <a href="https://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/statistics/theme/society/gambling/australian-gambling-statistics">people tend not to</a>, unlike with faster gambling forms.</p> <p>The average spend on pokies among the 16% who play them is around $4,782 per year, compared to an average spend on lotteries of $377 per year. These are averages. Most won’t spend these amounts but some will spend far more, which raises the average amount.</p> <p>V’landys’ claim about lotteries being more harmful than race and sports betting was based on “independent statistics”.</p> <p>He said that of 100 people seeking help from a gambling hotline, 70 had issues with pokies, 15 with lotteries, eight with race betting, four with sports betting, and three with casinos.</p> <p>We were unable to verify these figures – if anyone has the data, we’d love to see the research to assess them.</p> <p>However, we do have publicly available data.</p> <h2>What the data say</h2> <p>The NSW GambleAware website’s <a href="https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au/-/media/ghs-annual-activity-report-2020-21.ashx?rev=e070f9c8bdbf4031816a852f27246c54&amp;hash=C5FC3AA23BE5F2EF69D551A5E2292BA9#:%7E:text=Of%20the%20clients%20receiving%20counselling,36.9%25%20of%20all%20female%20clients.">2020-21</a> report shows that of 2,886 people seeking help, 73.3% identified pokies as their primary form of gambling, while only 13 people (less than 1%) listed lotteries. Race betting accounted for 13.1%, and sports betting for 7.9%.</p> <p>These patterns were consistent with <a href="https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au/about-us/corporate-documents">previous years</a>.</p> <p>People who experience problems also usually take part in more than one form of gambling, as the NSW report showed.</p> <p>When these secondary gambling activities were considered, sports betting was cited by 35.5%, race betting by 33.5%, pokies by 19.5%, and lotteries by 13.7%.</p> <h2>What we discovered</h2> <p>The best evidence on gambling problems and harm comes from large-scale prevalence studies, typically commissioned by governments and conducted by independent researchers.</p> <p>These studies offer high-quality insights into how each gambling form contributes to problems.</p> <p>While one prevalence study is great, our team recently combined data from seven national and state-based prevalence studies. This resulted in a very high-quality dataset that we can use to study this question.</p> <p>In <a href="https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/12/1/article-p182.xml">our analysis</a>, we used statistical techniques to show how strongly each gambling form is associated with problems.</p> <p>These techniques give us regression coefficients, which are just numbers that tell us how strong the association is. A higher number means a stronger association between that form and gambling problems.</p> <p>The most problematic form was pokies (coefficient = 0.147), followed by casino games (0.136), sports betting (0.068) and race betting (0.038).</p> <p>Lotteries, with a coefficient of 0.001, were the least problematic and were not statistically significant even in our large sample.</p> <p>As you might guess from such a low number, there’s very little relationship between lotteries and gambling problems.</p> <h2>What about prevalence?</h2> <p>Prevalence matters too – while pokies were most strongly associated with problems, the number of people participating in each gambling form is also important.</p> <p>Let’s consider an analogy – a car that gives out a lot of exhaust fumes. That car is harmful, but if virtually no one owns one, then it’s not going to account for much pollution.</p> <p>The same idea applies for gambling forms. If a gambling form is very harmful but very few people do it, it doesn’t account for many problems in the population.</p> <p>It works the other way, too – if there is a very clean type of car that many people drive, they also won’t add up to much pollution.</p> <p>Similarly, if we have gambling forms that have very little association with problems, it won’t add up to many problems in the population, even if lots of people take part.</p> <p>The regression coefficients tell us how problematic each gambling form is. Prevalance tells us how many people do it.</p> <p>When we combine these two bits of information, we can work out the degree of problems in the community that come from each form.</p> <p>When we did this, pokies were responsible for 52-57% of gambling problems in the community.</p> <p>Sports and race betting each contributed 9-11%, with a combined total of around 20%.</p> <p>Lotteries accounted for just 0.1-1% of problems.</p> <p>Even if we include scratchies as part of lotteries, this only adds another 2-5% of problems, still far below sports and race betting.</p> <hr /> <p><iframe id="quxHH" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/quxHH/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p> <hr /> <h2>The real issue</h2> <p>What’s the takeaway?</p> <p>Lotteries are widely played but are not typically associated with much harm.</p> <p>Sports and race betting, despite having fewer participants, are more harmful due to their faster pace and the potential for large, frequent bets.</p> <p>Lotteries involve slower betting and lower spending, making them much less risky.</p> <p>If we aim to reduce gambling harm in our community, the focus should be on pokies, which are widespread in pubs and clubs <a href="https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/12/3/article-p721.xml">outside WA</a>, casino games and race and sports betting.</p> <p>These forms have features that make them far more harmful than slower-paced gambling like lotteries.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/240665/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-russell-133860">Alex Russell</a>, Principal Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-browne-97705">Matthew Browne</a>, Senior Lecturer in Statistics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-rockloff-569">Matthew Rockloff</a>, Head, Experimental Gambling Research Lab, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>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/pokies-lotto-sports-betting-which-forms-of-problem-gambling-affect-australians-the-most-240665">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Money & Banking

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Hugh Jackman pleads for help in search for missing Broadway star

<p>Hugh Jackman is using his influence and wide reach to assist in the search for his former Broadway co-star, Zelig Williams, who has been missing since early October.</p> <p>Williams, a 28-year-old performer known for his roles in <em>MJ The Musical</em> and <em>Hamilton</em>, was last seen on October 3 at his home in Columbia, South Carolina. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a white T-shirt, black shorts and brown slides.</p> <p>The non-profit organisation <a href="https://blackandmissinginc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black and Missing</a> has released a missing person poster, stating that authorities believe Williams was last spotted driving in the Congaree National Park area, where his vehicle was later found abandoned.</p> <p>Jackman, who performed with Williams during the 2019 concert tour <em>The Man. The Music. The Show</em>, has taken to social media to amplify the call for information. On his 56th birthday, the Australian actor shared a photo of Williams and his mother with a link to a news report from <em>Good Morning America</em>, urging his 34.5 million Instagram followers to report any information to local authorities.</p> <p>"If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of ZELIG WILLIAMS please reach out to your local authorities," Jackman wrote in his post. He has continued to spread the message, using Instagram stories to ask followers to contact the Richland County Sheriff's Office with any potential leads.</p> <p>"Zelig, we love you and are praying for your safe return. Please pass this message on!!!" Jackman added.</p> <p>Williams' disappearance has left his family in anguish. His aunt, Christine McLaughlin Barber, initially believed he might have been involved in a car accident after receiving an SOS signal from his phone around 9:50am on October 3, shortly after he left home. However, authorities have since ruled out this possibility.</p> <p>Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott revealed to local news outlet WISTV that an extensive search operation has been underway, utilising helicopters, boats and drones to cover vast areas. "We've searched on foot, in the air, at various locations," Lott said. "We are also using other investigative techniques involving cell phones and other means, which I cannot disclose at this time."</p> <p>Lott also said that Williams is in need of prescription medication, adding urgency to the search.</p> <p>Williams' cousin, Mieoki Corbin-Jacobs, expressed the family's heartbreak, telling WISTV: "It's devastation. It's devastation for someone who is so close to his family to just disappear like that... there's no way to describe it."</p> <p>The Broadway community, along with Jackman, continues to rally in hopes of locating Williams and bringing him home safely.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Readers response: What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned about yourself through travel?

<p>When it comes to travelling, it's not uncommon to have revelations about yourself while self-reflecting in a new place. </p> <p>We asked our readers what the most unexpected thing they've learned about themselves is through travel, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said.</p> <p><strong>Penny Corbin</strong> - I don't need the cathedrals, monuments, the tours, I just love walking in the space and finding my own beauty wherever it leads me.</p> <p><strong>Dom Cimino</strong> - That I really love meeting people of all backgrounds.</p> <p><strong>Jenny Halkett</strong> - To treat it as an adventure, and don’t be afraid to ask a qualified person for advice.</p> <p><strong>Kristeen Collison</strong> - That I’m more adventurous than I thought.</p> <p><strong>Angie Jansen</strong> - That I love it. Just new places, culture, food, history, the wonderful people, the adventures you have and the memories, it’s the experiencing new things and learning, exploring, being amazed. Just so grateful I can still do it.</p> <p><strong>Palma Hemer </strong>- To have a sense of humour, rain hail or shine.</p> <p><strong>Anne Jenkin</strong> - That I can enjoy the travel by myself but I do like meeting new people on these trips.</p> <p><strong>Kath Sheppard</strong> - To try to learn basic phrases when travelling. It's definitely appreciated.</p> <p><strong>Kerry Fischer</strong> - Soak up the vibe wherever you are! Every place has beauty!</p> <p><strong>Jacqueline Buchanan</strong> - That a smile speaks many languages.</p> <p><strong>Martin Drake</strong> - That there is just too much to see and not enough time.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Travel Tips

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Update on search for Samantha Murphy

<p>A fresh search for the body of Samantha Murphy, 51, has been initiated months after her disappearance and the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/how-samantha-murphy-s-digital-data-could-be-a-crucial-clue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discovery of her mobile phone</a> near a dam. Murphy was last seen on February 4 when she left for a 14km run through the Canadian State Forest, a route she frequently travelled.</p> <p>In a statement, a Victoria Police spokesperson said, "Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad as well as a range of specialist resources from across Victoria Police, New South Wales Police, and the Australian Federal Police are involved in the search."</p> <p>The renewed search, which began on Tuesday and continues today, focuses on bushland near Grenville, a new area in the Ballarat region. Despite numerous efforts, Murphy's body has yet to be found. The police have urged the public to stay away from the area to avoid interfering with the investigation.</p> <p>Murphy’s mobile phone was recovered in June by detectives near a dam in Buninyong, about 10 minutes from her home in Ballarat. The phone was found undamaged in its teal-coloured case and was still functional. Earlier searches were conducted in the Buninyong area and the Canadian State Forest, but they yielded no results.</p> <p>The disappearance of the Victorian mother has gripped the local community, with many participating in earlier searches. Her family has been kept informed of the ongoing investigation.</p> <p><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/everything-we-know-about-samantha-murphy-s-accused-killer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Patrick Orren Stephenson</a>, 22, remains in custody as the primary suspect in Murphy’s disappearance. Stephenson, the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, was last in court on August 8 and is not expected to appear again until November 14.</p> <p>Prosecutors requested a 12-week adjournment during the August hearing to review a brief of evidence, which includes extensive CCTV footage.</p> <p>The investigation continues as police and specialists work tirelessly to locate Murphy’s remains and bring closure to her family.</p> <p><em>Images: Supplied</em></p>

News

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Readers response: What movie have you rewatched the most?

<p>We all have our favourite movies. The ones that make us feel comforted and happy each time we rewatch them.</p> <p>We asked our readers what movies they have rewatched the most, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. </p> <p><strong>Heather Fuchs</strong> - Pretty Woman, The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile.</p> <p><strong>Nola Schmidt</strong> - Gone with the Wind, Sound of Music and Breakfast at Tiffanys.</p> <p><strong>Isabel Pritchard</strong> - Love Actually, watched it every Christmas since it was released.</p> <p><strong>Angela Chapman</strong> - The Notebook, Back to the Future trilogy, The Sound of Music, Grease, Sleepless in Seattle, and Sweet Home Alabama.</p> <p><strong>Margie Grass</strong> - Grease! Was watched over and over and over, would finish watching and go "oh let’s do it again". My kids knew the words by heart and did a running commentary when they replayed it again.</p> <p><strong>Naomi Thacker </strong>- The Rise of Skywalker, Star Wars. I must have seen it 10 or more times.</p> <p><strong>Terri Cameron</strong> - The Lion King with my eldest grandson who was very young then and is 30 now. Neither of us seemed to tire of it. It was just a wonderful film.</p> <p><strong>Beverley Hoffman</strong> - LOTR, Harry Potter, The Ten Commandments.</p> <p><strong>Christine Thompson</strong> - Sound of Music, Sleepless in Seattle, Pretty Woman. Anything that you would class as a “chick flick” really.</p> <p><strong>Maggie Geeves</strong> - Steel Magnolias.</p> <p><strong>Rhonda Woods</strong> - The Castle. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Movies

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Readers response: What is the most expensive place you've visited?

<p>When it comes to travelling, there are some destinations around the world that are definitely more expensive than others. </p> <p>We asked our readers which place left them the most out of pocket, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. </p> <p><strong>Angela Budden</strong> - Switzerland for sure. </p> <p><strong>Vera Hunt </strong>- Italy, but it's a beautiful place so worth every cent.</p> <p><strong>Pat Isaacs</strong> - Probably London, back in 2011. Such a contrast to Bali, in 2013. Had two weeks there, total cost was under $1600, including air fare, accommodation, food etc. Just the air fare to London was more than the total cost of my time in Bali.</p> <p><strong>Eileen Dunford</strong> - The Amalfi Coast.</p> <p><strong>Roz Harris</strong> - Ashford Castle in Ireland, but I would give anything to go back again and stay for longer.</p> <p><strong>Valerie Southam</strong> - Iceland and Finland.</p> <p><strong>Peter Connolly</strong> - I think Qatar, although the Netherlands wasn't that far behind.</p> <p><strong>Marirose Piciucco</strong> - Tahiti and Copenhagen.</p> <p><strong>Maree Newhouse</strong> - Iceland, I just came back from there. $48 for a bowl of lamb soup and $52 for a hamburger!</p> <p><strong>Gail Ladds</strong> - Positano in Italy. Cost me $25 for a milkshake about $7 years ago. It was the cost of the view I think.</p> <p><strong>Kevin Chapman</strong> - Hawaii, but worth every penny.</p> <p><strong>Peter Brady</strong> - Everywhere in the US given the lousy exchange rate, the plethora of additional government taxes, and the mandatory 20% tip.</p> <p><strong>Chaz Maree</strong> - Scandinavian countries are very expensive to visit but so beautiful, so who cares.</p> <p><strong>Catherine Cotterell</strong> - Venice, where the traders sting you as fiercely as the mosquitos.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p> </p>

Travel Trouble

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Readers response: What’s your most memorable birthday party?

<p>One of the best parts of birthdays is celebrating with your loved ones, whether it's a milestone birthday or not. </p> <p>We asked our readers to share the stories from their most memorable birthday parties, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. </p> <p><strong>Jill Harker </strong>- My 80th birthday last November! My family organised it! Had no idea who was coming! I'm a big Elvis fan and when I got to the hotel for lunch everybody was holding up an Elvis face in front of their face so I still had no idea who was there! When they took the faces down there were all my family from Queensland including grandchildren and great grandchildren! Plus my 2 sons organised a birthday video message from Tex Walker my favourite footballer! Plus my granddaughter organised a ride in a Cadillac for me! So many wonderful surprises! It was fantastic!</p> <p><strong>Judi Baker </strong>- My 21st. My Mum and Dad were there. Plus my late Mum's 70th and 80th. Both so funny.</p> <p><strong>Annette Guernier Clay</strong> - In 2007 when two good friends and I celebrated our 60th birthdays with a party at the old Cairns Yacht Club. Live band, lots of dancing, loads of friends.</p> <p><strong>Lesley Peacock</strong> - My 21st, as it was the only one I had.</p> <p><strong>Christine Whyte </strong>- Never had children’s birthday party as mine was always with immediate family, but had a memorable 70th last year with my family and 3 grandkids in Townsville.</p> <p><strong>Barbara Jaramenko</strong> - Didn’t have one as there was no money, but just had a homemade birthday cake with siblings which was lovely. </p> <p><strong>Margie Buckingham</strong> - On my 40th, I was a single mum and I held a combined party- my 40th, end of 3rd term (teacher) &amp; taking leave service leave, the Parliamentary election &amp; going overseas! I took a cruise from Singapore for a week, beginning with a Singapore Gin Sling in the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel. that was pretty memorable. </p> <div dir="auto"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></div>

Family & Pets

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"Absolute breakthrough": New hope in search for Motor Neurone Disease cure

<p>Melbourne researchers are one step closer to finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease, with the help technology and stem cell research. </p> <p>Scientists at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health have developed a world-first technology that will speed up the drug testing process to help find an effective treatment and maybe even a cure for the disease. </p> <p>New machines at the institute can now help determine whether drugs on the market could be used to treat MND in just weeks, a process which previously took decades. </p> <p>"This is an absolute breakthrough, it's at the cutting edge of technology," Florey MND researcher Professor Brad Turner said.</p> <p>Animal cells were previously used to test the efficacy of MND drugs, but now thanks to more than 100 MND patients who donated their skin cells to the institute, researchers have a library of stem cells to work with. </p> <p>The human stem cells can provide scientists with the full scope of the disease, something that they were previously unable to do with just animal cells. </p> <p>"This is really a game-changer in that we can use their own cells, and we can test drugs directly on their own cells," Florey MND researcher and neurologist Dr Thanuja Dharmadasa said. </p> <p>Large scale screening will commence thanks to a $5 million grant from the Australian Medical Research Future Fund.</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">The research is expected to help people like Phil Camden who has been living with the disease for 10 years. </span></p> <p>"That's the key to all of us living with MND... we want to do what we can while we can," Camden said.</p> <p>"We know we're not doing it to find a cure for us. We're doing it for those in the future, my grandkids and their children."</p> <p>Scientists believe that medication or a cocktail of drugs tailored specifically to a patient is the way forward when it comes to treating the disease. </p> <p>"Therefore your drug treatments are tailed back to the clinical makeup in the dish and we call that personalised medical treatment," Turner said.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Surcharges are added to most purchases, but what are the rules behind these extra fees?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steve-worthington-138">Steve Worthington</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p>You head to the register at the cafe to pay for your lunch, swipe your card and suddenly realise you’ve been hit with an extra small but unexpected charge.</p> <p>It might be listed on your receipt as a service or merchant fee, but either way it’s because you’ve used a credit or debit card.</p> <p>With the pandemic accelerating the use of cards instead of cash – <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2023/jun/cash-use-and-attitudes-in-australia.html#:%7E:text=Cash%20payments,-The%20CPS%20suggests&amp;text=In%20value%20terms%2C%20the%20cash,cent%20by%20value%20in%202022.">only 13% of Australians use cash</a>, dropping from 27% in the last five years – these extra charges have become mainstream.</p> <p>However, as was highlighted by National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Irvine during a <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Corporations_and_Financial_Services/FinancialAbuse">parliamentary inquiry</a> into bank charges last week, they are often applied, in varying amounts, by businesses for reasons not always in line with their original purpose.</p> <p>Irvine slammed as <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/credit-card-surcharges-should-be-banned-or-regulated-nab-boss-says-20240830-p5k6jm">“outrageous”</a> a 10% surcharge he was forced to pay when he recently bought a cup of coffee at a Sydney cafe. “I don’t like the lack of transparency and lack of consistency,” he said.</p> <p>But most Australians are making these extra payments every day, without question. So how did this end up happening – and what can you do about it?</p> <h2>Card surcharges in Australia</h2> <p>At the start of this century, payments for goods and services were mainly made by cash, paper cheques, credit and debit cards.</p> <p>The first two of these options would eventually be deposited into a bank account by the merchant who ran the business. The latter two would be processed by the bank or financial institution which would charge the business a merchant service fee.</p> <p>For debit cards this might be a fixed fee. But for credit cards it would be proportionate with the value of the goods or services.</p> <p>The Reserve Bank of Australia became concerned the use of credit cards was greater than that of debit cards and <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/consultations/201106-review-card-surcharging/background.html">introduced surcharging in January 2003</a>. The intention was to lower the cost to the merchant of accepting debit cards and change customer behaviour.</p> <p>This has been achieved, as both the volume and value of paying by debit cards now exceeds the volume and value of paying by credit cards.</p> <p>However, the reality in 2024 is that card surcharges have become commonplace, and in a wide variety of payment situations.</p> <h2>It’s estimated to cost us billions</h2> <p>It is difficult to calculate the total cost of surcharging to Australian consumers since they became legal more than 20 years ago, because the rates charged vary widely.</p> <p>But at last week’s inquiry, Labor MP Jerome Laxale suggested it added up to <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/money/banking/card-surcharges-are-costing-us-billions-but-can-they-be-avoided-20240830-p5k6o8.html">A$4 billion</a> in the last year.</p> <p>Surcharges can be imposed by small to medium enterprises such as your local cafe, doctor’s surgery, your energy supplier, or when you use a card to pay your council rates.</p> <p>As an example, my rates are payable by card, with a surcharge of 1.10% for Mastercard and Visa credit, and 0.55% for eftpos and Mastercard and Visa debit cards.</p> <h2>When surcharges can be applied</h2> <p>Many merchants charge the same rate for all their card payments and some fail to alert customers to the extra fee before accepting the payment at their terminal, which they are required to do.</p> <p>Indeed, even on a receipt for payment, the surcharge can be described by the merchant as a “handling” or “merchant” fee.</p> <p>The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/pricing/card-surcharges">(ACCC)</a> regulates surcharging and demands the merchant prove a surcharge is justified.</p> <p>Furthermore, the ACCC says if there is no way for a consumer to pay without paying a surcharge – that is, they can’t pay by cash or cheque – then the business must include the surcharge in <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/business/pricing/price-displays#toc-display-of-surcharges">the displayed price</a>.</p> <h2>Penalties for misuse</h2> <p>The ACCC can take merchants to court to enforce these regulations and there have been some examples of this in recent history.</p> <p>In July 2021, <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/nine-entertainment-pays-penalties-for-alleged-excessive-payment-surcharges#:%7E:text=The%20ACCC%20alleged%20that%20these,Deputy%20Chair%20Mick%20Keogh%20said.">Nine Entertainment paid penalties totalling $159,840</a>, plus $450,000 redressing customers, for charging subscribers and advertisers excessive surcharges.</p> <p>The ACCC specifies that the surcharge must not be more than it costs the merchant to use that payment type.</p> <p>As guidance to the merchants, it also offers <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/pricing/card-surcharges">the average costs for different payment types</a>: eftpos less than 0.5%, Mastercard and Visa Debit 0.5%–1% and Mastercard and Visa credit 1%–1.5%.</p> <p>However, despite the ACCC setting guidelines for the amounts that can be charged, many surcharges are above this guidance and in some cases more than 2.0% for all cards.</p> <p>Some merchants do charge different surcharging rates, depending on the cards they accept, be it eftpos, Mastercard or Visa. In theory, the surcharge rate is meant to be determined by the merchant service fee, which is negotiated between the merchant and their bank.</p> <p>Larger merchants, such as the supermarkets, department stores and energy companies, can negotiate low rates (reportedly as low as one cent a transaction). But smaller merchants with less negotiating clout will have higher service fees.</p> <p>The arrival of new payment players, such as <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/square-vs-stripe/">Square and Stripe</a>, has offered businesses an alternative banker of card payments, which can then use surcharging as part of their merchant service fees.</p> <h2>Surcharging overseas</h2> <p>The <a href="https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/finance-funding/making-receiving-payments/electronic-cash-payments/index_en.htm">European Union</a> already has a long-standing ban on surcharging, while in the United States, surcharging is illegal in some states.</p> <p>Other countries, including the United Kingdom, have tried surcharging on card payments, only to abandon them as it was rorted by some merchants and became an unnecessary expense for consumers.</p> <p><a href="https://bluenotes.anz.com/posts/2023/07/anz-news-surcharge-steve-worthington-australia#:%7E:text=In%202018%20the%20UK%20Treasury,their%20hard%2Dearned%20money%E2%80%9D.">A statement</a> released by the UK Treasury when it banned the practice in 2018 described surcharges as</p> <blockquote> <p>Hidden charges for paying with a debit or credit card, which will help millions of UK consumers to avoid rip-off fees when spending their hard earned money.</p> </blockquote> <h2>What can you do about it?</h2> <p>Before surcharging was allowed by the Reserve Bank in January 2003, acceptance by merchants of payments was just another cost of doing business. And it seems many consumers have just accepted surcharges as part of their transactions.</p> <p>There are ways to avoid them, the most obvious being to use cash. Using eftpos involves charges, but they are less than those imposed on credit and debit cards.</p> <p>The Reserve Bank is working on implementing a so-called <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/payments-and-infrastructure/debit-cards/least-cost-routing/#:%7E:text=What%20is%20least%2Dcost%20routing,'merchant%2Dchoice%20routing'.">“least-cost routing”</a> system that defaults to the lowest cost network when processing payments. Unfortunately, this is yet to be widely adopted by businesses.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/237964/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steve-worthington-138"><em>Steve Worthington</em></a><em>, Adjunct Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>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/surcharges-are-added-to-most-purchases-but-what-are-the-rules-behind-these-extra-fees-237964">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Money & Banking

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Body found in search for wife of former rugby star

<p>A body has been found in the search for Jenny Hastings, the wife of the former Scotland rugby star Scott Hastings. </p> <p>Jenny, 60, went missing at Wardie Bay, a wild swimming spot near Edinburgh, on Tuesday.</p> <p>A massive search involving police, ambulance and coastguard crews was launched in the Firth of Forth, according to <em>The Sun</em>. </p> <p>Despite their efforts, the search was stood down on Tuesday night. </p> <p>On Saturday afternoon, police said a woman's body was found in the Hound Point area of South Queensferry, near Edinburgh. </p> <p>Formal identification has yet to take place, but police said that: “The family of missing woman Jenny Hastings has been informed.”</p> <p>They also said "there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal". </p> <p>Police were treating her disappearance as a “high-risk missing persons case,” as Jenny struggles with her mental health. </p> <p>Her family previously issued a statement amid fears she was dead. </p> <p>“It appears that she wished to end her suffering in what was a regular and healing place for her," they said. </p> <p>“She loved the water but unfortunately her mind was not in a place of safety.</p> <p>“The Hastings family are absolutely heartbroken. We miss our Jenny.</p> <p>“She leaves a gaping hole in all our hearts and hope that she is returned to us safely so that we can celebrate her remarkable life.”</p> <p>Scottish Rugby also shared a statement on social media yesterday, sending their love and support to the Hastings family. </p> <p>“Scottish Rugby sends its love and support to Scott Hastings, Scotland cap 848, after his wife Jenny was reported missing whilst swimming earlier this week.</p> <p>“Our thoughts are with their children, and the wider Hastings family, at this heartbreaking time.”</p> <p>Jenny had been open about her struggles with mental health. In March 2017, she disappeared from the couple's Edinburgh home for 36 hours and walked to the Pentland Hills while she was suffering from depression. </p> <p>The couple both became ambassadors for charity Support in Mind Scotland and devoted work to helping others with their own mental health by staying active. </p> <p>They helped launch the 100 Streets challenge, encouraging people to get out and exercise with friends.</p> <p><em>Images: news.com.au</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Hamish Blake reveals single most life-changing interview moment

<p>Hamish Blake has revealed the A-list celebrity's candid answer to an interview questions that had a profound impact on his perspective. </p> <p>The radio and TV host appeared on the latest episode of the ABC program <em>The Assembly</em>, in which celebrities appear in front of a classroom of Australian university students, all of whom are autistic and studying journalism, and have permission to ask whatever questions they want. </p> <p>After Blake's extensive career, student Silas was keen to ask about what celebrity had the biggest impact on him. </p> <p>“You’ve interviewed a lot of people over the years, what answer to a question has most changed your perspective on life?” Silas asked a clearly-impressed Blake.</p> <p>“Ooooh … really good,” he responded.</p> <p>“We had Richard Branson on [Hamish and Andy], and one of the guys on our radio show, Jack, he basically said to him, ‘You are a billionaire. Can we just go downstairs to the ATM, can you give me a thousand dollars? It’s nothing to you but it will change my month’.”</p> <p>Blake went on to explain that the British entrepreneur gave a surprising response that has stayed with him ever since.</p> <p>“He was like, ‘I’ll tell you what – there’s something I’d give you all my money for’, and Jack’s like, ‘really?’ and [Richard] goes, ‘your age’.</p> <p>“I was like, that’s interesting. Jack was 22, and we were like, ‘What do you mean by that?’ and he said, 'I’d happily be broke and 22 than a billionaire and 68’, or whatever he was at the time.”</p> <p>Blake said the answer had "always stuck with him" and given him a new appreciation for ageing and freedom. </p> <p>“It’s true. I think that it will be true for all of us. As we get older, you’re like, ‘OK, money’s thing in life, a tool that can certainly take some bad situations and discomfort away, but it’s not happiness’. It’s nowhere near the exhilaration of getting to live, and all the best stuff is free,” he said.</p> <p>“I think about that all the time … That always stuck with me, that idea that we’ve got something immediately available to us, that in the future we’d give all our material possessions for.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: ABC </em></p>

TV

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Readers response: Who’s the most interesting person you’ve met while travelling?

<p>One of the best parts of travelling is the people you met along the way. </p> <p>Whether it's as part of a tour group or an interesting character you meet by chance, interacting with interesting people in interesting places can bring a lot to your travel experience. </p> <p>We asked our readers to tell us about the most interesting person they've encountered on their travels and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. </p> <p><strong>Diana Jason</strong> - Cargo Holly Harrison. He walked 15000 miles from the bottom of South America to the top of Alaska. A truly fascinating man.</p> <p><strong>Margie Buckingham</strong> - While caravanning around Oz, every night we would meet interesting ppl enjoying pre-dinner drinks &amp; nibbles around the campfire. We all had personal stories to tell or the best places to camp.</p> <p><strong>Ann Smith</strong> - Myself. Travelled to the UK and found my independence and confidence, two and a bit years after I lost love of my life to cancer.</p> <p><strong>Pamela Cari</strong> - We met the lady who played the mother of Apollonia Vitelli in The Godfather when we were in Savoca.</p> <p><strong>Rosalie Busch</strong> - A couple who grew up behind the wall in East Berlin. </p> <p><strong>Sue Velvin</strong> - Shaquille O'Neal when my daughter and I had a holiday in the states a few years ago! Awesome man.</p> <p><strong>Wendy Farnham</strong> - A Buddhist Nun in Cambodia who lost her husband and 6 of her 7 children to starvation under Pol Pot’s regime.</p> <p><strong>Lyn Schuemaker</strong> - Everybody. They all have stories to tell.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

International Travel

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Readers response: What is the most memorable cruise you've ever been on?

<p>The dream holidays of many take place on the high seas, with many eager travellers keen to reflect on their favourite voyages.</p> <p>We asked our readers what their most memorable cruise was, for either good or bad reasons, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what you said.</p> <p><strong>Kate Oz</strong> - European river cruise was fabulous. </p> <p><span dir="auto"><strong>Jean Murray Cure</strong> - Coming to Australia as a migrant and a Christmas cruise to New Caledonia. Loved them both!</span></p> <p><span dir="auto"><span dir="auto"><strong>Carol Hanson</strong> - Christmas cruise. Fantastic atmosphere on board.</span></span></p> <p><span dir="auto"><span dir="auto"><span dir="auto"><strong>Brenda Glass Brooks</strong> - When I slipped on a wet surface and cracked my L2 excruciating pain, arrived home and ended up in hospital where I was told I also had COVID. </span></span></span>Will never ever cruise again.</p> <p><span dir="auto"><strong>Geraldine Bayles</strong> - The Holland America, 10 day Roman Empire cruise on the Noordam 20</span>12. Every day was an adventure! On board entertainment fantastic! Smooth sailing.</p> <p><span dir="auto"><strong>Linda Woods</strong> - NZ on Queen Elizabeth. The best ship we've been on.</span></p> <p><span dir="auto"><span dir="auto"><strong>Cheryl Barrett </strong>- Loved cruising from Vancouver to Alaska. It was mind blowing.</span></span></p> <p><span dir="auto"><span dir="auto"><span dir="auto"><strong>Rhonda Moffitt</strong> - 4 years ago. 1st day, ship didn't leave Port as conditions of heat &amp; wind were severe. </span></span></span>2nd day, weather too severe to visit Kangaroo Island so day spent at sea. 3rd day, Port Lincoln as scheduled. 4th day, Phillip Island hit by a severe storm and spent 2 hours on tender which could not dock and offload passengers back on ship. That night Penguin Parade excursion cancelled due to bad weather.</p> <div> <div dir="auto">This was my first cruise, a taster for my future retirement. Princess cruise had no offer for credits and, I know weather is unpredictable, but a totally disappointing experience.</div> <p><strong>Dianne Whitton</strong> - 2013 World Cruise on the Sea Princess. It was good. The best was 2016 Circle Pacific. Too bad Princess doesn't put it on any more.</p> <p><span dir="auto"><strong>Cheryl Quested</strong> - Windstar cruise in Tahiti was the best.</span></p> <p><span dir="auto"><span dir="auto"><strong>Heather Dixon</strong> - Hurricane cruise in Norway, absolutely the most stunning scenery.</span></span></p> <p><em><span dir="auto"><span dir="auto">Image credits: Shutterstock</span></span></em></p> </div>

Cruising

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