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Qantas announces massive overhaul of frequent flyer program

Qantas, Australia's flagship airline, has unveiled significant changes to its frequent flyer program in response to ongoing feedback from millions of members. The announcement, made at the airline's headquarters in Sydney, marks one of the most substantial expansions in the 35-year history of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. During the event, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson, alongside Andrew Glance, the newly appointed Loyalty boss, outlined the updates to both the media and select members of the frequent flyer program. These changes aim to address longstanding concerns and enhance the overall experience for loyal customers. A key highlight of the overhaul is the introduction of Classic Plus Flight Rewards, providing members with access to an additional 20 million reward seats for booking flights. Vanessa Hudson said that this expansion is a direct response to member feedback. “The Qantas Frequent Flyer program is an integral part of Qantas and has always been about recognising our customers for their loyalty," Hudson said. "We’ve spent a lot of time listening to members about how we can better reward them . . . We’re adding over 20 million new flight rewards with the launch of a new type of reward seat called Classic Plus. It’s one of the biggest expansions we’ve made to the Frequent Flyer program in its 35-year history." With Classic Plus Flight Rewards, frequent flyer members can now access sought-after destinations such as London, Tokyo, New York and Singapore with greater ease, even during peak travel periods. This substantial increase in available seats – 20 million annually compared to the previous 5 million – represents a significant advantage for members seeking to redeem their points for travel. However, it's important to note that while Classic Plus Flight Rewards offer increased availability, they will require more points to book compared to the original program. This announcement follows recent speculation about a major revamp of the frequent flyer program, with Qantas hinting at changes aimed at allowing customers to maximise the value of their points. These changes come in response to feedback from program members, some of whom have voiced frustrations about the devaluation of points and difficulties in securing rewards seats. Qantas' announcement of sweeping changes to its frequent flyer program signals a significant step in the airline's ongoing efforts to prioritise customer satisfaction and loyalty. Images: Qantas

Money & Banking

Wes Anderson has an obsessive, systematic repetition of stylistic choices. He’s perfect for this TikTok meme

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-munt-1380279">Alex Munt</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a> Iconoclastic film director Wes Anderson <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdt0oam6O1o">says of his films</a>: <blockquote> I always feel like any character from one of my movies could walk into another one of the movies and be at home there. </blockquote> With the premiere of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FXCSXuGTF4">Asteroid City</a> at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival next week, fans have been doing just that – walking themselves into faux Anderson movies. TikTokers are creatively “Wes-Andersonifying” their everyday lives: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@keithafadi/video/7221582114880294150">at lunch</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@taramilktea/video/7226286920093977857?q=wes%20anderson%20challenge&t=1683337148719">at the hotel pool</a> or <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hilakleinh3/video/7225644281799691563?q=wes%20anderson%20challenge&t=1683337148719">at the bookstore</a>. The TikToks are all set to a score by Alexandre Desplat from The French Dispatch (2021). <iframe id="tc-infographic-855" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/855/b970b886fa15cd22f469e5441d15262ddaa1d2c8/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> It’s fun to see Anderson’s film style rolled out across diverse cultural and geographic borders. This syncs with the filmmaker’s affinity for global cinema. He draws inspiration from the films of Yasujirō Ozu, Satyajit Ray, Jean Renoir, Jean-Luc Godard, Francois Truffaut and Jacques Rivette – to name just a few. For Tiktok’s Anderson fans, here’s a “<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@andyyongfilms/video/7227440401572039938">How To</a>” by @andyyongfilms which shows a recipe for the film style: a title card (Futura font, with typewriter effect), symmetrical compositions, bright coloured or pastel outfits, retro props, an overhead shot plus a “<a href="https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/swish-pan-whip-pan-definition-film/">whip-pan</a>” camera movement. A few of the TikToks are highly polished, clearly from creators with a film education, such as <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@qmike/video/7223410519741418757">The British Dispatch</a>. <iframe id="tc-infographic-856" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/856/3ed36e627f542ded4bb2f6244eb11b5a4b4a1626/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> <h2>Reimagining a film style</h2> The Anderson-inspired TikToks are playful ruminations on the question of “film style” today. Stanley Kubrick once said a film director is a “<a href="https://craigberry93.medium.com/stanley-kubrick-at-the-design-museum-4e79b3c11af9">taste machine</a>”, which Anderson revels in to excess. Symmetry within the frame is perhaps the most obvious element of the Anderson film style and one easy to replicate in the TikToks. With an obsessive devotion to staging scenes in symmetry, Anderson breaks the “<a href="https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-the-rule-of-thirds/">rule of thirds</a>” for visual composition. In contrast, he pins his actors dead centre as shown in this <a href="https://vimeo.com/89302848">video essay</a> by Kogonada. <figure><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/89302848" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Working with his regular cinematographer Robert Yeoman, Anderson uses planar compositions to create graphic cinema which shares an affinity with illustration and painting. His “planar” approach to staging means the camera remains perpendicular to the subject, which the rapid whip-pan camera movements maintain within a shot. Anderson stages his actors across the frame – like garments on a clothesline – and in depth. You can see this in the image from Asteroid City above. This staging style is a departure from the mainstream visual style of film and television today which situates the camera at oblique angles to the actors, enhancing the layers of foreground, midground and background – closer to the way we see and experience the world. <iframe id="tc-infographic-857" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/857/4a449631c65d123c2342e08df14cd09f3b6d79a4/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> In contrast, Anderson’s approach calls out the artificiality of cinema. He recalls historical film styles from early cinema theatricality to the pop-art cinema of the late 1960s, for example in the films of the late Jean-Luc Godard. Colour is another aspect of Wes Anderson’s visual style, which spills across the TikToks. Like a handful of directors today, he still shoots on film (16mm and 35mm) but now uses digital tools to <a href="https://musicbed.com/articles/filmmaking/cinematography/robert-yeoman-asc-on-shooting-wes-andersons-the-french-dispatch">grade the colour</a> of the images. The Euro-pastels from The Grand Budapest Hotel resurface in American shades for Asteroid City. <iframe id="tc-infographic-858" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/858/d333cb73c1d0b0fdb4ca1f8d48313a013754f2ec/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> <h2>Where to next?</h2> As a system in and of itself, the film style of Anderson is ripe for TikTok due to its boldness, clarity and repetition of techniques. Film style operates at the level of the shot. We might recall signature shots such as Hitchcock’s “vertigo effect” (where the camera lens zooms into a subject as the camera moves away), Scorsese’s tracking shots, Nolan’s close-up shots of hands or Tarantino’s point-of-view shots from inside a car boot. But these are isolated shots rather than Anderson’s obsessive, systematic repetition of stylistic choices within each film and across his oeuvre. On TikTok some shots are easier to craft that others, as @astonmartinf1 details in his <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jllacar/video/7226811816553270571?q=wes%20anderson%20challenge&t=1683337148719">analysis</a> of the Wes Anderson Trend, noting the omission of camera movement in many of the videos which is a defining aspect of his film style proper. <iframe id="tc-infographic-859" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/859/f9767494a7a94dd0475e121fc36513afcc110279/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> In filmmaking, moving the camera is often expensive, separating the amateur from the professional. Anderson’s tracking shots are only feasible within an industrial filmmaking process. While the TikToks may be highly creative, they are made with slim resources a world away from the film budgets of Anderson, who enjoys Medici-like support <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2015/01/23/mysterious-d-c-mogul-steve-rales-is-behind-oscar-nominated-pic/">from US billionaire Steven Rales</a>. Saying this, there are other aspects of the Wes Anderson style the TikToks could hijack on a budget, such as playfulness with the image aspect ratio and slow-motion photography. Aspect ratio is the relationship between the width and height of an image. TikTok is 9:16, an inverted ratio to our widescreen TVs. As part of his film style, Anderson uses the Classical Hollywood ratio of 4:3 seen in <a href="https://youtu.be/dvubfl-qeC8">The French Dispatch</a>. Both ratios are designed for people (all those selfies) over landscapes, so creative opportunities here for TikTokers. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dvubfl-qeC8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Anderson is also a fan of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRGqeHIItY8">slow-motion</a> to accentuate key dramatic moments in his films. Today’s smartphones shoot “slo-mo” well, and using TikTok and other basic editing apps the user can apply speed effects to their footage. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yRGqeHIItY8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> And as generative AI representations of film style wash across social media there’s a new set of questions altogether. Here’s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqxBkJnvPRa/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D">Harry Potter as directed by Wes Anderson</a> created by @panoramachannel with AI software Midjourney. But that’s another conversation. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-munt-1380279">Alex Munt</a>, Associate Professor, Media Arts & Production, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology 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/wes-anderson-has-an-obsessive-systematic-repetition-of-stylistic-choices-hes-perfect-for-this-tiktok-meme-204803">original article</a>. Images: Searchlight Pictures

Movies

Major overhaul of Aussie superannuation system touted

There may be a major change coming to Australia's $3.3 trillion superannuation system, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers looking to crack down on early access. Chalmers will be speaking to call for an objective for superannuation that will emphasise the need for it to be preserved until retirement. This would make it harder for Australians to access their funds early. The federal opposition are taking a different stance and have pushed for early access to remain open as part of a first home buyers scheme. John Kehoe, Australian Financial Review economics editor, told Today $36 billion had been withdrawn from Australians’ collective super during the COVID-19 pandemic. "That's something that Labor wants to shut the door on," he said. Kehoe said there were two sides to the first home buyers scheme, saying that people accessing their super early could drive prices higher. "The retirement income system showed the best way to have financial security in retirement is owning your own home," he said. "It is people renting in retirement that do it really tough.” Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie expressed her view on the proposal, saying life wasn't "black and white.” "There are things that happen in our lives where that money may come in handy, whether it is part of that money, or 20 per cent of that money, just to keep us afloat," she said. "And especially in the next two years, if we are going into recession, if there are guys out there who can dig in to make sure we can keep the roof over their head, to continue to pay their house rates, we have to be a bit more flexible than that when we are going through tough times." Image credit: Getty

Retirement Life

Overhaul of payments system to cover digital wallets, buy now pay later, cryptocurrency

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will announce on Wednesday a comprehensive reform of regulations governing the payments system, to bring it up to date with innovations such as digital wallets and cryptocurrency. The government says without the changes – the biggest in 25 years – Australians businesses and consumers could increasingly be making transactions in spaces beyond the full reach of Australian law, where rules were determined by foreign governments and multinationals. It points out that in three decades payment methods have gone from cash to cheques, cheques to credit cards, credit cards to debit cards and now to “tap and go” via digital wallets on phones or watches. Around a decade ago, cryptocurrency was a concept. Currently, there are more than 220 million participants in the worldwide crypto market, including many in Australia. The planned reforms will centralise oversight of the payment system by ensuring government plays a greater leadership role. The treasurer will be given more power to intervene in certain circumstances. Consumer protection will be strengthened, and more competition and innovation will be promoted. The reform program will be in two phases. There will be consultations in the first half of next year on those that are most urgent and easy to implement. Consultations on the rest will be done by the end of the year. The government says the present one-size-fits-all licensing framework for payment service providers will be replaced graduated, risk-based regulatory requirements. There will be consideration of the feasibility of a retail central bank digital currency, and an examination of “de-banking” (where a bank declines to offer a service to a business or individual). Frydenberg says the comprehensive payments and crypto asset reform program would “firmly place Australia among a handful of lead countries in the world. "It is how we will capitalise on the opportunity for Australia to lead the world in this emerging and fast-growing area which has almost endless potential applications across the economy,” he says. “For businesses, these reforms will address the ambiguity that can exist about the regulatory and tax treatment of crypto assets and new payment methods. "In doing so, it will drive even more consumer interest, facilitate even more new entrants and enable even more innovation to take place. "For consumers, these changes will establish a regulatory framework to underpin their growing use of crypto assets and clarify the treatment of new payment methods.”<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/173331/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-grattan-20316">Michelle Grattan</a>, Professorial Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</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/overhaul-of-payments-system-to-cover-digital-wallets-buy-now-pay-later-cryptocurrency-173331">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Retirement Income

Paid parental leave needs an overhaul if governments want us to have “one for the country”

As Australia and New Zealand face the realities of slow growth, or even a decline in population, it’s time to ask if their governments are doing enough. Especially if they want to encourage people to have more babies. New Zealand’s fertility rate has hit an all-time <a href="https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2008/S00108/nz-fertility-rate-is-at-all-time-low.htm">low</a> of 1.71 children per woman. The opposition National Party <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122653707/election-2020-national-launches-first-1000-days-policy-promises-3000-for-new-parents">wants</a> to entice parents with a NZ$3,000 “baby bonus” to be spent on family services. Australia’s population growth rate is <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-24/treasurer-josh-frydenberg-baby-boom-economy-recovery-coronavirus/12489678">forecast</a> to be 0.6% in 2021, its lowest since 1916. Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenburg urged Australians to have more children, reminding many of then treasurer Peter Costello’s <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/budget-bonus-for-mothers-and-families-20060508-ge29qi.html">encouragement to those who can</a> to have “one for mum, one for dad and one for the country”. But if governments want people to procreate for their nation, they must be prepared to help them, and that includes increases in paid parental leave. The current system New Zealand <a href="https://doi.org/10.26686/pq.v2i1.4189">introduced</a> <a href="https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/parental-leave/types-of-parental-leave/">paid parental leave</a> in 1999, first as a tax credit then as a cash payment. Over time, the length was increased from 12 to 26 weeks, currently paid to <a href="https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/parental-leave/parental-leave-payment/payment-amount/">a maximum of NZ$606.46 a week</a>. There is no paid parental leave offered to dads or partners (although they are legally entitled to two weeks’ unpaid leave). But mums may transfer a portion of the 26 weeks to the dad or partner. Ten years ago, Australia was one of the last countries in the developed world to adopt government-funded maternity leave. It offers the primary carer (<a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/cheaper-childcare/">99.5% of the time, the mum</a>) <a href="https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/maternity-and-parental-leave/paid-parental-leave">18 weeks of paid leave at the minimum wage</a> (<a href="https://www.fairwork.gov.au/how-we-will-help/templates-and-guides/fact-sheets/minimum-workplace-entitlements/minimum-wages">currently A$753.80</a>). Only two weeks at the minimum wage is provided for the secondary carer. When you compare the payment rates of parental leave to average salaries in each country (table below), Australia’s 18 weeks drops to an equivalent of 7.9 weeks annual average salary and New Zealand from 26 weeks to 15.5 weeks. These low leave payments appear even less generous when compared to the <a href="https://www.wgea.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Parental-leave-and-gender-equality.pdf">OECD average</a> of 54.1 weeks of paid parental leave for mums and <a href="https://www.oecd.org/els/soc/PF2_1_Parental_leave_systems.pdf">eight weeks </a> for dads or partners. While employers often top up state-paid parental leave entitlements, this is not always the case. For example, Australia’s <a href="https://www.wgea.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Parental-leave-and-gender-equality.pdf">Workplace Gender Equality Agency</a> found more than 70% of financial services companies offered paid parental leave, but more than 80% of retail businesses did not. Earning or caring Given that dads or partners on both sides of the ditch face either no income for two weeks or less then half of the average income, it’s no wonder they choose to keep working to support their families financially. We know from an Australian Human Rights Commission <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/SWP_Report_2014.pdf">study in 2014</a> that 85% of dads and partners surveyed took up to four weeks’ leave, and more than half said they would have liked to take more to spend time with mum and newborn. There are <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jftr.12363">substantial benefits</a> including an increase in the mental health and well‐being of fathers and their children as well as greater harmony for the couple. Motherhood <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-parenthood-continues-to-cost-women-more-than-men-97243">penalises</a> women, contributing to significantly <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-30/superannation-young-women-fear-retirement-canberra-ywca-report/11365120">lower lifetime earnings</a>. Not to mention the “second shift” of domestic duties they do if they are balancing work and family. If dads and partners spend more time with their families earlier on in their children’s lives, this increases the likelihood that household chores and caring responsibilities will be more <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.5172/jfs.2014.20.1.19">evenly distributed</a>. Womens’ employment has also <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-10/women-have-lost-jobs-faster-than-men-during-coronavirus-but-are/12338598">been</a> hit harder by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes receiving <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-09/childcare-changes-to-disproportionately-affect-women/12333398">less government assistance</a>. The move to roll back free child care in Australia was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/08/australian-government-to-end-free-childcare-on-12-july-in-move-labor-says-will-snap-families">called</a> a “betrayal of Australian families” and “an anti-women move” by Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi. In addition to the “second shift”, women bear the brunt of a “third shift” – known as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/26/gender-wars-household-chores-comic">the mental load</a>. The business of running the family is characteristically undervalued and unpaid emotional labour, which is <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15487733.2020.1776561?needAccess=true">mostly</a> taken care of by women. For many dual-income families, lockdown has changed the allocation of household chores and caring responsibilities. <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-20/coronavirus-covid19-domestic-work-housework-gender-gap-women-men/12369708">Research</a> shows the gap between men and women has narrowed. More women in the workplace In the upcoming New Zealand election, it will be interesting to see how the different parties deal with supporting families, the gender pay gap and female workforce participation. If ever an example was needed to show how satisfying a non-traditional care arrangement can be for both parents, consider <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/stayathome-dad-to-help-jacinda-ardern-be-pm--a-mum-20180119-h0kz9h">stay-at-home dad Clarke Gayford</a>, who supports Jacinda Ardern to be New Zealand’s prime minister. Our previous <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1441358220300070">research</a> found government policy alone does not increase the uptake of dads or partners taking parental leave. Changing workplace norms to support them is a key factor in creating flexible work arrangements and increasing parental leave uptake. Working from home has made <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/there-s-a-silver-lining-for-fathers-in-the-covid-crisis-20200424-p54n1z.html">fatherhood</a> more visible and increased the time some Australian dads <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-20/coronavirus-covid19-domestic-work-housework-gender-gap-women-men/12369708">spend</a> caring for their children. In a post-pandemic world, care responsibilities can no longer be labelled a private matter. New Zealand and Australia both have parental leave policies that fail to offer families real choices about care arrangements. Dads and partners need their own leave entitlements and greater acceptance of their <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jftr.12363">caring responsibilities</a> in the workplace. These changes will challenge caring as women’s work, ease the burden on women and may even boost the fertility rate. Written by Sarah Duffy, Western Sydney University; Michelle O'Shea, Western Sydney University, and Patrick van Esch, Auckland University of Technology. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/paid-parental-leave-needs-an-overhaul-if-governments-want-us-to-have-one-for-the-country-145627">The Conversation.</a>

Travel Tips

Drivers may be allowed to use mobile phones behind the wheel in road rule overhaul

A review of road rules has been told drivers should be allowed to use their phones behind the wheels, with South Australian motorists calling for the strict laws to be loosened. Under the current legislation, drivers who are caught using handheld mobile phone on the road are liable to a $534 fine and three demerit points. According to the National Transport Committee (NTC), taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds – to use your phone, adjust the radio or talk to a passenger – can be “particularly hazardous”. “Drivers engage in non-driving activities every 96 seconds while behind the wheel,” said Gillian Miles, chief executive officer at the NTC. “Distractions take our concentration off the road which means we may not have time to react to hazards.” However, the Royal Automobile Association (RAA) of South Australia said the laws need to be updated to reflect the changing use of technology. “The old legislation is very specific about managing distractions, but technology has moved beyond this,” Charles Mountain, RAA Senior Manager Road Safety told <a rel="noopener" href="https://10daily.com.au/news/crime/a190910pgzys/drivers-may-be-allowed-to-use-phones-behind-the-wheel-in-new-road-rules-20190910" target="_blank">10 daily</a>. Some of the submissions pointed out that many drivers rely on GPS navigation and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/do-you-do-this-in-a-drive-thru-the-500-road-rule-confusing-aussies/" target="_blank">phone payment methods at restaurant drive-thrus</a>, despite the ban on touching phones in unparked vehicles in all states. “That is just not sensible, to turn your engine off to pay with your phone,” Mountain said. “It is important to acknowledge that phones are capable of more functions than before... such as music streaming. “There needs to be understanding for all drivers about what a distraction is.” A regulation impact statement will be delivered for transport ministers’ consideration in May 2020.

Legal

"There's still time": Why you should cash in your Qantas points before the system overhaul

In less than two weeks, Qantas frequent flyers will have to save up more points to redeem for flights as significant changes are set to take place. Starting September 18, reward seats in premium economy, business and first class will cost up to 18 per cent more in Qantas points, with the increases varying by route. The increased points requirement is balanced out by a reduction on the fees levied on reward flights. “On the other side they are reducing the taxes, so up to 50 per cent less fees are being charged for those reward tickets,” said the airline’s CEO Alan Joyce. In June, Qantas announced that its Frequent Flyers program would go through a <a href="https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-rewards-frequent-flyers-in-program-overhaul/">major overhaul</a> over the next 12 months. Some of the changes include the addition of more than one million extra reward seats to more destinations on Qantas and new partner airlines, the opportunity to gain more flight and travel benefits through non-flying related transactions with partners in Points Club, and the introduction of Lifetime Platinum status. Flight Global Asia’s finance editor Ellis Taylor said the best way to make the best out of the changes is to redeem frequent flyer points before September 18. “At the end of the day, for airlines this is a financial obligation they have, and it goes on their balance sheets so if there’s a way to get people to spend more of their points to bring down that liability for them they’ll take it,” Taylor told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-cash-in-your-qantas-frequent-flyer-points-before-overhaul-travel-news/df1452e1-b3a9-4c6d-bde7-7c8240a9b1c3">9News</a>. The Champagne Mile publisher Adele Eliseo advised travellers to nab an upgrade for their future Qantas flight, book a first class flight for short trips or a premium Classic Reward seat to popular northern hemisphere such as Europe and the United States before the changes kick in. “While many travellers will be sad to see these award chart increases kick in, there’s still time to lock in your dream redemption with Qantas points before September 18,” she wrote on <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/money/you-have-two-weeks-to-redeem-your-qantas-points-before-controversial-changes-start/news-story/81d635b6337484b56dea156b4644d9da">news.com.au</a>. “So, it’s time to get booking.”

Travel Tips

Biggest overhaul in 32 years: Qantas announces major changes to its Frequent Flyer program

Qantas has just made the biggest announcement in the 32-year history of its Frequent Flyer program, with massive changes benefiting the customer into paying less fees and having access to more seats along with the opportunity to earn points while on the ground. Speaking to the media on Thursday, CEO Alan Joyce and divisional head Olivia Wirth made the revelation which will affect 13 million members. It is expected for the changes to take place over the next 12 months, with the airline investing $25 million into the scheme. The biggest changes will be access to more seats, with over 1 million seats reserved for Frequent Flyers. Destinations that will benefit the most will be London, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Singapore. Another plus is reduced fees and carrier charges when redeeming points. If you’re someone who tends to travel in economy, you will now be using less points for a Classic Rewards seat. But if you prefer to fly first class, business class and premium economy, then the news is slightly bleaker as you will be paying an increased fee of 15 per cent – which is a first for the airline. You will also be paying more for an upgrade to a premium cabin – up to 9 per cent. “While the points required for business class seats on international and domestic flights will increase slightly, it is the first increase in 15 years and the product has improved a lot in that time,” said Mr Joyce. “There’s a lot about the Qantas Frequent Flyer program that our members tell us they love but there are also areas of the program that have increasingly come under pressure as a result of rapid expansion,” added Ms Wirth. “What we’re announcing today is all about investing more into the heart of our program, the member experience.” However, the most exciting change is the new “Points Club” program which helps members earn points when they aren’t up in the air. The club is comprised of two tiers and entry gained based on members meeting an annual criteria. Once travellers gain access to the exclusive club, they will receive lounge entry and bonus star credit, as well as bargain deals across their “partner” network. “The combination of the new Points Club, the introduction of our most elite tier in Lifetime Platinum, and the increase in seats across our network means the revamped program should offer something for everyone,” said Ms Wirth.

Travel Tips

How wage exploitation has become the default experience for migrant workers

Australia’s Fairwork Commission <a href="https://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/news-and-media-releases/2019-media-releases">has so far this year</a> examined more than a dozen cases of wage theft. Those cases involve hundred of workers and millions of dollars in underpayments. And it’s just the tip of the iceberg. A significant report on the <a href="https://docs.jobs.gov.au/documents/report-migrant-workers-taskforce">exploitation of migrant workers</a> in Australia has been published this month. After a two-year inquiry by the federal <a href="https://docs.jobs.gov.au/documents/report-migrant-workers-taskforce">Migrant Workers’ Taskforce</a>, the report concludes that wage theft is widespread. Possibly as many as half of all temporary migrant workers are being underpaid. The federal government has agreed <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/employers-could-face-jail-for-wage-theft">“in principle”</a> to act on all of the report’s 22 recommendations. Attracting most media coverage is the recommendation to introduce criminal penalties for deliberate and systemic exploitation. <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/industrial-relations/bosses-urge-coalition-to-ditch-support-for-criminalising-wage-theft/news-story/ba910e603b95222efd0471dcf7462211">Employer groups oppose</a> this. But this debate should not distract us from other important principles that need action. Equality before the law Of foremost importance is the principle of equality. The federal government’s response to the report rightly declares that all workers, no matter their background, should be able to work <a href="https://docs.jobs.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/government_response_to_the_migrant_workers_taskforce_report.pdf">without fear of exploitation</a>. Here the report contains two crucial recommendations. The first is to amend the Fair Work Act so it expressly states it covers migrant workers. The second is to extend coverage of the federal <a href="https://www.jobs.gov.au/fair-entitlements-guarantee-feg">Fair Entitlements Guarantee</a> program, which covers the cost of entitlements left unpaid when a worker is left high and dry by an employer going into liquidation or bankruptcy. The report also stresses the need for migrant workers to be adequately informed of their workplace rights. It proposes a “whole of government” approach to inform and educate workers. Social licence Another critical principle of the report is that of redress. It recommends that the effectiveness of the small claims process under the Fair Work Act be reviewed. It also recommends increasing penalties under the Fair Work Act. These include giving courts the power to impose an adverse publicity order, requiring an offending business to notify the public it has cheated workers; and for the most serious cases of exploitation, of course, it has suggested criminal sanctions. For four high-risk industries – horticulture, meat processing; cleaning and security – the report recommends a National Labour Hire Registration Scheme. Companies failing to comply with workplace laws would face potential deregistration. It also asks the government to explore ways by which employers found to have underpaid workers can be banned from employing anyone for a specific period. These last two proposals speak to a deep moral truth. The ability to operate a business is a social licence. Those who systematically disregard the rights of workers forfeit their right to this licence. While noting the important work undertaken by the Fair Work Ombudsman, the report queries whether the office’s funding, functions and power are equal to addressing the problem of wage theft. It recommends a public capability review to ensure the regulator is “fit for purpose”. Wider responsibilities There should be little doubt that systemic industry practices (particularly in the agriculture and hospitality sectors) and business structures (such as franchises and labour-hire companies) are contributing to the problem. Equally clear too is that the big end of town bears culpability. The roll-call of companies implicated in breaches include Caltex, Domino’s Pizza, Woolworths and Pizza Hut. Restaurants owned by celebrity chefs <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/chefs-complain-about-30-000-underpayment-at-heston-blumenthal-s-restaurant-20181218-p50n0b.html">Heston Blumenthal</a> and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-13/george-calombaris-hellenic-republic-restaurant-pay-claims/9987356">George Calombaris</a> have been found underpaying employees. The report makes clear it is not just employers and the Fair Work Ombudsman that must ensure compliance with workplace laws. Other institutional actors are also responsible. It recommends, for instance, businesses that outsource workers be deemed accessories to any crime of wage theft committed by labour-hire companies. Significantly, it also draws attention to the responsibility of the higher education sector, given the sector profits from about <a href="https://www.studiesinaustralia.com/studying-in-australia/why-study-in-australia/international-students-in-australia">800,000</a> fee-paying international students in Australia. Many of these students take part-time jobs, and they are particularly vulnerable to being exploited. The report recommends education providers be obliged to provide information to them, and to assist them when they experience workplace issues. A powerful blueprint The report is clearly not meant to be the final word on dealing with wage theft. Its first recommendation is that the federal government establish a “whole of government mechanism” to continue the taskforce’s work. For this work to be meaningful, another principle of the report must be acted upon: the need for systematic data collection and analysis. Without this we risk being blind to what is happening right before us. Consider, for example, the growing use of migrant labour as domestic workers badged as “au pairs”. The report is certainly not without limitations. It could have gone much further on immigration law reform, given the pernicious role certain visa conditions have in encouraging exploitation. It fails to specifically discuss the crucial role of trade unions in protecting workers. It is nonetheless a powerful blueprint to address the rampant problem of wage theft, which undermines the integrity and cohesion of our labour markets. It is incumbent upon all those in power to act on it. Written by Joo-Cheong Tham. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/weve-let-wage-exploitation-become-the-default-experience-of-migrant-workers-113644">The Conversation.</a>

Money & Banking

Total overhaul: Woolies unveils radically different new store

Woolworths has quietly opened a new concept store which hopes to fundamentally change the way we shop with the retailer. Trying to break shopper’s habits of only visiting the supermarket once a week, the new store is designed to tempt you to visit as much as three times a day. Opened last month, the Woolworths Metro store on Sydney’s Pitt St Mall has been inspired by retailers in the densely populated urban centre of Hong Kong. In this Woolies, the supermarket isn’t your one-stop destination for your pantry staples, instead it has a “curated range” to keep you coming back for more, the company says. The traditional deli counter has been replaced by a large kitchen serving everything from hot roast dinners and curries, to on-trend poke bowls and salads. Woolies also wants to keep you in the store, offering a cafe, indoor seating area with phone chargers and microwaves and a sandwich press so you can even cook your own food. Woolworths’ Metro division managing director Steve Greentree told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/new-curated-store-woolworths-wants-you-to-shop-at-three-times-a-day/news-story/6bd6b77af166d57677d81b7e04a38d9d">news.com.au</a> the Pitt Street store was “new and different, not traditional” and was serving as a tester with the best ideas likely to be introduced to your local suburban supermarket. “If you come into the city wanting lunch at the moment, you have to queue up at a food court but we have an offer that’s significantly cheaper,” Greentree told news.com.au. “We used to use a supermarket once or twice a week. What we’re building with this store is somewhere we serve you three times a day,” he said. “The first thing you see when you walk in is a cafe where you can get breakfast and then as you go through the day you can get lunch and then, as you head home, there’s a dinner solution.” However, there’s a price to pay if you drop into this new glitzy Woolies for your everyday groceries – the price tag is a tad more expensive than your average Woolworths store. The opening of the new concept Sydney branch comes as Coles announced on Thursday it would open its first convenience-sized store in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs by the end of the year. However, Coles will be playing catch up with Woolworths who have already launched 50 Metro-branded mini stores. Although Woolworths Metro stores aren’t new, the Pitt St store is a start of a new concept, Greentree said. “This store is a combination of everything we’ve learnt on a journey of 27 other stores as to how we get people through the front door and the food we serve,” he said. Scroll through the gallery above to take a look inside the new Woolies store.

Money & Banking

My Kitchen Rules’ Manu Feildel calls for overhaul of the show

Judge Manu Feildel has called for an overhaul of next year’s My Kitchen Rules after fighting between contestants became the focal point of this year’s season. The French chef says he wants to see “more food and less fighting” in 2019 after this year’s show saw Sonya and Hadil kicked out of the competition for their insults and threats to other teams. Manu believes the bad behaviour not only turns off fans of the cooking show, but it also unfair to other teams as it throws them off their game. “It [fighting] obviously has a huge impact on everyone involved and makes everyone uncomfortable,” Manu told <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/we-should-be-making-food-not-war-says-mkr-judge-manu-after-marred-season/news-story/f808bbf7142ee5cb453497209b8e5677">The Daily Telegraph.</a> “It would be hard for anyone to perform under those circumstances. “What I have been hearing [from viewers] is more food and less fighting — and I echo that. “I personally, don’t want to see it again. It’s the most intense season I’ve been part of. “The most crazy decisions we’ve had to make. It was very upsetting.” Manu’s comments are in contrast to fellow judge <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/2018/05/mkr-judge-pete-evans-defends-competition/">Pete Evans, who recently defended the show from accusations of bullying.</a> MKR is in its final week with the winning team to be crowned on Sunday night’s grand finale.

Secret plan for radical hospital overhaul leaked

Leaked documents obtained by <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/leaked-documents-reveal-secret-plan-for-radical-hospital-overhaul-20170528-gweri6.html">Fairfax Media</a> show the nation’s top government officials are considering a radical hospital overhaul. The secret taskforce is developing a proposal for a “Commonwealth Hospital Benefit”, a new funding formula for public and private hospitals. Fairfax Media understands that under the proposed plan, the private health insurance rebate would be scrapped, consumers charged more for extras cover and the states would be forced to find more money for public hospitals as federal funding would be reduced. The Commonwealth would combine the $20 billion it currently gives to public hospitals each year with the $3 billion it pays the private sector and the $6 billion it spends on the rebate. The “pooled” money would be used to pay a standard benefit for services. This is regardless of whether they are performed in a public or private hospital, or whether people choose public or private. Currently, the Commonwealth pays approximately 40 per cent of the cost of public hospitals. Under the proposed scheme, this would be reduced to 35 per cent. "States would be required to meet the balance of the cost for public patients thus maintaining free public hospital services," says the department's presentation.

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Aldi’s biggest overhaul in 16 years

German discount chain Aldi has spent hundreds of millions of dollars revamping its nearly 470 stores around Australia, including fixing the biggest gripe of customers – long checkout queues. Chief executive Tom Daunt said wait times were no longer the top complaint from customers. He also said that Aldi wouldn’t be introducing self-service check-outs any time soon. “I know they’re becoming very popular, of course we have considered them,” Mr Daunt told news.com.au. “We just prefer to put a human face on the register and have very efficient registers. On balance we think that’s better. Our registers are designed to be fast — it’s one of the things people comment on. Some complain, some get very competitive about it, but it’s an experience going through an Aldi register.” Aldi has also launched its biggest advertising campaign since opening its first Australian store in 2001, in a bid to maintain pressure on Coles and Woolworths. Dropping the “Smarter Shopping” slogan for “Good Different”, the phrase will “underpin all aspects of the Aldi business, from product sourcing, to supplier relationships and the customer experience”. The key point of difference for Aldi is their price point, which they’ve vowed to maintain. “On some aspects of our range the discounts are enormous,” Mr Daunt said. “Our fly spray is 60-70 per cent cheaper than Mortein. But if you assemble a basket of items, ours will always come out cheaper, typically somewhere between 25-40 per cent.” In the past 12 months, Aldi has also introduced 100 new products and is continuing to grow its range of meat, vegetables and fruit.

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Biggest overhaul in 32 years: Qantas announces major changes to its Frequent Flyer program

How wage exploitation has become the default experience for migrant workers

Total overhaul: Woolies unveils radically different new store

My Kitchen Rules’ Manu Feildel calls for overhaul of the show

Secret plan for radical hospital overhaul leaked

Aldi’s biggest overhaul in 16 years

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