REQUESTING UPGRADES FROM QANTAS LEADER, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER AND QANTAS INVOLVES ALLEGATIONS ABOUT POLITICAL INFLUENCE OR ETHICAL CONCERNS

AUSTRALIA NEWS

30th October 2024

By Oyenike

BY REQUESTING UPGRADES
FROM QANTAS LEADER
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER AND QANTAS INVOLVES ALLEGATIONS ABOUT POLITICAL INFLUENCE OR ETHICAL CONCERNS

Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, has been accused of requesting complimentary personal flight upgrades from former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. A new book by journalist Joe Aston claims Albanese made multiple calls to Joyce and received upgrades on 22 flights between 2009 and 2019.

During a press conference, Albanese did not confirm whether he had discussed personal upgrades with Joyce but stated that he adhered to the rules and was “fully transparent” with his disclosures. He dismissed the accusations as lacking specifics and criticised Aston for attempting to promote his book.

In The Chairman’s Lounge: The Inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out, Aston reportedly cites Qantas insiders who claim Albanese discussed personal travel with Joyce. However, Albanese recalled only two conversations regarding flights unrelated to personal travel.

He clarified that of the 22 flights, 10 occurred in 2013 when both Qantas and Virgin provided upgrades for flights paid for by the Australian Labor Party, ensuring no taxpayer costs for internal business. While it is common for Australian politicians to receive flight upgrades, they must declare such gifts. Shadow transport minister Senator Bridget McKenzie has called for an investigation into the allegations, stating that only Joyce and the Prime Minister can provide answers.

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NEW INFORMATION SURFACES FOLLOWING EXPULSION OF UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY STUDENTS FROM ST PAUL’S COLLEGE DUE TO MOCK TRIAL

Recent revelations have surfaced regarding several students at the esteemed University of Sydney who faced suspension or expulsion due to a mock trial involving a ball gag. Radio host Ben Fordham disclosed unsettling details about the incident at St Paul’s College, where a student endured a humiliating ordeal. Six students were expelled, and 21 received suspensions following this event. Fordham highlighted information from Lucy Carroll of the Sydney Morning Herald, who reported that a student was subjected to both a gagging with a sex toy and verbal mistreatment.

According to Fordham, a group of second-year male students orchestrated a mock trial against a fellow student. They invited others to observe the proceedings, which took place in a ground-floor meeting room. During this so-called kangaroo court, various students impersonated judges, defence attorneys, and prosecutors, presenting evidence against the accused and constructing a narrative for verbal abuse.

Initially, the trial appeared to be light-hearted, but it quickly deteriorated into a more disturbing scenario. The victim participated willingly until the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Fordham recounted that the student acting as the judge pronounced a guilty verdict, and when the victim attempted to speak, the judge commanded, “Gag the defendant.”

Subsequently, another student used the sex toy from an adult shop to silence the victim. As the gag was applied, the group began to verbally assault the defendant, revealing the disturbing nature of the event as it unfolded.

Revelations have surfaced regarding several students at the esteemed University of Sydney who faced suspension or expulsion

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QUEENSLAND AND NSW EXPECT MORE STORMS DAYS AFTER HEAVY RAIN SOAKED AREAS OF AUSTRALIA’S SOUTHEAST

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, more storms are anticipated to impact Queensland and New South Wales this week, following heavy weather that soaked parts of the southeast. Sydney is preparing for a thunderstorm on Thursday, expected in the afternoon and evening, with rain continuing into Friday and Saturday.

While most of Wednesday will be predominantly sunny across NSW, the northeastern regions may see some showers and storms, although they are not expected to be severe. Brisbane is also at risk for storms on Thursday afternoon and evening, and again on Friday morning, with temperatures remaining high at 31 degrees Celsius.

Meteorologist Alison Osborne noted that showers are likely along the Queensland coast south of Rockhampton and into northeastern NSW. She mentioned that the showers could become more widespread, but they will be sporadic, extending from Rockhampton to the Mid North Coast of NSW. Any isolated storms that form on Wednesday are not likely to escalate into severe weather.

The Bureau has also indicated that thunderstorms are possible on Wednesday in central and southeastern Queensland, as well as in the northwestern Gulf Country. Further south, Melbourne is expecting showers on Thursday and Friday, while residents in Hobart will face rain for the remainder of the week. Storm activity is also predicted to increase in parts of the Northern Territory on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, more storms are anticipated to impact Queensland and New South Wales

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POLICE RETRIEVE MORE THAN 40,000 TAKEN BLUEY COINS

The police in Australia have recovered approximately 40,000 limited-edition coins inspired by the popular children’s show Bluey. In July, it was reported that 63,000 coins produced by the Australian Mint were stolen from a warehouse in Western Sydney, just two months before their scheduled release. Authorities found 40,061 coins during a raid near the storage site.

On the same day, 27-year-old Christina Vale was arrested and charged with burglary and handling stolen goods, making her the third individual taken into custody regarding the theft. Each coin, valued at A$1, had been selling online for ten times their original worth.

Following the theft, New South Wales Police initiated a special investigation dubbed Strike Force Bandit, named after Bluey’s father. In August, they apprehended 44-year-old Steven Nielsen, a warehouse employee, along with 44-year-old Nassar Kanj, who allegedly assisted in the crime.

The stolen coins, referred to as Bluey dollarbucks, showcase characters from the series, which revolves around the Heeler family of dogs. Created by Brisbane-based Ludo with BBC Studios and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Bluey has gained immense popularity and is now aired in over 60 countries, including the UK, US, and China.

The limited-edition coins stolen

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ING AUSTRALIA CLIENTS FACE HOLDS WITH APP, PAYMENTS, AND WEBSITE DURING CONTINUING OUTAGE

ING Australia has suffered a serious malfunction on its website and app, resulting in widespread frustration among customers as the bank attempts to address the situation. Over 1,600 users reported being locked out of their banking services around midday Wednesday, with the majority of complaints related to mobile banking.

A spokesperson for ING acknowledged the issue, stating that they were aware of the disruptions affecting access to their website and app. They assured customers that the problem was being addressed and apologised for any inconvenience caused.

Customers expressed their dissatisfaction on social media, criticising the bank for not providing timely updates about the outage. Many reported slow loading times and received messages indicating that something was wrong but that the team was working on it.

The outage began to be reported around 8:00 am and peaked at noon. ING is not alone in facing such issues this month, as other banks like St George and Westpac have also experienced similar outages, leaving customers unable to access their accounts.

Over 1,600 users reported being unable to make use of the banking services

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