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  • in reply to: On A Lighter Note. #1713514
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    In April 2015, measures to create budgetary savings by increasing the pursuit of outstanding debts and investigation of cases of fraud in the Australian welfare system were first flagged by the Minister for Social Services Scott Morrison and the Minister for Human Services Marise Payne, and formally announced by the Abbott Government in the 2015 Australian federal budget.

    In December 2016, Minister for Social Services Christian Porter publicly announced the implementation of this new automated debt recovery scheme, which was given the colloquial name ‘Robodebt’ by the media, was estimated to be capable of issuing debt notices at a rate of 20,000 a week.

    On 29 May 2020, Stuart Robert, Minister for Government Services announced that the ‘Robodebt’ debt recovery scheme was to be scrapped by the Government, with 470,000 wrongly-issued debts to be repaid in full. The total sum of the repayments is estimated to be A$721 million.

    On 31 May 2020, Attorney-General Christian Porter, who was Minister for Social Services when the Robodebt system was first implemented and who had previously defended the scheme, conceded that the use of averaged income data to calculate welfare overpayments was unlawful, stating that there was “no lawful basis for it”.

    More.

    in reply to: Interesting Bits and Pieces #1740234
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    Late winter snow blast in eastern Australia.

    This kookaburra was shaking off snow in the early hours at Mount Polblue, Barrington Tops, NSW. Photo: Rob B.

    Kangaroos in snow at a property between Berridale and Jindabyne in NSW. Photo: Phil Richmond.

    in reply to: On A Lighter Note. #1713513
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    Australia/New Zealand COVID-19 update 25 August 2022

    Australia wide — 14,074 new cases; 136,475 active cases; 3,206 in hospital; 97 in ICU; 49 deaths.

    NSW: 5,790 new cases; 82,671 active cases; 1,836 in hospital; 37 in ICU; 29 deaths.
    VIC: 3,359 new cases, 19,325 active cases, 402 in hospital, 24 in ICU, 10 deaths.
    QLD: 2,216 new cases, 16,304 active cases, 343 in hospital, 16 in ICU, 12 deaths.
    ACT: 252 new cases, 1,463 active cases, 109 in hospital, 2 in ICU.
    TAS: 244 new cases, 1,646 active cases, 14 in hospital, 2 in ICU, 1 death.
    SA: 749 new cases, 5,655 active cases, 257 in hospital, 8 in ICU, 1 death.
    WA: 1,366 new cases, 8,637 active cases, 225 in hospital, 6 in ICU.
    NT: 98 new cases, 774 active cases, 20 in hospital, 2 in ICU. 
    NEW ZEALAND: 2,922 new cases, 21,420 active cases, 336 in hospital, 6 in ICU.

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    Australia/New Zealand COVID-19 update 24 August 2022

    Australia wide — 16,028 new cases; 141,960 active cases; 3,296 in hospital; 96 in ICU; 60 deaths.

    NSW: 6,690 new cases, 86,322 active cases, 1,867 in hospital, 38 in ICU, 14 deaths.
    VIC: 3,359 new cases, 19,325 active cases, 402 in hospital, 24 in ICU, 10 deaths.
    QLD: 2,612 new cases, 16,973 active cases, 376 in hospital, 12 in ICU, 29 deaths.
    ACT: 296 new cases, 1,512 active cases, 116 in hospital, 3 in ICU, 4 deaths.
    TAS: 309 new cases, 1,831 active cases, 19 in hospital, 3 in ICU.
    SA: 936 new cases, 5,996 active cases, 257 in hospital, 8 in ICU, 2 deaths.
    WA: 1,685 new cases, 9,174 active cases, 237 in hospital, 8 in ICU, 1 death.
    NT: 141 new cases, 827 active cases, 22 in hospital, 0 in ICU.
    NEW ZEALAND: 3,287 new cases, 23,110 active cases, 373 in hospital, 6 in ICU, 3 deaths.

    in reply to: Interesting Bits and Pieces #1740231
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    Red-tailed phascogale spotted in WA’s Paruna Sanctuary to the surprise of scientists.

    Scientists at Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary spotted one of the marsupials during a routine check of camera traps last week.

    Red-tailed phascogales are nocturnal, carnivorous marsupials from the same family as the quoll. They are typically found in trees, eating mainly insects, spiders and small birds. The species, which only measures 10 centimetres in length can leap a huge two metres from tree to tree.

    Ecologist Bryony Palmer made the shock finding at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy-run sanctuary, 50 kilometres north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley.

    “It’s a species that hasn’t been seen in this area for several decades at least, and the closest known population is about 100km away to the south-east,” Dr Palmer said.

    Full ABC story.

    in reply to: On A Lighter Note. #1713511
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    in reply to: How to get rid of weeds in the garden #1712595
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    OnlyDaughter, I’ve used Slasher too and found it effective.

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    Australia/New Zealand COVID-19 update 23 August 2022

    Australia wide — 15,338 new cases; 148,327 active cases; 3,424 in hospital; 102 in ICU; 95 deaths.

    NSW: 5,567 new cases, 89,474 active cases, 1,928 in hospital, 49 in ICU, 32 deaths.
    VIC: 3,638 new cases, 20,491 active cases, 433 in hospital, 26 in ICU, 25 deaths.
    QLD: 2,782 new cases, 17,830 active cases, 411 in hospital, 10 in ICU, 26 deaths.
    ACT: 258 new cases, 1,586 active cases, 119 in hospital, 2 in ICU.
    TAS: 326 new cases, 1,996 active cases, 22 in hospital, 2 in ICU.
    SA: 850 new cases, 6,366 active cases, 242 in hospital, 8 in ICU, 10 deaths.
    WA: 1,772 new cases, 9,730 active cases, 243 in hospital, 5 in ICU, 2 deaths.
    NT: 145 new cases, 854 active cases, 26 in hospital, 0 in ICU.
    NEW ZEALAND: 3,832 new cases, 24,466 active cases, 402 in hospital, 6 in ICU, 17 deaths.

    in reply to: On A Lighter Note. #1713509
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    in reply to: Interesting Bits and Pieces #1740230
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    Gold Coast chickens on the run LOL.

    Two of whom make an ‘unexpected’ new home at Gold Coast tip.

    Coast City Councillor Hermann Vorster says the Merrimac Waste Transfer Station has become home for the birds — dubbed Plucky and Foghorn Leghorn.

    A second flock of chickens has been sighted at nearby Bermuda Street.

    The Gold Coast City Council doesn’t know where the chickens originated from.

    in reply to: How to get rid of weeds in the garden #1712591
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    I have found boiling water or bleach very effective too when poured/sprayed on weeds only, avoiding surrounding plants.

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    Australia/New Zealand COVID-19 update 22 August 2022

    Australia wide — 11,630 new cases; 154,269 active cases; 3,392 in hospital; 104 in ICU; 11 deaths.

    NSW: 5,013 new cases, 95,438 active cases, 1,962 in hospital, 50 in ICU, 4 deaths.
    VIC: 2,600 new cases, 21,573 active cases, 414 in hospital, 28 in ICU, 6 deaths.
    QLD: 1,587 new cases, 17,394 active cases, 383 in hospital, 11 in ICU.
    ACT: 213 new cases, 1,750 active cases, 121 in hospital, 1 in ICU.
    TAS: 214 new cases, 2,161 active cases, 22 in hospital, 2 in ICU, 1 death. 
    SA: 786 new cases, 6,936 active cases, 227 in hospital, 8 in ICU.
    WA: 1,119 new cases, 10,269 active cases, 237 in hospital, 4 in ICU.
    NT: 98 new cases, 909 active cases, 26 in hospital, 0 in ICU.
    NEW ZEALAND: 2,846 new cases, 25,580 active cases, 432 in hospital, 9 in ICU.

    in reply to: Interesting Bits and Pieces #1740229
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    What’s your favourite Australian native tree?

    It’s time to vote on the top 10 if you so desire. After two rounds of voting and more than 180,000 votes, we can reveal the final 10 contenders in our search for Australia’s favourite tree, to celebrate National Science Week.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2022-07-29/vote-for-your-favourite-australian-native-tree/101210764

    in reply to: On A Lighter Note. #1713507
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    in reply to: On A Lighter Note. #1713506
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    Good one Suze.

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    Australia/New Zealand COVID-19 update 21 August 2022

    Australia wide — 10,220 new cases; 163,143 active cases; 3,399 in hospital; 112 in ICU; 36 deaths.

    NSW: 4,335 new cases, 99,134 active cases, 1,925 in hospital, 52 in ICU, 16 deaths.
    VIC: 2,437 new cases, 22,921 active cases, 438 in hospital, 29 in ICU, 18 deaths.
    QLD: 1,166 new cases, 17,661 active cases, 377 in hospital, 13 in ICU.
    ACT: 186 new cases, 1,874 active cases, 120 in hospital, 3 in ICU.
    TAS: 213 new cases, 2,346 active cases, 22 in hospital, 3 in ICU.
    SA: 664 new cases, 7,360 active cases, 259 in hospital, 8 in ICU, 1 death.
    WA: 1,147 new cases, 10,903 active cases, 235 in hospital, 4 in ICU, 1 death.
    NT: 72 new cases, 944 active cases, 23 in hospital, 0 in ICU. 
    NEW ZEALAND: 2,216 new cases, 26,124 active cases, 436 in hospital, 7 in ICU.

    in reply to: On A Lighter Note. #1713500
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Viewing 20 posts - 161 through 180 (of 581 total)