Qantas fined $90 million for illegally sacking 1,800 workers
It's slightly less than 75 per cent of the maximum penalty of $121 million, which the Transport Workers Union had been pushing for.
The fine is on top of the $120 million Qantas has already agreed to pay in compensation.
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Aged pensioners to feel impact of asset test changes
Pensioners are set to feel the impact after the federal government raised rates on asset tests for welfare. For the first time since the deeming rate was cut during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government will raise the rate from "artificially low levels" from September 20. A deeming rate of 0.75 per cent will apply to assets under $64,200 for singles, with holdings above that at 2.75 per cent. Those marks are up from 0.25 per cent and 2.25 per cent respectively. But Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the rates remained below historical, pre-pandemic levels. "The social security system must be grounded in fairness, which is why we adjust supports as the economy changes," she said. "We'll continue to make sure the system is there to support those who need it most, ensuring that everyone can make ends meet and no one gets left behind." The deeming rate is the government's method of calculating earnings on savings to see if people are eligible for welfare payments, and how much they should receive. Cuts throughout the pandemic and subsequent freezing have saved social security recipients $1.8 billion, the government said. The Australian Government Actuary will recommend deeming rates moving forward, but the social services minister will retain final say and could still make adjustments during exceptional services. Indexation, to kick in from September 20, will raise age and disability pensions and carer payments by nearly $30 a fortnight. More than five million recipients across the welfare system are set for raises including more than 2.5 million on the age pension. "Thanks to indexation, millions of Aussies will receive a boost to their payment to help them cover everyday costs like groceries and healthcare … the government wants to help take the pressure off when it comes to cost of living," Ms Plibersek said. Pensioners are set to feel the impact after the federal government raised rates on asset tests for welfare. For the first time since the deeming rate was cut during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government will raise the rate from "artificially low levels" from September 20. A deeming rate of 0.75 per cent will apply to assets under $64,200 for singles, with holdings above that at 2.75 per cent. Those marks are up from 0.25 per cent and 2.25 per cent respectively. But Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the rates remained below historical, pre-pandemic levels. "The social security system must be grounded in fairness, which is why we adjust supports as the economy changes," she said. "We'll continue to make sure the system is there to support those who need it most, ensuring that everyone can make ends meet and no one gets left behind." The deeming rate is the government's method of calculating earnings on savings to see if people are eligible for welfare payments, and how much they should receive. Cuts throughout the pandemic and subsequent freezing have saved social security recipients $1.8 billion, the government said. The Australian Government Actuary will recommend deeming rates moving forward, but the social services minister will retain final say and could still make adjustments during exceptional services. Indexation, to kick in from September 20, will raise age and disability pensions and carer payments by nearly $30 a fortnight. More than five million recipients across the welfare system are set for raises including more than 2.5 million on the age pension. "Thanks to indexation, millions of Aussies will receive a boost to their payment to help them cover everyday costs like groceries and healthcare … the government wants to help take the pressure off when it comes to cost of living," Ms Plibersek said. Pensioners are set to feel the impact after the federal government raised rates on asset tests for welfare. For the first time since the deeming rate was cut during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government will raise the rate from "artificially low levels" from September 20. A deeming rate of 0.75 per cent will apply to assets under $64,200 for singles, with holdings above that at 2.75 per cent. Those marks are up from 0.25 per cent and 2.25 per cent respectively. But Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the rates remained below historical, pre-pandemic levels. "The social security system must be grounded in fairness, which is why we adjust supports as the economy changes," she said. "We'll continue to make sure the system is there to support those who need it most, ensuring that everyone can make ends meet and no one gets left behind." The deeming rate is the government's method of calculating earnings on savings to see if people are eligible for welfare payments, and how much they should receive. Cuts throughout the pandemic and subsequent freezing have saved social security recipients $1.8 billion, the government said. The Australian Government Actuary will recommend deeming rates moving forward, but the social services minister will retain final say and could still make adjustments during exceptional services. Indexation, to kick in from September 20, will raise age and disability pensions and carer payments by nearly $30 a fortnight. More than five million recipients across the welfare system are set for raises including more than 2.5 million on the age pension. "Thanks to indexation, millions of Aussies will receive a boost to their payment to help them cover everyday costs like groceries and healthcare … the government wants to help take the pressure off when it comes to cost of living," Ms Plibersek said. Pensioners are set to feel the impact after the federal government raised rates on asset tests for welfare. For the first time since the deeming rate was cut during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government will raise the rate from "artificially low levels" from September 20. A deeming rate of 0.75 per cent will apply to assets under $64,200 for singles, with holdings above that at 2.75 per cent. Those marks are up from 0.25 per cent and 2.25 per cent respectively. But Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the rates remained below historical, pre-pandemic levels. "The social security system must be grounded in fairness, which is why we adjust supports as the economy changes," she said. "We'll continue to make sure the system is there to support those who need it most, ensuring that everyone can make ends meet and no one gets left behind." The deeming rate is the government's method of calculating earnings on savings to see if people are eligible for welfare payments, and how much they should receive. Cuts throughout the pandemic and subsequent freezing have saved social security recipients $1.8 billion, the government said. The Australian Government Actuary will recommend deeming rates moving forward, but the social services minister will retain final say and could still make adjustments during exceptional services. Indexation, to kick in from September 20, will raise age and disability pensions and carer payments by nearly $30 a fortnight. More than five million recipients across the welfare system are set for raises including more than 2.5 million on the age pension. "Thanks to indexation, millions of Aussies will receive a boost to their payment to help them cover everyday costs like groceries and healthcare … the government wants to help take the pressure off when it comes to cost of living," Ms Plibersek said.
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Lehrmann in new bid to clear name after defamation loss
Bruce Lehrmann will have three days to convince an appeals court to toss out findings he likely raped his colleague Brittany Higgins in parliament house. The former federal political staffer is seeking to overturn a Federal Court judgment he was not defamed by Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson during an interview with Ms Higgins on The Project in 2021. Justice Michael Lee found Ms Higgins' claims she had been raped in parliament house in 2019 were substantially true in a ruling against Lehrmann in April 2024. But Lehrmann, 29, claims the judgment was rife with errors and launched an appeal which will be ventilated over three days, beginning on Wednesday in Sydney. The ex-Liberal staffer alleges he was denied procedural fairness because the events found by the judge were "starkly different" from the case run by Ten. He points to the allegation Ms Higgins had repeatedly said "no on a loop" during the alleged incident, which Justice Lee was not satisfied had occurred. The case as found by Justice Lee wasn't put to him during cross-examination for his response, Lehrmann argues. He says because of deficiencies in Ms Higgins' evidence, the judge should not have found he engaged in rape. The judge found Lehrmann had been "hell-bent" on having sex with Ms Higgins and had a mindset of "non-advertent recklessness" which showed he knew she was not consenting. But that definition of rape has been criticised by Lehrmann, who claims it's inconsistent with the meaning conveyed to an ordinary person. Justice Lee is also accused of erring by finding Lehrmann would only be entitled to damages of $20,000 if he had succeeded in his defamation suit against Ten. Lehrmann's lawyer Zali Burrows has previously said he should be awarded a seven-figure sum for the "false charge of rape". Lehrmann continues to deny he sexually assaulted Ms Higgins and a criminal case against him in 2022 was abandoned without any findings against him. "Having escaped the lions' den, Mr Lehrmann made the mistake of going back for his hat," Justice Lee said in his decision in 2024. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Aged pensioners to feel impact of asset test changes
Pensioners are set to feel the impact after the federal government raised rates on asset tests for welfare. For the first time since the deeming rate was cut during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government will raise the rate from "artificially low levels" from September 20. A deeming rate of 0.75 per cent will apply to assets under $64,200 for singles, with holdings above that at 2.75 per cent. Those marks are up from 0.25 per cent and 2.25 per cent respectively. But Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the rates remained below historical, pre-pandemic levels. "The social security system must be grounded in fairness, which is why we adjust supports as the economy changes," she said. "We'll continue to make sure the system is there to support those who need it most, ensuring that everyone can make ends meet and no one gets left behind." The deeming rate is the government's method of calculating earnings on savings to see if people are eligible for welfare payments, and how much they should receive. Cuts throughout the pandemic and subsequent freezing have saved social security recipients $1.8 billion, the government said. The Australian Government Actuary will recommend deeming rates moving forward, but the social services minister will retain final say and could still make adjustments during exceptional services. Indexation, to kick in from September 20, will raise age and disability pensions and carer payments by nearly $30 a fortnight. More than five million recipients across the welfare system are set for raises including more than 2.5 million on the age pension. "Thanks to indexation, millions of Aussies will receive a boost to their payment to help them cover everyday costs like groceries and healthcare … the government wants to help take the pressure off when it comes to cost of living," Ms Plibersek said.
