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The Meat Import Ban lifted: Why Now, and What's Behind It?

The Meat Import Ban lifted: Why Now, and What's Behind It?

SBS Australia24-07-2025
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24/07/2025 02:51 Indonesian Australia has made major concessions to the United States in its efforts to gain tariff exemptions, by lifting a ban on US beef.
The ban was imposed years ago to protect local Australian industries from outbreaks of mad cow disease and foot-and-mouth disease, but Australian Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the move did not represent a compromise in terms of safety and biosecurity laws would remain enforced.
Nationals leader David Littleproud could become deputy prime minister if Peter Dutton wins the election. Source: AAP / Russell Freeman Senator from the National Party, Bridget McKenzie, accused the Prime Minister of sacrificing the beef export industry to strengthen Australia's relationship with the US. Listen to SBS Indonesian every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 3pm. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram , and don't miss our podcasts .
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Pokies giant Mounties accused of letting gamblers wager $140m in dirty money
Pokies giant Mounties accused of letting gamblers wager $140m in dirty money

ABC News

time19 minutes ago

  • ABC News

Pokies giant Mounties accused of letting gamblers wager $140m in dirty money

The first licensed club group targeted by the nation's financial crimes intelligence agency is accused of turning over almost $140 million from 10 gamblers considered high risk of money laundering and counterterrorism financing. The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has published court documents related to its Federal Court case against Mounties, the operator of 10 venues across Sydney's south-west, North Shore, and the Central Coast. The documents reveal Mounties' network of about 1,400 poker machines had $4.17 billion fed through them over the four financial years from 2019 to 2023. AUSTRAC is alleging in the civil suit that Mounties systematically failed to meet its anti-money laundering (AML) and counterterrorism financial (CTF) obligations, citing a sample of 10 gamblers considered high risk. "Mounties served innumerable customers without adequate controls," the financial crimes intelligence agency alleged in the court documents. "The Sample Suspicious Customers alone had turnovers in excess of $139,855,108 and payouts in excess of $10,464,856. "As a consequence of Mounties' [alleged] contraventions of the Act, the Australian community and Australia's financial systems have been exposed to systemic [money laundering and counterterrorism financial] risk over many years." Mounties Group, registered as Mount Pritchard and District Community Club, declined to comment. However, it issued a statement last week. "We are reviewing AUSTRAC's Originating Application and Concise Statement, relating to alleged contraventions of our obligations to maintain a compliant program and conduct appropriate ongoing due diligence of customers under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act," it said. "We have been dedicating significant investment and resources to transform our AML/CTF capabilities since being notified by AUSTRAC of its concerns. Among the group's 10 venues is Mounties in Mount Pritchard, which consistently ranks as the licensed club with the most lucrative poker machines in NSW. AUSTRAC's chief executive, Brendan Thomas, said taking one of the most successful licensed clubs to court would send a message to other licensed clubs and hotels operating in the state. "This is the first time AUSTRAC has brought proceedings against a registered club. It is a chance for other pubs and clubs to check that they've got proper controls, that they understand what's happening in their own operations, and that they're doing everything they can to comply with the law," he said. More than half of the country's gaming machines are found in NSW. In the financial year ending in 2024, nearly 88,000 poker machines generated $8.4 billion in profit, according to a recent report from the state's auditor-general. The machines generated a further $2.3 billion in tax revenue. AUSTRAC provided a sample of 10 gamblers it considered high risk of money laundering or counter-terrorism financing in its court filing. It claimed they demonstrated at least one of the following markers of suspicious activity: Of the sample of 10 suspicious gamblers, AUSTRAC alleged Mounties identified eight of them and reported seven of them to the agency's chief executive. But it describes its compliance system as "not designed to enable Mounties to understand, recognise, identify, mitigate or manage the money laundering/terrorism financing risks posed". Mounties Group outsources its money laundering and counter-terrorism financing compliance program to Betsafe, a third-party used by other licensed clubs. Betsafe also declined to comment. AUSTRAC alleges Mounties' compliance program is not adequate to stop criminals from gambling with dirty money in its poker machines over four years. It also alleges Mounties customers could have engaged in a practice known as "bill stuffing," where cash is put into a poker machine only to be withdrawn as a cheque, with little or no game play taking place. Furthermore, it is alleged that customers could have paid other gamblers in cash for their winning vouchers, tickets, or credits; use multiple cashiers or terminals to avoid being observed by staff; and gain the trust of staff to get around being detected, or have to show their identification to collect their winnings. The civil case is before the Federal Court.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward to fight expulsion attempt by Labor government in Supreme Court
Kiama MP Gareth Ward to fight expulsion attempt by Labor government in Supreme Court

News.com.au

time19 minutes ago

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Kiama MP Gareth Ward to fight expulsion attempt by Labor government in Supreme Court

Convicted rapist and sitting MP Gareth Ward will return before the Supreme Court in Sydney's CBD today as he fights attempts by the Labor-controlled state government to have him expelled from parliament. The Kiama MP was taken into custody on remand last week while awaiting sentencing after he was found guilty by a jury of three counts of indecent assault and a fourth count of intercourse without consent. The charges relate to acts against two young men – an 18-year-old at Meroo Meadow in 2013 and a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015 – and sparked calls for the south coast MP to resign from parliament. A motion was expected to be introduced by Labor to the Legislative Assembly to expel Ward, with support from the Coalition earlier this week. If successful, it would mark the first expulsion from the NSW lower house since 1917. Instead, the matter was set down for a full-day hearing at the Supreme Court after an 11th hour injunction was applied for by Ward's lawyers, who argue the state parliament does not have the power to expel him. The last-minute legal move makes it almost impossible to expel Ward, who is still being paid by parliament and is the current member for Kiama, before the Legislative Assembly adjourns until next month. Leader of the House Ron Hoenig earlier in the week said the court did not have the authority to stop matters being but before legislators, but that the state government would abide by the injunction out of respect. The matter sets the stage for a peculiar legal challenge. Premier Chris Minns told 2GB on Tuesday morning most people would 'appreciate it's an unconscionable situation to have someone who's currently sitting in jail in Silverwater convicted of serious sexual offences who is demanding to remain a member of parliament and continue to be paid'. Asked why Ward had not resigned, Mr Minns said 'clearly, he's got no shame'. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said that, if the government was prepared, they could resume 'in the interim with a small quorum of MPs'. 'We would be willing to do that. It would be possible, for example, to have just 20 MPs, the quorum deal with the matter,' he said. Mr Speakman said 'As a general principle, we are supporting the government's efforts in court. 'That includes as a general principle the arguments that it's putting in court and the outcome that it seeks, which is that the injunction is lifted and the parliament can proceed to expel Mr Ward.' The injunctive orders issued by the court, 'pending further order', restrain the defendant, Mr Hoenig, from 'from taking any steps to expel or otherwise resolve to expel' Ward between July 30 and 10am on Friday.

‘Not allowed to complain': Aussies given working from home reality check
‘Not allowed to complain': Aussies given working from home reality check

News.com.au

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‘Not allowed to complain': Aussies given working from home reality check

A hybrid office worker has divided fellow work-from-home Aussies after claiming that anyone who gets to work remotely isn't allowed to whinge about their job. Christy, a Sydney-based employee in the tech and sales industry, views being able to work from home as a privilege, having previously worked in industries where this wasn't an option. In a recent TikTok, the 26-year-old said if your job allows you to work from home 'even just one day a week', then you are 'not allowed to complain'. 'This is coming from someone that can also work from home,' she said. As she is in a client facing role, Christy typically only gets to work from home one day a week and, while her current job keeps her 'very, very busy', it doesn't compare to when she previously worked in retail, hospitality and real estate where she was always on the go. 'So I am telling you, if you work from home, just be grateful and you are not allowed to complain about your job. If you are complaining, quit. I don't want to hear it,' she said. Speaking to the 26-year-old said none of her previous jobs offered flexibility, noting 'you can't take someone's coffee order or conduct an open house from the comfort of your own home'. Christy is 'extremely grateful' to have the opportunity to do her job remotely, even just one day a week. 'Say I'm working from home on a Friday, that means I can wake up slightly later and do a later gym class because I don't have to factor in time to commute to the office,' she said. 'When I clock off I don't have to then sit in traffic or on a train, I can stand up from my desk and walk over to the kitchen and start cooking dinner instantly. You win an hour back from your day that would have been spent on commuting.' Christy's video garnered a lot of attention, being viewed more than 74,000 times and attracting just under 2000 comments. Many people agreed with the young worker's perspective, sharing their own positive experiences of being able to work remotely. 'I went from a social work job to a work from home job. I'm CHILLING. And my weekends are actually mine. And the appointments I can go to?!' one person said. 'After 20yrs in face-to-face retail, I am ridiculously grateful for my WFH life!' another wrote. A commenter who used to work in a hybrid role and is now having to be in an office five days a week said they missed working from home even one day a week, branding it 'such a game changer'. 'I get to WFH with flexible hours, SO LUCKY & would NEVER complain,' another said. One added: 'I do complain, and then I realise the incredible freedom I have and check myself.' However, not everyone agreed with Christy's take on working from home, with others not happy being told not to complain about their jobs. There were those that pointed out that, even though working from home was a positive, that didn't mean there weren't parts of the jobs that were whinge-worthy. 'Let's normalise being able to complain about work for any reason under any circumstance,' one person said. 'Absolutely not – as someone who worked in retail for 15 years and now works in a hybrid role. I'll complain about whatever I want thanks,' another wrote. Others claimed that then they work from home they are often working longer hours than they would if they were in the office. 'I work from home 5 days a week and logged off today at 10.30pm. I was rostered until 5 and didn't get a lunch break. Not everyone has this extra time and I don't have a moment to do washing,' one said. Another commenter claimed saying WFH staff can't complain is a 'privileged take', noting that being at home doesn't erase 'stress, burnout, toxic management, or financial pressure'. When asked about the divide in the comment section, Christy said she welcomed hearing the different perspectives, noting there is typically 'always going to be a loud minority who love to disagree or challenge you'. However, she thinks there may be a lot of Gen Zers who perhaps haven't experienced 'long hours of standing on your feet all day' in industries like hospitality, trades, healthcare and others and, as a result, take flexible working 'for granted'. 'No employer is obligated to offer WFH arrangements, so I think we should all be appreciative if that's on the table. It certainly wasn't for our parents' generation,' she said. Describing herself as a 'glass half full type of person', Christy said she would rather be grateful for what she has than focus on the negatives. 'While people love to complain about their jobs and work (especially with the rise of the anti-corporate culture), I'm grateful that I get to work, make a living & contribute in a way that I find fulfilling. And throw in a day from home, how can I possibly complain?' she said. 'Especially when I'm sitting on the couch in my sweats while my fiance (who is a tradie) is working a 12 hour day doing manual labour in rain, hail or in a 40 degree roof.'

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