Qantas hit with huge fine in court, rush hour chaos after crash on major bridge, leaders 'very afraid' of Trump meeting
A crash on Sydney's Anzac Bridge has caused traffic chaos this morning. The five-vehicle crash left thre lanes heading into the city closed as traffic backed up several kilometres.
Follow along as we bring you regular updates throughout the day.
Qantas cops $90m fine after depriving workers of their 'human dignity'
In news just in, Qantas has copped a $90 million fine for illegally sacking 1,800 workers during the Covid pandemic.
The Transport Workers Union had sought the maximum penalty of $121 million, while Qantas urged Justice Michael Lee to impose a "mid-range" penalty between $40 million and $80 million.
The Federal Court judge cited the "sheer scale of the contraventions, being the largest of their type" as a reason to impose a penalty that would deter other businesses from similar conduct.
He ordered Qantas to pay $90 million in penalties, $50 million of which is to be paid directly to the union that brought the proceedings and highlighted the illegal conduct.
"To deprive someone of work illegally is to deprive someone of an aspect of their human dignity, and this is not assuaged simply by expressions of regret," Justice Lee said.
He was scathing about the embattled airline's conduct after the outsourcing, pointing to efforts to place a "less than candid" picture of the outsourcing decision before the court.
Treasurer admits 'a lot of work to do' for productivity
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is warning there is no quick fix for productivity as the government is set to commence its much-hyped round table.
"Productivity has been elusive over the last couple of decade, but it will be essential to the couple of decades ahead. That's what motivates and drives us in this economic reform round table," he told reporters on Monday.
"This productivity challenge has been bedevilling our economy for a couple of decades. The weakest decade for productivity growth in the last 60 years was the Coalition decade. That is the situation we inherited. It will take some time to turn around.
"We have a lot of work to do."
'Boring' Aussie dad's first move after winning lottery
A self-described "boring guy" headed straight to Google after landing $1.6 million as one of four division one winners in the Saturday Lotto.
The Armidale father went through all the questions in his head via the search engine, admitting he was unable to sleep after the huge win.
'It's all a bit surreal. When I checked my ticket on my online account, my first reaction was 'Holy dooly!'. It was crazy to see right in front of me," he told lottery officials.
'A thousand thoughts started going through my mind. I was wondering whether it was real or not, and what I needed to do now."
World leaders move to avoid unwanted Trump scenario
European and NATO leaders announced they will join Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House to present a united front in talks with Donald Trump on ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Finland are rallying around the Ukrainian president after his exclusion from Trump's summit on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their pledge to be at Zelensky's side at the White House on Monday is an apparent effort to ensure the meeting goes better than the last one in February, when Trump berated Zelenskyy in a heated Oval Office encounter.
'The Europeans are very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Mr Zelensky to the hilt,' said retired French Gen. Dominique Trinquand, a former head of France's military mission at the United Nations.
'It's a power struggle and a position of strength that might work with Trump,' he said.
Read more from Associated Press here.
Rush hour chaos as city-bound lanes closed
Sydney has been plunged into traffic chaos after a five-vehicle crash on the Anzac Bridge, with cars backed all the way up to Leichhardt.
The crash happened in the eastbound lanes about 6.30am on Monday.
Live traffic cameras show three of the four eastbound lanes are blocked, and the gridlock stretches back almost 3km down the A44.
The right-hand westbound lane is also blocked by emergency response vehicles.
An Ambulance NSW spokesman said five vehicles were involved in the crash; three cars, a motorbike and a truck.
All people who needed to be checked by paramedics had minor injuries, the spokesman said.
The male motorbike rider was still however taken to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Images show at least four police vehicles and two road crews are on scene. A damaged dark-coloured sedan stopped sideways across two lanes was put onto a tow truck about 7am.
There is also a cement truck which appears to have been involved in the crash.
Live Traffic NSW are advising motorists to slow down to 40km/h and plan for their commute to take extra time.
- NewsWire
Qantas set for big fine after illegally sacking workers
Australia's largest airline is staring down the barrel of another nine-figure fine for illegally sacking more than 1800 workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Court will hand down a hefty penalty to Qantas on Monday in what will be the latest court blow for the airline after a scandal-plagued recent tenure.
Qantas outsourced its baggage handlers, cleaners and ground staff in 2020, in a move the court ruled was designed to curb union bargaining power in wage negotiations.
It appealed the ruling to the High Court but the decision was not overturned, paving the way for Monday's penalty.
The Transport Workers Union has sought the maximum penalty of $121 million, while Qantas has urged Justice Michael Lee to impose a "mid-range" penalty between $40 million and $80 million.
Qantas will cop the fine on top of a $120 million compensation payment it has made to the ground staff for their economic loss, pain and suffering since their jobs were outsourced during the pandemic.
It has argued the actions were a mistake, not a deliberate breach of the law.
Qantas also sold tickets to cancelled flights for several years, triggering more legal turmoil and a $100 million fine after it was sued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The carrier, which was under the control of Alan Joyce at the time of the illegal sacking, lost billions of dollars during the pandemic, which decimated the aviation sector.
But the former CEO did not address the scandal when he spoke at an aviation conference on Thursday, instead spruiking his ability to keep the airline afloat in unprecedented times.
"But here's the real insight: resilience isn't a reaction … it's a decision made years in advance, often when it's uncomfortable, even unpopular," he said.
"Qantas was the only major Australian airline not to go bankrupt during or after the pandemic … that wasn't luck. That was resilience."
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
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Qantas cops $90m fine after depriving workers of their 'human dignity'
In news just in, Qantas has copped a $90 million fine for illegally sacking 1,800 workers during the Covid pandemic.
The Transport Workers Union had sought the maximum penalty of $121 million, while Qantas urged Justice Michael Lee to impose a "mid-range" penalty between $40 million and $80 million.
The Federal Court judge cited the "sheer scale of the contraventions, being the largest of their type" as a reason to impose a penalty that would deter other businesses from similar conduct.
He ordered Qantas to pay $90 million in penalties, $50 million of which is to be paid directly to the union that brought the proceedings and highlighted the illegal conduct.
"To deprive someone of work illegally is to deprive someone of an aspect of their human dignity, and this is not assuaged simply by expressions of regret," Justice Lee said.
He was scathing about the embattled airline's conduct after the outsourcing, pointing to efforts to place a "less than candid" picture of the outsourcing decision before the court.
In news just in, Qantas has copped a $90 million fine for illegally sacking 1,800 workers during the Covid pandemic.
The Transport Workers Union had sought the maximum penalty of $121 million, while Qantas urged Justice Michael Lee to impose a "mid-range" penalty between $40 million and $80 million.
The Federal Court judge cited the "sheer scale of the contraventions, being the largest of their type" as a reason to impose a penalty that would deter other businesses from similar conduct.
He ordered Qantas to pay $90 million in penalties, $50 million of which is to be paid directly to the union that brought the proceedings and highlighted the illegal conduct.
"To deprive someone of work illegally is to deprive someone of an aspect of their human dignity, and this is not assuaged simply by expressions of regret," Justice Lee said.
He was scathing about the embattled airline's conduct after the outsourcing, pointing to efforts to place a "less than candid" picture of the outsourcing decision before the court.
Treasurer admits 'a lot of work to do' for productivity
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is warning there is no quick fix for productivity as the government is set to commence its much-hyped round table.
"Productivity has been elusive over the last couple of decade, but it will be essential to the couple of decades ahead. That's what motivates and drives us in this economic reform round table," he told reporters on Monday.
"This productivity challenge has been bedevilling our economy for a couple of decades. The weakest decade for productivity growth in the last 60 years was the Coalition decade. That is the situation we inherited. It will take some time to turn around.
"We have a lot of work to do."
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is warning there is no quick fix for productivity as the government is set to commence its much-hyped round table.
"Productivity has been elusive over the last couple of decade, but it will be essential to the couple of decades ahead. That's what motivates and drives us in this economic reform round table," he told reporters on Monday.
"This productivity challenge has been bedevilling our economy for a couple of decades. The weakest decade for productivity growth in the last 60 years was the Coalition decade. That is the situation we inherited. It will take some time to turn around.
"We have a lot of work to do."
'Boring' Aussie dad's first move after winning lottery
A self-described "boring guy" headed straight to Google after landing $1.6 million as one of four division one winners in the Saturday Lotto.
The Armidale father went through all the questions in his head via the search engine, admitting he was unable to sleep after the huge win.
'It's all a bit surreal. When I checked my ticket on my online account, my first reaction was 'Holy dooly!'. It was crazy to see right in front of me," he told lottery officials.
'A thousand thoughts started going through my mind. I was wondering whether it was real or not, and what I needed to do now."
A self-described "boring guy" headed straight to Google after landing $1.6 million as one of four division one winners in the Saturday Lotto.
The Armidale father went through all the questions in his head via the search engine, admitting he was unable to sleep after the huge win.
'It's all a bit surreal. When I checked my ticket on my online account, my first reaction was 'Holy dooly!'. It was crazy to see right in front of me," he told lottery officials.
'A thousand thoughts started going through my mind. I was wondering whether it was real or not, and what I needed to do now."
World leaders move to avoid unwanted Trump scenario
European and NATO leaders announced they will join Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House to present a united front in talks with Donald Trump on ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Finland are rallying around the Ukrainian president after his exclusion from Trump's summit on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their pledge to be at Zelensky's side at the White House on Monday is an apparent effort to ensure the meeting goes better than the last one in February, when Trump berated Zelenskyy in a heated Oval Office encounter.
'The Europeans are very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Mr Zelensky to the hilt,' said retired French Gen. Dominique Trinquand, a former head of France's military mission at the United Nations.
'It's a power struggle and a position of strength that might work with Trump,' he said.
Read more from Associated Press here.
European and NATO leaders announced they will join Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House to present a united front in talks with Donald Trump on ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Finland are rallying around the Ukrainian president after his exclusion from Trump's summit on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their pledge to be at Zelensky's side at the White House on Monday is an apparent effort to ensure the meeting goes better than the last one in February, when Trump berated Zelenskyy in a heated Oval Office encounter.
'The Europeans are very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Mr Zelensky to the hilt,' said retired French Gen. Dominique Trinquand, a former head of France's military mission at the United Nations.
'It's a power struggle and a position of strength that might work with Trump,' he said.
Read more from Associated Press here.
Rush hour chaos as city-bound lanes closed
Sydney has been plunged into traffic chaos after a five-vehicle crash on the Anzac Bridge, with cars backed all the way up to Leichhardt.
The crash happened in the eastbound lanes about 6.30am on Monday.
Live traffic cameras show three of the four eastbound lanes are blocked, and the gridlock stretches back almost 3km down the A44.
The right-hand westbound lane is also blocked by emergency response vehicles.
An Ambulance NSW spokesman said five vehicles were involved in the crash; three cars, a motorbike and a truck.
All people who needed to be checked by paramedics had minor injuries, the spokesman said.
The male motorbike rider was still however taken to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Images show at least four police vehicles and two road crews are on scene. A damaged dark-coloured sedan stopped sideways across two lanes was put onto a tow truck about 7am.
There is also a cement truck which appears to have been involved in the crash.
Live Traffic NSW are advising motorists to slow down to 40km/h and plan for their commute to take extra time.
- NewsWire
Sydney has been plunged into traffic chaos after a five-vehicle crash on the Anzac Bridge, with cars backed all the way up to Leichhardt.
The crash happened in the eastbound lanes about 6.30am on Monday.
Live traffic cameras show three of the four eastbound lanes are blocked, and the gridlock stretches back almost 3km down the A44.
The right-hand westbound lane is also blocked by emergency response vehicles.
An Ambulance NSW spokesman said five vehicles were involved in the crash; three cars, a motorbike and a truck.
All people who needed to be checked by paramedics had minor injuries, the spokesman said.
The male motorbike rider was still however taken to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Images show at least four police vehicles and two road crews are on scene. A damaged dark-coloured sedan stopped sideways across two lanes was put onto a tow truck about 7am.
There is also a cement truck which appears to have been involved in the crash.
Live Traffic NSW are advising motorists to slow down to 40km/h and plan for their commute to take extra time.
- NewsWire
Qantas set for big fine after illegally sacking workers
Australia's largest airline is staring down the barrel of another nine-figure fine for illegally sacking more than 1800 workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Court will hand down a hefty penalty to Qantas on Monday in what will be the latest court blow for the airline after a scandal-plagued recent tenure.
Qantas outsourced its baggage handlers, cleaners and ground staff in 2020, in a move the court ruled was designed to curb union bargaining power in wage negotiations.
It appealed the ruling to the High Court but the decision was not overturned, paving the way for Monday's penalty.
The Transport Workers Union has sought the maximum penalty of $121 million, while Qantas has urged Justice Michael Lee to impose a "mid-range" penalty between $40 million and $80 million.
Qantas will cop the fine on top of a $120 million compensation payment it has made to the ground staff for their economic loss, pain and suffering since their jobs were outsourced during the pandemic.
It has argued the actions were a mistake, not a deliberate breach of the law.
Qantas also sold tickets to cancelled flights for several years, triggering more legal turmoil and a $100 million fine after it was sued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The carrier, which was under the control of Alan Joyce at the time of the illegal sacking, lost billions of dollars during the pandemic, which decimated the aviation sector.
But the former CEO did not address the scandal when he spoke at an aviation conference on Thursday, instead spruiking his ability to keep the airline afloat in unprecedented times.
"But here's the real insight: resilience isn't a reaction … it's a decision made years in advance, often when it's uncomfortable, even unpopular," he said.
"Qantas was the only major Australian airline not to go bankrupt during or after the pandemic … that wasn't luck. That was resilience."
Australia's largest airline is staring down the barrel of another nine-figure fine for illegally sacking more than 1800 workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Court will hand down a hefty penalty to Qantas on Monday in what will be the latest court blow for the airline after a scandal-plagued recent tenure.
Qantas outsourced its baggage handlers, cleaners and ground staff in 2020, in a move the court ruled was designed to curb union bargaining power in wage negotiations.
It appealed the ruling to the High Court but the decision was not overturned, paving the way for Monday's penalty.
The Transport Workers Union has sought the maximum penalty of $121 million, while Qantas has urged Justice Michael Lee to impose a "mid-range" penalty between $40 million and $80 million.
Qantas will cop the fine on top of a $120 million compensation payment it has made to the ground staff for their economic loss, pain and suffering since their jobs were outsourced during the pandemic.
It has argued the actions were a mistake, not a deliberate breach of the law.
Qantas also sold tickets to cancelled flights for several years, triggering more legal turmoil and a $100 million fine after it was sued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The carrier, which was under the control of Alan Joyce at the time of the illegal sacking, lost billions of dollars during the pandemic, which decimated the aviation sector.
But the former CEO did not address the scandal when he spoke at an aviation conference on Thursday, instead spruiking his ability to keep the airline afloat in unprecedented times.
"But here's the real insight: resilience isn't a reaction … it's a decision made years in advance, often when it's uncomfortable, even unpopular," he said.
"Qantas was the only major Australian airline not to go bankrupt during or after the pandemic … that wasn't luck. That was resilience."
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2 hours ago
- New York Post
Workers are ‘job hugging' or clinging to their positions ‘for dear life': report
The pandemic era's 'great resignation' has morphed into desperate 'job hugging' — with workers clinging to their positions at levels not seen in nearly a decade, according to the latest data. The so-called quits rate among US workers slipped to 2.0% in June, far below the 3.0% peak of November 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Just 3.14 million people quit in June — down from 3.27 million in May — marking a steady return to pre-pandemic lows. By contrast, 4.5 million people quit their jobs in November 2021. Advertisement Employees are holding onto jobs 'for dear life,' consultants at Korn Ferry wrote in a report last week that was cited on Monday by CNBC. 4 Many workers are clinging to their jobs 'for dear life' as quitting plunges to the lowest level in years. kieferpix – In total, about 47.4 million Americans quit their jobs throughout 2021, setting an annual record. As of June, around 19.3 million Americans have voluntarily quit their jobs year-to-date. Advertisement 'There is this stagnation in the labor market, where the hires, quits and layoff rates are low,' Laura Ullrich, director of economic research in North America at the Indeed Hiring Lab, told CNBC. 'There's just not a lot of movement at all.' 4 The era of job hopping has given way to 'job hugging,' with employees too fearful to leave. Studio Romantic – That has led to the voluntary quits rate crashing to lows unseen since 2016, outside the first days of the COVID pandemic. Advertisement 'There's quite a bit of uncertainty in the world — economic, political, global — and I think uncertainty causes people to naturally' remain in a holding pattern, Matt Bohn, an executive search consultant at Korn Ferry, told the Comcast-owned financial news service. He compared spooked workers to skittish investors sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the right opportunity. The lack of movement comes as higher interest rates make it more costly for businesses to borrow money and expand operations. Job growth has slowed sharply in recent months, with the hiring rate plunging to its lowest level in more than a decade, excluding early pandemic days. Advertisement 4 Rising uncertainty has left many workers paralyzed about their prospects for a new role. fizkes – More CEOs now plan to shrink their workforce over the next 12 months than expand it — the first time that's happened since 2020, according to a recent survey. A Conference Board poll published this month found 34% of executives planning cuts versus just 27% expecting to hire. The dramatic shift from the great resignation to the great stay reflects a labor market that's essentially frozen solid. Workers who couldn't stop quitting two years ago now won't budge. But this death grip on current jobs carries serious risks, experts warned. Job huggers are sacrificing cash because those who switch typically command higher wages than those who stay put, Ullrich noted. 4 Young entrants and recent graduates face an especially tough time breaking into the frozen job market. Andrey Popov – Workers getting too comfortable may stagnate rather than take on additional responsibilities or learn new skills. Advertisement This impacts their marketability and career growth when the labor market eventually improves, Bohn cautioned. Employers might also decide these static workers no longer meet performance standards. It's not inherently bad to stay in a job for a long time, experts stressed, but hugging too tightly can backfire. The freeze-up also makes it harder for new entrants like recent graduates to break in. With fewer workers moving up or out, there's nowhere for them to slot in, Ullrich told CNBC.
Fast Company
2 hours ago
- Fast Company
Qantas fined another $59 million for illegally firing workers during the pandemic
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Trump seizes control of Washington DC police and deploys national guard
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About 450 officers from the United States Capitol police, the Federal Protective Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other agencies were present into the city's quadrants over the weekend. At the press conference on Monday morning, Trump painted a nightmarish portrait of a city 'overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged out maniacs and homeless people'. The US attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host only confirmed to her role on 2 August, said she saw 'too much violent crime being committed by young punks who think that they can get together in gangs and crews and beat the hell out of you or anyone else'. Pirro expressed her frustration with what she views as excessive leniency when it comes to the way juveniles are prosecuted. 'I can't arrest them. I can't prosecute them,' she said. 'They go to family court, and they get to do yoga and arts and crafts. Enough, it changes today.' Pirro called for changes to the law to allow a wider range of juvenile cases to be heard in adult court. Again taking to social media on Sunday, Trump demanded that unhoused residents of the capital leave, posting images of encampments ostensibly taken from his motorcade. 'The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday morning, shortly after being driven from the White House to his golf club in Virginia. 'We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital.' Homelessness rates in the nation's capital have also been falling, with the most recent point-in-time count showing a decrease from 2024. Related: Trump orders homeless he passed en route to golf course to leave Washington DC Monday's announcement by Trump, who pardoned his supporters who attacked the US Capitol in Washington on 6 January 2021, was criticised by Democrats and civil rights leaders. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a non-voting delegate representing DC in the House of Representatives, said the decision 'is an historic assault on DC home rule, is a counterproductive, escalatory seizure of DC's resources to use for purposes not supported by DC residents, and is more evidence of the urgent need to pass my DC statehood bill'. Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, said: 'Trump is once again playing political games using service members and federal law enforcement officials. Trump doesn't give a damn about keeping DC residents safe. 'When rioters violently stormed the Capitol and there were repeated requests for the national guard, Trump failed to act. To add insult to injury, he released from jail those 1,500 violent insurrectionists who assaulted police officers and broke local and federal law.' Al Sharpton, the founder and president of the National Action Network, suggested that the intervention was motivated by a desire to distract from criticisms over the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. 'Donald Trump was inspired to take this disgusting, dangerous, and derogatory action solely out of self interest,' he said. 'Let's call the inspiration for this assault on a majority Black city for what it is: another bid to distract his angry, frustrated base over his administration's handling of the Epstein files.' Later Muriel Bowser, the mayor of DC, who has pursued a non-confrontational relationship with Trump, described the intervention as 'unsettling and unprecedented' but declined to criticise the president directly. 'I've said before, and I'll repeat, that I believe that the president's view of DC is shaped by his Covid-era experience during his first term,' she told reporters. 'It is true that those were more challenging times related to some issues. It is also true that we experienced a crime spike post-Covid but we worked quickly to put laws in place and tactics that got violent offenders off our streets, and gave our police officers more tools.' Bowser said her office plans to follow the law and cooperate with the federal government, though 'I don't want to minimise the intrusion on our autonomy'. She has requested a meeting with Bondi, who will temporarily oversee the Metropolitan police department. Flanked by Pamela Smith, the DC police chief, and other city officials, Bowser added: 'While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I can't say that, given some of the rhetoric of the past, we're totally surprised. I can say to DC residents that we will continue to operate our government in a way that makes you proud.' Asked about Trump's hint that he could deploy the US military if required, the mayor replied: 'I think I speak for all Americans. We don't believe it is legal to use the American military against American citizens on American soil. I am not a lawyer, but I think that is a fairly widely held fact.' Meanwhile Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority leader in the House, described Trump as a 'wannabe king' and argued his plan to 'unleash the national guard on the city's youth and homeless population has no basis in law and will put the safety of the people of our nation's capital in danger'. He added: 'We stand with the residents of the District of Columbia and reject this unjustified power grab as illegitimate.'Shrai Popat contributed reporting • This article was amended on 12 August 2025. Jeanine Pirro is the White House-appointed US attorney for the District of Columbia, not the elected 'DC attorney general' as an earlier version said. Solve the daily Crossword
