Latest news with #AndrewHenshaw
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
City braces for months of commuter chaos
Melbourne commuters can expect headaches for the rest of the year as the $15bn Metro Tunnel opens in stages. Passengers on three different train lines will have to switch at either of two different stations as the first trains carrying passengers through the new tunnel are opened to the public. Speaking to media on Saturday, Transport Infrastructure Minister, Gab Williams, said the amount of disruptions owing to the state's massive infrastructure projects was too long to list. 'You've probably already seen the media release with an outline of many of the disruptions that will be taking place over the winter break, because we have a huge winter of work,' she said. Victorian Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams acknowledges there will numerous disruptions in coming months. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia The Parkville Station is one of five new Metro stations. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia 'So I won't go through all of them. I will choose to single out a few, but in short, we are ensuring you know the final stretch and opening, getting ready to open, the Metro Tunnel project and of course as well the West Gate Tunnel.' On June 21, the train-carrying Metro Tunnel will run a 'dress rehearsal', however the tunnel hasn't yet been signed off to transport passengers. On this one rehearsal day, passengers on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will have to switch trains at Caulfield or Footscray stations. The empty trains will then continue on through the tunnel as a sort of dry run. Media got a look at the new Parkville Station on Saturday. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia There are two AFL games in Melbourne on that Saturday, being contested by four Melbourne-based teams. Ms Williams said staff will 'be out in force' at the stations where passengers have to get off the train to tell people where to go, on top of the usual announcements ringing out. This June 21 trial marks the first in a string of major transport disruptions over the next six months. Final works on the West Gate Tunnel will cause lane closures on outbound arterial routes later in the year. Sections of the Eastern Freeway will be shut during the weekends in August and buses will replace trains on the Hurstbridge line in July.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Huge call on future of WFH in Australia
A major new report by the Productivity Commission has found working from home, in moderation, is actually more productive than being in the office full-time, debunking claims that the national shift to remote work is dragging down Australia's economy. The landmark report, released this week, concludes hybrid arrangements, where employees split time between home and the office, tend to benefit both productivity and job satisfaction, especially by cutting down on lengthy commutes. 'Allowing workers to work from home some days can improve worker satisfaction and allows people to benefit by avoiding the commute to work, meaning they have additional time for other purposes,' the Commission said. It found the rise in working from home since the Covid-19 pandemic is not to blame for Australia's recent productivity slump. 'Remote work also reduces breaks and sick days, and results in less distractions, all of which are typically found to be beneficial for productivity,' the report said. A major new report by the Productivity Commission has found that working from home, in moderation, is actually more productive than being in the office full-time. Credit: istock By August 2024, 36 per cent of Australians with a job reported they usually worked from home, up from just 12 per cent before the pandemic. During peak lockdowns in 2020, more than 30 per cent worked from home on most days. Despite fears that staff would be less productive at home, the Commission found hybrid work (working some days remotely and some days in the office) tends to be beneficial to productivity, or at least, not detrimental to productivity. However, the report noted not all workers benefit equally. While working from home is especially popular with women, many who juggle childcare responsibilities, less experienced workers may lose out. 'For less experienced workers, in-person interactions may be an important avenue for skill development as there may be a greater knowledge transfer from senior workers and junior workers through informal in-person interactions,' it said. 'A key reason for this is that in-person interactions may be better for collaborative tasks and idea generation.' By August 2024, 36 per cent of Australians with a job reported they usually worked from home, up from just 12 per cent before the pandemic. During peak lockdowns in 2020, more than 30 per cent worked from home on most days. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia The Commission cited evidence from engineering firms showing in-person meetings sparked more creative ideas, although remote and hybrid teams were just as effective when it came to evaluating and selecting those ideas. The broader productivity crisis, which saw national labour productivity fall by 1.2 per cent in 2024, is instead being driven by a lack of new investment in technology. 'Capital matters for productivity because more capital (the machines, equipment and other durable goods that are used as inputs in production) means workers can produce more goods and services,' the Commission said. Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy, speaking to the Australian Business Economists this week, said boosting productivity growth would be a key challenge for the Albanese Government. 'Australia's 20-year average productivity growth has declined from 1.8 per cent to 0.8 per cent over that period,' Mr Kennedy said. Despite fears that staff would be less productive at home, the Commission found that hybrid work tends to be beneficial to productivity, or at least, not detrimental to productivity. Credit: The Advertiser While some employers, including the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ and Woolworths, are pushing staff back into the office three days a week, the report suggests a flexible hybrid model could be the best long-term solution. Politically, the issue remains sensitive after former Liberal leader Peter Dutton lost his seat following his support for a plan to force Canberra-based public servants back to their desks, a move that sparked widespread backlash from remote workers. The Commission said that although the evidence on working from home is still evolving, most studies find hybrid work to be either neutral or positive for labour productivity. 'There is no evidence to suggest that the trend towards hybrid working has contributed to the productivity loss phase of the productivity bubble,' the report said.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Perth Now
Teen charged after horror attack on jogger
A teenager has been charged after allegedly grabbing a female jogger and choking her in a violent attack on a Canberra trail. Police allege the teenager, 15, grabbed the woman from behind and choked her until she lost consciousness while she was jogging down Oak Hill on the Centenary Trail in Bonner, about 10.15am on Monday. A teenager has been charged after grabbing a female jogger and choking her in a violent attack on a Canberra trail. Google Maps Credit: Supplied 'When she regained consciousness and tried to get away, he then struck the woman in the head,' a police statement read. The woman then fell to the ground and the teenager allegedly continued assaulting her before stealing her phone and running away. It is further alleged the woman was able to stand up and run until she met another woman on the trail, who reported the incident to police. The woman was grabbed from behind and choked before the teenager stole her phone. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia Paramedics treated the 59-year-old for minor injuries and was transported to The Canberra Hospital. The boy was later located, with police arresting and charging him with an act of indecency without consent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, choke a person and render insensible and robbery. He was taken for a mental health assessment and faced ACT Children's Court on Wednesday. The teenager was remanded in custody and will next appear in court on June 23.
Herald Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Herald Sun
Inflation, Interest rates: Blow for rate cut hopes as CPI higher than expected
Hopes of back-to-back rate cuts slid on Wednesday after inflation data came in higher than the previous month despite April usually being a month for price hikes. The Australian Bureau of Statistics' April inflation print shows the all-important trimmed mean inflation, which the Reserve Bank uses to measure Australia's inflation rate, came in hotter than expected. CPI excluding volatile items and holiday travel rose 2.8 per cent in the 12 months to April compared with a 2.6 per cent rise in the 12 months to March. Australia's overall CPI indicator – including volatile items – came in at 2.4 per cent but again was higher than market forecasts of 2.3 per cent year-on-year. Betashare chief economist David Bassanese said Wednesday's inflation reading was only 'mildly disappointing' but ruled out a July rate cut. 'With concerns over US tariff policy easing in recent weeks, and the all-important June quarter CPI report due in late July, it was always more likely that the RBA would hold off cutting interest rates until August – barring an economic emergency,' he said. High rental prices added to Australia's inflation rate. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw The Reserve Bank of Australia started its rate-cutting cycle in February before pausing in April and reducing rates again in May. The cash rate has gone from 4.35 per cent at the start of the year to 3.85 per cent. Mr Bassanese said he expected the RBA to continue its rate-cutting cycle, but follow the quarterly data, which is the pattern set so far by the central bank. 'Given easing housing and labour cost pressures, I still anticipate further declines in underlying inflation such that the RBA is still likely to cut rates at least twice further this year – albeit not as early as July,' he said. 'My base case remains that the RBA will cut rates in August and November, directly following the next two quarterly CPI reports – assuming these reports confirm an easing in annual underlying inflation to the midpoint of the RBA's 2-3 per cent target band.' The largest contributor was food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing and recreation and culture, during the busy Easter and Anzac Day weekends. While annual food inflation eased in most categories, a spike in the price of eggs, which were up 18.6 per cent in the past 12-months due to bird flu outbreaks impacting supply, helped drive the category as a whole higher. Meanwhile housing inflation continued its up tick coming in at 2.2 per cent for the month of April up from 1.8 per cent in March. Rents rose 5.0 per cent in the 12 months to April following a 5.2 per cent rise in the 12 months to March. Despite the jump in rental costs, it is the lowest annual growth in rental prices since February 2023, consistent with rising vacancy rates across most capital cities. Electricity prices fell 6.5 per cent in the year to April, easing from a 9.6 per cent drop in March, as government rebates continued to help lower household costs. Originally published as Inflation read sours back-to-back rate cuts
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Perth Now
Landlord scolded over request to tenant
A landlord who demanded tens of thousands of dollars from a tenant before they moved in then threatened to kick them out if they did not pay more money found herself in front of a magistrate. The woman from NSW claimed she did not understand her obligations to handle rent, bond payments or a property condition report under WA's tenancy laws when she pleaded guilty to four charges of breaching the Residential Tenancies Act. The NSW landlord owned a property in the Perth suburb of Ardross when she entered into a tenancy agreement and demanded $16,200 from her tenant to cover the first three months' rent, about a month before the tenant moved in. She then demanded an additional $2700 in fortnightly rent about a month before the next due date and told the tenant in a text message she would find another tenant if the payments were not made. A woman in NSW has found herself in front of the Perth Magistrates Court for breaching the Residential Tenancies Act over a property she owns in West Australia. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia The woman failed to lodge a further $16,200 paid as a security bond with the Bond Administrator at Consumer Protection within the 14-day time frame, then only lodged $5,400 of the bond four months after it was received. She arranged to deposit the remaining $10,800 with the Bond Administrator after Consumer Protection started legal proceedings against her. The court was also told the landlord provided the tenant with two copies of a property condition 32 days late. The landlord was fined $8500 and received a spent conviction in the Perth Magistrates Court. Magistrate Donna Webb said ignorance of the law was no excuse and the landlord should have inquired about her obligations. Consumer Protection commissioner Owen Kelly said the Residential Tenancies Act was a vital safeguard for tenants, who were especially vulnerable during periods of high demand in the rental market. The commissioner said the landlord violated the Act by seeking more than two weeks' rent from the tenant a month before the tenancy took occupancy. The landlord was fined $8500 and received a spent conviction after pleading guilty to four counts of violating the Residential Tenancy Act. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia He said the tenant was subjected to unnecessary risk by being asked to pay three months of rent upfront before moving in. 'When tenants have fewer options, they may have little to no power to negotiate with landlords before or during the tenancy,' he said. '(The tenant) was also placed under unnecessary financial burden when further rent demands were made before that initial period had expired.' The commissioner said handling security bond money was a serious matter, and the 14-day lodgement rule was in place to safeguard the interests of both tenants and landlords. 'All landlords with property in Western Australia need to familiarise themselves with the laws, or delegate this responsibility to a property manager, otherwise they risk facing legal repercussions,' he said.
