Latest news with #BudgetDirect
Sydney Morning Herald
13 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Gina Rinehart spends thousands evacuating media chief from Israel
Having friends (or rather bosses) in high places has never been more helpful for well-connected PR and government relations guy James Radford, who was stuck in Israel over the weekend as Iranian missiles rained down. But not stuck for long. Radford, who runs his own Radford Consulting and is external affairs manager for Hancock Prospecting, was able to call upon his boss, mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, to get him out of Israel pronto. Others, who were part of an official delegation, were not so lucky. It seems when Rinehart isn't keeping the Australian swim team afloat and giving out $100,000 cheques to her staff, she is saving them from war zones. Benevolent capitalism at work. And obviously, billionaire-tier travel insurance is many rungs above Budget Direct. One estimate put the cost of the extraction at $60,000, but Radford said it could be even higher. 'Gina Rinehart was incredible – she worked day and night to try and get us out of there by whatever means possible and safe,' Radford told CBD from Melbourne. 'We definitely tried to get the entire group out, multiple Australians out – however there was no capacity in the system as this was the first day,' he said. 'My first evacuation was cancelled.' Radford spent part of his time in the country on an official Israeli government-organised Australian Pride Mission to Israel, a two-week culture tour which was to culminate in Tel Aviv Pride. He also caught up the Australian-Israel Chamber of Commerce group, visited a kibbutz that was a site of an October 7 massacre and spent time with former Labor senator Nova Peris and media personality Erin Molan.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Australian motorcycle owners show their love of the open road. But they value safety over scenery, new survey data shows.
BRISBANE, Australia, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Australian motorcycle owners share a love of the open road, with almost half (47%) saying they take road trips a few times a year or even monthly, a new survey has found. When asked what essentials they pack, the number one response (65%) was a first aid kit, followed by snacks (55%), a GPS tracker (53%) and a puncture repair kit (52%). The poll of 1000 Australians from motorbike insurer Budget Direct revealed fewer than half (49%) felt it necessary to pack their camera. "We know motorbike riders love that feeling of freedom when they're out on the road," a Budget Direct spokesperson said. "But this survey shows the majority of riders are responsible and take their safety very seriously. "Even when choosing their route, the number one factor that influenced their decision was the safety of the road." Nearly 37% of riders checked safety first, ahead of scenery (33%), followed by food and drink (11%) and accommodation (9%) options. Interestingly, when it comes to where they like to ride, there was a clear favourite, with 47% preferring coastal roads, compared with only 18% in the mountains. "That was actually something of a surprise to us, because we know some of those magnificent hinterland rides are a real drawcard," said the Budget Direct spokesperson. The other surprise was that 44% of riders surveyed will embark on their next road trip within the next six months. Nearly 66% said they enjoy a 'social' ride, instead of purely commuting, and 44% said a trip for pleasure would usually last from two to five hours. In the all-important battle of the states, Australians said New South Wales (31%) edged out Victoria (28%) and Queensland (17%) as the state with the best motorcycle routes. "There's no doubt, motorcycles are more than just a means of transport," said a Budget Direct Spokesperson. "They're a way of life for so many riders and we're happy we play our part in keeping them on the road through our insurance products." ENDS Link request: Please keep all links in this article to direct readers to the most accurate location for more information. DISCLAIMER Insurance is arranged by Auto & General Services Pty Ltd (ABN 61 003 617 909, AFSL 241 411, Registered Office: 13/9 Sherwood Rd, Toowong 4066) on behalf of the insurer, Auto & General Insurance Company Limited ABN 42 111 5 86 353. View original content: SOURCE Budget Direct
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Budget Direct Insurance Clinches Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award 2025 for Sixth Year Running
SINGAPORE, Feb. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Budget Direct Insurance has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award for the sixth year running. The coveted award is an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience. More than 10,000 Budget Direct Insurance customers left their feedback on Feefo, the independent reviews platform and awarded the insurer an impressive Exceptional Customer Service rating, scoring an average of 4.7 out of 5. All Feefo customer reviews are verified as genuine, making the highly valued accreditation a true reflection of a business's continued commitment to outstanding service. The Platinum award is given to businesses which have achieved Gold standard for three consecutive years. The leading online insurer for car, motorcycle, commercial vehicle and travel has consistently received outstanding customer reviews on the Feefo platform since launching in 2016. Award is Testament to Exceptional Value for Budget Direct Customers As a low-cost insurer committed to providing some of the most affordable motor and travel insurance plans in Singapore, the award highlights that customers are indeed receiving genuine value for their money with Budget Direct Insurance. Simon Birch, CEO of Budget Direct Insurance, commented: "We're delighted to receive a Platinum Trusted Service Award from Feefo for the sixth consecutive year. Keeping our customers happy is our priority, so the fact this award is based on feedback from real customers gives us confidence we're providing an exceptional level of service while at the same time offering real value. "Our customers can rest assured they're getting much more for less with us. The award also recognises just how hard our staff have worked under fresh challenges, with both rising inflation and the cost-of-living crisis affecting both consumers and businesses alike. As we enter a new year, we will continue to listen, understand, and deliver what our customers want." Congratulating Budget Direct Insurance on winning this year's award, Tony Wheble, CEO at Feefo, said: "During these economically challenging times, it's inspiring to see companies like Budget Direct Insurance consistently going above and beyond for their customers. The Trusted Service Awards recognise businesses that don't just meet expectations – they exceed them. These awards celebrate companies that gather genuine feedback and use it to deliver exceptional customer experiences. The dedication shown by this year's winners sets a benchmark for customer service excellence." About Budget Direct Insurance Budget Direct Insurance is an award-winning online digital insurance company for car, motorcycle, commercial vehicle and travel. It is part of an international group that provides insurance solutions for millions of policyholders worldwide. Their brands include Compare the Market in the UK, Budget Direct in Australia, and Telesure in South Africa. About Feefo Feefo is a leading global customer reviews and insights platform. With 96% of customers relying on reviews to purchase, Feefo creates trust between consumers and businesses by adopting a unique approach to only collect verified reviews from real people. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Budget Direct Insurance Singapore
