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News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
End of financial year sales drive massive billion dollar spending boom
Savvy shoppers have spent more than $19.2bn online in the last three months in a sign of renewed consumer confidence and anticipated rate relief. The Australia Post eCommerce report shows a massive 7.9 million Australians are now shopping online, with every category tracked seeing a lift in spending. This was led by $4.2bn in online marketplaces, $3.9bn in food and liquor, and $2.7bn spent in on fashion. Australia Post puts the surge in online shopping down to a mix of bargain hunting Aussies targeting the end of financial year, easing cost of living pressures and households expecting further interest rate relief. One of those taking advantage of this sales period was Central Coast mortgage holder and mum Justine Ribgy who said June was always an expensive period for her household. 'We took advantage of those online retail offers more so around household appliances that needed replacing,' she said. 'My husband and I are also in the year being 40 so we had some big gifts there and our children's birthday's fall in June and July, so when we add all that up the (end of financial year sales) is a big savings.' The increase in customer spending came during a period when the Reserve Bank of Australia initially held the cash rate in April, before slashing 25 basis points in May. Households had also expected further relief in July, with a cut widely forecasted at the start of the new financial year. Instead, the central bank held the official cash rate at 3.85 per cent. Ms Ribgy said even though the RBA held the official cash rate in July, it was still a little win for households 'We have had to budget month to month with the cost of living over the last couple of years so a rate cut frees up our discretionary spending. We can be a little less frugal,' she told NewsWire. 'To be honest, even with the hold … it's still positive. It gives us that confidence to loosen the purse strings a little bit.' Despite the increasing overall spend, Australia Post research showed Australians are spending less per transaction with the basket size falling by 1.6 per cent over the previous year. Instead Aussies are buying more often and are turning to marketplaces and department stores to get the cheapest price product. Australian Post general manager customer success Chelsea O'Reilly said Australians were taking their time when it comes to online shopping in order to get the best deal possible. 'Consumers are becoming a whole lot more savvy and strategic in terms of their shopping and we've seen that with an increase in the amount of time they are spending on online marketplaces and department stores,' Ms O'Reilly said. 'They are going there so they can compare brands, pricing and maximise their savings.' Aussies proved their love for a quick bargain, spurring a significant 28 per cent spike in online department store spending during the quarter. Younger Aussies remain the most likely to buy online with Millennials spending $6.9bn online, followed by Gen X at $5.3bn and Gen Z who spent $3.4bn. Ms Reilly said with more Australians choosing to spend their money online, the postal service was investing heavily to keep up with customer demand. 'We are heavily investing in delivering choice and convenience for our customers,' she said.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Furious parents lash out at silence over local top cop accused of having a huge hoard of sick child abuse and bestiality pics - as he's pictured at a KIDS party just before his arrest
Outraged parents are demanding answers after a father-of-four police officer was allowed to attend kids events while being investigated and later charged over a vast cache of child abuse and bestiality images. Former elite Raptor Squad cop Mitchell Leslie, 38, from the NSW Central Coast, is accused of keeping more than 200,000 depraved images on his phone and laptop. He was arrested last week following a NSW Police probe into unauthorised use of police IT systems in March this year while attached to Hornsby Police Station. The investigation culminated in the seizure of his electronic devices in May. But despite being under investigation, Leslie continued to go to children's sporting events and even a kids' birthday party. Now outraged parents have shared their concerns with Daily Mail Australia, claiming they have been left in the dark. 'This has sent shockwaves through our community,' said one concerned mother whose children were among those at the party Leslie attended. 'Parents are anxious and disturbed that someone in such a position of trust could be implicated in such offences. 'This man has been to our houses, celebrated at birthday parties, played with our kids and had sleepovers at his house, but no one has said anything to any of us.' With no word from schools or authorities, the worried mother says parents have been left in the dark. 'We have no idea whose kids are allegedly in those images - if we should talk to our kids about it or what will happen next,' she said. 'I'm so upset by it. I feel sick and I can't sleep at night knowing this.' NSW Police confirmed Leslie was charged with misconduct in public office, two counts of possessing child abuse material, one count of possessing bestiality material, and three counts of accessing or modifying restricted data on the police computer system. Court documents revealed the investigation was sparked when Leslie allegedly accessed the confidential NSW Police Force computer database to illegally help his lover on multiple occasions. On one occasion, it's alleged he tried to protect her from being detected driving unlawfully and at another time he accessed it to help her brother avoid a domestic violence apprehension. He's also accused of drafting a letter on NSW Police letterhead for the Department of Communities and Justice to assist that same partner with 'prioritised residence relocation.' 'We want answers,' another parent told Daily Mail Australia. 'As someone with an understanding of child protection I'm asking what immediate safeguarding steps are being taken locally in response to this case? 'What communication and reassurance are being provided to local schools, families, and children who may be directly or indirectly affected? 'Because we have contacted the school, the police and our local MPs and no one is giving us answers.' Leslie's barrister Imogen Hogan applied for bail, telling the court her client was currently receiving psychological treatment in Brisbane Water Private Hospital after spending three weeks as a mental health inpatient at Gosford Public Hospital. She said Constable Leslie was involved in the arrest of several prominent outlaw motorcycle gang members, and faced 'significant risks' if he was to be remanded in custody. Ms Hogan tendered an affidavit from Constable Leslie's mother which said he hoped to continue his treatment at Brisbane Water Private Hospital until he could get a bed at a specialist 'first responder' PTSD treatment program at Kellyville Private Hospital. She said Constable Leslie no longer had access to his police database and the fear of custody was 'itself' reason to comply with any strict bail conditions. But the Crown prosecutor opposed bail, telling the court Constable Leslie had been adequately treated for PTSD while serving as a police officer. She said he was only admitted to hospital on May 30, which was the day police raided his home and he would have been charged sooner if it were not for concerns about his mental health. He is suspended without pay and an urgent review of his employment status is underway. Magistrate Michael O'Brien said ultimately he was unsatisfied any conditions would alleviate the risk of Constable Leslie fleeing the jurisdiction, committing further offences or interfering with witnesses and refused him bail. He will reappear at Downing Centre Local Court on September 10. NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia that they are still reviewing the material seized. 'Investigations under Strike Force Blumont remain ongoing, and it has been important to maintain a level of confidentiality to protect the integrity of the investigation and the court proceedings,' said the spokesperson. 'Strike Force investigators continue to review material contained on the seized electronic devices. 'Based on information currently at hand, it is alleged the material was downloaded from online platforms.' If parents believe their child may have been at risk, or if their child has told them about any inappropriate behaviour, please contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussie small business owner faces ‘devastating' $80,000 hit after Meta suspends accounts
An Australian small business owner says her revenue has more than halved after her social media accounts were 'suddenly' suspended by Meta at a vulnerable time in her life. The social media giant has been accused of mistakenly banning Facebook and Instagram users' accounts across the world. Kellie Johnson is the founder of Kosi, a wearable heat pack business that was born out of her own experience living with endometriosis. The Central Coast mum told Yahoo Finance she received a notification out of the blue that her Instagram account had been suspended on July 10. She received an email from Meta advising her Instagram account had been suspended because it didn't follow 'Community Standards on child sexual exploitation, abuse and nudity'. Johnson said she never posted anything of this nature on her account, with Kosi's account primarily showing images of her heat pad product and adult women wearing it. RELATED Aussie cafe owner's 'pressure' of impending $124,000 superannuation change Common neighbour problem plaguing Aussie houses Major inflation change following RBA's shock interest rate decision She believes her accounts were mistakenly flagged by an AI moderator; however, Meta did not provide any explanation as to the specific post that led to her suspension. Johnson said she was using her personal Instagram account at the time and got a notification that it had also been suspended, as it is a linked account. Her linked podcast account, which only had three posts, was also suspended along with her Facebook accounts. 'I tried to log into the business one that it had flagged, but I got the same message saying that it had breached the community guidelines,' she said. Johnson said the impact on her small business was 'devastating', with her sales projected to more than halve month on month. In June, her total sales were more than $133,000. In July, that has dropped significantly, with Johnson estimating they would end the month on $50,000 given the lack of organic reach. That works out to a difference of more than $80, make matters worse, the ban on her personal and business accounts was just two days after Johnson had a D&C (dilation and curettage) for her seventh miscarriage. This means she was suddenly cut off from her support network and loved ones at a critical time. 'I had connected with a bunch of people who were in the same boat as me, and that was providing me so much comfort because I've had these people who understood what I was going through, and we were talking about it in real time,' she said. 'Then that obviously got cut off right away, right after my surgery, which was a really difficult time. I definitely found that really, really hard — more from a mental health point of view, just because the timing was so bad for it to happen.' Johnson said she immediately appealed the suspensions. Her podcast account failed the appeal, which she believes was assessed by AI, and was "permanently disabled' with no explanation as to why it failed. She received no response on her other appeals and said the process to get support was very difficult. She even paid for Meta verification to get in contact with a real person, but went "around in circles for six hours". She has since lodged an appeal to the Small Business Ombudsman. Meta responds to questions over why accounts have been banned Meta did not reply to specific questions about Johnson's case, but her accounts were restored over the weekend, more than a week after the initial ban. "We take action on accounts that violate our policies, and people can appeal if they think we've made a mistake,' a Meta spokesperson told Yahoo Finance. Meta uses a combination of people and technology to find accounts that breach its rules. It is understood Meta has not seen evidence of a significant increase in incorrect enforcement of its rules. Instagram's website notes that AI is "central" to its content review process and it can "detect and remove content that goes against our Community Standards before anyone reports it". Johnson is not the only Australian business owner who says they've mistakenly had their accounts suspended for breaching community standards. Rochelle Marinato, the owner of a pilates equipment supplier, said her accounts had been suspended after she posted a video of three dogs looking out a window. She claimed her revenue dropped 75 per cent, resulting in about a $50,000 loss. More than 30,000 people have also signed a petition accusing Meta of wrongfully disabling accounts through its AI moderation system with no human customer support or clear appeal process. Calls for Meta to provide more transparency Johnson said the effects of the social media bans were "debilitating" and highlighted how little control business owners had over their own platforms, which they relied on to pay the bills. 'A lot of people would be in the same boat as me, where they are relying on that money to live and then the platform's taking no responsibility or even explaining to you why you're dealing with that,' she said. 'I think that they probably need to withdraw the AI checker until they fix the issue because the impact on people's mental health and on their businesses is too great.'Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This California town tops the most expensive rental market in the nation for third year running
Renting in Santa Cruz, California now requires a stifling income of more than $168,000 just to rent a two-bedroom, a figure that makes it the most unaffordable market in the nation for the third year in a row. In the Santa Cruz area, located on the Central Coast about 75 miles south of San Francisco, the hourly pay needed to afford a modest two-bedroom has risen from $63.33 in 2023 to $81.21 in 2025, according to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition's 2025 Out of Reach report. This is up nearly 30% since 2023, when they were first put at the top of the list. That means a renter must now earn $168,920 a year to be able to afford a modest two-bedroom at fair market rent in the metro area, the report shows. That would be a max of $4,223 a month in rent to stay under 30% of their gross income. In California, where the minimum wage is $16.50, that's the equivalent of working 4.9 full-time In-n-out Heiress Lynsi Snyder And Family Leaving California For Tennessee The report finds that the typical renter doesn't come close. The average renter in Santa Cruz County earns $22.13 an hour. At that rate, it would take about 3.7 full-time jobs to afford an apartment."This is a No. 1 we don't want to be," said Elaine Johnson, executive director of Housing Santa Cruz County to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. "This is an all-hands-on-deck kind of time for everyone involved."California state dominates affordability rankings, according to the Out of Reach report. The Golden State is home to eight of the ten most expensive metro areas, including San Jose, San Francisco, Salinas, and Santa Barbara. Statewide, the average housing wage for a two-bedroom apartment is nearly $50 per hour, which is the highest of any U.S. state. Timeline Of California's Yearslong And 'Disastrously Overpriced' High-speed Rail Project At the current minimum wage, a full-time California worker would need to put in 120 hours a week to afford the average two-bedroom apartment. According to the report, "Nowhere in the United States—no state, metropolitan area, or county—can a full-time minimum-wage worker afford a modest two-bedroom rental home."The report attributes the problem to a severe and persistent supply shortage, estimating a national gap of 7.1 million affordable rental homes for extremely low-income or 'ELI' say California's housing market is also hindered by overlapping layers of regulation."CEQA[California Environmental Quality Act] and restrictive zoning regulations are key contributors to California's housing shortage," said Dr. Wayne Winegarden, senior fellow at the Pacific Research Institute. "Prevailing wage mandates coupled with expensive environmental mandates... further inflates housing costs." Read On The Fox Business App Santa Cruz County Republican Party Chair Mike Lelieur told FOX Business the affordability crisis is a direct result of decades of progressive policy. "The local planning department has made it so outrageously expensive to build that it's just not profitable unless you're backed by a big corporate developer," Lelieur said. "Then you add CEQA, coastal commission reviews, endless permit delays, and greenbelt restrictions. It's a bureaucratic blockade by design." He also criticized the University of California, Santa Cruz, for expanding its student population faster than it builds housing. "UCSC keeps expanding, but they're not building dorms fast enough. So students flood the local market and landlords jack up rents — because mom and dad are paying the bill," he Fox Business On The Go"This is a housing crisis created by policy," Lelieur said. "And unless we change course, it's only going to get worse."The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the Santa Cruz County Business Council did not immediately respond to FOX Business' request for full report can be found at article source: This California town tops the most expensive rental market in the nation for third year running Solve the daily Crossword
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Gosford preview: Trainer Brad Widdup hopes for another Gosford triumph with Sneaky Choice
Trainer Brad Widdup is hoping history repeats for pint-sized filly Sneaky Choice. Widdup sent Sneaky Choice to Gosford for a 1000m race on debut and the daughter of Extreme Choice tracked the leader before running down Miss Judas to score by three-quarters of a length. Spelled after a sixth at Goulburn, Sneaky Choice returns to the Central Coast for the TEG Tradies Day 29 August 2025 Class 1 Handicap over the 1000m. Jockey Grant Buckley, who was aboard for her debut win, will again partner the three-year-old. 'She is only very little but she did a really good job to win on debut,' said Widdup. 'Where going back to where she won and hopefully she can do it again. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'She's only had the one trial this time in so she is obviously open to improvement but I thought this was a good starting point for her.' Widdup is hoping well-bred filly You're The Choice can claim a late season two-year-old win and a BOBS bonus when she resumes in the Central Coast Locksmiths Provincial Maiden Plate (1000m) where she has drawn barrier 6 with apprentice Mitch Stapleford aboard. The two-year-old made her debut at Newcastle over 900m back on February 15 where she finished a head second behind Frostfire. She then took a big jump in grade when Widdup sent her out in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick. After racing keenly she finished down the order behind Within The Law. 'She was quite good on debut so we gave her a run in the Sweet Embrace,' Widdup said. 'She is a nice filly and has come back in good order this preparation. 'I expect her to run well first-up from a good draw.' A two-year-old win will increase her future broodmare value. The filly is a daughter of Golden Slipper Farnan from a half-sister to Group 1 Blue Diamond winner and top sire, Extreme Choice. Widdup also has Gladstone Grande in the same race but will likely save him for Maiden Plate at Hawkesbury the following day. The gelding has only had one run, in the Kirkham Plate at Randwick on October 26 where he was last of the six runners behind Comedy. Domeland filly Sapling breaks her maiden with an impressive victory for Head Trainer Sara Ryan and jockey Robbie Downey at Wyong! #TeamDomeland â€' Domeland Racing (@DomelandRacing) July 5, 2025 'I will likely split them up,' he said 'Even though he has drawn worse at Hawkesbury he will probably go there. 'I had a throw at the stumps in the Kirkham. I may not have been the right thing but it gave him some experience. 'He is still mentally immature but I have been happy enough with him in his trial. 'If the brings that to the races, he should be competitive.' Widdup also has two options with the promising Tequisoda this weekend – Gosford and Hawkesbury. The two-year-old is entered for the Consolidated Panels & Veneers 2&3YO Maiden Plate (1600m) at Gosford and a Maiden Plate at Hawkesbury over 1500m. 'He will likely go around at Hawkesbury on Sunday but I will wait until I see if there are any scratchings at Gosford,' Widdup said. 'If it ends up a small field, he may head that way.' The son of Pierro was gallant in defeat on debut over 1300m at Wyong where he finished a length-and-the-quarter second behind Sapling who is one of the favourites in the opening race at Rosehill. 'He ran enormous on debut,' he said. 'He was a smidgen slow out but then he got a buffeted and settled a fair way off the leader. 'That's not ideal for a horse having its first start so he did a very good job to finish as close as he did.'
