Latest news with #CentrelinkWorkBonus
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FIFO worker hits back at $116,000 misconception: ‘Mental and emotional toll'
Australian FIFO workers have pushed back at the perception that they are working 'easy' jobs. FIFO can offer huge pay packets along with perks like free food and accommodation, but there are major trade-offs workers have to make. Taylor Ambrose has worked as a FIFO health and lifestyle coordinator in the mines near Mildura for the past 12 months. The 27-year-old told Yahoo Finance she had received messages from people telling her FIFO was 'literally the easiest job'. One message she received noted workers had their breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared for them each day, plus their room cleaned once a week. They claimed workers just needed to 'get up and go', compared to other workers who have to slog it out commuting into the city to work long days. RELATED FIFO worker exposes brutal reality behind 'best' entry-level job paying $150,000: 'Only lasted a year' Tax, HECS, Medicare: All the major cost-of-living relief coming for millions of Aussies Centrelink Work Bonus offers $4,000 boost to pensioners The average FIFO worker can earn $116,874 per year, according to Talent, but the pay on offer will really depend on your specific job and experience. Some entry-level jobs, for example, driller offsiders, can earn up to $150,000 a year. Ambrose said she thinks the view that FIFO is an 'easy job' likely stems from the financial incentives on offer, along with the structured rosters and extended time off.'From the outside, those aspects can give the impression of a straightforward or even cushy arrangement,' she said. "That said, as with most things, there are layers to the reality." Ambrose said the challenges of FIFO work 'shouldn't be underestimated'. 'Extended time away from family and home comforts, the mental and emotional toll of isolation, and the physical demands of some roles all contribute to a complex working environment,' she said. Ambrose shared a video online about the perception that FIFO jobs are "easy". It sparked conversation amongst FIFO workers, with many pushing back at the claims and noting that workers had to deal with tough working conditions. 'We do seven days a week for two weeks. 12 hour days, up to 50c heat. dust, cyclones, flies…' one wrote. '160 hours plus work a fortnight isn't easy at all,' another said. 'I'd like to see people who haven't done it go and do it for six months, then talk about how easy it is,' a third added. One FIFO worker agreed that the job could 'feel more manageable' compared to working long hours in the city, and the advantages of having meals and accommodation provided meant you had more time to work and could earn more money. But he said the job had its 'own set of challenges'. 'The working conditions in remote environments can be physically and mentally demanding,' he said. 'Extreme heat, flies and isolation can take a toll, and not everyone is suited to this kind of environment. 'FIFO is a lifestyle choice. It doesn't fit everyone's circumstances, and [is] hard on the important things in life, relationships , family etc.' Logan Snooks said he only lasted a year as a FIFO driller offsider because the job was so hard. He was earning a base salary of $101,178 a year, but said it was the "hardest job" he'd ever done and it took a big toll on his body and mental health. The 31-year-old was stationed at sites in Queensland and the Northern Territory and said he spent of lot of his shifts in the baking heat. 'It peaked over 38 degrees, and you're standing in the desert, no trees, and you're standing on a metal platform, pulling rods or feeding rods,' he told Yahoo Finance. On top of that, he said he would be working in "the middle of nowhere", about eight to 12 hours drive from the nearest town. Ambrose said she doesn't think FIFO worth is 'hard' or 'easy'. "It's just different, and success in the FIFO space often comes down to personal fit, personal preference, and an individual's support systems encompassing their physical, mental and emotional supports," she told Yahoo Finance. 'Ultimately, the FIFO model offers both opportunities and challenges, and how it's perceived will depend on an individual experience, values, and expectations." Ambrose said it could be "really hard" being away from friends and family, plus the long 12-hour days came with "fatigue and exhaustion". But, ultimately, she said she was 'forever grateful' for the opportunity to work in the FIFO industry and the benefits it offered her, like extended time off, free food and accommodation, and the ability to meet new people from all walks of life.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centrelink warning over $631 cash boost: 'A bit dodgy'
Welcome to legal column where lawyers Alison and Jillian Barrett from Maurice Blackburn tackle problems everyday Aussies face — whether it be consumer, property, money matters impacting relationships or work. This week, a welfare recipient has expressed concerns about an overpayment. Question "I've been on Centrelink for about six months after being made redundant from my old job. I didn't get a very good pay out as I was casual and I've been thinking about training to make a career swap. I noticed last week that my Centrelink payment was $631 more than it should be. I've found it a bit daunting to think about earning less while going back to TAFE and this bit of extra cash could help me out. If they've sent me the money, surely I can keep it? Or is it likely they will catch me out? Would I have to pay any extra back as interest? The whole Robodebt thing has me a bit worried but I do know this is a bit dodgy." Stephen, Victoria. Answer While you might be tempted to keep the extra money you received from Centrelink, we recommend that you don't. Centrelink payments are governed by strict regulations to ensure that recipients receive the correct amount based on their circumstances. It is an offence to keep a payment that you know is more than the amount you should have received. It is a form of fraud. If you break this law then you may have to repay the amount to Centrelink, potentially with interest, and you can be charged with a criminal offence. RELATED Centrelink Work Bonus offers $4,000 boost to pensioners ATO 'hit list' revealed for 15 million Aussies as taxpayer's common claim targeted Tax, HECS, Medicare: All the major cost-of-living relief coming for millions of Aussies Even if you pay the money back you could still be charged with a criminal offence which could result in a fine, or even imprisonment. Other actions that could be a criminal offence with Centrelink include: Giving false or misleading information to Centrelink Knowingly completing a form incorrectly Receiving a payment that you know you're not entitled to and not reporting it Centrelink has methods of verification and systems in place to detect discrepancies. So while you might think you've got away with it, they will end up identifying the overpayment and make you pay it back. If you're concerned about the financial impact of repaying an overpayment, Centrelink offers options to set up a repayment plan that suits your situation. You can contact them to discuss your options and find a manageable solution. You've mentioned the Robodebt scandal, which involved the unlawful recovery of debts through automated processes. The Robodebt issues heightened awareness around Centrelink's debt recovery practices and the government has taken steps to address these practices. If you report the overpayment to Centrelink now, you'll be able to focus on your career transition and training at TAFE without the concern of a potential criminal charge hanging over you, which could impact your future career prospects. This legal information is general in nature and should not be regarded as specific legal advice. If you need legal advice, you should consult a solicitor.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ATO warning over ‘instant' $1,000 deduction as tax rule changes
Australian taxpayers have been warned to still keep their receipts for work-related purchases despite Labor's instant deduction plan. Anthony Albanese went to the election with a proposal to allow people to claim an automatic deduction of up to $1,000 without needing receipts, which is a big boost from the current $300 limit. It's meant to make tax time far easier, but concerns have been raised about how it will work in practice. Yahoo Finance contributor Mark Chapman said you'll likely have to keep those small bits of paper up your sleeve. "Many taxpayers will still need to keep full substantiation as they won't necessarily know whether their work-related expenses are more or less than $1,000 until they get to the end of the tax year," he said. ATO 'blitz' sparks major tax warning for 6.2 million Aussies: 'Already at risk' Tax, HECS, Medicare: All the major cost-of-living relief coming for millions of Aussies Centrelink Work Bonus offers $4,000 boost to pensioners H&R Block's director of tax communications also highlighted that the policy shouldn't be seen as a $1,000 "refund". It's only a deduction, and the amount you get back will depend on your tax example, someone who pays tax at 30 per cent will get $300 back if they claim the maximum of Albanese's deduction. But Chapman has questioned how everyday Aussies will be able to use it. "It remains to be seen how Labor implements this proposal," he told Yahoo Finance. "Will it be a blanket exception for all work-related expenses of less than $1,000 or will it simply piggy-back on the existing $300 exception (raising the threshold by $700), complete with its exclusions and checks?" Tax Invest Accounting director Belinda Raso flagged another potential issue with Labor's policy. While the shortcut method can be easier, it might not leave you better off. "It's a lazy way out, which means that it's not going to be in your benefit to actually use it,' she told Yahoo Finance. 'People need to remember that the average taxpayer actually claimed over $3,000 in deductions in the 2023 financial year, so we know that people are claiming more.' She said if you opt for the easy route, then you could be cutting your refund by up to two-thirds. 'We should never, like with anything else, look at a shortcut as being to our benefit. It's never in our favour,' she said. At the moment, you can only claim up to $300 every financial year for work-related deductions without any receipts (however, it's still a good idea to keep them just in case). Once you go over that limit, you have to show evidence of everything from $0 to however much you've spent, not just whatever is left over after $300. Labor wants to more than double that limit from July 1 next year, which means you likely won't see any benefit until 2027. The $2.4 billion tax change is expected to affect 5.7 million people. You would still be able to claim more than $1,000 in work-related expenses, however, you would just have to show evidence of everything. Charitable donations and other non-work-related deductions would continue to be claimed on top of the instant deduction. The Prime Minister said the change is designed for people who might not be tax-savvy. 'Every year, millions of people who work part-time, or work from home, or don't have an accountant to navigate the tax system for them, miss out on claiming deductions they are entitled to and pay more tax than they should," he said.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coles shopper 'flips out' as Aussie self-serve checkout lie exposed: 'Get away'
Coles has responded after a shopper was furious after being told how best to pack her groceries at a self-serve checkout. Shani Chantel raged on social media about the interaction that saw her "totally flip out". She claimed a Coles employee told her it was "illegal" if she didn't scan her toilet paper first. But a spokesperson for the supermarket told Yahoo Finance were directed to assist customers. "The focus on having our team members scan the bulkier items first also helps to avoid situations where bulkier items are accidentally left in the trolley and not scanned," the spokesperson said. RELATED Woolworths, Coles shopper 'breaks up' with supermarkets over major $4.1 billion issue Tax, HECS, Medicare: All the major cost-of-living relief coming for millions of Aussies Centrelink Work Bonus offers $4,000 boost to pensioners There have been alleged incidents in the past where Coles staffers have asked shoppers to void their transaction and start again with the bulky items. However, this is not something Coles condones. "We certainly don't want our team members to 'void' a customer's shopping simply to have bulk items like toilet paper scanned first," they told Yahoo Finance."In the isolated cases where this is happening, we would encourage our customers to provide us with this feedback directly, so we can provide coaching and prevent this from happening.' Coles added that it was hard to verify Chantel's claims but admitted it would be extreme if a staff member used the word illegal for an interaction like this. Chantel was taken aback by the help and told the employee to "get away from me". Self-serve checkouts have attracted complaints from frustrated Australians who feel like they are working for free for the major supermarkets. Chantel said she felt like a "Coles employee" being criticised for how she was scanning and bagging her groceries with no financial incentive. "It is one thing to have to scan this myself and also be an employee here without being paid, but it is another for you to tell me how to pack my bag," she said. A poll of more than 8,200 Yahoo Finance readers found 78 per cent don't like using the self-serve checkouts and prefer to have a human do it for them. Sociology professor Chris Andrews has studied the concept and said consumer were sold a lie when self-serve was first introduced. Customers were told the technology would make it easier, more convenient and cheaper to shop — instead they are caught up in anti-theft measures or delayed by laggy interfaces that require attendants to fix. 'When we originally designed the modern supermarket, the premise was if consumers did more of the work, the stores would offer them a discount on food," the Drew University academic told 3AW. "But for consumers today, self checkout doesn't really offer any sort of economic incentive. It just invites you to do work for free for the supermarket.' Santiago Gallino, from the University of Pennsylvania, even went as far as questioning whether self-serve checkouts were a "failed experiment". 'There are situations where self-checkout is definitely a plus,' he said, giving the example of a train station ticket checkout. 'In other cases, you start to ask how much pain the customer is willing to take, and I think that's where many retailers aren't careful about quantifying.' Walmart and UK grocery chain Booths have gone against the trend and have actually rolled back the number of self-serve checkouts because customers called them 'slow, unreliable and impersonal'. Not only were customers getting upset from the technology, but it also provided an easy avenue for five-finger discounts. That's what led to an IGA in the inner Brisbane suburb of Greenslopes to axe its self-serve checkouts, which noticed a 'significant increase in shoplifting' after installing the technology. According to Finder, more than one in 10 Aussies - 2.4 million people - admitted to stealing recently, while about 5 per cent confessed to stealing items at the supermarket self-checkout. Supermarkets have hit back at this trend by advancing the technology that watches every move you make until you leave. Yahoo Finance contributor Jaquie Scammell said businesses like Coles and Woolworths need to ensure staple parts of everyday activities like doing a grocery shop aren't shrouded in machines. "I'm suggesting we start by narrowing in on the role of technology and the role of humans to understand the sweet spot between them," she wrote for Yahoo Finance. "Ultimately, the future of customer service is a fusion of technology and human touch. "Businesses need to decide what points of their customer journeys are high tech and what points are high touch. "Advanced technologies enhance efficiency and accessibility, yet the human element remains crucial."Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Major bank doubles down on supersized RBA interest rate cut call: ‘Catch up'
NAB has doubled down on its prediction that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will fire off a double interest rate cut at its May meeting in a few weeks' time. The major bank is expecting five cuts are still to come in this rate-cutting cycle, with the central bank needing to 'catch up' with recent global developments. NAB expects the RBA will cut the cash rate by 50 basis points in May, followed by 25 basis point cuts in July, August, November and February. This would take the cash rate down to 2.60 per cent and shave an estimated $526 off monthly repayments for the average $600,000 loan. NAB chief economist Sally Auld said RBA needs to take policy to a more neutral stance 'relatively quickly'. RELATED Commonwealth Bank issues RBA interest rate cut warning for mortgage holders Tax cuts, HECS debts, Medicare boost: All the major cost-of-living relief coming for millions of Aussies Centrelink Work Bonus offers $4,000 boost to pensioners'If the RBA knew on 1 April what it knows today, it is likely that the Board would have decided to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points at the last meeting and followed up that easing up with a 25 basis point rate cut in May,' she said. 'There is thus some catch up required to align policy settings with recent developments … Indeed, the RBA has historically shown a willingness to respond quickly to offshore shocks.' The major bank noted its forecasts would look 'very similar' to how the RBA responded to the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Auld noted the latest inflation data showed both headline and core inflation were within the RBA's 2 to 3 per cent target band. 'This should ease any lingering concerns the RBA has about the inflationary impact of current labour market dynamics,' she said. Auld acknowledged the RBA would need to 'shift its thinking on a couple of fronts' for its call to eventuate. That includes acknowledging the risks to inflation were no longer balanced, taking a "less cautious approach" to policy and showing 'a willingness to act quickly and boldly". The major bank has revised its GDP forecast down by 25 basis points to 2 per cent and lifted its forecast peak in the unemployment rate from 4.2 to 4.4 per cent. A 50 basis point rate cut in May would save the average borrower $181 on their repayments based on a $600,000 loan with 25 years remaining, according to Canstar. A drop of 1.50 per cent by March 2026, as NAB has predicted, would lower repayments by $526 for the same borrower. Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and ANZ expect the RBA will cut interest rates by the standard 25 basis points in May. CBA head of Australian economics Gareth Aird said the latest inflation data was 'a touch firmer' than it expected and a May cut, though likely, was 'not a done deal'. 'The case to normalise the cash rate to a more neutral setting remains, but we maintain that the Board will take a gradual approach in cutting rates despite CBA recently downgrading its forecast for the global economy,' he said. 'We retain our base case that the pace of easing is likely to be gradual and we continue to expect one 25 basis rate decrease each quarter in 2025 for an end year cash rate of 3.35 per cent.' Westpac economist Justin Smirk said the inflation data also exceeded its expectations but had not impacted its base case for a May rate cut. 'Westpac Economics expects three more rate cuts totalling 75 basis points, including one in May, with additional cuts expected in August and November,' he said. ANZ senior economist Adelaide Timbrell said the trimmed mean inflation data had cleared the way for a 0.25 per cent cut in May. "We view an RBA rate cut of 25 basis points in May as a near certainty, given the downside risks to global and domestic growth stemming from global trade policy uncertainty and the inflation outcomes over the past two quarters,' she said. ANZ economists are expecting three cuts in May, July and in to access your portfolio
