Latest news with #DavidTaylor
ABC News
3 days ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Police search waters off Bunbury for missing 70-year-old swimmer
A search is underway off the coast of Bunbury for a 70-year-old man missing since Wednesday morning. David Taylor was last seen going for a dawn swim at Bunbury's Back Beach at about 5 o'clock. Police believe he drove to the beach along Ocean Drive on his own as part of his regular morning routine. Mr Taylor was reported missing by his partner at about 3:30pm, after he failed to show up to a scheduled meeting. He is about 177 centimetres tall, with a medium build and short, greying hair. Mr Taylor is understood to be a strong swimmer. Emergency services continued to scour the coastline and police divers were searching the water on Thursday. On shore, officers were using drones to monitor for sharks, which they said was predominantly for the protection of their colleagues. A forecast thunderstorm later in the day could hamper search efforts. Acting Inspector Jeramy Davies said marine search and rescue efforts would continue while there was still available daylight. Whether the search continues on Friday will depend on weather conditions. "We're exploring all possibilities as to what has happened to Mr Taylor in the area," Acting Inspector Davies said. "We've spent the day scouring north of the surf club at Back Beach, down to the south past Dalyellup." Inspector Davies urged anyone with information to come forward. "If we can just ask anyone who frequents that area to keep an eye out and if they see anything they think is relevant to please contact police immediately."
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Dalbeattie Star retain Cree Lodge Cup to finish season on a high
The Islecroft side triumphed 2-1 over South of Scotland League champs Lochar Thistle thanks to a late David Taylor goal. Dalbeattie Star finished the season with silverware after retaining the Cree Lodge Cup. The Islecroft side triumphed 2-1 over South of Scotland League champs Lochar Thistle on Wednesday to finish the season on a high. Assistant manager David Taylor said: 'It was a really good way to finish it. 'All credit to Lochar for winning so much over the last three seasons – and to every team that's won a cup. They've beaten us in the last three finals and it's a great way to get over the line. 'It's a great way to finish. Chris Jardine and all the guys deserve so much credit for what they've done in his three seasons there. 'They became a bit of a winning machine and all credit to them. "The table doesn't lie and they've beaten us in the last few cup finals. 'It was important, more for the players, to beat them in a game that matters like a final.' Declan Rogerson put Star into an early lead but Rory Copland equalised for the league champions. Star won it with just a few minutes to go when David Taylor – the assistant manager's son – headed in a corner. He said: 'I wouldn't have cared who scored but it was nice, we had family down at the game so it was a nice feeling. It was a proud moment managerial wise and parental wise. 'It was a typical cup final. Both teams creating enough chances and had it gone to extra time nobody could have complained. 'To get the winner late on makes it hard to come back and I'm delighted to get that one over the line.' Star have already begun their preparations for next season by signing goalie Taylor Hall. The keeper had a successful spell at the Maryfield Park side, being one of the top performers in the South of Scotland League. Phil Middlemiss and Jack Palmer have also pledged their futures to Star.
ABC News
5 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
US dollar dive threatens Australian superannuation
Sabra Lane: When Australia's Reserve Bank cut official interest rates last week, it did so because it was partly worried about the risk of a severe downside scenario for global trade. Economists say that risk has just increased with a steep fall in the value of the US dollar that we might all feel the fallout. Business correspondent David Taylor explains. David Taylor : The US dollar, the world's reserve currency, is flirting with a three-year low and its steep decline has veteran economist Saul Eslake worried. Saul Eslake : The reason for the decline in the US dollar is that financial markets are becoming increasingly apprehensive about a number of aspects of the US economy as a result of things that the Trump regime is doing. David Taylor : That apprehension is also showing up in higher long-term US interest rates, including the 30-year government bond rate, now roughly 5%. Saul Eslake : I mean, apprehension is probably putting it at its mildest. In some quarters, there is, if not panic, then certainly alarm. David Taylor : The distress relates to the connection between elevated long-term bond interest rates and the rising cost of millions of American mortgages. Saul Eslake : And with the 30-year bond yield in the US now higher than at any time since before the global financial crisis, that means that mortgage rates are going up. David Taylor : This, he says, could seriously harm the world's biggest economy. Australian mortgage borrowers on fixed interest rate loans, Saul Eslake says, are also in the firing line. Saul Eslake : Fixed rates for mortgages and for business loans, the longer out you go, the more influenced they are by US government bond yields. David Taylor : The falling US dollar, analysts say, is also pushing the Australian dollar higher. While that's good news for Australian travellers, FN Arena's Danielle Ecuyer says it's a risk for anyone holding US investments, and that includes Australians with superannuation. Danielle Ecuyer : We know that a lot of Australian investors have been piling into US stocks. And this is just one of the aspects of, I think, probably where people go, well, that's great. US assets are going up. But the problem is the US dollar is going down. So in Australian currency times, you're not doing as well. David Taylor : Saul Eslake sees the financial dangers for the US economy rising. That's because, he says, the cost of US government debt is higher than America's economic growth rate, which he points out can make servicing government debt incredibly challenging. Saul Eslake : And at its most extreme example, that's what happened to Greece 13 years ago. David Taylor : Official inflation data will be released later today, which, if low enough, could open the door to some additional relief for Australian mortgage borrowers on variable interest rates.
ABC News
6 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Electrity prices to rise on east coast
Andy Park: Household power bills are set to rise about to 9 per cent from July for some, following a pricing decision by the Australian Energy Regulator. For more on this, business correspondent David Taylor joined me earlier. David, what is the default market offer and how will it change from July 1? David Taylor: Well, Andy, I'll hit you with some jargon first up. The Energy Regulator has released its final determination for the default market offer for electricity prices for next financial year. So the default market offer is a price for electricity for customers on standing offers. So not negotiated contracts with their providers. Most households and businesses, Andy, are on standing offers. It's basically what you get when you call up or sign up for a deal. From July 2025, residential customers on standing offer plans will experience increases of half a per cent to 3.7 per cent in southeast Queensland, 2.3 per cent to 3.2 per cent in South Australia and 8.3 per cent to 9.7 per cent in New South Wales. And Andy, small business customers on standing offer plans will experience increases of 0.8 of 1 per cent to 8.5 per cent. And there's a big range there because, Andy, it depends on the region that you're in. Andy Park: So why is this safety net energy price for households and businesses increasing? David Taylor: Well, simply because the cost of making or producing the energy has gone up, especially in New South Wales. Now, Clare Savage is the chair of the regulator that's made this decision. It determines prices for New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. She says it was a difficult decision to make and many factors determine an energy bill, including the cost of making power. Clare Savage: Retailers, the people who sell it to you, they buy forward contracts in there against sort of spot prices in the market. And those forward contracts have been higher. And some of that's to do with less reliable coal plant that's been running in New South Wales. So it can fall over sometimes and drive big price spikes. 9.7 per cent, yes, is the worst case scenario. But what we want to see customers doing is out there looking for the best deal. Some of the cheapest plans in the market can be between 18 and 27 per cent below the default market offer. So shopping around is a great strategy. David Taylor: Clare Savage there. And one thing that Clare Savage hasn't mentioned is, of course, the cost of finance for these energy companies to produce the energy, because they obviously have to finance the way they do business. Rising long term interest rates, therefore, are also a big part of this story. Tim Buckley is a director of Clean Energy Finance. Tim Buckley: It's complex. Energy is complex. There are four key components, network costs, wholesale prices, retail costs. All of those have gone up significantly across the board. Interest rates are up. So network costs are up. Unfortunately, the network exists for 50, 60, 70 years. The grid transmission poles and wires, they're there for 50, 60, 70 years. So we're exposed to long term interest rates. And there's also a slow delay in getting that through. So interest rates were in a 60 year down cycle until three years ago. They've been going up. This, unfortunately, is the inevitable delayed work through of long term interest rates going up. Andy Park: Clean Energy Finance Director Tim Buckley and David, when hearing prices are rising, many might be concerned it's bad news for inflation. Could that be the case? David Taylor: It could be. But we have found, Andy, that energy prices are very political. And in terms of headline inflation, the Treasurer and Treasurers across state and capital territories have decided to offer rebates. So we'll have to wait for political decisions on the back of this independent regulatory decision. But so far, history shows that big price changes like this don't impact long term inflation. Andy Park: David Taylor.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Three new synthetic sports pitches open across North Lanarkshire
Each of the 3G all-weather pitches represents a £1.1 million investment, covering ground and drainage improvements, floodlight infrastructure, fencing, and the installation of FIFA-certified surfaces and shock pads. Three brand-new, FIFA-quality synthetic sports pitches are now open in Cleland, Harthill and Moodiesburn, providing state-of-the-art facilities for local communities, schools and sports clubs to enjoy. Each of the 3G all-weather pitches represents a £1.1 million investment, covering ground and drainage improvements, floodlight infrastructure, fencing, and the installation of FIFA-certified surfaces and shock pads. The result is a modern, safe and accessible space for football, fitness and community activities, come rain or shine. Located at Grey Street (Cleland), Dunn Terrace (Harthill) and Gartferry Road (Moodiesburn), the pitches are designed to encourage sporting activities for all ages, with availability for public use when not booked by local schools or teams. Councillor Louise Roarty, Depute Leader of North Lanarkshire Council, said: 'These new pitches are about more than just sport, they're about creating opportunities for young people to be active, for local clubs to grow, and for communities to come together in a safe, welcoming environment. 'By investing in high-quality facilities like these, we're supporting the health, wellbeing and happiness of residents across our communities. We're excited to see the enjoyment, teamwork and lasting memories these spaces will bring for years to come.' David Taylor, Chairperson for Yett Farm FC added: 'Having already used the new 4G facility in Cleland, our club can confirm it's a first-class facility. 'We hope that we can continue our ongoing partnership with the council and be considered for regular use of the facility. With us being a local team and having this facility on our doorstep makes a huge difference.'
