Latest news with #Tradie
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Centrelink $1,100 cash boost available to thousands of Aussies: 'Get back on track'
While torrential rain and flash flooding wreak havoc in some states, other parts of the country are drier than ever. From battling arid brown paddocks to struggling with stock, drought conditions are hitting farmers hard. You don't need to be a mathematician to work out that no rain, plus no feed, equals no money. RELATED Centrelink cash boost over 400,000 Aussies have weeks left to confirm: 'Get what's yours' Centrelink issues warning to retirees over payment freeze threat: 'Fake' Tradie reveals surprising industry where he makes '$300,000 to a million' a year It's not just the recent weather events, there can be lots of reasons why farmers may experience financial pressures. The good news is, there is support available, and I want to help you work out where to begin. Services Australia has a payment called Farm Household Allowance (FHA) for farming families who are doing it tough. Whether it's due to challenging seasons, market pressures, illness, or other difficulties, FHA is designed to help farmers get back on track. If you're eligible, you may receive: A payment between $715 and $1,011 per fortnight, for up to 4 years in a 10-year period (amount will depend on circumstances) A professional financial assessment of recent performance from a person you choose An activity supplement of up to $10,000 to pay for professional advice, training, study, or mental health support to help improve your financial position A Farm Household Case Officer to work with you to help you improve your financial circumstances. When you start getting FHA, a dedicated Farm Household Case Officer (FHCO) will get in touch with you. They'll guide and support you from the very beginning and will check in with you regularly while you continue to be on the payment. Your FHCO will help you set up a Financial Improvement Agreement (FIA). The FIA is exactly what it sounds like — a plan to help you improve your financial position. It sets out the activities you must do while you get the allowance. One of the key supports available is the $10,000 activity supplement. This funding can be put towards a diverse range of activities such as business courses, regenerative agriculture training, drone and pilot's licences, teaching credentials, diversifying, and establishing a farm stay business. The supplement allows you to think laterally about ways to improve your financial position in the short, medium, and long-term. You'll also need to give us an update on your farm's financial position each year you are getting payment. This information helps your case officer understand any changes to the business and tailor ongoing guidance and support. We often hear farmers say, 'Someone else needs it more than me.' But if you're eligible, you can and should apply — support is there for a reason. There's no shame in seeking support when times are tough. It's a sign of strength. When farmers tighten their belts, the ripple effects are felt across local businesses too. One phone call could help you understand your options. You can call our free farmer assistance hotline on 132 316, to chat with one of our specialists about your individual circumstances. They'll explain everything you need to know about FHA, from eligibility through to how to make a claim. The government also offers free and independent financial counselling for farmers and small related businesses through the Rural Financial Counselling Service. I would chat to these people first, as they can help you apply for other government support, in addition to FHA. Call their national hotline on 1300 771 741, and you'll be connected with your nearest counsellor. For more information on the FHA and eligibility, head to the Services Australia website.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Car insurance move that can save Aussies $184 per year: 'Wake-up call'
I often say to Australians shop around, but did you know that it also pays to plan ahead? The team at Compare the Market have found what they call the 'convenience catch', where Australians could be spending hundreds more on car insurance than they need to. It all comes down to the policy commencement date. RELATED Health insurance warning as dad forks out $1,200 bill: 'So many people forget' Tradie reveals surprising industry where he makes '$300,000 to a million' a year Right to disconnect warning as worker sues former employer for $800,000 Insurers often slug consumers the highest premiums if they start their car insurance policy immediately, on the same day of quoting. In fact, the consumer comparison experts found the 'sweet spot' for the best savings is commencing three to four weeks later. Quotes for a hypothetical Ford Ranger ute owner could reduce around $184 (10.21 per cent) on average by simply commencing their cover three weeks later, compared to the same day. Even purchasing a policy to start on the next day resulted in a $78 (4.33 per cent) reduction in quoted premiums on average, while commencing one week later saw an average quoted premium reduction of $130 (7.19 per cent) compared to starting the same day. Compare the Market research found a similar pattern for two other popular vehicle models. Average car insurance quoted premiums by commencement date Some insurers put 'loadings' in place to compensate for the risk of higher claims volumes. For example, new car owners could be initially unfamiliar with driving their new vehicle and insurers may take this into account when pricing for a policy to commence immediately. Additionally, insurers may consider there is a greater chance that a vehicle is already damaged, if the policy is commencing immediately. This is a wake-up call. Never wait until the last minute. There are substantial reductions in the tens – and in some cases, hundreds of dollars – by planning ahead. Never auto-renew. Mark on your calendar when your car insurance is due and shop around a few weeks before. Even commencing the next day could save money! Never be brand biased. Don't just pick the first insurer that appeals to you. Compare your options, consider whether a higher excess is appropriate for you, and if your circumstances permit, consider setting driver minimum age limits if the option is available. These are all levers to ensure the power is in consumers' hands, not the insurers. There's an old saying: 'to be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late and to be late is to be forgotten'. Without getting too profound, there is some truth in this when it comes to your insurance! Compare the Market research and disclaimers can be viewed in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Workplace surveillance of employers at Australian businesses exposed: 'Utterly insane'
Victoria is calling for a major overhaul in workplace surveillance legislation after a large-scale investigation revealed just how much workers are being watched. The Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee found this type of surveillance had "accelerated" in recent years, thanks to huge technological advancements. Workers have been monitored through their telephone calls, computer cameras, keystrokes, and biometrics. But the Committee determined current legislation hadn't kept pace with these "dramatic" advancements, and workers have very little to defend themselves against being spied on. Peter Leonard from UNSW Business School told Yahoo Finance the problem of surveillance at the workplace "will only get bigger" and more intrusive if the law doesn't catch up. 'Terrible' work act driving Aussies to quit: 'No one will trust each other' Tradie reveals surprising industry where he makes '$300,000 to a million' a year Right to disconnect warning as worker sues former employer for $800,000 "The technologies have become so cheap, so easy to install, so easy to use, that every employer seems to be doing it," he said. The adjunct professor from UNSW's School of Private and Commercial Law said workplace surveillance mainly started out from a safety point of view. Cameras might have been installed to track a truck driver's eyes to ensure they're alert when they're on the road, or to ensure warehouse workers are wearing the proper protective gear. However, this quickly changed when the Covid pandemic forced everyone to work from weren't able to keep a close eye on their staff like they would have in an office, so they turned to systems and technologies that allowed them to do that from afar. "Whenever you install technologies like this without controls or safeguards, there's a real danger and probably a likelihood of mission creep," he told Yahoo Finance. "There is a real risk that they will be used in ways that are unreasonable, or that the data collected from the technology for reasonable purposes suddenly starts getting used for quite unreasonable purposes. "That is, until regulators step in and put some requirements and controls on this." The Committee's report found work devices like computers, webcams, mobile phones and handheld scanners gathered a raft of data on a person's work activities. This data can then be processed and used to determine a worker's location and task speed, and assess their performance, sentiment and concentration level. But the University of Melbourne's Jake Goldenfein said this creates problems for workers when they know they're being watched. "I'm working in a coolroom. I have a little iPad with a countdown clock telling me how much time I have left to finish packing this box, and when it hits zero it goes red, right, and I know I'm in trouble," he said. "At the same time, I'm a smaller person and I need to grab things off the shelf, but the stairs, the ladders, are all the way down the other end of the room. So I just climb the shelf." The investigation put a call out to businesses like Amazon, Australia Post, Coles Group, DoorDash, Optus, Qantas, Telstra, Uber, Virgin Australia, Woolworths Group and the Big Four banks. None of them responded, except for Commonwealth Bank (CBA). The Committee heard how CBA staff had to download an app called Navigate onto their personal devices to access buildings, book a workstation, register visitors and report faults. But the app also collected data on a person's location and "some workers have been asked to apply for leave when they are away from their desk or appear unproductive". There is plenty of software on the market that can do far more than that. Some can monitor login times, your search history, and the amount of time a worker spends on a certain app. These platforms can take screenshots of your computer at regular intervals to determine if a staffer is distracted or on the ball. CallMiner can record and transcribe telephone calls and uses AI to scan for certain words and phrases or to analyse how well a worker handled a call. Finance Sector Union national assistant secretary Nicole McPherson told the inquiry that one of their members had been flagged for a disciplinary process after an AI monitoring system picked up the person saying "unfortunately it's been really rainy lately" while on the phone with a client. That member was hauled into a disciplinary hearing because of the negativity. Fujitsu has also developed an AI model that can monitor a worker's facial expressions and can latch onto the tiniest changes to determine whether they're concentrating or not. The report highlighted how neuro-surveillance could be adopted en masse in the next five years. This uses neurotechnology to measure electrical activity in a person's brain to work out their cognitive state, such as their level of attention and effort. It can even decode mental images and intended speech, which could be used to understand a worker's mind and their outlook on their job. They're already being used in the mines to monitor fatigue, but it could be installed in workplaces in the not-too-distant future. The Committee flagged this "has the potential to be problematic and in some cases discriminatory" because these systems overlook other relevant factors like "empathy and creativity". One of the recommendations from the inquiry was introducing new legislation in Victoria to crack down on workplace surveillance before it gets too much. Under this proposed change, employers would be forced to notify and consult with workers about workplace surveillance practices and disclose how workers' data would be collected, used and stored. "Victoria has the opportunity to lead the way with dedicated laws requiring workplace surveillance to be necessary and reasonable," Committee chair Alison Marchant said. Leonard told Yahoo Finance surveillance should only be used for "reasonable and necessary" circumstances that are "proportionate to achieving a lawful purpose". But there might have to be a national law handed out to ensure workers across the country are protected. If you live in one state and work remotely in a business based in a different jurisdiction with different workplace surveillance rules, what protections do you have? Australian workers backed the proposal to change the law after hearing about the raft of technologies being used to watch them. "This is utterly insane and draconian as f**k WTF," wrote one person. "This is absolute insanity," added another. "My workplace has well-documented 'surveillance' policies, but nothing to this extent (yet??). I often worry the place is bugged and the bosses will be listening to conversations." "I work at this big firm and I've slowly realised we're living in a full-blown corporate Black Mirror episode," said a third. New South Wales and the ACT have the clearest definitions on what is and isn't allowed when it comes to workplace surveillance. However, the rest of the country is a bit murkier. The Workplace Surveillance Act 2005 states: Employers have to give 14 days' written notice before surveillance (CCTV, computer, tracking) begins Covert surveillance requires a magistrate's approval and is limited to certain investigations like theft Employees must be notified where and when they are being monitored Employers cannot use surveillance in private areas like toilets or changing areas The Workplace Privacy Act 2011 is similar to NSW's rules, but also stipulates that employers have to have consultation with employees before installing surveillance on them. The state is governed by the Surveillance Devices Act 1999, which prohibits the use of listening, optical, tracking and data devices without consent. There isn't a specific rule around workplace surveillance, but any attempt to surveil a staffer has to comply with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006. The Invasion of Privacy Act 1971 (QLD) and Listening Devices Act 1991 (TAS) cover audio surveillance, however, don't touch on visual or other types of tracking devices. Workers can rely on general principles from the federal Privacy Act 1988, but its lack of clear definitions for modern surveillance could leave them with limited protections. That Act also only applies to businesses making more than $3 million annually. WA's Surveillance Devices Act 1998 and the NT's Surveillance Devices Act 2007 regulate the use of listening, optical, tracking, and data surveillance. However, there is no obligation for employers to notify workers of surveillance and no workplace-specific regulations. The Listening and Surveillance Devices Act 1972 prohibits the installation and use of surveillance devices without consent. However, there is no law that specifically addresses workplace nel recupero dei dati Effettua l'accesso per consultare il tuo portafoglio Errore nel recupero dei dati
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pay rise coming for millions of Aussie workers in weeks: '$948 a week'
Millions of Australian workers will automatically receive a pay rise when minimum and award wages increase from July 1. The Fair Work Commission has announced an increase of 3.5 per cent The decision means that the national minimum wage will be $24.95 an hour, or about $948 a week, based on a 38-hour week. That's up from $24.10 an hour, which is $915.90 per week. About 2.9 million workers will be impacted by the commission's review, or 25 per cent of all Australian workers. RELATED Superannuation change to give Aussie workers pay rise in weeks: '$29,000 boost' Tradie reveals surprising industry where he makes '$300,000 to a million' a year Right to disconnect warning as worker sues former employer for $800,000 The 3.5 per cent increase has fallen short of what the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) had been calling for at 4.5 per cent, but is higher than what industry groups wanted at around 2.5 per cent. The Albanese government had called for an increase above inflation. The Consumer Price Index is currently 2.4 per cent, however, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) predicts prices will rise by 3.1 per cent over the year to June 2026. ACTU national secretary Sally McManus said it was essential for the country's lowest paid workers to receive a pay rise above inflation. "It's about whether you can keep up with your bills or not, it's whether or not your life gets slightly better, whether it stays the same or whether it goes backwards. It's everything,' she said. "When you're on those wages, you're not saving money. Everything you earn, you spend." The Commission handed down a 3.75 per cent wage increase last year. Economists will be keeping a close eye on the decision and whether it could impact the RBA's interest rate decision. AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said a 3.5 per cent increase, which is midway between union and employer demands, would give workers as "real wage rise" "[But] it's not so high as to add to the risk of a wage price spiral and it's around current wages growth," he said. Australian workers will also be getting an automatic boost to their retirement savings when compulsory superannuation payments increase on July 1. The super guarantee rate will increase from 11.5 to 12 per cent. This is the final legislated increase to the rate. According to the Super Members Council, the typical retirement balance is now projected to reach $500,000 in 30 years. 'This increase to people's super is a powerful step forward for Australians' financial futures. But too many people don't yet know it's happening,' Super Members Council CEO Misha Schubert said. The group has urged Aussies to use the July 1 change as a prompt to log in and check their super, update their details, and consider whether they are on track to meet their retirement goals. 'July's savings boost is a great reminder that your future is worth investing in,' Schubert said. 'A few small steps today can mean a much more secure tomorrow.' with AAPError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mortgage holder's $4,500 savings revelation reveals reality facing millions: ‘Should have paid it off by now'
A Sydney mum has candidly revealed how much money she has in savings while paying off a mortgage. The cost of living is making it harder and harder for people to save, and it means many people aren't where they thought they'd be financially. The 49-year-old woman was stopped in the street by property app Coposit and revealed she had $4,500 in savings. She shared that she bought a house 25 years ago and 'probably should have paid it off by now'. She's not the only one in this position. Exclusive Finder research shared with Yahoo Finance found that more than half of Australians weren't where they thought they would be financially. RELATED Easy monthly habit to save an extra $8,364 a year: 'Get ahead' Tradie reveals surprising industry where he makes '$300,000 to a million' a year: 'Never knew' Right to disconnect warning as worker sues former employer for $800,000: 'People are nervous' The woman said the high cost of living meant many people had to adjust their spending and couldn't splash out on the things they once could. 'You just can't spend. You can't buy the delicious meat that you used to buy at the butcher,' she said. 'You have to be tight, you have to go to the op shop. I don't do my nails, I'm not fancy. You just have to be frugal.' The woman said her adult kids, who are in their twenties, had 'heaps' more money in savings than she had because they didn't spend unnecessarily. 'I watch my kids save and they are doing the things that I didn't do, I didn't save back then,' she said. 'It's a bit weird, but they know that they've got to do it differently.' Despite this, she said she didn't know when her kids would be able to afford to buy a house. 'I won't be able to be the Bank of Mum and Dad and give them $50,000. I just won't be able to with my $4,500 worth of savings,' she said. While the woman said her finances were 'a mess', she actually is doing better than the average Aussie in her age bracket. Westpac data found the median 45 to 54-year-old had just $1,429 in their savings, while the average had $52,836. The median is the middle value when the numbers are arranged from smallest to largest. It can be a better representation of where you sit than the mean average, which can be skewed by very big or small numbers. Aussie online praised the woman for being so transparent about her situation. 'She's lovely and she's honest. I'm sure she works very hard to pay that mortgage. It's hard to save and pay all the bills,' one said. 'Good mum, smart kids,' another said. The Finder research found 53 per cent of Aussies felt like they had fallen behind financially and had failed to meet the goals they once set for themselves. Just 12 per cent of the 1,012 people surveyed said they had managed to surpass their own financial expectations, while 35 per cent were in line with where they expected to be. "For most Australians, the dream of financial security has taken a hit – many are surviving, not thriving, as they grapple with economic pressures and personal financial setbacks," Finder money expert Rebecca Pike told Yahoo Finance. 'Rising costs, unexpected setbacks, and a lack of budgeting discipline have left many feeling stuck.' Poor health had the biggest impact on Aussies' finances, with 17 per cent saying it had negatively impacted their financial progress. This was followed by having kids (15 per cent) and not having a budget (15 per cent), relationship breakdowns (13 per cent) and job loss (11 per cent). Pike said many Aussies had fallen short of their financial expectations and had experienced money setbacks. But she said it was never too late to make progress. 'It isn't a race, so focus on what you can change and be consistent,' she said.
