NZ shipping unemployed to Australia

New Zealand is giving jobseekers roughly $1200 for a one-way ticket to Australia to get them back to work and off the dole at home. Source: Supplied

NEW Zealand has a creative way to reduce unemployment - fund Kiwis' one-way airfares to Australia so they can find work and not be paid the dole back home.

The airfare payments last night left the government red-faced - with its Social Development Minister putting an immediate stop to any further hand-outs and saying the grants had been inappropriately handed out by case managers in dole offices.

The New Zealand Labour party introduced a transition to work grant in 2007, but now in opposition its MPs are attacking the current conservative National Party for using it "discretionally'' to relocate Kiwis on the dole to Australia.

Since then Kiwis receiving the dole have been able to apply for money to migrate to Australia, if they could prove there was a job waiting at their destination.

Sia Aston, a spokeswoman for social development minister Paula Bennett, was unable to say how many grants had been paid but said a manual audit of 500,000 files was underway. That could take "days or weeks''.

What was known is that in the regime's first year 16 people had their airfares paid. It is unclear whether airfares to countries other than Australia were paid.

Ms Aston said the transition grants - up to NZ$1500 ($1200), but on average NZ $363 - were usually paid to fund clothing used for job interviews.

"Some of these people have zero income,'' she said.

To get a grant, applicants had to say what was standing in the way of their gaining employment. In some cases, that would appear to be lack of a ticket to Australia.

Similar grants would not be given to Australians wanting to move to New Zealand for work, according to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Over recent years New Zealand has continued to haemorrhage citizens wanting to chase better incomes and lifestyles in Australia. An average of 1000 New Zealanders a week move to Australia - and a record 54,000 moved in the year to July 2012. Most are aged between 20 and 29 and seek work in trade industries.

The National Party pledged at the last election to reverse the numbers but have failed.

For Kiwis moving to Australia there are no hoops to jump through. An automatic Special Category Visa (SCV) is issued electronically to New Zealand passport holders meaning they can live and work here indefinitely. Kiwis are not entitled to Centrelink support until two years after being issued permanent residency.

Labor MP Kelvin Thomson has called on a cap for Kiwis moving to Australia, suggesting a 30,000 or 40,000 limit.
 

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Harrison's broken family 'proud, grateful'

GREAT LOSS: Sunnybank student Harrison Kadell has been described as a 'great loss' with deep links to his school and community. Source: The Courier-Mail

Speculation about the cause of a boy's death in Fiji should stop while the community grieves says Principal.

THE parents of a young man who died in Fiji during Schoolies celebrations say they were proud to have raised a "beautiful, kind, well-respected and fun-loving" son.

On Wednesday morning, the parents of Harrison Kadell released a statement saying their hearts were breaking, but it had been a privilege to have had such a wonderful young man in their family.

"Obviously, our hearts are breaking," the statement read.

"Harrison was a beautiful, kind, well-respected and fun-loving young man.

"Sadly, many parents know the grief of losing a child, but some couples live with the pain of not being able to have one. We had the privilege and felt the joy of Harrison being a part of our family.

"We are proud that he is ours and very grateful that he was with us for almost 18 years."

They said they had received tremendous support from their family and friends and thanked the Australian and Fijian Governments, and others, for their help during this difficult time.

Read the full statement below

Overnight, it was reported that even when posing for his formal photographs at Brisbane's Stamford Hotel in July, Harrison Kadell had already amassed an impressive CV.

Vice-captain at Sunnybank's St Thomas More College, the 17-year-old was a talented performer with movie-star good looks who had landed film, TV and advertising parts.

But in an instant, in the early hours of yesterday morning and far from home in Fiji, he became the latest Schoolies casualty in a tragic drowning in a resort swimming pool.

"It's a terrible loss. Harrison was such a fine young man, so well connected to our college community," college principal Peter Elmore said.

His links to his school community ran deep.

Mother Selina is a former student at the school who serves as chair of the college board.

Sister Jordan was college captain and his brother is currently in Year 10.

For the teenager and his devoted parents, travelling to an idyllic Fiji island seemed like the safe alternative to celebrate Schoolies.

While other classmates headed to the Gold Coast, Harrison and three school friends jetted overseas on Sunday instead.

He was less than two weeks from marking his 18th birthday next Saturday.

Out of sight, though never out of mind of loving families back home, the group was met by rolling all-night parties.

It was a week-long Schoolies-only event organised by firm Unleashed Travel for up to 500 school leavers amid the lush tropical gardens and white beaches of Malolo LaiLai island, west of Nadi.

Two days after departing Brisbane, Harrison's lifeless body was pulled from the resort's swimming pool at around 4am yesterday and attempts to revive him failed.

Unconfirmed claims from the island suggested a "dare" underwater breathing game may have gone wrong.

But friends said his devastated parents were given no information on how he died before flying from Brisbane to Fiji yesterday to bring their son's body home. "It was four young boys going away and enjoying a holiday together," said principal Mr Elmore.

"There has been lots of speculation around the Schoolies on the Gold Coast and people look for alternatives.

"Maybe this was one of those things where it was sold as a safer alternative."

Parents of other schoolies staying at the resort scrambled to contact their children after news of the death first emerged yesterday.

"Hi wondering if you can help out. A friend's son is there for Schoolies . . . His parents are very worried as they just found out there was a drowning," one woman wrote on the resort's Facebook page.

Resort managers said in a Facebook statement late yesterday that the death resulted from an accident.

"Despite the best efforts of resort medical staff and Unleashed crew, we were unable to save him," the statement said. "Unsubstantiated reports of drinking games and parties around the pool are untrue. This was a terrible, tragic accident and we are all very sad about what has occurred."

Unleashed Travel did not return calls yesterday but says on its website the resort is a haven for school leavers.

"Plantation Island has become the biggest schoolies destination outside of Australia," the website says.

Shirley Naylor of Sydney, whose son was among the teen revellers at Plantation Island resort, learned of the drowning in an SMS from another mother.

"It's tragic and my heart goes out to the family," Ms Naylor said.

"You think they'll be safe away from 'toolies' and high rise buildings and all the rest of it but there's always something isn't there?

On the books of NHM Queensland, an actors' management agency, he is listed as an extra in movies including Fool's Gold and a range of TV commercials and print ads.

"Harrison Kadell was extremely loved," one student from his college wrote online.

"He was a great role model and friend. You will be missed Harry.

The full statement released Wednesday morning by DFAT on behalf of the Kadell family.

Obviously, our hearts are breaking.

Harrison was a beautiful, kind, well-respected and fun-loving young man.

Sadly, many parents know the grief of losing a child, but some couples live with the pain of not being able to have one. We had the privilege and felt the joy of Harrison being a part of our family.

We are proud that he is ours and very grateful that he was with us for almost 18 years.

We have been enveloped by love and support by our family and friends and feel truly blessed.

We would like to thank the Australian and Fijian Governments and officials, the Queensland Police Department, our solicitors Kalyan Lawyers, Air Pacific, Virgin Pacific and everyone else who has provided their generous support.

We are grateful for the respect we have been shown by the media thus far.

Our concern now is for Harrison's mates still here in Fiji as well as returning our son home to Australia.

We request privacy at this difficult time.

Thank you.

*

Additional reporting, Josh Robertson, Thomas Chamberlin

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PM pays tribute to Bryce Courtenay

A tribute to Bryce Courtenay to which he reflects on his personal achievement as a novelist and thanks you for sharing his life stories.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard joined Mourners outside before the start of the Funeral of Author Bryce Courtenay at St Mark's Anglican church at Darling Point. Picture: John Appleyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

Portriat and wreath inside the church vestibule. Funeral of Author Bryce Courtenay at St Mark's Anglican church at Darling Point. Picture: John Appleyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard was the surprise special guest at the funeral of popular author Bryce Courtenay in Sydney today.

As a dozen security guards patrolled the perimeter of St Mark's Church Darling Point, the prime ministerial car deposited the PM to the back gate of the historic church as media personalities and publishing executives gathered around a bizarre centrepiece in the stone courtyard - a wheelbarrow full of garden produce - tomatoes, corn, eggplants - for a private farewell to an eccentric man regarded by some to as a national icon.

Courtenay's inspiration lives on following his death

Courtenay's funeral was held 13 days after the 79-year-old succumbed to stomach cancer.

In Pictures: Bryce Courtenay

The delay, said some, was because he had privately hoped for a State funeral.

There wouldn't be many Australians who haven't picked up a Bryce Courtenay novel.

In the absence of one, the PM honoured the writer of The Power of One and The Potato Factory by attending.

Timeline: Bryce Courtenay's colourful life

Among the other 80 or so guests was, former Greens leader Bob Browne, TV personality Jennifer Byrne, the writer's wife Christine and two sons Adam and Brett.

Following the high noon funeral, Courtenay's body was to be transferred to an unspecified country location for burial.

Watch a video message recorded two weeks ago from the master story-teller Bryce Courtenay to his readers.

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Dulux's energy saving claims 'dodgy'

The ACCC allege that Dulux made false, misleading or deceptive claims in relation to a roof and outdoor paint purporting to ease the pain of energy costs. Source: Supplied

A TOP-selling paint company is accused of using flaky claims about cutting energy bills for consumers by cooling temperatures in the home.

The nation's consumer cop has lashed out at DuluxGroup Australia over allegedly dodgy advertising for a roof and outdoor paint purporting to ease the pain of energy costs.

Documents lodged with the Federal Court in Western Australia allege that Dulux made false, misleading or deceptive claims by falsely representing that, when compared to standard paint of the same colour:

DULUX InfraCOOL roof paint can and will reduce the interior temperature of the living zones of a house by 10C, and significantly reduce energy consumption costs and the carbon footprint of homes.

DULUX Weathershield Heat Reflect exterior wall paint can and will reduce the surface temperature of the external walls by up to 15C, and significantly reduce indoor temperature; and significantly reduce energy costs".

The ACCC alleges that Dulux did not have reasonable grounds to make these representations on its website, Facebook page, print and television advertisements, pamphlets, colour cards and the paint tins themselves.

"The ACCC believes Dulux has a corporate responsibility to make sure any claims it makes are accurate and backed by adequate scientific and/or technical evidence," ACCC chairman Rod Sims said.

"This is especially so in relation to energy use claims given widespread consumer concern about the rapid increase in Australia's electricity prices."

Mr Sims said businesses had a responsibility to ensure that accurate information is given to consumers about the performance characteristics and benefits of their products, particularly when they were charged a premium to buy products promoted as delivering particular benefits.

The ACCC alleges that Dulux contravened the Australian Consumer Law and Trade Practices Act.

It is seeking declarations, injunctions restraining future behaviour, corrective notices, consumer redress and penalties and costs.

The matter is set down for a scheduling conference on February 5 next year.

Dulux this afternoon released a statement saying it took the matters seriously.

"We are currently reviewing the allegations and will respond in due course,'' a spokeswoman said.   

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ANZ holds out on interest rate cut

The ANZ reviews its interest rates on the second Friday of each month, with the next review due on December 14. Source: AFP

THREE of the big four banks have sliced their standard variable interest rates, but stopped short of passing on the Reserve Bank's 25 basis point cut to its cash rate.

Westpac Bank, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and the National Australia Bank today all announced they would cut their standard variable home loan rates by 20 basis points.

Westpac's standard variable rate will fall to 6.51 per cent on December 17, while CBA's drops to 6.4 per cent on December 10.

NAB's rate will decrease to 6.38 per cent from December 10, while its variable business loan rates will also be cut by 20 basis points.

The moves come a day after the Reserve Bank of Australia cut its cash rate by 25 basis points to three per cent.

National Australia Bank is the first of the big four banks to cut its interest rates.

The ANZ bank reviews its interest rates on the second Friday of each month, with the next review due on December 14.

Commonwealth Bank said it had to balance the needs of its 1.8 million home loan borrowers against those of its 11 million depositors and its 800,000 Australian shareholders.

"A significant factor impacting this balancing of needs has been the increased competition in the domestic deposit market which has benefitted many customers, including those who rely on interest earnings to meet their living expenses,'' the bank said in a statement.

The decision is effective from December 10.

National Australia Bank has passed on 0.2 per cent of the .25 per cent rate cut.

Take our survey: Will banks pass on the cuts?

This comes after National Australia Bank was the first of the majors to break ranks and cut interest rates, passing on 0.2 per cent of the cut to customers.

The bank blamed higher deposit rates and elevated wholesale funding costs for holding back 5 basis points of the Reserve Bank's 0.25 percentage point cut yesterday.

NAB pledged to remain the lowest of the Big Four banks with its standard variable rate dropping to 6.38 per cent.

Group executive personal banking Lisa Gray said the decision was not taken lightly but the bank had to strike the right balance between costs of funding and a competitive offering for customers.

"Our new rate is effective from December 10 and continues our delivery of our pledge to offer the lowest standard variable home loan rate of the major banks for 2012,'' she said.

"NAB has offered the lowest standard variable home loan rate of the major banks for 41 months and our track record of being competitive speaks for itself.''

But NAB has refused to confirm is its lowest offering will remain in place next year.

Bank of Queensland dropped its standard variable home loan rates by 0.2 percentage points to 6.51 per cent - but the reduction will not be passed on until December 21.

Online lender ING Direct has committed to pass on the full RBA cut, reducing its variable mortgage rates by 25 basis points from December 24.

ANZ won't make any decision on its interest rate setting until after its rate setting committee meets on December 14.

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Top musician a 'victim of racism'

Famed Australian Aboriginal singer Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was refused a taxi after a performance in Melbourne last night. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

The blind singer, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, is seen performing in October. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

ABORIGINAL stars have rallied to support racism victim Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu following the Melbourne cab controversy.

"I'm disgusted, I'm shocked, I'm shattered," popular singer Archie Roach said.

"Gurrumul is a national treasure. To be treated this way is an absolute disgrace."

Gurrumul, an award-winning blind singer who has performed for the Queen, was refused a taxi ride after playing a show with Missy Higgins in St Kilda on Tuesday.

His managers, Michael Hohnen and Michael Grose, say they had asked a taxi driver to wait for Gurrumul and two friends outside the Palais Theatre.

Mr Hohnen said the taxi driver was happy to wait, but when he saw Gurrumul emerge from the venue, he refused and drove away.

"When the cabbie saw Gurrumul coming, he said, 'Nah, mate,' and drove off," Mr Hohnen said.

"This happens to us a lot. The cabbies see Gurrumul, they feel uncomfortable for whatever reason, I can only speculate, and they don't stop."

Mr Grose said: "I can only say that ... he saw the colour of Gurrumul's skin and said 'I'm not taking that person'."

Roach and former Yothu Yindi frontman Mandawuy Yunupingu - ejected from a St Kilda bar in a racism incident 20 years ago - were furious at the treatment given to Gurrumul.

Roach said: "He is a beautiful human being who has travelled the world.

"He has probably been driven in better vehicles and limousines than a stinking Melbourne taxi."

Yunupingu said: "It's very disappointing we still live with a portion of the Australian community displaying the same behaviour that saw me refused service at the Catani Bar in St Kilda in the early 1990s.

"It's time we moved on as a nation.

"It's almost unthinkable that ... a high profile national artist like Gurrumul is refused service by taxis in Melbourne."

Gurrumul, a two-time ARIA Award winner lauded by Sir Elton John and Sting, bunkered down in a recording studio, before playing another show with Higgins at the Palais.

Higgins said in a statement: "As a proud Melburnian, it makes me both sad and angry.

"I'm sure the vast majority of our cab drivers would feel the same way.

"If this was a racist action it goes to show we still have a ways to go with racism and reconciliation in our country."

Taxi inquiry boss Prof Allan Fels said the standard of service needed to be lifted to prevent racial discrimination.

The Victorian Taxi Directorate is investigating and, if caught, the driver could face a minimum $305 fine for fare refusal.

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Homeowners ready to walk over rates

NAB, CBA and Westpac have cut their standard variable home loan rates by 20 pts of the RBA's 25 basis pt cut

A majority of home-loan customers say they will look for a new lender after Westpac, NAB and Commonwealth Bank failed to pass on all of Tuesday's interest rate cut. Picture: John Donegan Source: News Limited

TWO-thirds of home-loan customers say they will shop around for a new lender after three of the four big banks decided to hold back some of Tuesday's RBA reduction.

A News Limited survey of more than 1100 variable home-loan customers reveals 64 per cent would consider switching if their provider didn't pass through the 0.25 per cent RBA cut in full.

The survey result emerged yesterday after the Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and National Australia Bank announced they would reduce their standard variable rates (SVR) by a uniform 0.2 per cent.

The trio said it was a tough decision as they tried to balance the demand of millions of savers against that of homeowners and pointed to high deposit costs and elevated funding levels as justification for their separate decisions.

Since the RBA rate-cutting cycle began in November last year, the big banks have pocketed $214 million by withholding on average 39 basis points from the 175 in official cuts.

Increasing unhappiness with banks' refusal to pass on RBA moves in full has caused a surge in switching.

Almost 186,000 homeowners voted with their feet and moved mortgage provider in the 12 months to September - an increase of 26 per cent on the same period two years before.

And almost 1 million additional exit-free loans have been written since the government changed the legislation to make it easier for customers to switch mortgage providers.

Australian Bankers Association chief executive Steven Munchenberg said this underlined the competition in the sector.

"Typically about one-third of mortgages written in any year are refinancing as home owners move bank,'' he said.

"All of the banks are competing hard for both deposit and lending customers in the current environment.''

After 41 months as with the lowest SVR in the market, NAB yesterday refused to confirm is its pledge will remain in place next year.

The one member of the Four Pillars yet to reveal the size of its cut is ANZ. It will do so on Friday, December 14.

Online lender ING Direct is the only operator to commit to pass on the full RBA cut, reducing its variable mortgage rates by 25 basis points from December 24.

The prospect of further interest rate cuts was boosted yesterday with the latest national accounts showing Australia's economic growth was at its lowest level in 18 months as the mining investment boom peters out.
 

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Disabled forced to sue to get funding

The federal government is set to part fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme by requiring those whose disability is acquired through an injury to sue for compensation. Source: HWT Image Library

THE government plans to part fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme by requiring those disabled through an injury to sue for compensation.

Legislation underpinning the NDIS introduced into parliament last week says the government will then require any compensation a person is awarded for care and support be handed back to cover the cost of any NDIS services.

If a person refuses the direction to take the legal action their care and support under the NDIS will be "suspended'', the legislation says.

The measure has been described as "disconcerting'' and against the fundamental no-fault principle of the NDIS by former AMA president Dr Andrew Pesce, who advised the Productivity Commission which drafted the NDIS, and now advises the government on aspects of the scheme.

"Everyone was working on the idea that with an NDIS we were moving from having to sue to a statutory no-fault scheme,'' he said.

"This is a very unexpected development and if it goes through it will be a fundamental change to what people were talking about,'' he said.

Greens Senator and disability spokeswoman Rachel Siewert said the clauses are "potentially quite contentious'' and she will be having the concept closely examined as part of a Senate inquiry into the legislation.

"The way it is worded at the moment I think could leave open a loophole in the future to forcing people into expensive, destructive drawn out legal cases,'' she said.

"This is stressful for the individual and the family,'' she said.

Opposition disability spokesman Senator Mitch Fifield said he had "serious reservations'' about a government agency having the capacity to compel an individual to take legal action.

"It may be appropriate for the individual to be able assign to the NDIS agency their right to take legal action on their behalf, but it is a big step for there to be a requirement that a vulnerable individual take legal action,'' he said.

He too wants the issue examined closely by a Senate inquiry.

A spokeswoman for Disability Reform Minister Jenny Macklin said the legislation ensures that people with disability don't miss out on opportunities to claim compensation where reasonable.

"We don't want to create an incentive for employers, for example, to soften their approach to workplace safety because they will no longer have to pick up the bill for any injuries or disabilities caused at work,'' she said.

"This is not an either or. It's about giving people access to the scheme and any compensation they are entitled to and people can still be covered by the scheme while pursuing compensation.''

It is expected a person will only be asked to pursue compensation where there is a reasonable prospect that a claim would be successful and where taking that action would not cause an unreasonable financial burden.

National Disability Services chief Dr Ken Baker said the clauses are intended to make sure someone who is entitled to funding for their disability outside the NDIS gets that money.

"It's so that other systems don't transfer their costs and obligations onto the NDIS,'' he said.

However he says the legislation would have to ensure that people who could not afford legal action were not forced into it and the stress and hardship a legal case would have on a persons disability should also be considered.

In its blueprint for the NDIS the Productivity Commission was critical of using the common law to pursue compensation, showing that up to 70 per cent of the payout often ended up covering legal costs.

Many accident victims had to wait between 4 and 23 years to get their compensation, it found.

Over 20,000 Australians currently suffer from a catastrophic injury and another 1000 are injured each year.

Almost half these injuries are due to motor vehicle accidents, eight per cent are work related, 11 per cent arise from medical incidents and the remaining 32 per cent are due to sporting injuries, criminal assault or accidents in the home.

While four states - NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory - have no fault motor vehicle accident schemes that could provide compensation without an ugly legal battle, other states do not.

The government is still examining the Productivity Commission's call for a national no fault National Injury Insurance Scheme that would cover these types of injury funded from insurance premiums.

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