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RACQ Insurance 'laughs' at Helidon flood victim in email

bill jolly emails

The email trail of Bill Jolly's disputes with insurer RACQ.

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IT is the email that highlights the very worst of the attitude of insurance companies to Queensland's flood victims.

When Helidon homeowner Bill Jolly sent a cordial email to RACQ Insurance that included before-and-after photographs of his devastated property, this is what he received:

"Ha ha, look at that Mr Jolly and jolly still. Whew got him off our back for a while."

The emailed message, from an insurance policy officer, was sent, apparently in error, on Wednesday.

The RACQ said: "We are aware of the issue."

The heartless email adds to growing public pressure on insurance companies.

 The Courier-Mail visited Mr Jolly's home yesterday where it remains in its dilapidated state, open to the elements and mud-stained.

The sprawling colonial property set on a site for birdwatchers overlooks and sits at least 6m above the creek when it is in its normal peaceful state.

But when Lockyer Creek surged through it fully inundated the home with enough force to smash windows.

Mr Jolly is now living in alternative accommodation.

The RACQ told The Courier-Mail the issue had been dealt with. "We have apologised to the customer involved and dealt with the issue he raised immediately and directly with him. He has told us he is happy with the outcome.

"This behaviour does not reflect the high standards RACQ Insurance places on its customer relations."

flood home
Helidon resident Bill Jolly's flood affected house on the banks of the Lockyer Creek.
Mr Jolly confirmed he had received the email but declined to comment further.


Insurers are already under fire this week for their failure to face customers. Prime Minister Julia Gillard berated them after failing to turn up at an insurance forum in Ipswich this week despite pressure from Financial Services Minister Bill Shorten. At the meeting many victims broke down.

The industry has paid out about $700 million but at least $2.1 billion-worth of claims from the floods and Cyclone Yasi remain unpaid.

The Courier-Mail revealed yesterday how the directors of insurance brands Real, AAMI, Allianz, NRMA, CGU, QBE and RACQ enjoy six or seven-figure salaries and lavish lifestyles, while many of their customers languish in caravans or in the gutted shells of their homes waiting for decisions.

Out of 43 directors, 17 own multimillion-dollar homes overlooking Sydney Harbour and only one lives in a suburb affected by January's flooding.

Premier Anna Bligh told The Courier-Mail yesterday: "When there's so many people that I meet still have no answers from their insurance companies, I think they must be feeling pretty angry when they see some of these salaries.

"People are entitled to answers," Ms Bligh said. RACQ, which offers flood cover as an optional extra, has blamed Wivenhoe Dam for the flooding and has denied hundred of claims in recent weeks.

"The majority of properties that reported damage in Brisbane were inundated as a result of the release of water from Wivenhoe Dam that followed the rainfall in the Brisbane River catchment that commenced on 9 January 2011," the company's letter reads. "This does not meet the requirements of 'Flash flood or stormwater run-off' as defined in RACQ's standard policy. Claims for loss or damage in Brisbane will, therefore, generally not be covered."

RACQ is one of two insurers the other is Suncorp to be granted leave to appear at the royal commission into the floods, which will examine the response of private insurers.

www.CourierMail.com.au

CONSUMER WATCH COMMENT: RACQ Insurance has acted in a disgusting matter over this claim by Mr William Jolly whose house on the banks of Lockyer Creek at Helidon was devastated in the flood of January 2011. The RACQ Insurance officer involved in making this sarcastic comment Lynette Cain should be sacked for such a thoughtless, hurtful and unprofessional comment. No amount of explanations or excuses can justify her actions.

 

 

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THE WEEK AHEAD - Business Spectator

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Home loans drop on weak demand in biggest fall in 14 years - Herald Sun

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Jobs growth defies the floods - The Australian

Jobs growth defies the floods - The Australian: "

AFP

Jobs growth defies the floods
The Australian
The bounce was on the back of the nearly 12000 new jobs in Queensland, but economists warned an emerging tight labour market could drive inflation in the second half of the year as the resources boom intensified. But with housing finance and consumer ...
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Mining hides flatlining economy - The Australian

Mining hides flatlining economy - The Australian: "

BigPond News

Mining hides flatlining economy
The Australian
The trend is most apparent in far north Queensland, where visitor numbers fell 9 per cent last year. Tourism spending fell 12 per cent - and the fall-off came even before Cyclone Yasi and floods ravaged the region. Max Shepherd, the managing director ...
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State seeks tourism dollar this Easter - Sydney Morning Herald

State seeks tourism dollar this Easter - Sydney Morning Herald: "

BigPond News

State seeks tourism dollar this Easter
Sydney Morning Herald
However, she said consumer sentiment had returned and inquiries for Queensland properties were returning to pre-flood levels. “[That's] generating last minute Easter and school holiday bookings,” the spokeswoman said. “Queensland is also very popular ...
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Water cost blame game continues - The West Australian

Water cost blame game continues - The West Australian: "

ABC Online

Water cost blame game continues
The West Australian
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Water wars take new turn - Quest News

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Water wars take new turn
Quest News
The Government said it had moved to cap price rises from council-owned water companies to the consumer price index for two years. Ms Bligh said the move followed “concerns that council-owned companies - in Ipswich, Queensland Urban Utilities - had ...

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Australian Job Growth in March Sends Currency to Record High - BusinessWeek

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Australian Job Growth in March Sends Currency to Record High
BusinessWeek
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UK the poor relation to recruitment group Hays' international operations
LDPBusiness
Meanwhile, Hays revealed that a £30.36m fine imposed by the Office of Fair Trading in September 2009 has been reduced to £5.88m by the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Hays' construction and property business in the UK had been judged to have breached ...

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Alert issued on ex-Coast kit home supplier - Gold Coast Bulletin News

Alert issued on ex-Coast kit home supplier - Gold Coast Bulletin News: "

Alert issued on ex-Coast kit home supplier
Gold Coast Bulletin News
Fiji-born Mr Willaims is already being investigated by the Queensland Office of Fair Trading for failing to deliver on kit home orders orders totalling more than $600000. For more on this story and the Gold Coast couple who pulled out of a $200000 ...

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Chris Scott says personal fine nothing to do with G8 Education's childcare ... - Courier Mail

Chris Scott says personal fine nothing to do with G8 Education's childcare ... - Courier Mail: "

Chris Scott says personal fine nothing to do with G8 Education's childcare ...
Courier Mail
Picture: Michael Ross Source: Gold Coast Bulletin ENTREPRENEUR Chris Scott has defended his role as managing director of childcare operator G8 Education after he paid out a $130000 fine stemming from action by the Office of Fair Trading. ...

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Fraud warning: Tinana woman beats caravan scam

 
A TINANA woman has almost become the victim of a sophisticated scam being operated by fraudsters purporting to use eBay as a middleman.

A scam involving the sale of a caravan similar to this one was discovered by a Tinana woman on Tuesday.

A TINANA woman has almost become the victim of a sophisticated scam being operated by fraudsters purporting to use eBay as a middleman while actually seeking to divert funds into private accounts.

The Chronicle reader spotted a classified advertisement in the Fraser Coast Chronicle's Tuesday classifieds section advertising a caravan for sale about $10,000 below market price.

There was an email and a Qld telephone number supplied at the bottom of the ad which ran with a picture of a caravan, seven descriptive lines and a price tag of $9800.

The reader tried to ring the number but was diverted to a message service where she lodged a request that the vendors make contact.

She then emailed the vendor and was sent in return a detailed list of the features and merits of the caravan.

Also contained in that email was a detailed set of instructions as to how to go forward with the purchase.

These included promises of full refunds if dissatisfied, and advice that the transaction must be conducted through eBay Australia.

The reader was supposed to deposit $9800 via a link to "eBay Australia Auction Payment Service".

This was explained as a direct bank deposit, with assurances given the funds would then be transferred to eBay.

The reader, who asked not to be named, was told this step was not a payment in advance but simply a way to demonstrate that there were sufficient funds to pay for the caravan, which was then to be transported interstate to the buyer for a 10-day inspection period.

In various forums online, including postings about the eBay site, there is an abundance of anecdotal evidence that this step is where the fraud is perpetrated.

The deposit is made into an account that has nothing to do with eBay, eBay being in no way involved with the transaction nor the scam except to the extent its name is being hijacked by the fraudster.

Once the deposit is made the hopeful buyer cannot recoup the funds and the fraud has been successful.

The Chronicle attempted to contact eBay but the company's telephone service directs callers to the website where customers are advised inquires will be answered within 24 hours where possible.

A response about the scam was not forthcoming before going to print.

Australian Provincial Newspapers, publisher of the Fraser Coast Chronicle, through its customer relations and digital administration team leader Laura Harrison said: "We have investigated and found that the advert was placed over the phone with a Brisbane address and phone number and the media sales consultant in the call centre had no reason to believe the ad was fraudulent at the time.

"Our investigation has uncovered that all numbers we have for this customer (one in the advert and two in the email response below) all divert to the same voice message.

"Based on this we have cancelled the advert immediately and emailed the customer to advise."

www.FraserCoastChronicle.com.au

Pre-Poll Shock: Bligh backflips on water reforms

 
The council-owned water retailers that issue southeast Queensland residents with their water bills could be disbanded under a state government overhaul.
 
In a major backflip, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh today announced the state government was walking away from the distribution and retailing structures it set up as part of its water reforms.
 
Councils would have the option of withdrawing from the three council-owned water utilities, Allconnex, Queensland Urban Utilities and Unitywater, and could decide to directly charge ratepayers for water, she said.
 
"This means that councils who wish to return to their previous structure will be able to do so," Ms Bligh said.
 
Councils and the state government have been involved in a long-running war of words over the impact of sharply rising water bills on southeast Queensland residents.
 
Council have pointed to government's big increases in bulk water costs, while the state government has accused council-owned retailers of price-gouging. De facto Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman had flagged moves to tackle water prices as part of his election pitch.
 
The move to allow councils to opt out of the current water utilities if they wish to do so is designed to sheet home political responsibility to local governments.
 
"This means councils will be solely responsible for the price of water sold to their ratepayers," Ms Bligh said today.
 
"We have listened to ratepayers across the southeast, ratepayers say enough is enough, we say enough is enough, and we're taking this action today."
 

It's a sad day for Queensland as demolition of Brisbane's Regent Theatre 'imminent'

Rising from the Regent's rubble - an artist's impression of the new Regent development in Brisbane's CBD.
 
 
 
Demolition work on Brisbane's Regent Theatre is "imminent" as new images of the controversial development are revealed.
 
brisbanetimes.com.au has obtained a proposal to Suncorp promoting Regent Towers development as commercial space for the financial institution, as well as a Suncorp "city campus".
 
That document from the site's owner, the ISPT super property trust, states decommissioning work had commenced and was nearing completion.
 
"The demolition contract has been tendered and the contract award to Brookfield Multiplex Construction is expected imminently," it says.
 
"These works are expected to take four months to complete."
 
Checks yesterday show the Regent site has been withdrawn from the electricity grid and shops have been emptied.
 
The bid to Suncorp was made on March 23, 20 days after the bank said publicly it was looking for 30,000 square metres of new office space.
 
In a March 3 media statement, Suncorp said: "The opportunity for prominent sky signage will be well regarded."
 
Images in ISPT's proposal to Suncorp show the company's corporate logo boldly emblazoned across the top of the building.
 
However, Suncorp last night told brisbanetimes.com.au it was not interested in moving to Regent Towers.
 
A spokesman for the bank said there had been no discussions regarding the site and Suncorp was looking at several options in the Brisbane CBD for office space.
 
ISPT also owns the adjacent Wintergarden Plaza, which runs through from the Queen Street Mall to Elizabeth Street.
 
First images of the new Regent Towers obtained by brisbanetimes.com.au show the Elizabeth Street red brick facade as being replaced by a modern, contemporary face.
 
It will become the entry to a car park with 194 car parks.
 
Save the Regent spokesman Brent James said the lobby group's worst fear was the old theatre being demolished and nothing being built in its place.
 
"The developers have removed the greatest hurdle, which is the Regent Theatre," he said.
 
Mr James said while the great public attention forced the old theatre's foyer and marble stairs to be saved, it appeared the distinctive red brick Elizabeth Street facade was going to be lost.
 
"It is certainly not part of the developer's plans to retain that facade," he said.
 
"What they are planing is a ridiculous-looking modern replica of it, I guess."
 
Mr James said the facade needed to be retained, as there were many nearby "matching" examples in Elizabeth Street.
 
"It is all part of that red-brick precinct," he said. "You have the Regent, you have the Embassy [Hotel]. Over the road you have the Invicta House - again the red brick and cream - and you have the Royal Albert Apartments, the old Perry House, which is again red brick and cream," he said.
 
"It was always said that it was prettier on the 'backside' than the front side."
 
Comment was sought from ISPT chief executive Daryl Browning.
 
 

State seeks tourism dollar this Easter - Brisbane Times

State seeks tourism dollar this Easter - Brisbane Times: "

Brisbane Times

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Brisbane Times
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Scammers use eBay name to defraud - Fraser Coast Chronicle

Scammers use eBay name to defraud - Fraser Coast Chronicle: "

Scammers use eBay name to defraud
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A TINANA woman has almost become the victim of a scam in which fraudsters are trying to use respectable online sales house eBay as a middleman while actually seeking to divert funds into private accounts. The trap had the fraudsters putting classified ...

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Qld woman sentenced over Centrelink fraud - Ninemsn

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First home owner plans on hold - Sydney Morning Herald

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Housing finance falls more than expected - Sydney Morning Herald

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Treasury proposes single definition of flood cover - Money Management

Treasury proposes single definition of flood cover - Money Management: "




ABC Online

Treasury proposes single definition of flood cover Money Management The Queensland floods revealed the extent to which people were not covered for certain types of flooding or water damage. Treasury noted that the insurance industry took different approaches to coverage, ... Flood insurance dispute treaty in sightThe Australian Re-Defining the FloodABC Online (blog) Flood definition made easy - ShortenHerald Sun Sydney Morning Herald -Courier Mail all 181 news articles »
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Flood insurance dispute treaty in sight - The Australian

Flood insurance dispute treaty in sight - The Australian: "

ABC Local

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Reputation wrecking: social media alarm sounds - Sydney Morning Herald

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Sydney Morning Herald

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Sydney Morning Herald
... the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recently said. Electronics retailer Bing Lee faced an onslaught of criticism for trying to raise money for the Queensland flood victims by getting people to "like" its company on Facebook. ...

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Research and Markets: Australia Business Forecast Report Q2 2011 - Business Wire (press release)

Research and Markets: Australia Business Forecast Report Q2 2011 - Business Wire (press release): "






Research and Markets: Australia Business Forecast Report Q2 2011 Business Wire (press release) ... in borrowing costs and weakening consumer confidence will act as key headwinds in 2011. In addition, the country also suffered major destruction and disruptions of economic activity owing to flooding in parts of Queensland and Victoria in January, ... and more »
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Warning on funding cut for research - The West Australian

Warning on funding cut for research - The West Australian: "

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The West Australian
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Delayed planting in Bowen could affect winter vegie supplies - ABC Online

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Delayed planting in Bowen could affect winter vegie supplies
ABC Online
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Consumer Disgrace: Insurers snub meeting with flood victims in Ipswich as Minister labels QBE, CGU, RACQ, Allianz, NRMA and CHU as "scallywags"

People still waiting for insurance companies to pay out.
 
INSURANCE companies are thumbing their noses at Assistant Federal Treasurer Bill Shorten after refusing his request they front frustrated flood victims today in Ipswich.
 
Meanwhile, Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale and Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann have accused the Insurance Council of Australia of cooking up statistics to make it look like insurers are taking care of flood victims.
 
"I want accountability, transparency and expedition but, so far, all I've seen is procrastination and frustration," Mr Neumann said.
 
Hundreds of Ipswich families are still living in caravans, motels and other people's homes as they wait for insurers to process their claims.
 
The Courier-Mail reported on Saturday that in flood-hit Helen Street in North Booval, only four out of the street's 47 houses are occupied.
 
A spokesman for Mr Shorten said: "The Government is disappointed that no insurers will be attending the meeting in Ipswich to talk to their policyholders."
 
The minister last month labelled QBE, CGU, RACQ, Allianz, NRMA and CHU as "scallywags" and insisted they face customers to explain their decisions. But attempts to negotiate "ground rules" for the meeting failed.
 
Mr Shorten has threatened increased regulation of the industry if insurers failed to do the right thing for consumers. "They know what we can do," he told The Courier-Mail.
 
At an earlier forum in February, dozens of flood victims protested, holding signs attacking insurers. It appears only the Insurance Council will be fronting the meeting today.
 
"They are hiding in their ivory towers," Cr Pisasale said. "This is not a game, all we want is for them to be honest. The bomb has already gone off. The fuse is not going to go out."
 
The Insurance Council last week said just 3 per cent of residential property claims had been "the subject of a denial" in Queensland for flood and Cyclone Yasi claims.
 
But Cr Pisasale said the ICA wouldn't say what per cent of claims had been approved, or were still being processed.
 
"They want to play with statistics. How many people have not been processed?"
 
The ICA refused last week to provide a current payout figure for Queensland flood claims, choosing instead to tout a total cyclone/flood figure of $625 million, fewer than 20 per cent of what has been claimed.
 
Mr Neumann said ICA statistics were painting a positive picture that was contrary to what he was seeing.
 
"What I am seeing is every conceivable excuse being given for not paying while the majority of . . . people are living in tents, caravans, motels or in other people's places," he said.
 
Mr Shorten is expected to make an announcement today on progress towards a standard definition of flood for insurers.
 
Insurance companies have different definitions of flood, which has led to confusion among consumers. The industry tried to come up with a single definition in 2008 but it was knocked back by consumer groups, who said it would hinder competition.
 
Mr Shorten's spokesman said there had been "some movement" towards a single definition.
 
QBE said: "The public forum approach does not allow us to individually work with our policyholders and assist them through the claims process or the appeal process. We believe our one-to-one individual approach will produce better outcomes for those policyholders."
 
NRMA said it didn't believe "a mass community meeting is going to help us further explain our decision" on claims to policyholders.
 
The other companies invited to the meeting did not respond.
 
The ICA, which has not responded to earlier requests for clarification of its statistics, did not return calls
 
The Ipswich meeting will be at Swifts Bowls Club in Booval at 1pm. Mr Neumann is also holding a public meeting for flood victims in Fernvale on Wednesday.
 
 
 

Queensland police banned from free burgers, doughnuts

Blue light discount

POLICE will be banned from accepting free or discounted burgers and doughnuts under new anti-corruption reforms threatening to cause divisions within the force.

The Queensland Police Service will activate a revamped gratuities policy on July 1, but the police union is preparing to help officers circumvent it.

The Courier-Mail understands the draft policy bans free or discounted fast-food and alcoholic drinks at bars inside an officer's jurisdiction.

It also bans "blue-light taxis" where police cars are used to give free lifts to colleagues.

The reforms follow a Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation into allegations Gold Coast police did favours for nightclub staff, who gave them free drinks and entry.

Current arrangements allow police to pay half-price at McDonalds, KFC, Hungry Jacks, Subway, Coffee Club, Gloria Jeans, and many local food shops.

Free alcohol is also given to officers at various bars and many independent retailers give away items for free.

The union has vowed to side-step the ban by creating a union shopper-card that gives about 10,000 police the same deals.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers yesterday denied long-standing gratuities from retailers were problematic.

"Discounts available for members of organisations, such as the Law Society and the Bar Association, are provided under exactly the same principle as those which we may be able to organise," he said.

The plan to ban all gratuities was applauded by a Griffith University police ethics expert, Professor Tim Prenzler.

"Gratuities are about buying the police and that's why they're offered," Dr Prenzler said. "We know this from surveys and interviews."

Dr Prenzler called for the union's proposed shopper-cards to only be used when police were off-duty or not in uniform.

The policy is still being finalised by police Ethical Standards Command.

"The service is developing policy on gratuities, and will consider any position taken by the union, and respond appropriately in accordance with legislation and policy," a QPS spokeswoman said.

Previous studies have shown the public opposes police accepting gratuities because of real or perceived favouritism.

The New York Police Department recently banned all gratuities, because it deemed the arrangements problematic.

Currently, Queensland police must declare any gift they receive worth $20 or more.

It is believed that threshold will not be lowered.

The police watchdog, the Crime and Misconduct Commission, uncovered unethical practices by Gold Coast police during Operation Tesco in 2009 and 2010.

The investigation cleared the wider police force of corruption but identified "systemic organisational issues".

www.CourierMail.com.au

CONSUMER WATCH COMMENT: It is appalling that the Queensland Police Union is already trying to circumvent this ban.  When he was Police Commissioner in the 1970s, Ray Whtitrod - Australia's most-honest cop - identified the freebies from businesses as the first step in the police corruption cycle.  Given the CMC's attempt to root out systemic corruption in this state, it behoves the likes of McDonalds, KFC, Hungry Jacks, Subway, Coffee Club, Gloria Jeans not to recognise or be part of the Police Union Shopper Card which is simply designed to perpetuate lurks and perks for police and the chain of corruption which it ultimately leads to.

Disasters fail to put a dent in jobs boom - Sydney Morning Herald

Disasters fail to put a dent in jobs boom - Sydney Morning Herald: "

TheBull.com.au

Disasters fail to put a dent in jobs boom
Sydney Morning Herald
In a sign of the unfolding recovery from the floods, job ad growth has been strongest in Queensland, where it has risen 15 per cent in the past year. NSW job ads have risen by 1 per cent over the year and Victoria's by 0.8 per cent. ...
Job ads higher, inflation weakens in March quarter: Midday RoundupSmartCompany.com.au

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NZ woman to be questioned over NRL scam - ABC Online

NZ woman to be questioned over NRL scam - ABC Online: "

ABC Online

NZ woman to be questioned over NRL scam
ABC Online
So far three people have been charged with trying to obtain financial advantage by deception from a game between the Canterbury Bulldogs and North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville in August 2010. Two of the men allegedly bet on a Cowboys penalty goal ...

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Inflation surges on war in Libya, floods in Australia - Herald Sun

Inflation surges on war in Libya, floods in Australia - Herald Sun: "

BigPond News

Inflation surges on war in Libya, floods in Australia
Herald Sun
CONSUMER prices rose to a 14-month high in March, driven by rises in the escalating cost of food and petroleum products, brought about by disasters in Queensland and the civil war in Libya. The TD Securities - Melbourne Institute monthly inflation ...
Australia's inflation rise 0.6% in March: surveyXinhua

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