Time spent obese linked to health risks - NHS Choices

Time spent obese linked to health risks - NHS Choices:

Time spent obese linked to health risks NHS Choices It has been well established that being obese increases the risk of death and numerous health conditions, for example heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The researchers say that when quantifying the risks of numerous diseases the measures used have ... and more »

The key to a good night's sleep - Sydney Morning Herald

The key to a good night's sleep - Sydney Morning Herald:

Sydney Morning Herald

The key to a good night's sleep Sydney Morning Herald ... obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes or hypertension,'' he said. Dr Sarah Blunden, a sleep research fellow at the University of South Australia's Centre for Sleep Research, says it's simple: if you don't sleep, nothing else works. ... and more »

Property auctions hammered on The Block - NEWS.com.au

Property auctions hammered on The Block - NEWS.com.au:

The Age

Property auctions hammered on The Block NEWS.com.au Real Estate Institute of Queensland managing director Dan Molloy the results from The Block auction showed that buyers were not being swept away with the hype and were still making decisions they felt comfortable with. Mr Molloy told The Courier Mail ... Lack of market confidence causes The Block property flopCourier Mail all 18 news articles »

Mining boom not boosting our mood - Ninemsn

Mining boom not boosting our mood - Ninemsn:

Sydney Morning Herald

Mining boom not boosting our mood Ninemsn A motel operator in country Queensland, a university in Sydney and a farmer in Victoria's Wimmera region each, in their own way, face competition from overseas as buyers of their goods and services weigh up the options. A holiday in Fiji, a university ... PRESS DIGEST-Australian Business News - Aug 24Reuters BHP offers sacked workers jobs at its Pilbara minesWA Business News (subscription) all 1,289 news articles »

Qld drink safe precincts working: govt - Ninemsn

Qld drink safe precincts working: govt - Ninemsn:

Qld drink safe precincts working: govt Ninemsn The Block agents under investigationVictoria's consumer watchdog has raided the offices of the real estate agents handling the sale of four properties in Network Nine's hit series The Block. Homeless man with golden voice sues agentsA homeless US man ... and more »

Coast property holds on - Sunshine Coast Daily

Coast property holds on - Sunshine Coast Daily:

Coast property holds on Sunshine Coast Daily “The Queensland property market continues to be impacted by lower consumer confidence and the uncertain nature of the global economic situation, including the recent pronounced stock market jitters around the globe,” REIQ managing director Dan Molloy ... and more »

Foster's ups defence in takeover battle - Sydney Morning Herald

Foster's ups defence in takeover battle - Sydney Morning Herald:

BBC News

Foster's ups defence in takeover battle Sydney Morning Herald Market share is a big issue for Foster's and its latest falls can't be completely attributed to one-off issues such as the floods in Queensland, a cool summer and a challenging consumer market. Foster's market share and profit growth in beer has been ... Foster's May Use Share Buyback to Blunt Appeal of SABMiller's Hostile BidBloomberg SABMiller times its hostile bid to maximise pressure on Foster'sThe Australian all 323 news articles »

Bunnings talks competition with Masters - Current.com.au

Bunnings talks competition with Masters - Current.com.au:

Bunnings talks competition with Masters Current.com.au ... Masters, is set to open in Melbourne next month, offering consumers a variety of hardware and electrical products including a dedicated appliance range. In addition to stores that will be rolled out across Queensland, Victoria and the ACT, ...

Poor Foster's result puts bidder in driver's seat - Sydney Morning Herald

Poor Foster's result puts bidder in driver's seat - Sydney Morning Herald:

Telegraph.co.uk

Poor Foster's result puts bidder in driver's seat Sydney Morning Herald Shareholders understand that beer sales have been falling in the face of weak consumer confidence and the Queensland floods. But they also understand that for years Foster's has been losing market share to its competitors - even though management said ... THE DISTILLERY: SABMiller pursuitBusiness Spectator Foster's poor results clear the way for SABMiller takeoverTelegraph.co.uk Foster's May Use Share Buyback to Blunt Appeal of SABMiller's Hostile BidBloomberg The Australian all 392 news articles »

Rogue Cold Rock stores closed following franchise breach - Dynamic Business

Rogue Cold Rock stores closed following franchise breach - Dynamic Business:

Rogue Cold Rock stores closed following franchise breach Dynamic Business Three Cold Rock Ice Creamery stores in Queensland have been placed into administration after being taken to court for breaking their franchise agreements. The franchisees of three Townsville stores attempted to re-brand the outlets under the name 'If ... and more »

Business failures spike to highest level in a year - Sydney Morning Herald

Business failures spike to highest level in a year - Sydney Morning Herald:

Business failures spike to highest level in a year Sydney Morning Herald ... rate in key consumer-driven industries, showing a lack of confidence in the current market and difficulty in accessing credit. New South Wales had the highest number of failures at more than 1200, followed by Victoria with 615 and Queensland at 462. and more »

Falling home prices threaten $20bn in annual foreign investment - The Australian

Falling home prices threaten $20bn in annual foreign investment - The Australian:

Falling home prices threaten $20bn in annual foreign investment The Australian Brisbane has also been weak, with prices off more than 6 per cent this year, but much of the drop stems from the devastation to the capital of Queensland state earlier in the year from a series of floods. and more »

Don't hold your breath for solar - Business Spectator

Don't hold your breath for solar - Business Spectator:

Don't hold your breath for solar Business Spectator Despite this, average demand in Queensland, driven by large use of air-conditioning, has become the highest in Australia and is still pushing towards eight megawatt hours a year. The south-east Queensland distributor Energex, which is spending $4 ...

Retail banking division shows early signs of improvement - The Australian

Retail banking division shows early signs of improvement - The Australian:

Retail banking division shows early signs of improvement The Australian ... which was partially blamed on increased provisioning ordered to cover the damage created by January's floods in Queensland. The bank reported that consumer lending fell 1.9 per cent over the past year as consumers paid down debt, instead of taking ... and more »

ACCC approves Proserpine Sugar Mill takeover - ABC Online

ACCC approves Proserpine Sugar Mill takeover - ABC Online:

ACCC approves Proserpine Sugar Mill takeover ABC Online The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took two months to decide it wouldn't oppose the $115 million foreign offer for the Queensland co-operative. Proserpine members must cast their postal votes by next Monday, August 29, and 75 per cent ...

Govt clears abattoirs' joint venture - Cowra Community News

Govt clears abattoirs' joint venture Cowra Community News Teys operates four beef abattoirs at Biloela, Beenleigh and Rockhampton in Queensland and Naracoorte in South Australia . Teys also operates a feedlot near Condamine in southern Queensland . “We welcome both the federal Government's and ACCC's ...

Woolworths, BHP results highlight two-speed economy - ABC Online

Woolworths, BHP results highlight two-speed economy ABC Online Woolworths also copped a blow from the ACCC, which - well not from the ACCC, in fact the courts over-ruled the ACCC which had wanted to prevent Metcash from taking over the Franklins supermarket chain in New South Wales. But the court says that it's ...

Court clears path for Metcash to buy Franklins - Sydney Morning Herald

Court clears path for Metcash to buy Franklins - Sydney Morning Herald:

Court clears path for Metcash to buy Franklins Sydney Morning Herald The ACCC argued that the merger would reduce competition in the wholesale supply of groceries to independent supermarkets in NSW and the ACT and increase Metcash's market power over its customers. Metcash argued that its ability to raise prices or ... and more »

Latest Media Releases - One of NSW 'Most wanted' arrested in Queensland

Latest Media Releases

One of NSW 'Most wanted' arrested in Queensland

Thursday, 25 August 2011

Another one of New South Wales' 'most wanted' persons have been arrested after being recognised by community members.

 The 44-year-old man was wanted by Parramatta Local Area Command for a number of indecent assault offences involving girls aged from 12 to 14, which allegedly occurred across western Sydney in 2009.

 On Tuesday (23 August 2011), Queensland Police arrested the man in Goodna, Queensland, after a member of the community recognised him in a recent police appeal which appeared in a magazine article.

 He has been refused bail to face Ipswich Local Court on Friday 9 September 2011 in relation unrelated matters.

 Once those matters have been dealt with, police will seek to have him extradited to New South Wales.

www.police.nsw,gov.au

Jobs losses, protests, court cases and scandal - The Australian

Jobs losses, protests, court cases and scandal The Australian The Courier Mail reports DESTROYED homes and businesses are being sent massive power bills seven months after January's floods in what one community leader claims is a blatant rip-off. Scathing: AUSTRALIA'S diplomatic footprint is grossly inadequate, ... and more »

Get in touch: Origin to Queensland flood victims over power bills - NEWS.com.au

BigPond News

Get in touch: Origin to Queensland flood victims over power bills NEWS.com.au "Origin is engaging in a blatant rip-off which I am calling on the Queensland Energy Ombudsman to investigate," he said. "I am encouraging all Origin customers who have been ripped off not to pay their bills until this mess is sorted out. ... Ipswich councillor Paul Tully calls for boycott as flood victims slugged with ...Courier Mail Flood victims rage against Origin billsBigPond News all 23 news articles »

Another Scam To Watch For: The Travel Scratchie - Lifehacker Australia

Another Scam To Watch For: The Travel Scratchie Lifehacker Australia Scam emails are distressingly common, but scams that use old-fashioned snail mail still proliferate. In one example currently active in Victoria, Queensland, SA and NT, travel-themed scratch cards are used ...

Estate agent Gregory Tait has pleaded not guilty to NRL betting claim - The Daily Telegraph

Estate agent Gregory Tait has pleaded not guilty to NRL betting claim The Daily Telegraph CCTV of suspicious betting activity leading up to the Bulldogs and North Queensland Cowboys game. Picture: Police Media Source: The Sunday Telegraph Ryan Tandy leaves the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney facing charges over the alleged NRL betting ... and more »

Has Cr Peter Matic gone mad? - Newman must say no to footy ticket tax: Fraser

Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade

The Honourable Andrew Fraser

24/08/2011

Newman must say no to footy ticket tax: Fraser

Campbell Newman has been challenged to oppose his party's call for a tax on football tickets in Parliament today.

Treasurer Andrew Fraser today called on Campbell Newman to pull LNP Councillor Peter Matic into line after he proposed to tax all football tickets purchased to Suncorp Stadium.

"It's rich for the LNP to oppose a price on the nation's biggest polluters but then propose a tax on footy tickets," Mr Fraser said.

"The reality is Campbell Newman is too out of touch to understand what footy means to Queenslanders.

"What he does know is that Brisbane City Council's budget is in the doldrums because of his disastrous tunnelling expedition and financial mismanagement.

"Mr Newman would be acutely aware that the State Government makes no profit from stadiums but the BCC charges the government through the stadium more than $600,000 in council charges.

"That's $312,000 in rates and a further $330,000 plus is paid in 'pedestal charges' levied on each toilet in the stadium.

"Rather than tax the punters with a levy on tickets I propose, if BCC direct $100,000 from the rates they collect to a Trust the State Government will match that."

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Consumer shock: Red Rooster fined $50,000 for dirty kitchen

 

RED Rooster has been fined $50,000 after the takeaway chain pleaded guilty to food standards breaches at one of it's Brisbane stores.

 

Lawyers for Red Rooster admitted to 10 charges relating to the Food Standards Code when they faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

 

The court heard Brisbane City Council inspectors found dirt, grease and mould in some areas of the store when they went there in 2009.

 

Prosecutor Luke Godfrey said the charges related to two inspections of the outlet in March and April of that year.

 

He said this was Red Rooster's third conviction for Food Act breaches in south-east Queensland, with the company facing similar prosecutions in 2009 and 2005.

 

"It's clear there is a large degree on non-compliance particularly regarding cleanliness," Mr Godfrey said.

 

But defence counsel Richard Perry said none of the matters before the court were likely to lead to the contamination of food.

 

He added that since the time of these offences in 2009, Red Rooster's Moorooka store had gained a four-star rating from Brisbane City Council for food standards.

 

Mr Perry argued that some of the breaches were at the low end of the scale, including a hole in a wall and a broken plastic condiment tray.

 

The court heard the then-store manager was terminated following the inspections, and that a new Red Rooster store would be purpose-built on the existing site.

 

Chief Magistrate Brendan Butler accepted some charges seemed less serious than others, and that there was a significant improvement in the cleanliness of the store between council's two inspections.

 

"However the extent of uncleanliness on the first occasion can't be trivialised," he said.

 

Mr Butler said management had allowed cleanliness to descend to the level outlined in the charges, but had since taken considerable steps to rectify the issues.

 

He fined Red Rooster $50,000 and recorded a conviction against them.

 

In a statement, Red Rooster said they regretted the events that occurred at Moorooka and acknowledged the store had failed to uphold the company's high standards.

 

"Given the seriousness of the incident, significant management changes were made within the Queensland team in 2009," a spokeswoman said.

 

"Correct food and safety and handling procedures have been reinforced with all employees of the store and regular, extensive internal audit tools have been introduced."

 

www.CourierMail.com.au

SCAMwatch email alert: New round of scam scratchie cards in the mail [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

New round of scam scratchie cards in the mail

View radar online.

Added: August 2011

SCAMwatch and Carnival Australia are warning Australians to beware of a new spate of scam scratchie cards and travel brochures sent in the mail. Every package contains a 'winning' card but when you try to claim the fake prize you will be asked to wire transfer thousands.

The packages may fraudulently mention legitimate travel and holiday providers such as Princess Cruises (part of the Carnival Group).

How the scam works

• In the current version of the scam Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory are being targeted, however other states may also receive the letters.
• Packages commonly contain colourful travel brochures and two scratchie cards. One card will always be a winner. The most common 'prize' being a second prize of US $180,000.
• If you call the number provided in the package, the scammer will ask for fees or taxes to be paid using a wire transfer service. 
• Fees for claiming the 'prize' are often in the thousands and if you pay, you will never receive your promised winnings or see your money again. 
• In some rare cases you may be asked to travel overseas to collect your winnings.
• The scammer may also request bank details and copies or original photo identification.
• The scam package may contain contact details for a company in Malaysia or Hong Kong and will also provide a web address for a fraudulent but professional-looking travel website.

Protect yourself

• Be suspicious of any unsolicited letters, emails or telephone calls offering an unexpected prize or cash win.
• Ask yourself why you have to pay upfront money for a prize when the sum could be deducted from your winnings.  
• NEVER send money or give personal details to people who contact you out of the blue, and who you don't know and trust.  
• Always get independent advice if you are unsure whether an offer or request is genuine.
• Search the company's name on the internet as many scams can be identified this way.

Report

You can report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.

More information

Read more about lottery and sweepstake scams and unexpected 'prizes'.

SCAMwatch has also issued the following radars and media release on scratchie scams in the past:

• October 2010: Media release – Beware of scratching your way into a scam
• September 2010: Beware of scam scratchie cards in your letterbox
• July 2010: Scratchie card scams continue 
• January 2010: Happy win or just a scam?

Stay one step ahead of scammers, follow @SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http://twitter.com/SCAMwatch_gov.

______________

If you no longer want to receive SCAMwatch email alerts, please unsubscribe on the SCAMwatch website.

Qld drink safe precincts working: govt - Ninemsn

Qld drink safe precincts working: govt Ninemsn Haumono exposes NRL's biggest 'love-story'Ex-footballer Solomon Haumono has revealed the NRL's most famous love story was nothing more than a scam concocted to weasel out of his rugby league playing contract. Depardieu's mate explains plane ... and more »

Exposé of LTTE's new Mafia cloak - Sunday Observer

Sunday Observer

Exposé of LTTE's new Mafia cloak Sunday Observer These three are said to be masterminds of the scam which the police identified as one of the largest credit card skimming rackets in Australia. They have lived on refugee status. One of the arrested had installed a skimming device in his Strathfield ...