Category: General news

The Fair Work Ombudsman website has attracted more than 650,000 visitors since it was revamped last month.

And more than 3000 users have already registered to set up their own personalised accounts.

The website allows users to create their own account using MyAccount and save information tailored to their workplace.

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says the number of people accessing the free online pay tools, such as PayCheck Plus, continues to increase.

“Recently, we had a record 10,000 visits to PayCheck Plus in one day,” she said.

PayCheck Plus allows employers to determine the correct rates of pay that apply to their business and these can then be saved to a private account.

With more than 10 million visits a year, www.fairwork.gov.au is a popular resource for employers and employees.

Ms James says the new website can assist people with basic information, but also provides tools and resources for those who want to broaden their workplace knowledge, update their skills and discover new and more productive ways of working.

For example, the site now features an interactive Online Learning Centre, which has already attracted more than 12,000 users, mostly small business operators.

Free online courses for employers include Difficult conversations in the workplace and Hiring new employees.

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s small business helpline – which launched in December to provide tailored advice to small business people – has now responded to more than 100,000 calls.

Small businesses can sign up to a regular E-newsletter from the Fair Work Ombudsman with helpful workplace tips and information.

Small business employers calling the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 can opt to be put through to the helpline to receive priority service. A free interpreter service is also available on 13 14 50.

You can follow the Fair Work Ombudsman on Facebook and Twitter.

Media: Penny Rowe, 0457 924 146, penelope.rowe@fwo.gov.au

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and Australian Taxation Office (ATO) are warning consumers and businesses to watch out for scammers hiding behind tax time to target you.

“Scammers will go to great lengths to slip under your radar and steal your money, including impersonating ATO representatives on the phone, sending fraudulent emails and even creating bogus websites,” ACCC Acting Chair Delia Rickard warned.

“These fraudsters contact you out of the blue, claiming you have overpaid your tax and are now entitled to a refund. To obtain the refund, they ask you to first pay an ‘administration’ or ‘transfer’ fee. They may also ask for your financial details so they can transfer your “refund” to you. If you hand over money to these scammers, chances are you won’t see it again. If you incidentally give your personal details to a scammer, your bank accounts and identity could be at risk of fraud.”

Since 1 March 2014 the ATO has seen a spike in reports from the public of email and phishing scams from 9,368 to 11,344 compared with the same period last year.

“Scammers are becoming more cunning in their attempts to defraud the public and trick them into handing over money, their TFN or personal information,” ATO Chief Technology Officer Todd Heather said.

“We encourage people to contact us if they are worried have fallen victim to a scam call, email, SMS or a face-to-face scam,” Mr Heather said.

From time-to-time the ATO will send taxpayers emails, SMS messages or official social media updates alerting them to new services. ATO messages will never request personal or financial information by SMS or email.

“It is important for consumers to keep their guard up as reclaim scams can be quite convincing,” Ms Rickard said.

“$300,000 has been reported lost to all reclaim scams to the ACCC this year and we have received 6,000 complaints. Of these, 270 people reported the tax reclaim scam to the ACCC with over $10,000 lost.”

Based on previous trends, Ms Rickard said the figure is likely to much higher in the second half of the year when tax season is under way.

“In making a first impression, the caller will claim to represent a government agency and may trick you by reciting a key piece of your personal or financial information,” Ms Rickard said.

“The catch is you will have to pay a tax or an administration fee of a few hundred dollars to release the money but the reality is government agencies will never contact you out of the blue via phone or email to ask you to pay upfront to claim an unexpected refund,” Ms Rickard said.

ACCC Media: 1300 138 917

PROTECT YOURSELF

• Never put your tax file number (TFN) on your resume. Only give it to your employer after you have started your job
• Never share personal information, such as your TFN, myGov or bank account details on social media
• Change any passwords you may have shared with family or friends
• If you use a tax agent, make sure they are registered by checking at www.tpb.gov.au/onlineregisterExternal Link.
• If you receive an email or phone call out of the blue from ‘the ATO’ claiming that you are entitled to a refund or asking you to confirm, update or disclose confidential details like your tax file number, press ‘delete’ or just hang up.
• Don’t open any attachments or click on any links or reply to these emails. They may take you to a bogus website or contain a harmful virus.
• If you’re not sure whether a call or email is a scam, verify who they are by using their official contact details to call them directly. Never use contact details provided by the caller – find them through an independent source such as a phone book or online search.
• Always keep your computer security up to date with anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a good firewall. Only buy computer and anti-virus software from a reputable source.
• Never send money or give your financial details to someone you don’t trust – it’s rare to recover money from a scammer.
• If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

If people receive a call from the ATO and are concerned about providing their personal information over the phone, they should ask for the caller’s name and phone them back through the ATO’s switchboard on 13 28 69.

You can forward suspect scams to ReportEmailFraud@ato.gov.au or call the ATO during business hours on 1800 060 062 to discuss a suspected scam.

You can also report scams to the ACCC via the SCAMwatch report a scam page or by calling 1300 795 995. Spread the word to your friends and family to help protect them.

Further information is available at www.scamwatch.gov.au

To increase community awareness of scams the ATO has launched a new video campaign on ato.gov.au/identitycrime with helpful tips to protect personal information.

Information on online security and scams can be found on ato.gov.au/onlinesecurity.

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

The new Westender Eats section has proven very popular with readers, especially the pithy editor’s picks, the HOT and SWEET panels and the regular recipe from Kurilpa Community Childcare Centre. These will be complemented next month by a range of short news bites, allowing us to air more views in fewer words.

As Westender tours around 4101, restauranters and café owners are vying for these sought after spots. Here you can see one contender for the SWEET panel, a passionfruit cheesecake served with Earl Grey Tea. The first reader to correctly identify the establishment in which the cheesecake was sold, photographed and eaten will get a free three month subscription to Westender.

Just put your answer in the comment box, below. We’ll take it from there.

Along with colds, flu and chapped lips, winter also has another downside: it’s the most likely time of year you’ll find yourself stranded with a flat car battery.

Exclusive data from Budget Direct Roadside Assistance shows over the past six years the number of call-outs for flat batteries on average increases by 26% during the autumn and winter months.

Last winter nearly half (48%) of all call-outs made to Budget Direct Roadside Assistance were for flat batteries.

According to the Battery Council International, at 27 degrees Celsius a fully charged battery has 100% of its power available, but when the temp drops to freezing that same battery only has two-thirds of its power available. During winter your battery also needs to work harder as oils can thicken, and the chemical reactions needed to fire a battery are affected by the cold.

One of the easiest ways to combat battery blues in winter is to garage your car overnight, but a Budget Direct Roadside Assistance survey* found parking the car indoors is becoming a thing of the past. One-quarter of car owners (25%) never park their car in a garage, and 13% only do so occasionally. Melbournians are the most likely to leave their cars on the street at 37%.

So what are Aussies likely to do if they get a flat battery? A Budget Direct Roadside Assistance survey** found that;

47% of Aussies don’t feel comfortable jump starting their car
66% of people would call for roadside assistance
20% holler for a friend to help out
13% would fix it themselves

If you’re counting on a Good Samaritan to stop and help you might be waiting a while, the same survey found;

Just under half of Australians are unlikely to stop and help someone whose car has broken down (46%)
Males are more likely than females to stop and help (69%).
Older generations are more likely to stop than younger ones (62% of Baby Boomers compared to 43% of Generation Y).
You’re more likely to be helped in rural Australia (62%) than in an urban setting (53%).

To read more go to:

 http://www.budgetdirect.com.au/blog/2014/07/roadside_good_samari.html 

*Source: McCrindle Research Survey conducted 2013 on behalf of Budget Direct. 1436 respondents aged 18 and over participated from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

**Source: McCrindle Research Survey conducted 2014 on behalf of Budget Direct. 1072 respondents aged 18 and over participated from all states and territories.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt today launched Biodiversity: Science and Solutions for Australia, a new book from CSIRO.

Capturing the latest information on Australia’s biodiversity, the book aims to provide business, government, and the community with practical solutions to managing Australia’s globally unique natural assets.

“This publication is an invaluable resource for anyone managing Australia’s ecosystems. The book provides an important bridge from our scientists to the wider Australian community,” Minister Hunt said.

Whether it’s a precious cultural symbol, our life-support system, or a resource to be used – biodiversity matters to all Australians. Yet, despite our sense of its importance as part of our national identity, in many parts of our country biodiversity is in trouble.

“CSIRO’s book draws together the latest science to identify practical solutions to the many challenges that face Australia’s unique biodiversity, which include habitat fragmentation, altered fire regimes, invasive species, harvesting of species, and species decline,” CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Megan Clark said.

“The book draws on CSIRO’s 90 years of research into biodiversity, as well as insights from the broader community, including research organisations, industry, all levels of government and the wider community.”

The book’s 192 pages provide scientific insights including:
•    the ancient origins and unique features of Australia’s species, as well as the current status of our biodiversity on land and in rivers, lakes and the sea.
•    tools for management and planning, including Australia’s protected area system •    Indigenous perspectives on biodiversity
•    how Australia’s biodiversity interacts with agriculture, the resources sector, and cities.

The book is available for free as an eBook from the CSIRO website and will be distributed to key decision makers around the country.

The printed version of the book has been produced on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Biodiversity: Science and Solutions for Australia can be downloaded for free at: www.csiro.au/biodiversitybook

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk today reopened South Bank’s iconic Streets Beach and stream area following a $1.72 million facelift designed to improve safety and accessibility.

The Lord Mayor said the upgrades to Streets Beach had been timed for completion ahead of G20, when the world’s eyes would be focussed on the Summit held at South Bank.

“One of our most popular tourist attractions has been given a well-deserved refresh with new paving, decking, seating, and umbrellas, as well as fresh landscaping and accessibility features and new children’s play equipment,” Cr Quirk said.

“With more than 7000 visitors expected to attend G20 in November, we want to make sure our most loved tourist destinations, such as South Bank, are ready to showcase our city’s assets.

“Already South Bank receives an estimated 10 million visitors each year, now with the installation of these modern, user-friendly facilities ensures Streets Beach will continue to offer a world-class recreational experience.

“No other capital cities in Australia can boast a swimming beach right in the centre of the city.  With our ideal climate in Brisbane, South Bank and Streets Beach are popular locations for both visitors and residents.

“The Streets Beach, Aquativity kid’s area and Boat Pool attracted almost half a million users last financial year and this update will help grow this number even further.”

Cr Quirk said the renovation, which began in late March, had greatly enhanced some of Brisbane’s most-loved destinations.

“New handrails and ladders installed in wet areas have boosted the inclusiveness of the facility, enabling people of all abilities to use the pool,” he said.

“Visitors to Streets Beach will be able to make use of Council’s free Wi-Fi in the area, which was launched by Council earlier this year to enhance as a key leisure destination.”

Works were completed with funding from the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning.

“Council would like to thank the Queensland Government for its assistance, which will help to cater to increasing South Bank visitor numbers as it becomes an even more popular attraction,” said Cr Quirk.