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Business

Queensland mum Alexi Bennett, partner and kids forced to live in motel room amid rental crisis

Queensland mum Alexi Bennett, partner and kids forced to live in motel room amid rental crisis

A young family has been forced to live in a Gold Coast motel amid an ongoing housing and rental crisis crippling Queensland.

But even with a virtually spotless rental history, stable income and no prior issues with their previous properties, Alexi Bennett and her partner Tinei Tiumalu say they still can’t find a place to live two months after their troubles began.

The couple, who has three young children, had to leave their previous rental home in May after their lease was not renewed.

“We were effectively made homeless,” Ms Bennett told NCA NewsWire.

Ms Bennett first spoke to the Gold Coast Bulletin about her plight and how it left them with no place to go.

She said they were now living in a small motel room which cost $850 a week while she continued applying for new properties from the Tweed region up to Logan.

“We’ve been going through real estates, private rentals, Gumtree, even the apps that aren’t really well known and there’s still nothing,” Ms Bennett said.

“It’s just rejection after rejection, or we’ve been told it’s already just been leased.”

“It’s a daily thing now.”

Ms Bennett’s plight is just one of many stories amid a shocking housing emergency leaving thousands of Queenslanders struggling to find a home.

Last month, the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) revealed more than 50,000 Queenslanders were waiting for a home on the social housing register.

The QCOSS blamed unaffordable house prices, rising costs of living and a slew of natural disasters plaguing the state.

Ms Bennett, a qualified aged care nurse, with her removalist partner Mr Tuimalu, are financially able to afford a rental property but have been constantly rejected from applications.

“It hits you; it really brings you down,” she said.

“My anxiety is through the roof. I sit up at night looking at homes, it leaves you speechless.”

Ms Bennett said she was remaining as positive as possible in the face of the constant rejections.

But she admitted she doesn’t know what the future holds.

“I don’t want my kids to know this life or the amount of guilt around simple things,” Ms Bennett said.

“We can’t even have fish and chips on the beach or go to the Ekka because of the money we have to pay in rent.”

According to research group SQM Research, renting a house on the Gold Coast costs about $970 as of August 4.

The average cost of a unit is around $653 a week.

Earlier this month, housing campaign group Everybody’s Home released data showing the “red zones” where rent prices had surged ahead of wage increases.

Northern parts of the Gold Coast had an average increase of 15.1 per cent to $835.50 for a rental.

The Brisbane CBD had a 3.6 per cent rise to $556.60.

Read related topics:Brisbane

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Australia

Man jailed for killing associate over a text message and music

An Adelaide man who stabbed an associate in the heart, killing him, has been jailed for at least four years.

Abdi Abdullah Ali, 32, was acquitted of the murder of Matthew Scott Bristow but found guilty of his manslaughter after a trial by judge alone.

Ali, who came to Australia from Somalia as a young boy, had offered to plead to the lesser charge but it was not accepted by prosecutors.

Matthew Scott Bristow died on an Adelaide footpath after suffering a chest wound. (Supplied)

Mr Bristow, 43, died on February 5, 2020 with a trail of blood leading to where his body was found on a suburban footpath.

Sentencing Ali in the Supreme Court on Friday, Justice Anne Bampton said there was insufficient evidence for her to make specific findings about the circumstances of the stabbing.

In the lead-up to the killing, the two men and a woman had been driving around in a car.

Bristow was found collapsed at suburban Prospect and died at the scene. (9News)

Justice Bampton said it had been submitted to her that both men were affected by drugs and there had been a dispute over a text message and over the music being played.

The judge said while Ali had not intended to kill, his actions were unlawful and dangerous.

“You took the life of a man, causing untold grief and distress to his mother, his cousin and other family members,” she said.

Justice Bampton said because a knife was involved, Ali’s offending could not be considered at the lower end of the scale.

She jailed him for five years and three months, taking into account his willingness to plead guilty to manslaughter, and set a non-parole period of four years, two months and 12 days.

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US

Authorities pursue fleeing driver in Jefferson Park

Authorities pursue fleeing driver in Jefferson Park

Authorities are in pursuit of a fleeing driver in East Los Angeles Thursday night. Sky5 is overhead.

The pursuit began after the Los Angeles Police Department spotted a suspected stolen vehicle, a white Kia, just before 10 pm, according to Officer Cruz.

The California Highway Patrol then picked up the pursuit, which traveled to the San Fernando Valley, then towards downtown Los Angeles on the 5 Freeway before exiting onto the 110 Freeway.

The Kia exited near the campus of USC and began to run red lights, so the CHP ended its pursuit. The LAPD is tracking the car as of about 10:45 pm

By 11 pm, the driver seemed to be going in circles in a residential area of ​​Jefferson Park, with no police vehicles nearby. A passenger ran from the vehicle near Adams-Normandie.

At about 11:25 pm, the driver stopped his car in a Ralphs parking lot, got out and put his hands above his head, despite the lack of law enforcement officers near him.

He then laid down in an apparent attempt to surrender, though no one was trying to take him into custody.

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Categories
Business

China Evergrande to get $818mn for scrapping stadium deal

China Evergrande to get $818mn for scrapping stadium deal

Embattled Chinese property giant Evergrande has canceled a contract to build a football stadium in a southern city in return for 5.52 billion yuan ($818 million), it said in a filing.

The real estate behavior has been involved in restructuring negotiations after racking up $300 billion in liabilities in the wake of Beijing’s crackdown on excessive debt and rampant speculation in the property sector.

In a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange late Thursday, Evergrande said “the group’s liquidity issue has adversely affected the development of and construction on the land” in Guangzhou.

The contract allowed for commercial and sports uses of the land for 40 years, as well as other business uses for 50 years, the filing said.

The latest refund will enter a project escrow account designated by the government and will be used to settle debts relating to the deal, Evergrande said.

Evergrande, one of China’s biggest developers, has scrambled to offload assets in recent months, with chairman Hui Ka Yan paying off some of its debts using his personal wealth.

Its troubles are emblematic of the problems rippling across China’s massive property sector, with smaller companies also defaulting on loans and others struggling to raise cash.

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Categories
Sports

Week one fixtures, teams, times, scores, all you need to know

Week one fixtures, teams, times, scores, all you need to know

Chelsea also have a recent defeat to keep them grounded when they step out on the field at Goodison Park against old boy Lampard’s side.

Everton beat Chelsea 1-0 when they teams met on Merseyside in May with Brazilian Richarlison scoring the goal that helped secure top-flight survival.

Richarlison has, however, since moved to Tottenham and Everton’s lack of forward firepower has yet to be addressed in the transfer market, which remains open until the end of the month.

Champions Manchester City begin their title defense in the capital where David Moyes’ West Ham are looking to continue their progress after an encouraging seventh place finish last season.

City are likely to feature their new signing Erling Haaland in attack and the Norwegian will be hoping to put aside his disappointing display in the Community Shield loss to Liverpool last week.

Liverpool, who won that curtain raiser 3-1, are also in London and will expect to make a winning start against promoted Fulham.

New signing Darwin Nunez scored against City and could line up against Marco Silva’s side.

New Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, pictured in Melbourne last month, has his work cut out for him at Old Trafford.

New Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, pictured in Melbourne last month, has his work cut out for him at Old Trafford.Credit:Getty Images

Last season was a long nightmare for Manchester United but the 20-time champions are hoping that former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag can get off to a winning start to his time at Old Trafford against Brighton on Sunday.

United have used Anthony Martial as their central striker in pre-season, but he is doubtful for the game against Graham Potter’s side and that could mean a start for Cristiano Ronaldo despite his reported desire for a transfer.

Former European champions Nottingham Forest are back in the Premier League after a 23-year absence and mark their return with a difficult test at Newcastle United who enjoyed a fine second half to last season.

Antonio Conte has made some useful additions to his Spurs side, which finished fourth last term and will expect three points from the visit of Southampton.

The fixtures (all times AEST)
saturday

Crystal Palace v Arsenal (5am)

  • Arsenal will be involved in the opening game of a Premier League campaign for the fifth time. They have won thrice but were beaten 2-0 by Brentford in the 2021-22 season-opener.
  • Four of the last six league matches between the two teams have ended in draws, with Palace and Arsenal winning one each.
  • Arsenal lost four out of their last six away league matches in the 2021-22 season.

Fulham v Liverpool (9.30pm)

  • Liverpool won six straight Premier League games against Fulham between 2012 and 2019, but were unable to beat them in the 2021-22 season, drawing 1-1 away and losing 1-0 at home.
  • Forward Mohamed Salah became the first player in Premier League history to score on the opening weekend of five successive seasons with his goal against Norwich City last year, and could extend his own record with a strike against Fulham.
  • Liverpool won five of their six games against promoted sides in the 2021-22 season.

sunday

Bournemouth v Aston Villa (12pm)

  • Promoted Bournemouth last played in the top flight in the 2019-20 season, when they finished 18th.
  • Villa have won only one of their five opening day Premier League games against newly promoted teams (one draw, three losses), a 1-0 victory at Bournemouth in 2015-16.
  • Bournemouth have won three of their four league meetings with Villa, all by a 2-1 scoreline. They lost the other clash.

Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers (12pm)

  • After winning only three league matches in a run of 25 at Leeds, Wolves have won three out of their last four at Elland Road.
  • Luke Ayling scored a 91st-minute winner to seal a 3-2 win for Leeds the last time the teams faced off in the league.
  • Only one of the six Premier League meetings between the teams have ended in a draw, with Wolves winning three and Leeds winning two.
Two-time European champions Nottingham Forest are back in the Premier League for the first time this century.

Two-time European champions Nottingham Forest are back in the Premier League for the first time this century.Credit:PA

Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest (12pm)

  • Nottingham Forest are back in the Premier League after a 23-year absence.
  • Forest have failed to beat Newcastle in eight Premier League meetings.
  • Forest have been busy during the summer transfer window, with former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard one of 12 new recruits.

Tottenham v Southampton (12pm)

  • Southampton have only won four Premier League away games against Spurs.
  • Late goals by Mohamed Elyounoussi and Che Adams sealed a 3-2 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their last meeting.
  • Spurs’ new signing Richarlison will miss the game after being suspended for one game for throwing a flare off the field while playing for Everton against Chelsea last season.

sunday

Everton v Chelsea (2.30am)

  • Everton have been unbeaten in their last five home matches against Chelsea, having won four of those clashes.
  • Chelsea have won 27 out of 60 Premier League meetings (D20) between the teams.
  • Everton forward Salomon Rondon is suspended after being sent off against Brentford last season.

Leicester City v Brentford (11pm)

  • Brentford will be seeking a first Premier League win over Leicester in their third attempt.
  • Brentford are winless in their last 10 meetings with Leicester in all competitions (D1 L9) since a 3-2 win in League Division Two in March 1953.
  • Leicester are yet to make a signing in the summer transfer window.
Kristoffer Ajer's Brentford have not beaten Leicester in almost 70 years.

Kristoffer Ajer’s Brentford have not beaten Leicester in almost 70 years.Credit:PA

Manchester United v Brighton (11pm)

  • United have won seven of their 10 Premier League matches with Brighton, including all five at Old Trafford.
  • Brighton thrashed United 4-0 at the Amex Stadium when the teams last met in May.
  • New United boss Erik ten Hag will take charge of the team in the league for the first time.

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monday

West Ham United v Manchester City (1.30am)

  • After losing four home games in the league against City in which they conceded 17 goals, West Ham have drawn the last two, including a 2-2 stalemate in May.
  • West Ham have beaten City only nine times in 42 Premier League meetings, with seven of those wins coming at home.
  • New City signing Erling Haaland could make his Premier League debut for the champions.

Reuters

  • Watch the UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid take on the UEFA Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Super Cup on Thursday 11 August, streaming ad-free, live and exclusive on Stan Sport.
Categories
Australia

If working smarter comes from new ideas, it’s time we had some

If working smarter comes from new ideas, it's time we had some

Get it? Economic growth doesn’t come primarily from cutting down trees and digging stuff out of the ground – and the scientists are right in telling us we must do less despoiling of the environment, our “natural capital” – it comes overwhelmingly from using human ingenuity to think of ways to produce more with less.

That’s why the report says improved productivity is “the key to prosperity” and is based on “the spread of new, useful ideas”.

Credit:

To be more concrete, productivity is improved by people thinking of ways to improve the goods and services we produce, ways to make the production process less wasteful – more efficient – ​​and thinking up goods and services that are entirely new.

This gives us a mixture of novel products, improved quality and reduced cost.

Over the past 200 years, since the start of the Industrial Revolution, the productivity of all the developed economies has improved by a few per cent almost every year. In our case, over the past 120 years the economic output of the average Australian is up seven-fold, while hours worked has consistently failed.

Trouble is, the miracle of productivity improvement has been a lot less miraculous in recent times. Over the past 60 years, our productivity improved at an average rate of 1.7 per cent a year. Over the decade to 2020, it “slowed significantly” to 1.1 per cent a year.

It’s pretty clear that, if we’re going to get back to higher rates of productivity improvement, we’ll have come up with some new ideas on how to make the service industries more productive, without diminishing quality.

The report is quick to point out that much the same has been happening in all the rich countries. (It does note, however, that the level of our productivity is now lower than it was compared with the levels the other rich countries have achieved.)

This is significant. It suggests that whatever factors have caused our productivity performance to fall off are probably the same as those in the other rich economies. But as yet, none of them has put their finger on the main causes of the problem.

If they’re still working on the answers, so are we. So the report focuses on thinking about what may be causing the problem and where we should be looking for answers. Remember, this is just the first of several reports.

So, unlike the rent-seekers and econocrats, it’s offering no magic answers. But it does come up with a good explanation for at least part of the productivity slowdown: for most of the past two centuries, one of the main ways we’ve produced more with less is by using newly invented “labour-saving equipment” to replace workers with machines in farming, mining and then manufacturing.

The quantity of goods we produce in those industries has never been greater, but the number of people employed to produce it all is a fraction of what it once was. And this accounts for a huge proportion of the productivity improvement we’ve achieved since the Federation.

Because producing more with less makes us richer, not poorer – increases our real income – total employment has gone up rather than down as we’ve spent that extra income employing more people to perform all manner of services – from menial to hugely skilled.

So successful have we (and all the rich economies) been at shifting workers from making goods to delivering services that the service industries now account for about 80 per cent of all we produce and about 90 per cent of all employment.

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See the problem? In the main, services are delivered by people. So the economy’s now almost completely composed of industries where it’s much harder to improve productivity simply by using machines to replace workers. It’s far from impossible, but it’s much harder than on a farm, mine site or factory.

That’s the more so when you remember that two of the biggest service industries are health and social assistance, and education and training.

It’s pretty clear that, if we’re going to get back to higher rates of productivity improvement, we’ll have come up with some new ideas on how to make the service industries more productive, without diminishing quality. That’s what comes next in the Productivity Commission’s series of reports.

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Categories
US

Arizona primary 2022: Live election updates

Arizona primary 2022: Live election updates

Two days after the Arizona primary, the governor’s race is still too close to officially call, although Republican primary voters have Kari Lake with a slight lead over Karrin Taylor Robson. It’s the highest profile of the remaining races yet to be determined.

A big batch of vote results was scheduled to be released at 7 pm Thursday, according to the Maricopa County Elections Department.

Follow coverage of Arizona’s primary election by Republic reporters here.

Recap: Wednesday’s primary updates | Arizona primary election results 2022

Categories
Technology

Tested: QUOC Grand Tourer II Adventure Cycling Shoes + Chelsea Boot (With Cleats!)

Tested: QUOC Grand Tourer II Adventure Cycling Shoes + Chelsea Boot (With Cleats!)

One of the smaller players in the cycling shoe market, QUOK have been gaining solid traction over recent years. Here we test their new all-road offering plus a work boot!

Adventure shoes seem to be one of the fastest growing sectors of the cycling footwear market with more new offerings, better inclusions and improved features headlining each regular release.

Today we are riding and reviewing a new model from UK-based QUOK, their updated Grand Tourer gravel shoe.

Replacing the original lace up version, the Gran Tourer II now features a BOA style dial closure along with a stiffer sole, improved weather sealing and increased overall comfort. For traditionalists, the company still offers the lace up option in the new mark II, but for this review we are riding the dial up version.

Unashamedly QUOC, the shoes are stylish and quite different to look at when compared to the increasing number of gravel and bike-packing options out there.

And similar to the companies Mono II road shoe, there’s somewhat of a serious demarcation between the business-like bottom-half and comfort-oriented upper.

Starting from the underside, and the shoe features a rugged and aggressive tread constructed of a proprietary rubber compound the company called ‘GravelGrip’. This, say QUOC, is designed for the multi-day rider keen to carry just one pair of shoes.

QUOC have gained a strong reputation for offering high-performance shoes with a surprising level of comfort. Having worn these shoes for the past few weeks we can attest to the company’s design notes of ‘a supple, foot-hugging upper that evenly distributes pressure’.

“…QUOC have gained a strong reputation for offering high-performance shoes with a surprising level of comfort…”

In addition to the soft and comfortable feel from what comes across as a tough-looking, heavy-duty shoe, we have found the shoe to be stiff and sturdy enough for efficient power transfer but supply enough to walk with ease when off the bike. Ever seen that parody video of riders carefully walking from bike to cafe? With the grip and walkability of the this shoe, that twinkle-toe hot shoe shuffle is a thing of the past with these.

In summary, this is a specialist gravel / bike-packing / adventure shoe with clearly each and every aspect of the design backed by real world testing, feedback and experience. We found them an impressive, high quality and very comfortable option. Gravel and adventure shoes are very popular these days and we see the Grand Tourer II as an impressive offering.

A Boot With Cleats?

QUOC, to their advantage, still seem small enough to a brand to be able to closely listen to their audience and do their best to fill gaps in the market. And it seems they’ve done just that with the left-field release of a classic work boot that takes cleats!

Bicycling Australia have recently been walking around in and riding the traditional, elastic-sided boot in black (yes, they are also available in brown). It slips on well, fits true-to-size, and feels surprisingly comfortable to wear.

Combining a boot and sole to suit both the flexibility required for walking and stiffness required for cycling is always going to be a big ask. So while you probably wouldn’t want to spend a day walking around the city or country back blocks in these boots—or embark on a 100km bike ride in them—you actually could.

A rubber inset is fitted over the cleat mount, this is unscrewed to allow fitting of the MTB SPD cleats. Importantly there’s enough recess for the cleats to sit below the rubber and therefore not contact the ground when walking.

We’ve found the boot to be surprisingly comfortable and indeed feels better on the foot over time. They have proven to be a great compromise between wearing a stylish-looking everyday boot and being able to clip in for that trip into town or commute to work.

The gravel shoe and boot are available via www.quoc.cc

Categories
Sports

Fremantle Dockers ruckman Sean Darcy lifts lid on ’40 second’ David Mundy retirement speech

Fremantle Dockers ruckman Sean Darcy lifts lid on '40 second' David Mundy retirement speech

Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy has lifted the lid on veteran teammate David Mundy’s typically selfless retirement speech, which he says went for “no longer than 40 seconds”.

The Dockers games-record holder told the playing group and coaching staff on Monday of his decision to call time at season’s end, but quickly changed to focus away from himself and towards the crunch clash against Western Bulldogs on Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

“In front of the boys, it was honestly I don’t think longer than 40 seconds,” Darcy told the Back Chat podcast.

“I’ve sat through a couple and they go for 10-15 minutes and have the works, tears and he was in and out. He goes ‘we’ve got bigger fish to fry’ and just sat down.

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Categories
Australia

Anthony Albanese reveals he is taking leave and traveling within Australia – as he takes a dig at Scott Morrison’s Hawaii trip

Anthony Albanese reveals he is taking leave and traveling within Australia – as he takes a dig at Scott Morrison's Hawaii trip

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced he is “having a bit of a break” next week as he takes leaves and travels in Australia.

Mr Albanese will be on leave from August 6 to 14, with Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles taking on acting Prime Minister duties.

“I will be on leave next week, traveling in Australia, having a bit of a break – the first break I’ve had this year,” the Labor leader told ABC Melbourne on Friday.

“And Richard Marles will be doing a great job, I’m sure, in my absence as acting Prime Minister.”

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The Prime Minister also took a swipe at his predecessor Scott Morrison, who was heavily criticized for holidaying in Hawaii during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.

Mr Albanese said there was a “the lack of transparency” around Mr Morrison’s trip, including the initial confusion about where he was and who was in charge of the country.

“When people didn’t even know whether Michael McCormick was the acting prime minister. And at the time they wouldn’t say where he was,” he said.

“I just think that it was a very unwise decision that added to the controversy, which was, in my view, pretty unnecessary had it been handled differently.”

The Prime Minister last month told how he had “not had a day off for a very long period of time” as he defended his overseas trips since Labor took power in May.

Mr Albanese’s leave comes after what he described as a “busy first sitting fortnight” of the 47th Parliament.

He took to Twitter on Friday morning to post a video message about how his government has “begun the work of delivering a better future for all Australians”.

“Aged care reforms were made into law. We introduced legislation for 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave. The Treasurer provided an important economic update,” Mr Albanese said.

“We made progress on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. Our climate bill passed the House of Representatives.

“We appointed leads for the Defense Force Posture and Structure Review. And the National Cabinet came together to coordinate our response to the pandemic.”

Mr Albanese said the government will next week make a submission to the Fair Work Commission asking for aged care workers to receive a pay rise.

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