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Kane Cornes slams Port Adelaide boss David Koch’s ‘watch out’ warning amid Ken Hinkley drama

Kane Cornes slams Port Adelaide boss David Koch's 'watch out' warning amid Ken Hinkley drama

Port Adelaide 300-gamer Kane Cornes has blasted club chairman David Koch after he appeared to say no one’s job is safe after a horror 2022 season.

The team has made the preliminary final in the last two seasons but not been able to get over the hump to a grand final but have slumped to miss the playoffs, sitting 14 points out of the finals with just two matches remaining.

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It was a slump few saw coming and sparked fury from certain supporters, who plastered a “sack Hinkley” poster over a sign near the club’s headquarters last week.

Although Hinkley brushed it off, his ears no doubt would have pricked up when Koch appeared to state on radio he was “not afraid to make change”.

“It’s not just about one individual person, it’s the whole program. Turn it around or watch out,” Koch told Fiveaa on Monday.

“Every single person’s role will be assessed at the end of the year, as we do each year.”

But for Cornes, those comments were not good enough, believing Koch had bowed to the pressure from the loudest voices.

“This is a classic example of a chairman kicking with the breeze,” he said on SEN SA Breakfast.

“He had felt the angst from the supporter group, he felt like he needed to make a strong statement to alleviate some of the concerns from the very Port Adelaide supporter group who share their feedback regularly.

“Their desire to sack Ken Hinkley right now, Kochie (Koch) listened to that and he’s said, ‘even though my language has been one way all year, with two games to go I’m going to alleviate some of the concerns from the Port Adelaide supporter group and make a big, strong, sweeping statement about the coaching with two weeks to go’: ‘turn it around or watch out’.

“Turn what around? There are two weeks left in the season. What do you need to know in the next two weeks regarding Ken Hinkley’s ability to coach this club that you haven’t already discovered in the last ten years?

“Either make a call or back him in… ‘turn it around or watch out’, what a ridiculous thing to say.”

Although it appeared to be somewhat supportive of Hinkley’s position, Cornes continued, calling for Koch to make a decision, whether sacking the long-term coach or wholeheartedly committing.

“The thing that David Koch needs to do is make a call, is he your coach or is he not your coach?” Cornes continued.

“And if he’s not your coach, you have to tell him now so that he has the opportunity and you give him the respect to go and find another job.

“There are two vacant coaching jobs right now that Ken Hinkley would absolutely be in the mix for, but he can’t be in the mix for it if he thinks he’s going to be coaching Port Adelaide next year.

“Conversely, if he is your guy and you’ve contracted him for next year, which they have, back him in now. There’s nothing to be learned in the next two weeks that you don’t already know and you haven’t already discovered in the last 10 weeks.

“It was a stupid thing to say, it sent the media into a spin and it now has everyone questioning if Ken Hinkley will be there next year.”

Hinkley has coached Port Adelaide since 2013 and twice won AFLCA coach of the year but the Power have not made a grand final since 2007.

Hinkley is the second longest-serving coach behind only Mark Williams, the club’s sole AFL premiership winner.

Hinkley’s contract runs until the end of 2023.

Despite the comments, he told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 he knew where he stood as Port Adelaide coach.

“David (Koch) himself has said that he expects me to be coaching Port Adelaide in 2023, as I do and that’s what I am preparing for,” he said.

“I think I’ve been given enough assurances (he’ll see out his deal) through the season, not that I needed them to be fair.

“We all get there’s a finish line for everyone at some point.

“But as I sit here tonight, I’m more than confident that that won’t be at the end of 2022.”

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Business

Groupon lays off over 500 staff after reporting net loss of $129m

Groupon lays off over 500 staff after reporting net loss of $129m

Online coupon business Groupon has culled more than 500 employees in a bid to reduce costs due to poor business performance.

It’s understood staff were cut from the business’s merchant development, sales, recruiting, engineering, product and marketing teams, with the cuts representing roughly 15 per cent of the company’s global 3416 work force.

The move comes as Groupon reported a US$90.3 million (A$129.3 million) net loss in its second quarter results on Monday. The company reported a steep “decline in engagement” and a 42 per cent year-on-year drop in revenue at $153.2 million.

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In Groupon’s earnings release statement, chief executive Kedar Deshpande said the company would be prioritizing “taking decisive actions to improve our trajectory” after the lower-than-anticipated result.

“We are significantly reducing costs, and based on the progress we’re making on our initiatives to drive customer purchase frequency, we are now ready to begin

reinvesting in marketing to drive growth,” he said.

In a letter to staff sent on Monday, Mr Deshpande stressed the business would be “leaning on” outsourcing staff and focusing “only on mission-critical activities”, TechCrunch reports.

The letter indicated Groupon would also be re-evaluating its real estate assets, in what could be a shift to more remote or a blended working environment.

Mr Deshpande said he believed the company could begin to generate positive cash flow by the end of 2022, while increasing “purchase frequency and customer retention”.

In order to turn around the business, the quarterly report flagged “reducing our cost structure” and improving their customer experience as their two key strategies. Part of this included reducing their tech costs by $US60 million ($A85.99 million), which equates to 30 per cent of Groupon’s annual spend.

In Australia, Groupon has been operating since 2011, with its website claiming the company has built a customer base of 3.3 million across 26,000 merchants.

The site allows customers to buy discounted experiences and products, with the business earning affiliate revenue for the sales. A wide range of offers are available on products from discounted pink slips and car safety checks, to massages and helicopter rides.

It’s unclear how the staff cuts will impact the company’s Australian workforce, however news.com.au has reached out for comment. As it stands, the company is still advertising for four sales and buying roles within their Sydney offices.

While the latest round of lay-offs are significant, they’re a fraction of what the company experienced as a result of the Covid pandemic. In April 2020, the company stood down about 2,800 employees, which amounted to 44 per cent of its work force.

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Phil Rothfield, Buzz, NRL 360, Melbourne Storm, Paul Kent, wrestle, Craig Bellamy, Anasta Braith, Michael Carayannis, Cameron Munster

Phil Rothfield, Buzz, NRL 360, Melbourne Storm, Paul Kent, wrestle, Craig Bellamy, Anasta Braith, Michael Carayannis, Cameron Munster

The Storm have been accused of having a “chip on their shoulder” after the club blew up over claims they are responsible for an influence of dangerous tackles in the game.

Penrith legend Greg Alexander targeted the Storm after Broncos star Patrick Carrigan was banned for a hip-drop tackle that broke the leg of Tigers playmaker Jackson Hastings.

Melbourne legend Cameron Smith bit back at Panthers deputy chairman Alexander before Storm owner Matt Tripp exploded at the accusations.

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“For the deputy chair of one of our biggest competitors, a week out from having to play them, to make unfounded and stupid comments as he has done, just goes to the arrogance of that club and their perceived status in the game at the moment ,” Tripp told The SMH.

That prompted the NRL 360 panel on Monday night to slam the Storm for being too sensitive, as Phil Rothfield’s called Tripp’s comments a “brutal response”.

“There’s no doubt the Storm have a chip on their shoulder as soon as anyone mentions the word wrestle,” Michael Carayannis said on NRL 360.

“You know what I think about Melbourne, I think they only hear the negative,” Braith Anasta said.

“We sit here every week and we commentate their games and we praise them every week about the powerhouse they’ve been since they’ve come into the competition.

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“The success they’ve had, their continued success year after year after year under Craig Bellamy and their organization and the head honchos has been unbelievable and unrivalled.

“But if anyone criticizes or criticises Melbourne in any way, shape or form it’s Sydney against Melbourne and we’re attacking Melbourne Storm.”

Melbourne have enjoyed unparalleled success in the NRL over the past two decades under Bellamy.

They’ve played finals in every season they were eligible since 2002 and in the past decade have clinched nine top-four finishes.

But Paul Kent questioned if they would have been as successful without “the wrestle”.

“Are they in decline the Storm, do you think?” Kent questioned.

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“Depends what happens with Cameron Munster,” Phil Rothfield answered.

“If Munster leaves I think they are definitely in a serious decline.

“If he stays, I know they’ve lost a couple of forwards who are getting on but I think they’re going to be ok if Cameron stays.”

“Ironically their defense on the weekend was not what you’d expect out of Melbourne,” Kent said.

“16-0 to let the Titans of all teams back in.”

“I think some of the forwards they’re losing are at the right age to lose them though,” Carayannis said.

“They’re going to be hard to replace and they’ve given them great service but they’re on the back end of their careers.”

“We’ve just talked about their success over a long time, this is going to be their biggest challenge,” Anasta said.

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Australia rent prices: Real cause of property market crisis revealed

Australia rent prices: Real cause of property market crisis revealed

The cause of Australia’s worsening rental crisis runs far deeper than the economic pressures behind rising interest rates and soaring inflation, a prominent real estate expert has revealed.

Ray Ellis says the crisis will deepen without swift action from state governments on social housing and new build “red tape”.

Mr Ellis, former director of the Real Estate Institute of Australia and First National Real Estate chief executive, warned Australia has nowhere near enough homes to cater for its population, let alone accommodate migration increasing in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

He said state governments must urgently take responsibility for the immediate need for more social housing to remove pressure on the private sector.

“Between 1955 and 1964, state governments built about 140,000 social houses. We’ve never built that amount again,” Mr Ellis told news.com.au.

“There have been government incentives for landlords to become property owners and rent properties, and that has been the mainstay of any government policy.

“Social housing has become the responsibility of the private sector.”

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Significant lags on new developments largely hindered by “bureaucracy” also meant it was taking several years before construction could even begin.

“In the last 25 years, the provision of new land to build more houses by more private developers has been very slow and very cumbersome,” Mr Ellis said.

“It will take two years to go from the concept to the start of construction.

“Its just bogged down in bureaucracy by non-action or slowness in action.”

Slow-moving developments and underfunded and underresourced social housing were major contributors to the crisis, alongside a shift in attitude among landlords, Mr Ellis said.

He had observed landlords becoming frustrated at new regulations weighted towards tenants and immense pressure to provide rent so low that it would barely cover their costs.

“A landlord wants nothing more than a good tenant, so they will provide rent and services at a reasonable rate and comply with government legislation, but it’s not their responsibility to reduce their rent below what their source of income is,” he said.

Many landlords had become entirely turned off maintaining rental properties and as a result were offloading them, often to investors keen to make the most profit possible by using them as “zombie homes” such as Airbnbs.

“This is a genuine crisis. It doesn’t matter where you are in Australia, there is no rental stock available,” Mr Ellis said, adding that as “migration picks up again, it’s going to get even worse”.

“Australia is just not building enough houses for us to live in, let alone to be rented.”

Impact of ‘zombie homes’ on rental market

A zombie home is a property that is occupied only part of the time – such as a holiday house listed on Airbnb – that is not available to rent on a short or long term lease but can generate large profits for the owner.

Throughout any city there are “hundreds if not thousands” of zombie homes, especially in coastal areas, that are occupied one or two days a week, Mr Ellis said.

“There’s now too many occurring in most cities in Australia.”

The benefit for owners – aside from the financial element – ​​is not having the long-term commitment of dealing with renters, he added.

Zombie homes are widespread, with last year’s census revealing that during lockdown and while Australia’s borders were closed, there were more than one million unoccupied properties.

While it’s a win-win for landlords, renters are suffering from soaring costs, and have to put up with long queues of desperate prospective tenants lining up to inspect properties. This has forced some to live in their cars, a motel or caravan – even couch surfing – to keep a roof over their heads.

“Investors are putting their properties out for Airbnb, but it’s taking rental properties away from renters and that lack of … properties available to rent is driving demand and prices up,” Finder money expert Rebecca Pike told 7NEWS.com.au.

PropTrack’s latest rental report for the June quarter found the number of renters per property listed on realestate.com.au had risen 28 per cent year-on-year across capital cities, with Sydney and Melbourne experiencing the greatest increase.

The number of rental listings in Sydney fell 21 per cent in the last year. The largest declines in listings were recorded in Melbourne (-25.7 per cent) and Brisbane (-24 per cent).

Overall, the number of new listings coming on to the market was 13.8 per cent lower than the decade average in June.

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Hairdresser reveals sick ‘happy ending’ texts

Hairdresser reveals sick 'happy ending' texts

An Asian-Australian hairdresser has posted what she claims is one of hundreds of text messages from male clients asking her to perform sex acts on them.

Amy Tran, who owns the Walk In Barber Shop in Geraldton, Western Australia, said she’s fed up with customers who assume “Asians are mostly prostitutes”.

Since opening her shop two years ago, Ms Tran said she has been asked to provide lewd services such as “happy endings” almost every day so she’s decided to start publicly shaming those who overstep the mark.

“Enough is enough,” she told Daily Mail Australia.

“I can’t take it anymore.”

The hairdresser of 15 years posted screenshots of a text exchange with a male customer to the Facebook page “Geraldton Neighborhood Watch” in an apparent bid to detect others.

“I would like to book in for a shave and trim with a happy ending please text me a time and cash amount,” the man’s first message reads.

“What happy ending are you asking about?” Ms Tran replied, to which the customer responded: “Just nice rub to unload please!”

Ms Tran told the man: ‘I don’t do a happy ending! You have to stop this, ”and she threatened to report him to local police.

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In her post, Ms Tran pleaded with others not to mistake her hairdressing services with those of a sex worker.

“I am often looked down upon by others because I am Asian,” she wrote.

“Many people think that Asians are mostly prostitutes, so I am often texted or harassed by customers at the store.

“I believe there are many other women who have the same problem as me but the difference is that they don’t dare say to say it because they are shy or don’t want people to judge them.”

Ms Tran also included the man’s personal phone number.

“If anyone is a relative of the person with the phone number below I hope they will find out the true face of the husband and father they are living with,” she wrote.

She ended the post by saying she hoped others wouldn’t do things that “affect the work psychology, joy or vitality” of others.

“I am just a barber. Please respect. Barber only,” Ms Tran added.

Many residents of the mining town were quick to come to her defense with dozens of Facebook users condemning the “disgraceful” request.

“That is disgusting and no one should have to be subjected to such disgraceful and disrespectful behaviour,” one woman wrote.

One man slammed the customer as a “sad individual” and encouraged Ms Tran to “rise above” and leave it “along with the person who felt it in the gutter”.

“So sorry you have to deal with this revolting creep and others like him,” another wrote.

“Hold your head high and good on you for posting this sicko’s number.”

One woman said she had received the same request midway though a haircut and urged her fellow hairdresser to “stay safe”.

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Hairdresser reveals sick ‘happy ending’ texts

Hairdresser reveals sick 'happy ending' texts

An Asian-Australian hairdresser has posted what she claims is one of hundreds of text messages from male clients asking her to perform sex acts on them.

Amy Tran, who owns the Walk In Barber Shop in Geraldton, Western Australia, said she’s fed up with customers who assume “Asians are mostly prostitutes”.

Since opening her shop two years ago, Ms Tran said she has been asked to provide lewd services such as “happy endings” almost every day so she’s decided to start publicly shaming those who overstep the mark.

“Enough is enough,” she told Daily Mail Australia.

“I can’t take it anymore.”

The hairdresser of 15 years posted screenshots of a text exchange with a male customer to the Facebook page “Geraldton Neighborhood Watch” in an apparent bid to detect others.

“I would like to book in for a shave and trim with a happy ending please text me a time and cash amount,” the man’s first message reads.

“What happy ending are you asking about?” Ms Tran replied, to which the customer responded: “Just nice rub to unload please!”

Ms Tran told the man: ‘I don’t do a happy ending! You have to stop this, ”and she threatened to report him to local police.

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In her post, Ms Tran pleaded with others not to mistake her hairdressing services with those of a sex worker.

“I am often looked down upon by others because I am Asian,” she wrote.

“Many people think that Asians are mostly prostitutes, so I am often texted or harassed by customers at the store.

“I believe there are many other women who have the same problem as me but the difference is that they don’t dare say to say it because they are shy or don’t want people to judge them.”

Ms Tran also included the man’s personal phone number.

“If anyone is a relative of the person with the phone number below I hope they will find out the true face of the husband and father they are living with,” she wrote.

She ended the post by saying she hoped others wouldn’t do things that “affect the work psychology, joy or vitality” of others.

“I am just a barber. Please respect. Barber only,” Ms Tran added.

Many residents of the mining town were quick to come to her defense with dozens of Facebook users condemning the “disgraceful” request.

“That is disgusting and no one should have to be subjected to such disgraceful and disrespectful behaviour,” one woman wrote.

One man slammed the customer as a “sad individual” and encouraged Ms Tran to “rise above” and leave it “along with the person who felt it in the gutter”.

“So sorry you have to deal with this revolting creep and others like him,” another wrote.

“Hold your head high and good on you for posting this sicko’s number.”

One woman said she had received the same request midway though a haircut and urged her fellow hairdresser to “stay safe”.

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Taylor Walker speaks on Adelaide Crows pre-season camp, former captain, fractures in playing group, Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins, Bryce Gibbs

Taylor Walker speaks on Adelaide Crows pre-season camp, former captain, fractures in playing group, Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins, Bryce Gibbs

Adelaide veteran Taylor Walker says it’s “upsetting” to hear the distress past players feel towards the infamous 2018 pre-season camp, but insists he did everything he could as captain at the time to address “fractures” within the group.

The Crows in a lengthy open letter to the club’s fans on Monday night apologized to Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins and others who had a “negative experience” at the controversial camp following last week’s shock new revelations — revelations that prompted the AFLPA to indicate it’ I’ll reopen its investigation into the event.

Reflecting on the fallout at West Lakes in 2018, Walker acknowledged it was a turbulent period at the club despite his best efforts.

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“I can put my head on the pillow at night, and put my hand on my heart and say that I did everything I could,” he told Triple M.

“I knew something was not right post the camp, I knew blokes weren’t feeling that great about it, there were fractures within the group like some of the boys have said… and I was having one-on-one meetings, I was having some confidential meetings at my house to try and work out exactly the path to take, and I can honestly say that I did everything I could to try and fix it.”

Walker leads the Crows out the race alongside Betts (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

Betts and Jenkins were among the former Crows to last week detail their distressing first-hand experiences at the Gold Coast Coast-based camp in 2018 that led to several players, including Betts, and officials to depart the club in the following years.

Walker maintains that he still took a “positive experience” away from it, but admitted it was tough hearing his ex-teammate’s disturbing accounts.

“Yeah I sit here as captain at the time of the footy club, and those boys being past players… not great to be honest. It’s quite upsetting to hear that those guys are still feeling the effects of the camp,” Walker said.

“What I will say is that, the camp, a lot of people took different things out of it and I personally, I’ve said it, I took a positive experience out of it… but that does not take away from the feelings of hurt that those boys are going through at the moment.”

Adelaide overcame the intense spotlight on the club last week to defeat the West Coast Eagles by 16 points at Optus Stadium.

And Walker suggested the scrutiny hadn’t affected the vibe at the Crows, estimating “10-2o per cent” of people who attended the camp remained at the club.

“Our mantra is prioritizing others and we’re certainly doing that to the best of our ability,” he said.

“As a footy club we still have to work through this, because sitting here you don’t like hearing that past players are feeling that way,” he said.

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Business

Potential curb on Australian LNG exports is another blow to Asia-Pacific gas markets

Potential curb on Australian LNG exports is another blow to Asia-Pacific gas markets

The Asia-Pacific gas market has suffered another blow after major natural gas producer Australia signaled it could potentially cut down liquified natural gas exports as the region battles tight gas supplies, high prices and competition from gas-short European buyers.

Australia is looking to trim its overseas sales in favor of domestic consumption ahead of a projected shortfall in local supplies next year

As energy protectionism takes hold globally, last week, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission called on Canberra to protect domestic gas supplies and curb LNG — cooled natural gas — exports after projecting the east coast of the country could face a shortfall of 56 petajoules of gas next year.

For months, the Asia-Pacific region has faced competition for fuel from European buyers looking to replace restricted Russian gas.

These European countries, in scrambling for LNG to mitigate a shortage of pipeline gas ahead of the northern winter, have outbidden some less developed Asian countries.

“To protect energy security on the east coast we are recommending the Resources Minister initiate the first step of the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM),” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said last week.

“We are also strongly encouraging LNG exporters to immediately increase their supply into the [local] market.”

A liquefied natural gas tanker berth in Japan, on Dec. 17, 2021. Should Japan ever exit the Sakhalin energy projects in Russia and their stakes were acquired by Russia or a third country, this would weaken the effectiveness of Western sanctions and benefit Russia, Japan’s industry minister said on Friday.

Kiyoshi Ota | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Most of the gas used on Australia’s east coast is produced by companies that are also LNG exporters to Asia-Pacific and other countries. The ADGSM stops these producers from exporting LNG if there is a shortfall domestically.

While most LNG sales to overseas buyers are made through long-term contracts, Australian LNG producers also sell ad-hoc and non-contracted LNG on the spot market. Countries without the ability to strike competitive long-term contracts are forced to buy them on the spot market.

It is this LNG supply that the ACCC says producers should avoid selling to the overseas market — currently flushed with gas-starved buyers — and save it for local consumers.

Gas lobby group the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association however has assuaged markets, saying despite the ACCC warning, there is more than enough gas next year and that there has never been an actual shortfall previously.

“It’s certainly been the case throughout the existence of the export industry, that there has been a surplus of gas into the domestic market. So we have been able to achieve both. We don’t go for the idea that it is one or the other,” acting chief executive Damian Dwyer told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Tuesday.

“There’s been significant investment into the export industry. And that investment has brought on significant domestic supply. One complements the other.”

But if the mechanism is successfully invoked, new supply and price pressures will be felt by the region’s biggest LNG buyers such as Japan and South Korea as well as newcomers to LNG imports such as the Philippines, analysts say.

LNG prices have soared nearly 80% since before the Ukraine war started in late February, according to the Platts JKM pricing index.

“Since April, there had been no [spot] tend sales from the three major LNG export facilities on Australia’s east coast, indicating that some exports were slowing down,” S&P Global Market Intelligence APAC LNG pricing regional manager Kenneth Foo said.

The Philippines is entering the global LNG market at a time of extreme uncertainty. Global LNG supply is constrained due partly to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and LNG prices continue to hit record highs.

Sam Reynolds

Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis

“The lack of spot availability from East Coast Australia could in turn further tighten LNG supply within the Asia-Pacific region, especially heading into peak winter demand season in the fourth quarter,” Foo said.

Developing Asian countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan have had to bow out of buying LNG on the spot market, Sam Reynolds, an analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, said.

“Inability to procure LNG volumes in these countries has caused fuel shortages and blackouts, pushing countries to the brink of economic collapse,” he said.

The Philippines, a debutant to the LNG import market, will face tough conditions when it tries to import its first ever shipment of LNG, he adds.

Read more about energy from CNBC Pro

“Inability to buy LNG at competitive rates could leave new terminals and LNG-fired power plants unused and stranded,” he said.

Such setbacks may derail the Philippines’ efforts to boost its LNG sector, already suffering from years of setbacks, Reynolds says.

While countries without long-term contracts like the Philippines may suffer, generally the region’s LNG supply is secure.

Proposed cuts are small

The proposed Australian cuts amount to roughly 14 LNG charges. This is a drop in the ocean of contracted charges shipped each month. In July, Australia exported 100 cargoes among over 300 cargoes shipped into Asia, Reynolds says.

“Cuts would only limit exports of LNG that is not sold under long-term contracts. This means that cuts would have minimal effects on buyers like Japan, Korea, and China, which buy 70% to 80% of their LNG via long-term contracts,” Reynolds said.

LNG markets have bigger problems than Australian curbs. Europe’s jostling for Asia-Pacific’s LNG supply remains the biggest threat, Reynolds says.

Consequently, the rise in energy prices globally have contributed to the surging inflation that many central banks are racing to rein in.

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Business

Starburst lollies vanish as Mars Wrigley says brand discontinued in Australia

Starburst lollies vanish as Mars Wrigley says brand discontinued in Australia

A confectionary brand has been forced to respond after lolly lovers spotted their favorite treat had mysteriously disappeared from shelves.

TikToker @nariman.dein took to the social media platform to ask if a conspiracy is underfoot, revealing she’d been looking for Starburst lollies everywhere with no luck.

“Can someone tell me where these lollies went,” she asked her followers.

“I’ve been looking everywhere in Sydney – Big W, Coles – these lollies don’t exist.”

She said the Starburst lollies were the best and asked if anyone else remembered the treats.

“Is there a conspiracy theory – did they just stop selling them and no one realized?” she asked.

Many of the TikToker’s followers echoed the claims, saying they also couldn’t find them.

“I miss the lollipops the most,” one person said.

Another added: “I love those lollies but they stopped selling them – like what, why?”

A third added: “Starburst is just gone I’ve been looking for them too.”

Someone else said: “No lollies compare to Starburst.”

Others claimed there was limited stock at their local IGA, and another added the range couldn’t be found in New Zealand.

The Starburst range included Chews, Babies, Snakes and lollipops.

A spokesperson from Mars Wrigley, which manufactures Starburst, revealed the true reason the popular treats were so hard to find currently in Australia. And for fans, it isn’t good news.

“We regularly review our Mars Wrigley product range to ensure we’re offering our consumers great tasting products that are also great value for money,” the spokesperson told news.com.au.

“Our STARBURST® products are imported from Europe and like many businesses that are importing products from overseas, the brand has been exposed to supply chain difficulties and rising cost pressures over the last two years.

“After reviewing all options, we’ve made the difficult decision to discontinue the brand in Australia from June 2022.

“As a proud Australian manufacturer for more than 60 years, we are taking this opportunity to prioritize and invest in the brands and products we make locally in Australia such as M&Ms, Maltesers, Skittles, Snickers, Extra and Eclipse.”

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Chris Lynn turns back on Big Bash League, signs for United Arab Emirates T20 tournament

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 31: Chris Lynn of the Heat skies a ball and is caught as he bats during the Big Bash League match between the Sydney Thunder and the Brisbane Heat at Manuka Oval, on January 31, 2021, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Australian cricketer Chris Lynn has officially turned his back on the Big Bash League, signing on for the inaugural International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates.

On Monday, Emirates Cricket announced that 54 international cricketers had agreed to participate in the newly-developed T20 league, which makes its debut in January 2023.

Lynn, one of the sport’s most destructive short-format batters, was the only Australian featured on a list headed by Ashes winner Moeen Ali and West Indies veteran Andre Russell.

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The 2023 ILT20 will have 34 matches, with all the teams playing each other twice before four playoffs fixtures across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

It’s understood the UAE league could offer players up to AU$700,000 for five weeks’ work.

“It’s exciting to see how well the squads are shaping up for the first season of ILT20,” Emirates Cricket General Secretary Mubashshir Usmani said in a statement.

“Each team will consist of 18 players including four UAE players and two other players from ICC Associate countries. The quality of the names announced today is outstanding and so is the interest in our league of top players from all around the world.

“We are very excited that a select number of UAE representative-players, from our current pool, will also be considered and signed on to participate in the league. It is also extremely important to note that these (UAE) players will form part of the team’s playing XI.

“One of the key objectives for ILT20 is to provide opportunities for players from UAE and other Associate nations to perform on the big stage, and, ECB extends its deep appreciation to the six franchises for their support of our vision to grow our game and create stronger, more competitive players.”

The announcement effectively confirms that Lynn, the highest run-scorer in Big Bash history, won’t sign for a BBL franchise this year.

In May, the Brisbane Heat elected not to renew the Queenslander’s $200,000 contract after a couple of underwhelming seasons in the domestic T20 tournament.

Lynn was not only one of the Heat’s foundation players, winning a BBL title with the Brisbane-based club in 2013, he also served as captain for several years.

According to The Agethe 32-year-old was unable to find another club willing to meet his asking price, although he had recently been in talks with the Adelaide Strikers.

The powerful right-hander has scored 3005 Big Bash runs at 34.54 at an imposing strike rate of 148.83.

Chris Lynn of Northamptonshire Steelbacks celebrates after scoring a century. Photo by David Rogers/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Lynn has been in impeccable form this winter, recently smacking an unbeaten 113 from 57 balls in the T20 Blast to equal his highest individual score and set up a Northamptonshire victory.

Although the loss of Lynn is a massive blow for the BBL, Cricket Australia is reportedly on the verge of brokering a deal with superstar batter David Warner.

According to AustralianWarner has been offered a groundbreaking BBL contract above and beyond any previous player contract.

“I am very hopeful David will play BBL and I am hopeful that all of our best Australian cricketers will play in it,” Australian Cricketers’ Association chief executive Todd Greenberg told the Cricket Et Cetera podcast this week.

“There’s a variety of reasons why. There’s absolutely no doubt that someone like David and others of his ilk could earn more in the coming Australian summer if they were to ply their trade overseas, but there’s a much broader discussion and a bigger picture we are trying to solve here and that’s the discussion I am having with several of our players this week.”

CA is desperate to ensure the sport’s biggest names will make an appearance in the BBL this summer; the competition has been starved of international-quality talent after the last two seasons were plagued by Covid-19.

Earlier this year, The Daily Telegraph reported that broadcaster Channel 7 had launched Federal Court action against CA in a bid to terminate its TV rights deal.

According to the News Corp report, Seven is adamant the cricketers that featured in last summer’s BBL were not of a high enough quality for the competition to meet the standard provisions stipulated in CA’s TV rights contract.

However, the Big Bash has already secured the services of former South African captain Faf du Plessis and Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, while Australian stars Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Swepson, Nathan Lyon and Alex Carey have also signed for their respective BBL franchises.

Australia’s David Warner. Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFPSource: AFP

“These leagues we are talking about at the moment are competing with our Australian domestic summer and that is the first time we’ve faced this, it is a unique challenge,” Greenberg said.

“The second thing is that the reasons they enjoy the benefits and remunerations that they enjoy under this model is because of those that came before them.

“David and others understand … and are very aware that if they play in this competition it increases the opportunity for the next broadcast deal to be secured at a higher number which maybe doesn’t benefit them specifically, but it benefits the next generation of Australian cricketers coming through.

“This is a real test of our players demonstrating the level of partnership.

“They understand they have to get the best players to play, which includes them and the best players from overseas, which is why we’ve agreed in this one-year deal to ensure that there is an international draft and salary cap – an opportunity to bring the best overseas players in.”

Because South Africa has withdrawn from next January’s three-match ODI series against Australia, the country’s international stars will be available for the second half of the BBL.

However, multi-format paceman Mitchell Starc has already decided he won’t be signing for any franchise due to the sport’s busy calendar, and Australian teammates Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins will most likely follow suit.

“I have always enjoyed the BBL when I have played it … but my approach with all franchise cricket hasn’t changed over the last seven years,” Starc told AAP earlier this month.

“My approach to the IPL, BBL, I have looked at the Australian schedule and wanting to be as fit and well-performed for that as I can.

“And franchise cricket has taken a back seat.”

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