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Many WA businesses already struggling fear they've just been hit with a knockout blow

The tourism industry warns if Virgin Australia collapses it could deliver a knockout blow to many WA businesses who were already on their knees as a result of coronavirus.




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Waiting on a parcel from Australia Post? This is why it's taking so long

As Australians stay at home, and with many bricks and mortar stores closed, more of us are shopping online, placing a huge strain on the postal service.



  • COVID-19
  • Diseases and Disorders
  • Infectious Diseases (Other)
  • Epidemics and Pandemics
  • Health
  • Business
  • Economics and Finance
  • Community and Society

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Scientists discover microplastics in decade-old Antarctic ice core sample

Researchers melt an ice core taken from Antarctica 10 years ago and find dozens of microplastic particles, including polyethylene used to make plastic bags.




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Petrol stations taking 'too long to pass on savings', ACCC says

At a time when the economy is suffering the ACCC is calling on the petrol retailers to pass on the full benefit of the falling oil price to motorists.




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'Quite a number of angry phone calls': Thousands sign NT landlords' petition against renters' rights to pets

Property owners are calling for pet-friendly tenancy laws to be scrapped before they are even enacted in the Northern Territory, as the Parliament prepares to vote on protections for renters during the pandemic.





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Australia calls for independent study of wet market risks in response to COVID-19 pandemic

Australia is ratcheting up pressure on China to look into the health risks associated with wildlife wet markets as the world continues to battle the deadly spread of the coronavirus pandemic.




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Concerns over who gets access if a successful coronavirus vaccine is discovered

As numerous laboratories race to develop a coronavirus vaccine, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation warns that it can't just be available to people in wealthy countries.




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Virgin Australia's 'haircut' will have a 'domino effect' on jobs

The future of Australian aviation is crucial for the wider tourism sector, which is already bleeding because of recent travel bans initiated to stop the spread of COVID19.




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From patient zero to the world: COVID-19's devastating global journey

The spread of today's scourge may seem breathtaking in its scale and carnage, but in some ways we are lucky. We could be dealing with a modern-day plague with global deaths measured in their hundreds of millions.




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'Severe and long-lasting impacts': Queensland braces for economic fallout amid Virgin administration

For Queensland, the pain of a possible collapse of Virgin Australia runs deep, with nearly half of its workforce based in the state.




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'Wet season, COVID-19, wet season': Coronavirus has left northern WA tourism on the brink

Kimberley tourism operators brace for "18 months of pain" as COVID-19 decimates the northern tourist season.




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Science denial among top 10 greatest risks to humankind, new report claims

A new report has ranked disdain for scientific knowledge as one of humanity's biggest threats, alongside climate change, nuclear war, and artificial intelligence.




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Hundreds of thousands granted early access to $3.8b in superannuation

Nearly half a million Australians have had applications for early access to their superannuation approved, totalling $3.8 billion in early payments, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says.




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Preliminary report released into plane crash that killed four people

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau releases a preliminary report into the mid-air collision near Mangalore in Victoria that killed four people in February.




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Petrol stations accused of gouging as some Queenslanders pay 75 per cent more

While the price of petrol falls to the lowest point in a generation in Brisbane, service stations are charging 30 per cent more in north Queensland and 75 per cent more in Mt Isa, with a federal MP raising accusations of collusion.





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Competition watchdog warns Qantas against anti-competitive behaviour

The ACCC warns Qantas it will take swift action against anti-competitive behaviour such as attempts to swamp airline routes, artificially push down prices or lock in exclusive deals with airports and suppliers.




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Quest backs down after trying to 'bully' apartment owners into accepting rent holiday

Since the 1970s, the Degenhardts dreamed of retiring to Gerroa. Their dream became a reality — but retirement got tougher this month when they were told their supposedly guaranteed monthly income would not be paid until July due to coronavirus.




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Australia's tallest building to be built in Melbourne as Government fast-tracks development

The Victorian Government announces a proposal for a 101-storey building is one of four to be approved amid moves to fast-track development in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.



  • Business
  • Economics and Finance
  • Urban Development and Planning
  • Government and Politics
  • Building and Construction
  • States and Territories
  • Architecture

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Feeding the needy skilled migrants, students and working holidaymakers

Jobless international hospitality workers deemed ineligible for the Federal Government's JobKeeper and JobSeeker programs are "heartbroken" at their treatment and turning to restaurants providing free meals during the coronavirus pandemic.




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'Rednecks' racially attacking Chinese trainee pilots and using laser pointers, school claims

Reports of interference with aircraft radio communications at one of regional Victoria's busiest airports, where a flying school training pilots for Chinese airlines has been operating for about a year, are being investigated.




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Cars, excavator used to impound Virgin planes at Perth Airport amid stand-off over 'significant' debt

Perth Airport is using heavy machinery and company vehicles to block a number of Virgin Australia aircraft from taking off over what it says are $16 million in unpaid debts.




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How insulated is Australia's space industry from the COVID-19 crisis?

An Australian company that's set to own the world's largest privately operated rocket test range says the Australian space industry is well protected from the economic downturn caused by COVID-19.




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Top Sydney restaurant delivers fine dining in a $110 takeaway box

The COVID-19 outbreak may have forced them to close their doors, but some of Sydney's most revered restaurants won't let that stop them from giving their customers the fine dining experience at home.




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Arnhem Land opened up to Aussies like never before with spectacular online concert series

As artists worldwide launch livestream concerts from home, Yolngu musicians in one of the most remote parts of Australia are offering up a unique series of performances from north-east Arnhem Land.




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Demographer warns of the 'missing children' of COVID-19

An ANU demographer is "concerned" the coronavirus pandemic will result in an accelerated reduced birthrate and a decline in future taxpayers, affecting Australia's socioeconomic future.




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NAB asks shareholders for $3.5b to protect the bank against 'very uncertain times'

In an extremely unusual move, National Australia Bank reports its results to the stock exchange almost a fortnight early as it seeks an extra $3.5 billion of investment from shareholders.




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'Morally it's the wrong thing to do': Insurers refuse to cover landlord's rental loss

Thousands of mum-and-dad investors are being caught out by insurance companies refusing to cover them when they cut rent for tenants under financial stress due to coronavirus restrictions.




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Planning some retail therapy this weekend? Best to check what stores will open

An easing of coronavirus restrictions means non-essential shopping has the green light from this weekend, but that doesn't mean all the stores are ready to throw open their doors immediately.




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Call centre staff in the Philippines have been sleeping at work to help Australian customers

A union for call centre workers in the Philippines claims staff have been sleeping in the office in potentially unsafe conditions to help Telstra and Optus customers, despite the risk of the coronavirus.




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The 'reset' it needed — how coronavirus is changing the fashion industry forever

Almost a quarter of Australia's fashion labels believe they will never recover from the coronavirus hit — but some are adapting and finding new ways to make money, and a new way of doing business.




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Catch a fish, win $1 million, but fast-falling numbers are starting to bite

The Million Dollar Fish competition was designed to lure fishermen to the Northern Territory. But a consultant's report obtained by the ABC shows registrations have fallen by half in five years.




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Workers are due their superannuation today but many employers are struggling to pay

Today is the deadline for employers to pay superannuation they owe workers for the first quarter, but many may struggle to do so amid the COVID-19 economic shutdown.




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'Couldn't have come at a worse time': Collapsed builder leaves 241 creditors with nothing

Banyan Constructions collapsed earlier this year, and a report from liquidators has now revealed that the $22 million owed to creditors — mostly small, local businesses — will not be paid back.




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Adelaide buildings turn blue for senior police officer killed in car crash

Adelaide landmarks were illuminated with blue light overnight amid more tributes for SA Police Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan and Tania McNeill, who were killed in a three-car crash on Saturday.




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Apartment tenants in line for rent discounts as short-stay market dries up

Real estate agents are resorting to discounting to try to secure tenants as COVID–19 hits the apartment rental market.



  • COVID-19
  • Diseases and Disorders
  • Building and Construction
  • Industry
  • Business
  • Economics and Finance
  • Urban Development and Planning
  • Community and Society

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Why are some of the world's largest planes being parked in Alice Springs?

The small town in the middle of Australia is hosting a collection of very expensive aircraft, including double-decker Airbus A380s. Why are they being stored here?




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Superannuation early withdrawal risks collapsing retirement system

Super funds and prominent professional investors warn that the mass withdrawal of funds from superannuation during the COVID-19 crisis risks undermining the whole retirement income system.




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Almost half the businesses interested in JobKeeper have not signed up. Here's why

Hundreds of thousands of employers who registered interest in JobKeeper have not signed up for the payment, citing ineligible workers, confusing rules and cashflow problems.




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'Relax the rhetoric': Businesses open, but coronavirus crackdown has customers 'nervous'

Small businesses in Tasmania struggling to survive amid the coronavirus crisis call for clearer messaging from authorities, saying there is no point trading if customers are too nervous to leave home.




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Stimulus payments leave households better off so far, but analysts warn of looming $60b hit

The Federal Government's stimulus package is supporting Australian households during the coronavirus pandemic, with a surge in unemployment payments more than offsetting the fall in income from job losses, according to the Commonwealth Bank.




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Coronavirus shutdowns leave expats unable to sell their homes in time to avoid hefty tax bills

Thousands of Australian expats fear they could be hit with large capital gains tax bills because they've been unable to return home due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, before a June 30 deadline that would have allowed them to sell their property to avoid liabilities.




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'Coffee, then NAFI': Future of 'crucial' fire-tracking website in doubt

It is one of the most popular and important websites for cattle producers, rangers and carbon farmers in northern Australia, but its funding is about to run out.




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'A form of self-medication': The limitless power of music during times of crisis

From balconies to lounge rooms, songs of joy and sadness are helping us cope and keeping us connected. And if we look to the past, we'll find that our tendency to turn to music during times of crisis is nothing new.




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Victoria criticises 'completely inappropriate' independent schools funding offer from Federal Government

Victorian Education Minister James Merlino accuses the Federal Government of using funding to "force" independent schools to undermine the state's strategy on face-to-face learning during the coronavirus pandemic.




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Rex to double regional flights after second cash boost in a week

Fresh support from the Federal Government and several states means the key carrier will be able to increase services across its network.




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Key points from the PM's press conference

Where coronavirus came from, Australia's relationship with China, and the possibility of being able to jump on a plane to New Zealand were all canvassed by the PM in his latest press conference.




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Chinese company suggests PNG relationship will suffer amid mine lease dispute

A major Chinese mining company warns the Papua New Guinean Government it faces "significant negative impact" on bilateral relations with China if the company doesn't get a lease extension on a gold mine in the country.




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Funeral insurer who sold coverage to babies barred from taking on customers

Funeral insurer Youpla, slammed by the banking royal commission in a previous brand iteration for misleading Indigenous customers, has now been denied a licence to provide financial services and prevented from signing up new customers.