Australia

Before I moved here, this was easily a trick question. All made up answers. (And im ashamed to know the answer)

Any big plans for 2025?

Stuffs fucking delicious

Live in a regional town and I do have a preference for Paul's eggnog but am fine with trying other brands

What's happening? What are we doing? What are we listening to? What are we drinking? How good has the cricket been?

These figures could have been much worse, with more than 8,800 rescues performed by lifeguards and volunteer surf lifesavers in the past year.

Australian bosses could go to jail for 10 years and be fined $1.65 million if they "deliberately" underpay their workers, as part of new laws that nationally criminalise wage theft from January 1.

The new laws and penalties follow years of underpayment scandals in Australia, with cases at prominent employers including Woolworths, Chatime, Qantas, NAB, BHP, 7-Eleven and the ABC.

Until now, the federal body that investigates wage theft has only been able to go after companies and their directors using civil laws, which don't come with the threat of jail time.

Now Fair Work will be able to go after them using criminal laws too.

But it will have to prove that the employer intentionally avoided paying a worker appropriate wages and penalties, superannuation or other entitlements.

"This doesn’t include honest mistakes," a Fair Work spokesperson told ABC News.

[...]

Any individual found guilty could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $1.65 million, while liable companies could be fined up to $8.25 million.

Things like washing machines, fridges, higher end (or mid range) vacuums, or other things you'd feel pretty bummed about dropping a bit of money on just for it to turn out being shit

I'm considering subscribing some time next year before I make some bigger purchases after tax time. I'm always morbidly worried about either buying something that does its job poorly, or just isn't good value for the feature set.

From the couple of reviews/rankings I've seen, they seem to be a lot more scientific than random "what is the best x lists". I feel like when you google reviews for any midrange products, most of the reviews are just "oh well yeah it's okay but actually nah if you spend three times the price you could get 5% better performance so it's actually bad and you shouldn't buy it. Just buy the more expensive version instead!"

The minimum 3 month subscription term is the only thing that's making me pause. If they offered single month subscriptions, I'd probably be more inclined to subscribe. But I'm interested in hearing opinions from anyone who either is a member, or has been in the past. Worth it?

Despite him blowing the whistle on the egregious use of power by the Tax Office with an understanding that he was protected, he wasn’t. He’s been caught out by inadequate laws that purported to shield him, but instead lured him into a situation where he and his family has suffered for seven years.

Somehow not satire.

Archive/non-paywall link.

(Context, for the international audience.)

The ACCC's supermarket inquiry has shone a spotlight on Coles and Woolworths' high prices. But 76 per cent of shoppers still head to either store for their primary grocery shop.

Aldi has again beaten Coles and Woolworths in a government-funded shopping basket comparison.

Consumer advocacy group Choice released the results as part of its quarterly survey, sending mystery shoppers to 104 stores across the country in September.

Here is a breakdown of the costs between Aldi, Coles, Woolies and IGA (without specials) from its most recent report:

• Aldi: $50.63
• Coles: $67.90
• Woolworths: $69.29
• IGA: $77.57

• ACT/NSW from Friday, December 20 to Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

• WA from December 20 until Sunday, January 5, 2025.

Interestingly Victoria police say "We have not seen any evidence of proven safety or deterrent benefit from enforcing double demerit points during holiday periods"...