The competition regulator says Federal Court's ruling on Coles is a warning to all retailers, Australians on hantavirus cruise to return tomorrow, New Zealand prepares for the FIFA World Cup.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The competition regulator says Federal Court's ruling on Coles is a warning to all retailers
- Australians on hantavirus cruise to return tomorrow.
- New Zealand prepares for the FIFA World Cup.
Australia's competition regulator says the Federal Court's ruling on Coles supermarket's "Down Down" price campaign is a warning for all retailers to ensure they are making accurate pricing and discount claims.
The court has found the supermarket misled shoppers by promoting fake discounts on grocery products, with Justice Michael O’Bryan ruling 13 of the 14 sample promotions examined in the case were not genuine discounts.
The ACCC alleged Coles temporarily increased prices on products before reducing them to a level still higher than the original price, before advertising the change as a special.
ACCC Chair and Comissioner Gina Cass-Gottlieb says the findings increase transparency and deliver accountability around Coles pricing practices, and other retailers can learn from the outcome.
"It is very timely for all retailers, especially as we lead up to end of year financial sales, that they make accurate discount and pricing claims. The ACCC will continue to take action wherever needed to protect consumers from misleading or deceptive conduct."
Penalties will be decided at a later date, with Coles potentially facing hundreds of millions of dollars in fines.
A similar ACCC case against Woolworths is still awaiting judgment.
The Coalition will propose cutting welfare payments to non-citizens if it wins the next election.
Ahead of his first budget reply speech, Opposition leader Angus Taylor says the Coalition will restrict non-citizens, including permanent residents, from accessing 17 types of social supports, including the NDIS- and parental leave.
Currently, permanent residents and Protected Special visa holders can access the NDIS, though there are often lengthy waiting periods.
Responding to the proposal, Greens Senator David Shoebridge says this policy will not make Australia fairer.
"The idea that we would be saying to some of our friends and neighbors and workmates, that some of you are less worthy than others. They may have been living here for 10, 20, 30 years paying taxes, contributing being our friends and work colleagues and yet, Angus Taylor wants us to sit around a table with them and say well look, those three down the end they're less worthy than the rest of us, that is not the Australia I want and I don't think it's Australia that millions and millions of Australians want either."
US President, Donald Trump, is being welcomed in the Chinese capital Beijing, as he begins a several-day long visit to the country.
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.
It's the first US presidential visit to China in almost nine years, after President Trump's previous visit in 2017.
Residents expressed hope the meeting would being a positive outcome.
Retired University Professor Li Tuo says the relationship between the two countries is very important.
"I'll be paying attention, because the whole country's economy is tied to this in some ways, so I'll be following it. I hope China and the United States can have a more harmonious relationship, that way, both our country and the whole world will develop better."
Health Minister Mark Butler says a group of Australians on board a cruise ship impacted by the hantavirus outbreak have tested negative and will arrive home tomorrow.
He confirmed that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has secured a suitable aircraft for the passengers, who are due to leave the Netherlands tonight and arrive in Australia on Friday.
Mr Butler says those returning are free of symptoms, but will undergo further testing upon arrival before entering quarantine for three weeks.
"Again, many countries that are already repatriating passengers from this cruise ship, the US, the UK and others, are only subjecting their repatriated passengers to a managed quarantine arrangement at a hospital or at a center like Bullsbrook, usually for two or three days, and then allowing those passengers to move into a home based quarantine arrangement. We have decided on a precautionary basis to take a stronger approach to that."
In football,
Veteran Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood will captain New Zealand at the World Cup, despite an injury-plagued Premier League campaign.
The striker has been selected to lead New Zealand's 26-strong World Cup squad.
Wood and defender Tommy Smith will become the first New Zealand men to play at two soccer World Cups.
Both were part of the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
New Zealand are ranked 85th and haven't advanced beyond the group stage in their two previous World Cup appearances.
