Latest news with #FirstNationsAustralians
Sky News AU
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Mundine labels Vic truth telling reparations a ‘slippery slope' that could cripple state
Indigenous leader Warren Mundine has the Victorian truth telling commission's recommendation for the government to provide First Nations Australians with financial reparations was a concerning 'slippery slope.' The Victorian government's Yoorrook Justice truth telling inquiry handed down its final report on Tuesday after four years of proceedings and claimed that the state had been illegally occupied. It also claimed that Victoria's First Peoples had been subjected to genocide. The commission made 100 recommendations to the Victorian government including providing Indigenous Australians with tax relief, financial reparations and land grants. But Mr Mundine, who was a driving force behind the No to the Voice to Parliament campaign said the proposal did not represent the view of all Indigenous Australians and said the move would further divide the country. 'It is a slippery slope. We know that because we know that when people ask for something, and it's only a small minority of Aboriginals, you know, more radical Aboriginals and when this starts, they ask for more, and they ask for more,' Mr Mundine told The inquiry claimed the government needed to atone for colonial 'injustices' and further ordered Indigenous groups to be given access to cash generated from state resources. The truth telling inquiry implored the state government to treat Indigenous groups as separate nations, and that taxpayer funds should be used to create a Traditional Owner organisation that would inherit a portion of state revenues. Mr Mundine unleashed on the commission and questioned why it was "asking for more things" given the High Court's recent native title decision which essentially confirmed property rights for Indigenous Australians. 'I think that was the right decision so why is this body in Victoria asking for more things? They are late to the party. 'I think some of these things get a bit crazy and a bit overboard, you know we're trying to bring our nation together and we're trying to treat everyone as equals and we (Indigenous Australians) have every right as equals as every other citizen.' Some Indigenous commentators have criticised the sweeping financial recommendations. One said the cash compensation in addition to tax exemptions for Indigenous people, could potentially send the debt-stricken state broke, according to the Herald Sun. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has refused to rule out paying compensation to First Nations people. Mr Mundine said the Victorian government needed to channel its efforts into improving the living standards of the Indigenous community. He said funding inquiries and implementing legally risky policies with far reaching ramifications was a "bad joke". 'What I would like to see is that the Victorian government actually takes a sensible common-sense approach to this thing rather than dividing the country," he said. 'What they are saying is that they have failed Australian citizens because the last time I looked at the Constitution Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders are Australian citizens if they're not looking after them then then that's a failure of government.' Three of the inquiry's five commissioners, who were each paid between $250,000 and $370,000 'did not approve of the inclusion of the key findings in the final report' which included the creation of a permanent First People's Assembly and a treaty between Indigenous groups and the government. Mr Mundine said if there was disagreement among the inquiry's commissioners, then the parliamentary process to respond to the recommendations would be a nightmare. 'It doesn't worry me that there was disagreement between the commissioners because this just tells you how volatile this is going to be, could you imagine if the commission is arguing about this what is it going to do for the wider Australian community, the wider Victorian community and government?' Mr Mundine said. 'I can bet you a dollar that if it happens in Victoria then other Labor governments will be looking at doing this across Australia.' The Victorian government has a deadline of 24 months to respond and implement the recommendations, which are non-binding, with Ms Allan conceding that 'the recommendations and indeed the findings are incredibly challenging'.
Sky News AU
18-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Optus agrees to pay $100m fine with ACCC
Telecommunications giant Optus has agreed to pay a whopping $100m fine for exploiting hundreds of vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians. Between 2019 and 2023, the company pushed sales on 400 vulnerable Australians at 16 different stores, selling them products they did not want or need, or could not use or afford. Many of those impacted were First Nations Australians from regional and remote parts of the country. Some customers lived with a mental disability, diminished cognitive capacity or learning difficulties, were financially dependent or unemployed, and possessed limited financial literacy. In some cases, customers were then pursued for debts by third-party collection agencies. The Australian Competition and Consumer Competition brought court action against Optus and on Wednesday, announced it had reached an agreement with the mobile and internet services provider for the massive penalty. ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said customers had suffered 'significant financial harm' from Optus' 'unconscionable conduct'. 'They accrued thousands of dollars of unexpected debt and some were pursued by debt collectors, in some instances for years,' Ms Lowe said. 'It is not surprising, and indeed could and should have been anticipated, that this conduct caused many of these people significant emotional distress and fear.' Optus senior management became aware staff were engaging in inappropriate sales practices, the ACCC said. 'Optus has admitted to this conduct and has appropriately committed to changing its systems. It has begun compensating affected consumers,' Ms Lowe said. Optus CEO Stephen Rue has called his company's misconduct 'inexcusable and unacceptable'. 'Optus failed these customers, and the company should have acted more quickly when the misconduct was first reported,' he said. 'I am leading the implementation of extensive changes across the company with active responses to the issues raised well under way.' Optus - a subsidiary of Singaporean telco Singtel - has now entered into an enforceable undertaking, which will involve making a $1m donation to an organisation facilitating digital literacy of First Nations Australians. It will also review its complaint handling, improve staff training, and change its debt collection systems among other changes to systems and procedures. It has undertaken to change the remuneration structure for sales staff to disincentivise them from engaging in similar conduct. The company has started buying back 34 Optus licensee stores in the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. Some retail staff who engaged in inappropriate sales practices have been terminated, the company said. 'This is not what Optus stands for and we will hold ourselves to a higher standard going forward,' Mr Rue said. The referral of debts to third-party collection agencies followed from sales at a store in Mt Isa in Queensland's northwest, the company confirmed. Two of its Darwin stores also engaged in inappropriate sales practices. The Federal Court must now approve the penalty. Financial Counselling Australia director of First Nations policy and campaigns Lynda Edwards said counsellors witnessed the impact of 'this kind of conduct' every day. 'People were sold services they didn't ask for and couldn't use, in places where there was no coverage,' she said. 'It's yet another example of systems failing First Nations people. 'Fines are important, but what we really need is structural reform and genuine cultural safety built into how businesses engage with First Nations communities.' The Optus scandal is not the first to engulf a telecoms company. In May 2021, Telstra was ordered to pay a $50m penalty for engaging in unconscionable conduct by selling mobile contracts to 108 Indigenous consumers between January 2016 and August 2018. Originally published as Optus agrees to pay $100m fine for 'unconscionable conduct' between 2019 and 2023
The Age
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Optus to pay $100 million fine over sales to vulnerable customers
Optus has agreed to pay $100 million in penalties after landmark legal action from the consumer watchdog over 'unconscionable conduct' related to selling vulnerable customers products they could not afford or use. On Wednesday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Optus announced they would now jointly ask the federal court to impose a total penalty of $100 million for breaching the consumer law, after the telco admitted its sales staff acted unconscionably when selling phones and contracts between August 2019 and July 2023. As part of the penalty agreement, Optus has also signed an undertaking that it will compensate affected customers and improve its internal system, with the federal court to make orders on the amount. The company will also make a $1 million donation to an organisation that helps foster digital literacy among First Nations Australians. The ACCC launched the legal action against Optus in October, and while the allegations included 429 customers across 16 stores, the telco acknowledged Indigenous Australians were the majority of those affected, primarily at its two Darwin locations and its Mount Isa store. In many instances, customers did not want or need, could not use or could not afford what Optus staff sold them, with consumers pursued for resulting debts in some cases. 'Many of the affected consumers were vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage, such as living with a mental disability, diminished cognitive capacity or learning difficulties, being financially dependent or unemployed, having limited financial literacy or English not being a first language,' the ACCC said. Optus has conceded its sales staff put undue pressure on consumers to purchase a large number of products, including expensive phones and accessories, that they did not want or need, could not use or could not afford; and also failed to explain relevant terms and conditions. Many of the affected customers lived in regional, remote and very remote parts of Australia, and the telco has admitted its staff did not have regard to whether consumers had Optus coverage where they lived.
Sydney Morning Herald
18-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Optus to pay $100 million fine over sales to vulnerable customers
Optus has agreed to pay $100 million in penalties after landmark legal action from the consumer watchdog over 'unconscionable conduct' related to selling vulnerable customers products they could not afford or use. On Wednesday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Optus announced they would now jointly ask the federal court to impose a total penalty of $100 million for breaching the consumer law, after the telco admitted its sales staff acted unconscionably when selling phones and contracts between August 2019 and July 2023. As part of the penalty agreement, Optus has also signed an undertaking that it will compensate affected customers and improve its internal system, with the federal court to make orders on the amount. The company will also make a $1 million donation to an organisation that helps foster digital literacy among First Nations Australians. The ACCC launched the legal action against Optus in October, and while the allegations included 429 customers across 16 stores, the telco acknowledged Indigenous Australians were the majority of those affected, primarily at its two Darwin locations and its Mount Isa store. In many instances, customers did not want or need, could not use or could not afford what Optus staff sold them, with consumers pursued for resulting debts in some cases. 'Many of the affected consumers were vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage, such as living with a mental disability, diminished cognitive capacity or learning difficulties, being financially dependent or unemployed, having limited financial literacy or English not being a first language,' the ACCC said. Optus has conceded its sales staff put undue pressure on consumers to purchase a large number of products, including expensive phones and accessories, that they did not want or need, could not use or could not afford; and also failed to explain relevant terms and conditions. Many of the affected customers lived in regional, remote and very remote parts of Australia, and the telco has admitted its staff did not have regard to whether consumers had Optus coverage where they lived.
The Advertiser
16-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
LGBTQI people carrying burden of sexual violence: study
Violence intervention, prevention and support services are being urged to be alert to the specific needs and experiences of LGBTQI people following a landmark study on the impact of sexual violence. Almost 3200 LGBTQI people participated in the national survey on experiences of sexual violence, making it the largest of its kind in Australia and internationally. Most of those who took part were cisgender women (41.1 per cent) followed by cisgender men (30.9 per cent) and people who identified as non-binary (18 per cent). More than 400 respondents identified themselves as First Nations Australians. The study found unwanted sexual requests or comments were common (74.1 per cent), with cisgender men reporting the lowest rates. Transgender women and men were more likely to report being targeted due to their gender or sexuality. More than half of those surveyed said they had experienced sexual violence in childhood and adulthood. The majority of people who disclosed said the experience had been before they were 18 or more than five years ago. The findings suggested many LGBTQI people were carrying a significant burden of sexual violence, often for a long time, lead investigator Michael Salter said. "This is important from a service provision point of view … people have been carrying something with them for a long time and need sensitivity to that," he said. There were also elevated incidents in the previous 12 months among cisgender men and transgender women surveyed. "This suggests people who engage sexually with cisgender men in their adult life are more at risk of sexual violence," Professor Salter said. Fewer than 40 per cent of cisgender men disclosed their experiences of sexual violence. However, those who did were most satisfied with the response compared to other members of the LGBTQI community. The survey also highlighted the proactive stance of most LGBTQI people in intervening in situations of sexual risk and danger to others. This strongly suggested that community norms were a pivotal resource to include in future sexual violence prevention efforts. The survey indicated policymakers needed to do more to ensure that sexual violence intervention and prevention measures acknowledged people were part of the LGBTQI community, Prof Salter said. "We also need to hold space for young people figuring out their gender identity and sexual orientation," he said. "We currently don't do enough for kids who experience sexual violence if we don't support them therapeutically and they accumulate compounding traumas." Lifeline 13 11 14 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Violence intervention, prevention and support services are being urged to be alert to the specific needs and experiences of LGBTQI people following a landmark study on the impact of sexual violence. Almost 3200 LGBTQI people participated in the national survey on experiences of sexual violence, making it the largest of its kind in Australia and internationally. Most of those who took part were cisgender women (41.1 per cent) followed by cisgender men (30.9 per cent) and people who identified as non-binary (18 per cent). More than 400 respondents identified themselves as First Nations Australians. The study found unwanted sexual requests or comments were common (74.1 per cent), with cisgender men reporting the lowest rates. Transgender women and men were more likely to report being targeted due to their gender or sexuality. More than half of those surveyed said they had experienced sexual violence in childhood and adulthood. The majority of people who disclosed said the experience had been before they were 18 or more than five years ago. The findings suggested many LGBTQI people were carrying a significant burden of sexual violence, often for a long time, lead investigator Michael Salter said. "This is important from a service provision point of view … people have been carrying something with them for a long time and need sensitivity to that," he said. There were also elevated incidents in the previous 12 months among cisgender men and transgender women surveyed. "This suggests people who engage sexually with cisgender men in their adult life are more at risk of sexual violence," Professor Salter said. Fewer than 40 per cent of cisgender men disclosed their experiences of sexual violence. However, those who did were most satisfied with the response compared to other members of the LGBTQI community. The survey also highlighted the proactive stance of most LGBTQI people in intervening in situations of sexual risk and danger to others. This strongly suggested that community norms were a pivotal resource to include in future sexual violence prevention efforts. The survey indicated policymakers needed to do more to ensure that sexual violence intervention and prevention measures acknowledged people were part of the LGBTQI community, Prof Salter said. "We also need to hold space for young people figuring out their gender identity and sexual orientation," he said. "We currently don't do enough for kids who experience sexual violence if we don't support them therapeutically and they accumulate compounding traumas." Lifeline 13 11 14 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Violence intervention, prevention and support services are being urged to be alert to the specific needs and experiences of LGBTQI people following a landmark study on the impact of sexual violence. Almost 3200 LGBTQI people participated in the national survey on experiences of sexual violence, making it the largest of its kind in Australia and internationally. Most of those who took part were cisgender women (41.1 per cent) followed by cisgender men (30.9 per cent) and people who identified as non-binary (18 per cent). More than 400 respondents identified themselves as First Nations Australians. The study found unwanted sexual requests or comments were common (74.1 per cent), with cisgender men reporting the lowest rates. Transgender women and men were more likely to report being targeted due to their gender or sexuality. More than half of those surveyed said they had experienced sexual violence in childhood and adulthood. The majority of people who disclosed said the experience had been before they were 18 or more than five years ago. The findings suggested many LGBTQI people were carrying a significant burden of sexual violence, often for a long time, lead investigator Michael Salter said. "This is important from a service provision point of view … people have been carrying something with them for a long time and need sensitivity to that," he said. There were also elevated incidents in the previous 12 months among cisgender men and transgender women surveyed. "This suggests people who engage sexually with cisgender men in their adult life are more at risk of sexual violence," Professor Salter said. Fewer than 40 per cent of cisgender men disclosed their experiences of sexual violence. However, those who did were most satisfied with the response compared to other members of the LGBTQI community. The survey also highlighted the proactive stance of most LGBTQI people in intervening in situations of sexual risk and danger to others. This strongly suggested that community norms were a pivotal resource to include in future sexual violence prevention efforts. The survey indicated policymakers needed to do more to ensure that sexual violence intervention and prevention measures acknowledged people were part of the LGBTQI community, Prof Salter said. "We also need to hold space for young people figuring out their gender identity and sexual orientation," he said. "We currently don't do enough for kids who experience sexual violence if we don't support them therapeutically and they accumulate compounding traumas." Lifeline 13 11 14 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Violence intervention, prevention and support services are being urged to be alert to the specific needs and experiences of LGBTQI people following a landmark study on the impact of sexual violence. Almost 3200 LGBTQI people participated in the national survey on experiences of sexual violence, making it the largest of its kind in Australia and internationally. Most of those who took part were cisgender women (41.1 per cent) followed by cisgender men (30.9 per cent) and people who identified as non-binary (18 per cent). More than 400 respondents identified themselves as First Nations Australians. The study found unwanted sexual requests or comments were common (74.1 per cent), with cisgender men reporting the lowest rates. Transgender women and men were more likely to report being targeted due to their gender or sexuality. More than half of those surveyed said they had experienced sexual violence in childhood and adulthood. The majority of people who disclosed said the experience had been before they were 18 or more than five years ago. The findings suggested many LGBTQI people were carrying a significant burden of sexual violence, often for a long time, lead investigator Michael Salter said. "This is important from a service provision point of view … people have been carrying something with them for a long time and need sensitivity to that," he said. There were also elevated incidents in the previous 12 months among cisgender men and transgender women surveyed. "This suggests people who engage sexually with cisgender men in their adult life are more at risk of sexual violence," Professor Salter said. Fewer than 40 per cent of cisgender men disclosed their experiences of sexual violence. However, those who did were most satisfied with the response compared to other members of the LGBTQI community. The survey also highlighted the proactive stance of most LGBTQI people in intervening in situations of sexual risk and danger to others. This strongly suggested that community norms were a pivotal resource to include in future sexual violence prevention efforts. The survey indicated policymakers needed to do more to ensure that sexual violence intervention and prevention measures acknowledged people were part of the LGBTQI community, Prof Salter said. "We also need to hold space for young people figuring out their gender identity and sexual orientation," he said. "We currently don't do enough for kids who experience sexual violence if we don't support them therapeutically and they accumulate compounding traumas." Lifeline 13 11 14 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
