Latest news with #Queenslander
Sydney Morning Herald
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Former Queensland minister Rod Welford dies
Former Queensland minister Rod Welford, who served in the state parliament during the Goss, Beattie and Bligh Labor governments from 1989 to 2009, has died. Labor luminaries including current state leader and former premier Steven Miles and Senator Murray Watt paid tribute to Welford on social media on Saturday. 'Rod was a legend in everything he did – as a terrific Labor MP and minister, but as a Queenslander and a mate too,' Miles wrote on Facebook. 'He was a change agent, never satisfied unless he was working on reform. 'Rod had a lifelong passion for protecting our natural heritage, culminating in the creation of the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency under his watch.' Federal Environment Minister Watt, himself a former state MP who succeeded Welford in the Brisbane seat of Everton, spoke of Welford's commitment to environmental protection both during and after his time in government. 'Rod lived his passion for social justice and protecting our natural environment every day – before, during and after his long and successful Parliamentary and Ministerial service,' Watt wrote. 'His working life delivered lasting reforms that he and every Labor supporter were rightly proud of. He continued making a difference after politics, especially on energy efficiency and other environmental goals.' Welford was first elected in the seat of Stafford in 1989 before switching to Everton at the 1992 election following the former seat's temporary abolition in a redistribution.
The Age
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
Former Queensland minister Rod Welford dies
Former Queensland minister Rod Welford, who served during the Goss, Beattie and Bligh Labor governments from 1989 to 2009, has died. Labor luminaries including current state leader and former premier Steven Miles and Senator Murray Watt paid tribute to Welford on social media on Saturday. 'Rod was a legend in everything he did – as a terrific Labor MP and Minister, but as a Queenslander and a mate too,' Miles wrote on Facebook. 'He was a change agent, never satisfied unless he was working on reform. 'Rod had a lifelong passion for protecting our natural heritage, culminating in the creation of the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency under his watch.' Federal Environment Minister Watt, himself a former state MP who succeeded Welford in the Brisbane seat of Everton, spoke of Welford's commitment to environmental protection both during and after his time in government. 'Rod lived his passion for social justice and protecting our natural environment every day – before, during and after his long and successful Parliamentary and Ministerial service,' Watt wrote. 'His working life delivered lasting reforms that he and every Labor supporter were rightly proud of. He continued making a difference after politics, especially on energy efficiency and other environmental goals.' Welford was first elected in the seat of Stafford in 1989 before switching to Everton at the 1992 election following the former seat's temporary abolition in a redistribution.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussies discover simple money trick to $1,400 cash boost: 'Need it so bad'
Australians are being urged to check out the state and federal tools that can reunite them or their loved ones with money that's just gathering dust. Every jurisdiction has its own unclaimed money register, and there is a lot of cash waiting to be grabbed. While each site might look a little different, you only need to type in your last name, your suburb, and your organisation name (if applicable) and it will show whether you're owed any money. Queenslander Renee Gracie tried it and was shocked to see she had $142 in her name. "I clicked on how to claim, and it makes you fill out a form, you submit it, and they give you the money back," she said. RELATED $20 billion in Medicare and ATO superannuation waiting to claimed by Aussies ATO issues July 1 warning to Aussies waiting on $1,500 tax refunds Centrelink $836 cash boost for 'very real' truth facing thousands of Aussies "It's a good little hack. Highly recommend for whatever state you're in... and see if you are owed any money." The unclaimed money has many origins. Some are from dividends, unpresented cheques, superannuation, deposits, a payment or overpayment, refund, trust funds, and other sources. They can also stretch back decades, with a search through NSW's records showing money from the '90s and '80s popping $142 might not sound like much, there are much bigger cash piles waiting to be claimed. People who checked their state or territory registries were blown away by the money that was in their names. "Owed $1,000 from an insurance company. Winner winner," said one Aussie. "Nothing for me but I found $410 for my partner and $530 for my dad! Owed from 1981," added another. "Apparently I'm owed $950, I need it so bad," wrote a third. A fourth commented: "I found 6 figures in total for 5 family members $1,400 for myself I was just amazed." There is a federal register as well as one for every state and territory. Usually, you'll have to lodge a claim against the money and upload certain identity or personal documents in order to claim the cash: New South Wales: Revenue NSW Victoria: State Revenue Office (SRO) Queensland: Public Trustee of QLD South Australia: Treasury and Finance SA Western Australia: WA Treasury Tasmania: Department of Treasury and Finance Australian Capital Territory: Public Trustee and Guardian Northern Territory: Territory Revenue Office/Public Trustee National: Moneysmart In a word — billions. It could be unclaimed superannuation, leftover money in a bank account, life insurance, or any other type of cash that didn't know where to go when it couldn't find its rightful owner. "Under the unclaimed money laws, organisations are required to send unclaimed money to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)," the Moneysmart website states. "ASIC maintains the unclaimed money records and assists in the process to reunite unclaimed money to the rightful owners. "Unclaimed money sent to ASIC is transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia Consolidated Revenue Fund." According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), there's $16 billion just in unclaimed super. So, it's worth checking your name, and your family and loved ones names, just in case they have some cash lying in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Perth Now
a day ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
A last-16 hot date at Wimbledon? Demon's not Djok-ing
Alex de Minaur has been put on a collision course to face Novak Djokovic in the last 16 at Wimbledon after the draw threw up the intriguing prospect of the pair enjoying the duel that got away last year. The duo were scheduled to meet in the quarter-finals in 2024, but de Minaur had to pull out with a hip injury he had suffered at the end of his last-16 match against Arthur Fils. This year they are due to meet in the fourth round, if de Minaur negotiates a fairly kind-looking route, up against Spanish clay-court battler Roberto Carballes Baena in his opener and possibly meeting fellow Aussie Adam Walton in the second round if the Queenslander can beat French qualifier Arthur Cazaux first-up. De Minaur looks the best hope among the 17-strong Australian singles battalion at Wimbledon, the biggest green-and-gold contingent at a single Championships for 30 years. Talia Gibson, the 21-year-old from Perth who saved a match point in her final qualifying round before progressing to her first Wimbledon, has been handed perhaps the biggest glamour draw against Naomi Osaka, the four-time grand slam champ from Japan who in May won her first tournament since her return from a maternity break. Priscilla Hon, another Aussie who saved match points on Thursday en route to her maiden Wimbledon appearance, also has a tough task, up against 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. Maya Joint, the US-born teenager who's enjoying another breakthrough week by reaching her first grass-coiurt semi-final at Eastbourne, has been handed a tough opener against Russian Liudmila Samsonova, the 19th seed who reached the semi-finals at the Berlin Open last week. In her first Wimbledon representing Australia, Daria Kasatkina, the 16th seed, should beat Colombian Emiliana Arango in the opening round, while Alex Bolt's daunting reward for getting through qualifying to make his fourth main-draw appearance will be a brutal examination from American 10th seed Ben Shelton. One intriguing tennis "Ashes'' clash will see 20th seed Alexei Popyrin tackling British wildcard Arthur Fery. Men's champion Carlos Alcaraz kicks off his title defence against the old Italian swashbuckler Fabio Fognini, and world No.1 Jannik Sinner plays on Tuesday against fellow Italian Luca Nardi. Women's champion Barbora Krejcikova, currently looking an injury doubt, opens her defence on Tuesday on Centre Court against Flilipino Alexandra Eala, and top seed Aryna Sabalenka starts against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine. WHO THE AUSTRALIANS FACE IN WIMBLEDON FIRST ROUND (prefix number denotes seeding) (Q = qualifier) (WC = wildcard) MEN (11) Alex de Minaur v Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) (20) Alexei Popyrin v (WC) Arthur Fery (GBR) Jordan Thompson v Vit Kopriva (CZE) Aleksandar Vukic v Chun-Hsin Tseng (TPE) Rinky Hijikata v David Goffin (BEL) Chris O'Connell v (Q) Adrian Mannarino (FRA) Adam Walton v (Q) Arthur Cazaux (FRA) James Duckworth v (25) Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) James McCabe (Q) v Fabian Marozsan (HUN) Alex Bolt (Q) v (10) Ben Shelton (USA) WOMEN (16) Daria Kasatkina v Emiliana Arango (COL) Kim Birrell v (22) Donna Vekic (CRO) Maya Joint v (19) Liudmila Samsonova (RUS) Ajla Tomljanovic v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) Olivia Gadecki v Greet Minnen (BEL) Talia Gibson (Q) v Naomi Osaka (JPN) Priscilla Hon (Q) v (18) Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS)
Perth Now
a day ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Sporting dream now real life for giant Aussie teen: ‘We're fired up'
Australian teenager Rocco Zikarsky will start his NBA career at Minnesota, having been recruited with pick No.45 in the draft. Zikarsky, Australian basketball's next big thing who is 2.2 metres tall, was one of four players from the NBL's Next Star program to declare for the draft. The 18-year-old, who hails from the Sunshine Coast and completed two NBL seasons with Brisbane, was overlooked on the first night of the event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. But Zikarsky was snapped up with the 15th pick of the second round, which Chicago had traded to by the Timberwolves. Fellow Australians Tyrese Proctor, Alex Toohey and Lachlan Olbrich were drafted soon after. Zikarsky and his family were all dressed up for the draft. Credit: Supplied The 18-year-old Queenslander was the tallest player in this year's draft pool. Credit: Supplied Proctor went to the Cleveland Cavaliers with pick No.49, while Sydney Kings talent Toohey will link up with superstar Steph Curry after being selected by Golden State with pick No.52. Illawarra Hawk Olbrich (pick No.55) will join compatriot Josh Giddey at Chicago. It is the first time since 1997 that four Australians have been taken in the same NBA draft (in 1997 it was Chris Anstey, Paul Rogers, Ben Pepper, and C.J. Bruton). In this year's draft, Zikarsky was the tallest player and his new club thought he was a potential first-round pick. Timberwolves president Tim Connelly was thrilled his club was able to land the young gun. 'We're super lucky to add Rocco Zikarsky, 18-year-old kid out of Brisbane, you know, seven foot three, no shoes, was a very good competitive swimmer, I think, near Olympic level prior to getting into basketball.,' he said. 'So we're fired up. 'I think he's certainly a long-term player, but a guy who trained locally, so he has an appreciation for Minnesota. 'We had him a much higher on the board. And again, it's fun to add young players with that energy, and we're fired up.' Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence coach Robbie McKinlay oversaw the development of the young Australians stars. 'To be spoken about as a future NBA prospect, any player needs to have an elite combination of physical tools, skill, and basketball IQ — and all four tick those boxes,' McKinlay said. 'Rocco obviously has size, agility, and terrific defensive instincts and continues to expand an impressive offensive game. 'Tyrese has had an elite basketball education — from his local club at Sutherland to the NBA Global Academy and, of course, Duke University. '(He's) a floor leader, elite shooter, and versatile defender ... and (already) shown he is a big-game player. 'Alex is such a versatile player at both ends of the floor and fits perfectly in the 'positionless' trend of the global game. You saw in the NBL with the Kings that he has the ability to make big plays and is an explosive athlete in the open court. 'And Lachlan showed in the Hawks' NBL title run that he is a fierce competitor with the ability to play inside and on the perimeter, and guard multiple positions.' The 2025 quartet will report to NBA camps from October 1, joining a strong Australian contingent. Fourteen Australians were on NBA rosters this past season.
