Qantas faces hefty bill after $170k ruling, CCTV released in Hamas graffiti search: Australia news live

Plus read all the latest following Commonwealth's horror glitch that left plenty of customers out of pocket.

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Yahoo's live news blog for Monday, October 21 has now concluded. Close to 1,700 Qantas staff are in line for big compensation payouts following a decision today after it was found they were illegally sacked at the beginning of the Covid-19.

Police have released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to after several Sydney beaches were targeted with Hamas graffiti.

The search is on for two mystery winners who've pocketed a cool one million dollars each over the weekend.

Horror stories from Commonwealth's double charge glitch over the weekend are emerging, with one customer reportedly being charged twice for a $57,000 transaction.

See all of the day's updates below.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER18 updates
  • Cockatoo stuck in Coles, shopping centre for weeks

    Coles has responded to reports a cockatoo has been trapped inside one of its Sydney stores for weeks on end.

    The supermarket told Yahoo News Australia in a statement that while the bird has been inside the store, it has been coming and going and is currently in another section of Macarthur Square shopping centre in Campbelltown.

    Assignment Freelance Picture Mickey the cockatoo remains trapped in a Coles supermarket in
 Macarthur Square. Picture: Supplied/2GB
    The bird has been nicknamed Mickey. Source: NCA NewsWire/ 2GB

    "When the bird has entered our store over the past few weeks, our team along with external expert wildlife and bird management organisations have been working extremely hard to safely and importantly, humanely relocate the cockatoo to where it belongs, in the outdoors," a spokesperson said.

    "We are working hard to balance our responsibility around food safety and animal welfare. While this friendly cockatoo is making himself at home in-store, we want our products to be enjoyed by our customers without any food safety issues."

    WIRES says due to the large food supply and high ceilings, it is proving near-impossible to capture the cockatoo for safe release.

    Assignment Freelance Picture Mickey the cockatoo remains trapped in a Coles supermarket in\n Macarthur Square. Picture: Supplied/2GB
    Mickey pictured above cereal inside Coles. Source: NCA NewsWire/ 2GB
  • King Charles' unusual visitor

    And returning to King Charles' Australia visit, how's this for a photo.

    An alpaca named Hephner came to see the Monarch as he visited the War Memorial in Canberra today.

    King Charles gives Hephner a little stroke. Source: AAP
    King Charles gives Hephner a little stroke. Source: AAP
  • Woman wins $1.2 million in 'one-off' lottery ticket purchase

    A woman who says she bought a lottery ticket in a "one-off" purchase has landed more than $1.2 million.

    The Gympie resident was one of four division one winners in Saturday's Gold Lotto and can thank her mother for the life-changing win.

    “My mum is really into star signs, and she told me that I should purchase a lottery ticket because it’s in a lucky period. I don’t purchase tickets regularly; this is a one-off," she told lottery officials.

    “This is insane. I’m in shock."

    Fair play to her.

  • King Charles hails 'remarkable' Australia

    King Charles has been at Parliament House today where he has just addressed attendees of the reception held in the Great Hall.

    He called Australia's economic growth "remarkable" and praised the country for its diversity.

    "The character of this country and its people is hardly more vivid than when both are tested by disaster," King Charles said.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier said King Charles had been taken into Australian hearts, "just as you have taken us into yours".

    Anthony Albanese stands by King Charles' side as he and Queen Camilla sign a guest book at Parliament House. Source: AAP
    Anthony Albanese stands by King Charles' side as he and Queen Camilla sign a guest book at Parliament House. Source: AAP
  • Surfer killed as swordfish 'impales her chest'

    We take you to a shocking story now where a surfer has died after she was speared by a swordfish.

    Italian Giulia Manfrini, 36, was riding a wave off of Indonesia's Masokut Island when the swordfish leapt out of the water and struck her in the chest, according to witnesses.

    Tributes have poured in for Manfrini who has a sizeable following on social media.

    Read more here.

  • NZ airport puts cap on hugging time

    Well this sign has caused a bit of a stir and has now made headlines around the world.

    New Zealand's Dunedin Airport has put a time limit on hugs it appears, urging people at drop-off areas to pay for parking if they're going to be over three minutes.

    While some online have branded it "inhumane", others appreciated the softer approach than signs that simply threaten a fine.

    CEO Daniel De Bono told Radio New Zealand people were "spending too much time on their fonder farewells", leaving no space for others in what is already a limited space.

  • Police share images after Hamas graffiti

    Police have released CCTV stills of a man they want to speak to in relation to the Hamas graffiti at several Sydney beaches overnight.

    Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama were all impacted with police now seeking the help of the public to identify the mystery man seen wearing a blue face mask and grey beanie.

    See the images shared below.

  • Temperatures surging in Australia's south

    Australia's south is due to get a burst of summer-like heat across the next two days as a warm air mass is being driven south.

    Temperatures in Adelaide today could reach 30C and some parts of SA's west could tip over 40C, prompting fire warnings, Weatherzone reports.

    The hotter air will then be forced southeast, with Melbourne expected to reach 29C tomorrow while Hobart could hit 25C, well above the average temperatures for this time of year.

    And Weatherzone warned while this burst may not spark a huge fire threat, it could prove destructive later on.

    "While this two-day pulse of warm weather is not going to cause catastrophic fire danger, these spells of early-season heat can help dry out vegetation to create more fuel for fires in the summer months," meteorologist Ben Domensino said.

  • Telstra and Optus calling time on 3G this week

    Telstra and Optus will wave goodbye to 3G this week but there's an estimated 59,000 devices in use that are facing being shut off if they're not upgraded.

    The telcos says there has been ample warning, and Optus said customers struggling financially can take up a contract that offers a free handset.

    To see if your device is one of the impacted phones, text the number 3 to 3498 from the device you believe is impacted.

    Read more here.

  • Where do all the forks go?

    A change of pace now, and we take you ta story that certainly got people talking last week and it's probably a problem you've faced yourself in your workplace.

    Just where do all the forks go? Take a look in your office cutlery drawer. There's a good chance there are plenty of knives and a good selection of spoons, but you'll often find the forks are struggling for numbers. As one Auckland hostel and bar owner pointed out to Radio New Zealand... "it's always forks".

    The station's deep dive led them to a 2020 investigation by the chief medical officer of the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Dr Mark Mattiussi, yet their research was inconclusive.

    So where do the forks end up? There's plenty of theories out there so have your say below.

  • Qantas facing hefty compensation bill over sacked workers

    Qantas could be facing a huge bill after the airline was told in court to pay three ex-employees $170,000.

    On Monday, Justice Michael Lee ordered Qantas pay $170,000 to three individuals who were used as test cases during a lengthy hearing in March and May. Close to 1,700 workers were previously found to have been unlawfully fired by Qantas.

    In July 2021, the judge found the lay-offs were designed to deprive workers of being able to bargain for a new enterprise agreement and, as such, contravened employment law.

    The amounts these workers receive is hoped to form the basis for the total amount that Qantas agrees to pay the affected staff in future negotiations with the TWU.

    Read more here.

  • Coles and Woolworths shoppers could claim $5k over alleged tactics

    A leading lawyer believes if the big two supermarkets are found to have deceived shoppers with their pricing tactics, households could claim up to $5,000 back.

    Carter Capner Law director Peter Carter said he was taken aback by the number of shoppers who have been in touch over the alleged tactics of Coles and Woolworths, and is investigating whether a class action against them is warranted alongside the ACCC's legal action against them.

    “Early estimates suggest that households could claim between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the amount spent and the impact of the deceptive pricing,” he said.

  • HAMAS graffiti appears in Bondi and surrounding suburbs

    Police are investigating the spraying of graffiti with the word
    Two huts in Bronte pictured with the markings. Source: NCA NewsWire

    Police are investigating after the word HAMAS was spray painted on beachside structures in Sydney last night.

    Hamas is the name of the militant Islamic movement in the Middle East currently engaged in a war against Israel.

    The markings were discovered in Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama, suburbs which have a large Jewish population.

    Red tape has been placed over the graffiti by council rangers and will be painted over.

    Police are investigating the spraying of graffiti with the word
    Police are investigating the incident. Source: NCA NewsWire
  • Banning mobile phones at schools 'right call'

    A decision to ban mobile phones in thousands of public school classrooms has been hailed a success.

    The NSW government's decision in 2023 has improved student learning and concentration and encouraged young people to socialise more.

    An Education Department survey of almost 1000 public school principals found huge support for the ban, with 95 per cent reporting positive results.

    "One year in it's clear, this was the right decision," Premier Chris Minns said in a statement on Monday.

    Read more here.

  • King Charles' visit 'a moment in history'

    King Charles has, as expected, faced some heckling during the early stages of his latest Australia tour but a leading royal commentator believes an overwhelming majority want to meet him.

    While this is his 17th visit to Australia, it's his first as King.

    "I think people want to meet him, it’s a moment in history," royal commentator Juliet Rieden told ABC News Breakfast on Monday.

    King Charles will be in Canberra today and will return to Sydney tomorrow before greeting thousands at the Sydney Opera House.

    Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla greet well wishers as they leave St Thomas' Anglican Church in Sydney, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (Dean Lewins/Pool Photo via AP)
    Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla greet well wishers as they leave St Thomas' Anglican Church in Sydney, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (Dean Lewins/Pool Photo via AP)
  • Customer's horror $57k ordeal as Commonwealth slammed over glitch

    One Commonwealth customer has claimed they were charged twice for a $57,000 transaction as part of the bank's horror glitch that left many with doubled-up transactions.

    Many bemoaned the glitch occurred as they made big transactions, sending some into the red and unable to make important payments or purchases. But one person was left missing $57,000 after claiming they were charged twice for surgery, The Australian reported.

    The bank has apologised over the glitch but many are now calling for compensation.

    Read more from Yahoo Finance here.

  • Two $1 million lottery prizes go unclaimed

    Lottery officials are urging residents in two states to check their tickets as two prizes of more than $1 million remain unclaimed.

    Anyone in NSW's Mildura or Tasmania's Bicheno who had a ticket in Saturday's TattsLotto draw have a good chance of landing a life-changing sum of money.

    Two of the four winning entries that claimed $1.264,652 were not registered to a player card, meaning officials from The Lott have no way of notifying the ticket holders of their win and instead must wait for them to check their ticket and come forward.

  • Hundreds of sacked Qantas workers near compensation

    Close to 1,700 illegally sacked Qantas workers will move a step closer to compensation today as a federal court judge will hand down a decision on their recompense.

    The Transport Workers' Union has pursued Qantas in the Federal Court after the company decided to outsource ground staff jobs in November 2020.

    "This is all about justice for a group of workers who did absolutely nothing wrong who have frankly been to hell and back," Sam McIntosh from the Transport Workers’ union told ABC News Breakfast this morning.

    Read more here.

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