Author: info@thewitness.com.au

Hazlehurst revealed that Services Australia had already used automated technology systems to update the status of JobSeeker claims’ future appointments, saving 6566 staff hours a year.Services Australia was at the centre of the robo-debt controversy, which has cost taxpayers almost $2.5 billion in compensation, repayments and cancelled debts.Hazlehurst said the agency wanted to glean more information from the Tax Office so that people had to supply information only once, rather than on multiple occasions.“A key challenge for the agency is administering legislation that is complex and often inconsistent, hindering a digitally enabled service environment, information sharing and automated decision-making,” he…

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks to the Economic Club of New York in New York City, US, October 21, 2024. —ReutersIndian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced sweeping cuts to the goods and services tax (GST) on Wednesday, targeting hundreds of everyday products, from soap and toothpaste to small cars and televisions, in an attempt to fire up local demand as US tariffs weigh on the economy.The goods and services tax panel approved lowering taxes on everyday items and simplifying their structure, Sitharaman, who heads the panel that includes ministers from all states, told a late-night press conference.The GST was…

Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner exude happiness in recent outing Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner enjoy weekend with their kids.The duo shares three children, Seraphina, Samuel, and Violet, were spotted on a movie outing in Los Angeles with their kids and Affleck’s mother, Chris. The relaxed and casual atmosphere of the evening spoke volumes about the strength of their co-parenting bond and their commitment to prioritizing their children’s well-being. The group was seen arriving at the Moving Arts Theatre, with Affleck confidently leading the way in a navy hoodie and tan pants, while Garner followed with warmth in a striped sweater…

Video: Police ramp up efforts in manhunt for Dezi FreemanPolice ramp up efforts in manhunt for Dezi FreemanWe’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.DismissSkip to sections navigationSkip to contentSkip to footerPolice have ramped up their movements in the hunt for accused double murderer Dezi Freeman.September 7, 2025 — 7.50pm

The Bulldogs’ mid-season slide and week-one finals plight is especially instructive.Where 21 years ago Steve Folkes repurposed the rugby league bench by bringing a teenage Sonny Bill Williams on as a genuine game-breaker in Canterbury’s last premiership, this season, numbers 14 through 18 (in case of HIA activation) loom more critical than ever.NRL bench selections and team composition for finals take on Origin-level importance given the increased ball-in-play, fatigue and quality of opposition.Shuffling a back-rower or dismantling a playmaking spine to cover – as Canterbury did to cover Bronson Xerri’s concussion against Cronulla – is less likely to fly because…

Google’s new Pixel 10 line-up is a very impressive range of smartphones, with refined looks, a smooth version of Android 16, seven-year support, great displays and excellent cameras (including a telephoto on the standard non-Pro version for the first time). But as usual, the buzziest selling points are all about AI.From the latest Gemini models to new computational photography methods, Google is selling the Pixel 10 as the smartest smartphone you can get. So, how well do these features work?The Pixel 10 phones are filled with Google’s latest AI features.Magic CueEver since the Pixel 2 and its At a Glance…

When Okan the bear sat down to a meal of seasonal fruits at a wildlife centre in Turkey last week, he forgot to check that his portion size was “just right”.The 90-kilogram bear overindulged, according to CNN affiliate CNN Turk, and was taken to Istanbul University’s Cerrahpasa Faculty of Veterinary Medicine with stomach pains.Three-year-old Okan the bear having an MRI.Credit: ScreenshotFootage of Okan tethered to a stretcher and undergoing an MRI went viral last week.“Our veterinarian at Cekmekoy Rehabilitation Centre immediately noticed tenderness in Okan’s stomach area,” CNN Turk quoted Park of Istanbul Nature and Life Complex board chairman Burak…

“He even pressed my staff that if I did not comply with his requests, I may end up like another female member of the Coalition – who I won’t name,” she wrote.Sources familiar with the conversation, but not authorised to speak publicly, said it referred to former opposition frontbencher Jane Hume’s “Chinese spy” comments spreading quickly on social media during the election campaign.Price says she sent Hawke a WhatsApp message “to call out his cowardly and inappropriate conduct”.“Only after that message did Alex Hawke and I speak on Thursday evening,” she wrote. “If people want to talk about a so-called…

Banks are already complaining – hardly surprising given they stand to lose an estimated $900 million in revenue as a result of the plan. Banks warn that the Reserve Bank is moving more aggressively than other countries in cutting interchange fees, while claiming it is underestimating the cost of providing a reliable payment network. If they are to lose $900 million in revenue, banks say they may need to respond by raising credit interest rates and fees, or devaluing reward points.There is a precedent for this: banks hacked back the value of credit card loyalty schemes last decade as card…

Dua Lipa kicks off U.S. tour with a surprise guestDua Lipa made fans go wild after a legendary singer-songwriter joined her at the opening U.S. concert of her Radical Optimism World Tour.On Friday, September 5, the Levitating hitmaker treated the concert goers with a 22-song setlist and a special guest named Chaka Khan, whose real name is Yvette Marie Stevens. Halfway through her performance, the Grammy winner invited the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus with fans welcoming her with loud cheers. Known as the Queen of Funk, Khan and Lipa, dressed in a sparkly black coat with feathered…