ANZ closes money-back platform Cashrewards
Jonathan Barrett
ANZ has abruptly closed its Cashrewards business, with the money-back platform ceasing operations today.
The business, part of the ANZ-owned venture capital business 1835i, gave members some cash back on purchases made through partner retailers.
Cash back businesses usually make their money through commissions from retailers when customers use their deals, vouchers and promo codes to make purchases.
A note on the Cashrewards site said that from midday, the platform “ceased making offers available on its website, app and notifier”.
ANZ and 1835i were contacted for comment.
Updated at 03.25 EDT
Key events
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Shark near Manly was up to 2.7 metres long
As we reported earlier, a great white shark was detected off Sydney’s Manly Beach earlier today. The New South Wales government has now confirmed the shark was detected at 10.51am and told us more about the shark.
The White shark was first caught and tagged at Diggers Beach in Coffs Harbour in September 2023, where it was assigned the name #2020, according to a spokesperson for the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
It was 2.03 metres long at that time but scientists from the department estimate it would not be 2.5 to 2.7 metres in length. The White shark that attacked a man at Dee Why on Saturday had been larger than that, the spokesperson said.
Former priest charged with historical child sexual assault offences
A 82-year-old former priest will face court on Tuesday after being arrested and charged with historical sexual assault offences.
Police in the state’s mid-north coast began investigating in April after receiving a report alleging historical sexual assault offences between 1982 and 1984 at a church in the northern Riverina region of western NSW.
The 82-year-old was arrested at a home in Newcastle on Monday morning and taken to Newcastle Police station, police said.
The man was refused bail. He has been charged with five counts of sexual assault and indecent act with person under 16 years of age and two counts of sexual assault, person under 16 years of age.
Updated at 03.33 EDT
Tom McIlroy
New head appointed to department of finance
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has named Matt Yannopoulos as the new boss of the department of finance. He replaces the former secretary, Jenny Wilkinson, who moved to Treasury earlier this year.
Yannopoulos has previously worked as an associate secretary at the defence department, since 2021. Prior to that he was in the budget and financial reporting unit at Finance. Announcing his appointment, Albanese said:
As an experienced senior leader within the Australian Public Service, Mr Yannopoulos brings diverse experience to the position.
In January 2019, Mr Yannopoulos was awarded a Public Service Medal for his substantial achievements as Deputy Secretary, Senior Responsible Officer for the Child Care Reform Implementation at the Department of Education.
Yannopoulos’ five-year term will start on 29 September.
ShareTom McIlroy
Finance minister welcomes new head of department
The minister for finance, Katy Gallagher, has welcomed Matt Yannopoulos’ appointment to lead her department.
Gallagher said in a statement:
Mr Yannopoulos brings extensive experience and a deep understanding of public sector governance, budget management and delivering outcomes for the Australian community.
His leadership will be critical as the Department continues its vital work supporting the Government’s priorities and ensuring strong, sustainable public finances.
I look forward to working closely with Matt and the Department’s senior leadership team as we continue the important work of delivering responsible budgets, investing in Australia’s future, and strengthening our economy.
As we reported earlier, Yannopolous has succeeded Jenny Wilkinson, who is now heading up the Treasury.
ShareANZ closes money-back platform CashrewardsJonathan Barrett
ANZ has abruptly closed its Cashrewards business, with the money-back platform ceasing operations today.
The business, part of the ANZ-owned venture capital business 1835i, gave members some cash back on purchases made through partner retailers.
Cash back businesses usually make their money through commissions from retailers when customers use their deals, vouchers and promo codes to make purchases.
A note on the Cashrewards site said that from midday, the platform “ceased making offers available on its website, app and notifier”.
ANZ and 1835i were contacted for comment.
Updated at 03.25 EDT
Hawke says he has wide support for call for Nampijinpa Price to apologise
Liberal MP Alex Hawke has said he has heard wide support for his calls for Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to apologise for her claims about Indian immigration to Australia.
Hawke, the Coalition’s manager of opposition business, said no one other than Price had contacted him to express anger over his criticism of the senator’s remarks. He told the ABC:
People have contacted me and supported the idea that Jacinta should issue an apology because the issue is still developing and going very badly.
Nobody contacted me and said ‘I have a problem with anything you have done’. I have been clear with my colleagues about what happened and they accept my point of view.
Hawke said he had not heard any suggestion Price would lose her senior position as a shadow minister and declined to directly answer whether her comments could harm her future leadership ambitions
She will stay. I’ve heard no suggestion to the contrary … [but] there’s ongoing harm.
I think if anyone wants to … be a leader in this country, we have to accept the modern multicultural society we have built.
Price has so far refused to apologise for her claims about Indian migration to Australia. Appearing on ABC’s Insiders on Sunday, Ley also refused to apologise on behalf of the Northern Territory senator and the Liberal party. Read more here:
Updated at 03.01 EDT
Alex Hawke says speculation about his call to Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s office ‘sounds like total gossip’
Alex Hawke has described claims his phone call to Jacinta Nampinjpa Price’s office lasted several minutes as “total gossip” and denied it was directed by Liberal leader Sussan Ley.
Hawke said his intervention was prompted by concerns heard from his community and people around the country. He said:
“I called in to assist and equally provide advice around what I thought was quite sensible to do: a short and sharp apology. These things nipped in the bud.
Price on Sunday accused Hawke of suggesting Price could “end up like another female member of the Coalition” in a call to her office, shortly after she made remarks about the Indian Australian community on the ABC on Wednesday.
Asked about claims he had referenced Hume or her post-election demotion from the frontbench, Hawke denied he had referenced Hume.
Hawke claimed the call, made to Price’s staffer, was only a couple of minutes long and rejected suggestions the call was longer.
Sounds like total gossip. I’m on one end, somebody on another end, it was an unplanned and unexpected call, I won’t go into that gossip and stupidity.
Asked about claims he berated the staffer, Hawke declined to discuss the specifics of the call.
Updated at 02.43 EDT
Liberal MP says Indians face more racism after Liberal senator’s comments
Alex Hawke has said South Asian Australians have faced more racism since Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s comments about Indian immigration.
Hawke, who at first privately and then publicly called for Price to apologise, said he had seen heightened racial targeting of the community in the days since Price’s remarks made on the ABC.
Hawke, the shadow industry minister, told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing:
I have heard from the community around Australia, different communities and the South Asian community, not just Indian community, saying there is more targeting of them since the comments were made.
When specifically asked, Hawke confirmed that he believed the Indian Australian community had faced a greater level of racism since Price’s comments on Wednesday. He said he believed Price did not intend for the remark to sound racist but said “it came out awkwardly”:
I don’t think Jacinta went on with the intention of singling out the community. She has walked aback but in the process has been a lot of commentary on the Indian Australian community and that is not helpful. It is a time to get the apology and move on.
Alex Hawke and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 02.40 EDT
Caitlin Cassidy
Universities’ early offers hit record high
Early offer applications to the University Admissions Centre (UAC) have reached a record high as Year 12 students increasingly bypass Atar entry admissions.
UAC processes tertiary education applications at around 30 universities, mostly in New South Wales and the ACT, and calculates Atar scores.
Nearly 28,000 students lodged an application for the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) when applications closed on Friday via UAC, the body revealed today, a 3.3% increase on last year’s record intake.
SRS allows universities to make early offers of admission based on criteria other than, or in addition to, the Atar, including Year 11 studies and school references. Around 15,000 SRS offers were made last year, up from 14,000 in 2023.
UAC spokesperson Peter Gangemi said the number of applications showed school leavers had a “significant appetite for university study”.
The first SRS offers will be released on 13 November.
Updated at 02.09 EDT
Auction activity holding steady into spring
The winter chill on home sales is lifting, with the first week of September seeing over 2,000 properties taken to auction across the capital cities – the third straight week with volumes that high.
More than 2,400 homes will go to auction this week and about 2,600 next week, according to data released today from property analytics firm Cotality.
Limited numbers of home sales in recent months have pushed up the rate of successful auctions. The preliminary clearance rate held at or above 75% for the fourth consecutive week last week, indicating buyers have grown more desperate to purchase available homes.
That preliminary rate has fallen since the last week of August, when it was 76.3%, in a sign the rising volume of homes could be easing buyers’ urgency. The hottest market, Sydney recorded a preliminary rate of over 80% two weeks ago but 78% last week.