News Archive for July 2014

Retail and hospitality workers around the country come Friday 1 August will be dropping the catchphrase "Do you want to sign or use a pin?" at the point of sale as the new rules banning signature payments for credit card and debit card transactions come into effect.

Independent Senator for South Australia, Nick Xenophon thinks so, stating he will introduce legislative changes to parliament urging for first home buyers to be able to access super to pay for a house deposit.

In an initiative dubbed PINwise, credit and debit card signatures will be replaced by PINs at the point of sale in Australia from Friday.

Research released today by the Australian Human Rights Commission highlighted pregnancy discrimination is widespread with one in two mothers experiencing discrimination in the workplace at some point during their pregnancy, parental leave or when returning to work.

After announcing its first smartphone dubbed the “Fire phone” a few weeks ago, Amazon has now launched its own digital wallet to US consumers.

29% of house fire claims over 2013 were a result of home fires that started in the kitchen, revealed RACV Insurance.

As Aussies partake in the popular “Dry July” fundraiser to take a break from the binge drinking culture, research by Roy Morgan has highlighted overall we are drinking and smoking less.

As Visa payWave, MasterCard PayPass and AMEX Contactless cards increase in popularity, Coles has launched its own contactless payment technology called “Coles Mobile Wallet”, supported by MasterCard for iPhone and Android users.

For the first half of 2014 Melbourne has been in the grip of an auction fever and is expected to increase this week ending 13 July, according to RP Data.

Do you have big dreams but no money to fund it? AMP's ‘Tomorrow Fund’ program will seek to give away up to $1 million to talented and determined Australians who need a bit of a helping hand, as new research by AMP and Newspoll showed 60% of Australians say money has stopped them pursuing their dream.

Global booking giant Expedia has made a multimillion-dollar takeover bid to purchase Australia’s Wotif.com.

A new report released by Victoria’s Fire Services Levy Monitor, Professor Allan Fels finds Australian consumers are in the “dark” over how insurance companies arrive at prices.

Qantas has begun direct services between Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef Airport, after visitor spending in the Whitsundays region grew by 14% to $706 million last year, said eGlobal Travel Media.

RP Data found for the first time in 12 months, dwelling values across Australia’s capital cities showed a monthly fall by dropping 1.9% in May.