Dig deep: The future of data centres in Australia
Lane Cove is a pretty, leafy corner of Sydney. It is also a flashpoint of the increasingly ugly battle over data centres. With five built, approved or in the planning stage in the North Shore suburb, residents fear their community – named one of Australia’s most liveable in 2025 – will be lost to the artificial intelligence (AI) monoliths.
Lift the winter weight: Energy hardship support
If you have been lying awake worrying about how to pay your next electricity or gas bill, take a few deep breaths. There is a network of energy hardship support available across Australia, from government grants and concessions to formal payment plans with your retailer.
Cold comfort: Managing energy bills this winter
As the temperatures drop, the cost of keeping warm adds to the stress in already stretched households. Many face real energy hardship, with about 40 percent of Australians finding it difficult to pay their bill.
Bill scam: Why you should check invoice details before paying
If you received an email invoice from a business you were expecting, would you just pay it online without thinking? Or would you call to check the bank details with the supplier first?
Money matters: How a financial counsellor can help you
Struggling to juggle all your bills? Falling behind on your rent or mortgage payments? You may benefit from financial counselling.
We seek advice from the experts for all kinds of things in our lives – from health to education and everything in between, so you shouldn’t be embarrassed about asking for assistance in an area integral to your wellbeing.
Financial counsellors can help you navigate a very stressful time. But who exactly are these professionals? What role do they play in helping you regain control of your financial health? Let's delve deeper into understanding the invaluable support they can provide.
Debt disaster: How to ask for financial hardship help
Money – particularly the lack of it – is a sensitive topic for most of us. There's a level of embarrassment or shame that can come with the inability to meet financial obligations.
Paying a premium: What are the real benefits of private health insurance?
Private health insurance is a popular choice in Australia, with more than 13 million people, or 55.2 percent of the population, holding a policy. More than $22 billion is paid out in benefits each year, which sounds like a huge amount being returned to customers. But is it?
Mobile thinking: How to save money on your phone bill
Has the cost of living made you take a closer look at your monthly phone bill?
If you’re with Optus, you might be worried about more than just the amount they are charging you.
Pay attention: Your guide to online payment platforms
Online payment has certainly made our lives easier. It's become more convenient for us to shop online, pay for bills and send money to family and friends.
So it’s probably no surprise that the FIS Global Payments Report predicts the use of cash will drop from 7 percent to 2 percent of all point-of-sale transactions by 2025.
FIS, a payments technology company, says the pandemic has only accelerated our move to digital wallets and other e-commerce, or online payment platforms.
Pay dirt: The battle for your digital dollars
The digital world has transformed the way we live, work and play. Transactions that used to take place in cash or with paper cheques are now completed online, using digital payment platforms.
In Australia, there are a number of different digital payment platforms available, each vying for a share of the market. In 2021, the industry processed about 55 million payments. That is worth about $650 billion each day, according to The Australian Financial Review. But behind this progress are growing concerns not only from banking institutions but governments.