Millions of Australians are turning to supermarket reward points to unlock cheaper groceries in response to the cost-of-living crunch.

New research by Finder revealed 83 per cent of people are in a supermarket rewards program, with 58 per cent using their points to directly save on their grocery bills.

About 13 per cent use their points on airline savings, while six per cent don't touch their rewards at all.

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Finder personal finance expert Amy Bradney-George said consumers could save about $10 on groceries every few months through a rewards program.

"Keep an eye out for exclusive promotions run by the loyalty programs too – you can earn tens of thousands of extra points that way," she said.

"But it's important to remember that Aldi and some other supermarkets can offer an affordable alternative without a rewards program, and choosing low prices might end up being cheaper overall."

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) hit borrowers with another interest rate rise earlier this month, lifting the nation's cash rate target by 25 basis points.

The central bank chose to lift the cash rate to 4.35 per cent in a bid to tackle enduringly persistent levels of inflation.

For the average Australian borrower with a $500,000 mortgage, the rise means many will be forking out an additional $76 per month, and an extra $1210 since rates began rising in May 2022.

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"Mortgage interest charges rose 9.3 per cent following a 9.8 per cent rise in the June 2023 quarter," ABS head of prices statistics Michelle Marquardt said.

"While the Reserve Bank of Australia has not increased the cash rate since July 2023, previous interest rate increases and the rollover of some expired fixed-rate to higher-rate variable mortgages resulted in another strong rise this quarter."

The average Aussie household is spending $187 per week on groceries in November, according to data from Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker.

"Shopping for groceries is demanding a growing chunk of the weekly budget so consumers may as well enjoy some perks or extra savings," Bradney-George said.

"As the price of food and household goods continues to spike, shoppers are being much more intentional with looking for ways to keep their grocery bills down."

It has been almost two years since Tom Phillips and his children disappeared.

A group of parents and healthcare workers has claimed responsibility over a protest that saw bloodied, fake corpses dumped outside the offices of federal Labor MPs in Melbourne.

The activists left the gruesome items, some the size of children, in bloodied sheets outside the offices, in full view of street traders and children.

The fake corpses were left in protest of Israel's military action in Gaza.

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The bodies were placed outside MP Andrew Giles' office in Thomastown, Kate Thwaites's office in Heidelberg and Peter Khalil's office in Coburg.

Witness Rebecca Imbrosciano told 9News it was a confronting scene to see.

"I started to cry," she said.

"I don't think anyone could not be affected by seeing these incredibly graphic staged images."

3AW caller Christine said she saw up to six fake bodies in Heidelberg just after 7am.

https://omny.fm/shows/mornings-with-neil-mitchell/horrifying-and-confronting-fake-bloodied-corpses-p/embed

"There was a half a dozen signs plastered all over the windows of the office," she said.

"My concern is that it's within a block of two primary schools and that could be confronting for children.

"What's happening is horrific but not sure if it needs to happen on our streets."

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No More Bodies in Gaza is the group behind the demonstration.

They say they're local parents and healthcare workers who want to take a stand against the conflict overseas.

"I'm sorry that people would find that insulting, but I think desperate times call for desperate measures," group spokesperson Linda told 9News.

"We just wanted it to be horrific.

"We can't sit by and let 4000 children be killed."

READ MORE: Sensitive files exposed after Optus duplicated Melbourne woman's number

The targeted MPs are yet to respond to the action, while the group says it's not ruling out further demonstrations if the politicians remain silent.

Meanwhile, members of the local Jewish community are on edge.

"It was a very targeted protest, very meaningful and it shows just how bad war is," Philip Zajack from the Jewish Council of Australia said.

"The Jewish community here is hurting dreadfully."

Victoria Police is investigating.

A Melbourne woman has been left devastated after her number was duplicated by Optus, exposing sensitive files to a stranger.

Sarah, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, thought she was safe keeping her original number after switching to a new service provider from Optus in May.

However, that soon changed last week, when she was notified her number had been given to a new Optus customer.

READ MORE: Fake bloodied bodies placed outside MPs offices across Melbourne

"I received a text saying, 'Hello', with the name of person, 'thank you for your new purchase with Optus'," she said.

"I found it quite suspicious. I found that they sold my number to a new customer."

Sarah, who is a healthcare worker, said the new customer had commandeered her WhatsApp account, exposing sensitive images and information, including a video of her giving birth.

READ MORE: Man allegedly woke to being stabbed during Melbourne home invasion

"I lost access to my WhatsApp. It shut down," Sarah said.

"It contained very personal photos of my children and I became distressed that someone had access to that.

"It's pretty terrifying. I felt violated.

"I am still locked out of it and can't get back in."

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After getting in contact with Optus, Sarah said it was difficult to get any answer or form of reply about the incident.

"Optus hadn't contacted me," she said.

"I called them quite distressed and I got onto someone and they found my case but they didn't have the authority to do anything about it.

"That was extremely frustrating.

"My number is also attached to a number of different verification tools and I was getting worried about our finances.

"It wasn't until I started firing off emails to Optus executives did I have someone call me."

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The 29-year-old has also received text messages from the other person's family, notifying her about messages she was meant to receive.

"It's a shambles," she said.

"I asked if I would be compensated and they said they would give me a $100 cheque, which I still haven't received."

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An Optus spokesperson said it was aware of the incident and was working to fix the issue.

"We have reached out to the customer to apologise and rectify the situation," the spokesperson said.

"We regret that on this occasion a customer's experience hasn't met the high standards that Optus strives to achieve for our customers."

“It’s very hard to find peaceful resolution at the midst of violence and grief,” she said.

‘Cheeky’ boy fighting for his life in Starship children’s hospital after a hit-and-run.

A radio transcript read to the Coroners Court: ‘We’ve got one offender’.

Leslie Peter Ross’ history includes kidnap, rape and wounding with intent to injure.

Family members of a man last seen nearly two years ago cried as a court was told of his bloodied face while being assaulted in a transport depot.

Lachlan Griffiths was last seen alive in the Brisbane CBD on January 16, 2022 before his mother reported the 35-year-old missing on Australia Day that year.

Detectives believe Griffiths was taken by car to the Coopers Plains depot but are yet to find his remains.

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Billy Lee Bornstein, Filip Grbavac, David Lee Tan and Francescos Sebastian Giorgi were committed on Wednesday to face a murder trial over Griffiths' death, following a two-day hearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Hoa "Jack" Chanh told the court he heard banging from downstairs when he woke in a bedroom at the depot before sunrise on January 17.

Downstairs he saw Grbavac punch Griffiths who was on the ground while Tan was in the same room doing nothing, Chanh said.

The 30-year-old told the court he could see blood on Griffiths' face and on Grbavac's fists and clothes.

"I was pretty shocked," he added.

After returning upstairs Chanh said he heard one scream before leaving the warehouse where a trucking business operated.

Before the alleged assault Chanh was looking for Tan's wife after the couple had an argument, he told the court.

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He said Tan was angry and intended to leave for Sydney.

Asked by defence counsel if he saw a fire in a drum at the depot on the day of the alleged assault, Chanh said could barely remember what happened yesterday.

But he remembered the traumatic things he saw that night, he said.

Counsel for the men conceded at the end of the committal hearing on Wednesday there was a case for all four to answer.

Magistrate Ross Mack committed them to stand trial on a murder charge in the Brisbane Supreme Court on a date yet to be set.

Australian pet owners have claimed their vet bills are outrageously expensive, sparking a heated debate on radio.

Caller Jenny told 2GB's Chris O'Keefe she had to re-finance her home when her dog Alfie died because her vet bills hit $15,000 and became "too much".

She thought they had pet insurance but her coverage was not enough.

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Another caller Nicole told 2GB her family had a cat that cost them $10,500 in vet bills in two days.

She couldn't get insurance because the cat was 15 years old and described the vet prices as "crazy".

A heated debate then broke out between 2GB host Chris O'Keefe and a veterinarian, who came on the show to defend the industry.

https://omny.fm/shows/the-drive-program/have-your-say-are-vet-bills-actually-sane/embed

Vet Lindsay said she was appauled to be called a thief on radio.

"I run of veterinary practice and the idea that vets are ripping people off and are earning a lot of money is just not true," Lindsay told O'Keefe.

"I have in 50 years never handed a bill to one of my clients for more than say $5000.

"These examples come from specialist hospitals where the overheads are extraordinary."

You can listen to the full interview above.