Australia's financial ombudsman has been hit with an "unprecedented rise" in complaints amid the cost-of-living crisis because banks are not doing enough to protect customers.

In the past 12 months, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has been hit with 96,987 complaints, a new record.

AFCA's chief ombudsman and chief executive officer, David Locke said the stress of rising interest rates, the scourge of scams, issues with insurance claims, and high living costs were clear in the disputes.

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"We are deeply concerned by the volume of complaints consumers are having to escalate to AFCA," Locke said.

"It's not fair on consumers and not good for business. We need to see a significant improvement from firms."

Breaking down the issues

Delays in insurance claim handling was the top issue across all complaints, with an increase of 76 per cent recorded.

General insurance complaints rose 50 per cent to 27,924.

"We have been raising our concerns about claim delays with insurers for over 12 months now," Locke said.

"It is disappointing that this continues to be a concern.

Personal transaction account disputes rose 86 per cent in 2022-23, and have overtaken credit cards as the most complained about product.

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AFCA said this is fuelled in part by the rise of scam-related complaints, which rose 46 per cent last year to 6,048.

It comes days after consumer advocacy group CHOICE declared "scams are increasing rapidly throughout Australia".

Meanwhile, banking and finance complaints increased by 27 per cent to 53,638, while Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) complaints rose 57 per cent.

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Locke said people have been turning to alternative forms of credit to combat tight budgets.

"This underlines the importance of the federal government's plan to regulate BNPL under the National Consumer Credit Act, and recent reforms addressing what's known as 'payday' lending," Locke said.

"We want to see banks and other finance providers continue to take active steps to identify and support customers who are experiencing financial difficulty."

AFCA started operation in November 2018, and over the last financial year has helped customers secure $253.8 million in compensation and refunds.

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Laura Bird can clearly remember the moment which left her in so much pain it led to her having to medically retire from her job in her early 30s.

The now-38-year-old was walking with her sister one lunchtime.

She was holding a drink bottle in her right hand, which she dropped to the ground.

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"I went to pick it up and I realised my whole upper right quadrant was just paralysed," Bird told 9news.com.au.

"I had no idea what was happening to me.

"I couldn't feel anything, I couldn't move anything."

The incident eight years ago was linked to Bird's earlier diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome, which is a form of chronic pain.

Chronic pain is pain that continues for more than three months.

But since the day she dropped that bottle, the pain hasn't gone – it has just spread further around her body.

She eventually had to leave her job as a call centre manager in Hobart.

Her illness also broke up her relationship and she can no longer travel or do daring sports like parasailing like she used to.

Despite seeing over 20 pain specialists, she has had little relief and also now suffers with depression and anxiety.

Bird takes various medications plus does laser therapies and aqua aerobics to try and help her condition.

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But she said despite 3.6 million Aussies having chronic pain, she feels stigmatised.

"There's a blame you caused your own pain," she said.

Bird, who volunteers with the Australia Pain Management Association, wants to see more support for patients.

"When you're diagnosed with chronic pain or a chronic illness, you're not given any support. You're just sent away," she said.

"You have to do all your own research."

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Stigma against pain is common, survey says

Bird's experience is common, a new survey has found.

Charity Chronic Pain Australia's National Pain Survey of 3000 people with chronic pain found more than half felt "stigmatised" by medics.

Almost 80 per cent of those asked in the survey said they had mental health issues too.

While the federal government has a new $3 million plan to tackle chronic pain, the charity says the money is "woefully inadequate".

Nicolette Ellis, president of Chronic Pain Australia, has called for more action.

"Insomnia, inactivity and poor mental health are both caused by chronic pain and contribute to worsening the condition," Ellis said.

"Without access to patient-centred care, people living with chronic pain are forced to give up several important health-promoting activities for physical and mental health.

"Left unaddressed, there is a risk that a lifetime of disability is on the cards for many Australians living with pain.

"This is a vicious cycle which will make the condition much worse for many of the 3.6 million Australians living with chronic pain."

Do you have a story? Contact journalist Sarah Swain: ss****@******om.au

What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is pain that continues for more than three months after an injury, surgery, or another cause.

It affects 3.6 million Australians and is the leading cause of disability, and more prevalent than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined.

It cost $139 billion in 2020, according to the federal government.

It's the most common reason Aussies see their GP.

READ MORE: Police officer in intense pain told there was nothing wrong

What is being done?

In 2021, the federal government unveiled its $2.94 million National Strategic Plan for Pain Management

Endorsed by all state and territory governments, it includes money to fund training for medics around chronic pain.

"It emphasises improving awareness and understanding of pain; ensuring health practitioners are educated and informed to provide best-practice treatment and care; and identifying the most appropriate and effective mechanisms for advancing pain research," a Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson said

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Prince Harry's lawsuit accusing the publisher of The Sun tabloid of unlawfully snooping on him can go to trial, but not on allegations of phone hacking or including a claim that newspaper executives made a secret settlement pact with the royal family, a High Court judge ruled overnight.

The Duke of Sussex alleges the publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World hacked his phone, employed investigators and used deception to unlawfully gather information on him dating back two decades.

News Group Newspapers (NGN), which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, argued had the suit should be thrown out because the claims were brought after the six-year limitation to do so expired.

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Justice Timothy Fancourt said Harry was well enough aware of a phone hacking scandal that roiled Britain more than a decade ago that he could have brought his own case sooner. But the younger son of King Charles III can proceed on allegations about other unlawful information gathering (UIG), such as hiring private eyes to dig up dirt on him, the judge ruled.

"There is no evidence currently before me that the duke knew before the (deadline to file a suit) that NGN had done anything other than hack his mobile phone at the News of the World," Fancourt wrote. "Knowing or being on notice of a worthwhile claim for voicemail interception does not of itself amount to knowledge or notice of a worthwhile claim for other forms of UIG."

A spokesperson for News Group Newspapers called the ruling a "significant victory" that "substantially reduces the scope" of Harry's legal claim.

Britain's phone hacking scandal began at News of the World and was later found to have been widespread at other papers. Murdoch closed News of the World as a result in 2011, issued an unreserved apology in 2012 to those who were hacked and has continued to settle cases related to it. But The Sun has not accepted liability or admitted allegations.

The ruling given on Thursday was similar to one Fancourt made in May in a case by actor Hugh Grant that also tossed out phone hacking allegations. Harry and Grant's cases were argued together at an April hearing.

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In addition to rejecting part of Harry's suit, the judge also shot down his effort to amend the case to include allegations that a so-called secret agreement between Buckingham Palace and Murdoch executives prevented him from bringing his claims sooner.

Harry's lawyer had argued that the agreement called for a settlement and an apology to be worked out after litigation in other phone hacking cases was resolved in the courts.

Harry claimed his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, had approved of the deal to prevent members of the royal family from having to go to court and get questioned about embarrassing voicemails intercepted by reporters. He also said he learned his brother, Prince William, now heir to the throne, had received a "huge" sum to settle his claims.

The publisher denied there was any secret agreement, and Fancourt said Harry failed to produce witnesses or documents as evidence of such a deal.

Buckingham Palace did not return messages seeking comment on the alleged deal or settlement with the Prince of Wales.

Harry broke with family convention last month when he became the first senior member of the royal family to testify in court in more than a century. He testified in a separate phone hacking lawsuit against the publishers of the Daily Mirror in which he is seeking £440,000 ($838,000).

Fancourt also presided in that case, the first of Harry's three unlawful information gathering cases against British tabloid publishers to go to trial. The judge is expected to rule later this year.

Another judge is deciding whether to toss out a similar lawsuit against the publishers of the Daily Mail.

A trial against News Group is expected to start in January.

A 36-year-old man has been charged with murder after the disappearance of Tasmanian teen Shyanne-Lee Tatnell.

The suspected remains of the 14-year-old girl, who has been missing since April 30, were found on a bush track near Nabowla, north-east of Launceston late yesterday.

The Scottsdale man's arrest today in Launceston and subsequent charges were a "significant step" toward giving the schoolgirl's family closure, Northern District Commander Kate Chambers said.

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"It is because of the outstanding police work throughout this investigation that we have been able to reach this point, and provide closure for Shyanne-Lee's family," Chambers said.

"We are also thankful for the community's support, and everyone involved in the search for Shyanne-Lee. Our thoughts remain with her family and loved ones during this difficult time."

The man, who has not been identified, remains in custody and will appear in Launceston Magistrates Court tomorrow.

While forensic examinations are ongoing to identify the remains, police believe it is the missing teen.

Police expect forensic testing could take about a week to be completed.

About 180 police and search and rescue personnel were on Wednesday involved in searches in two locations, including one where a cadaver dog was used.

The bushland search near Nabowla covered more than 50 square kilometres and involved helicopters, motorbikes, ATVs, drones, and horse riders.

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It was the largest search operation ever seen in northern Tasmania and the Australian Federal Police has also provided ground-penetrating radar resources.

"As I have said previously, we will not rest until we have answers," Chambers said earlier.

Shyanne-Lee was last seen near Henry Street, in Launceston, near the North Esk River, at about 8.30pm on Sunday, April 30.

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A man has died in a skiing accident in the NSW alpine region.

Witnesses told police the 73-year-old was skiing when he struck a pole on the edge of a ski run about 12.30pm at Thredbo alpine resort.

"Other skiers commenced CPR prior to the arrival of medical staff, however he died at the scene," NSW Police said in a statement.

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"Officers from Monaro Police District have established a crime scene and will conduct inquiries into the incident."

A report is being prepared for the coroner.

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A learner driver caught doing 143km/h over the speed limit on an Adelaide motorway has been jailed.

Tarelle Power Williams, 20, was labelled the "most dangerous person" in the state when he drove at 253km/h in a 110km/h zone on the North-South Motorway at Waterloo Corner at 6.30pm on January 30.

The young father-of-two was sentenced to a year behind bars for a string of driving offences and could be eligible for parole in six months.

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Power Williams was switching "aggressively" between three lanes during peak hour and only stopped because his gearbox blew up.

He was also sentenced for an 18-minute police pursuit through the northern suburbs where he drove at up to 140km/h in a 60km/h zone, through red lights and on the wrong side of the road in 2021.

In the sentencing, Magistrate Benjamin Sale described Power-Williams' speeding as "extraordinary" and "attention grabbing".

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Sale said a term of imprisonment was the only punishment justifiable for his offences.

Power Williams' partner was in court as his sentence was handed down.

He was forced to surrender his ute and disqualified from driving for at least six years.

After that, he has to ask a court to let him hit the roads again.

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Warning: Graphic content.

Young women may be more likely to fall down stairs than men, an international study has found.

The US study revealed women in their 20s were prone to trips, falls and slips when walking down stairs due to being distracted or multi-tasking compared to men of the same age.

Purdue University researchers watched more than 2000 young adults using short and long staircases at an university campus and identified eight risky behaviours.

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They included not using the handrail, talking on the phone and wearing sandals, sliders, or high heels and skipping steps.

The study found women sustained about 80 per cent more injuries than men of the same age.

Meanwhile, 70 per cent of women in the study were carrying something, while only 46 per cent of men did.

"The young women we observed demonstrated more risky behaviours than the young men; future studies should also examine physiological differences that may lead to greater injury risk, such as differences in strength or reaction time," the study said.

The study also suggested children aged three and under, those over 85 and adults in their 20s were the most prone to fall on stairs.

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Basil Mist spent 20 years in prison for killing his girlfriend and sexually abusing girls.

Sydney's gun violence is on a terrifying upward trajectory after five people were shot in the city's south-west in the space of just five days in what police believe are linked incidents.

A man has died after he was shot while sitting in his car on Mayvic Street in Greenacre on Sunday – the start of the week of rising gun violence.

Ahmed Al Azzam, 25, was shot in the head while young couple Kaashif Richards, 22, and Achiraya Jantharat, 19, were injured in their car by the flurry of bullets while sitting metres in front of Al Azzam.

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Al Azzam died in hospital on Thursday, police confirmed.

A tribute posted to social media called for Al Azzam's family to be given "strength and patience" during the difficult time.

Richards remains in hospital while Jantharat has been discharged.

Superintendent Simon Glasser said police believe the "serious" shooting was targeted.

Three days later on Wednesday, prominent Sydney criminal defence lawyer Mahmoud Abbas was shot outside his home on Narelle Crescent in Greenacre in broad daylight – again by an unknown shooter.

He was shot in the torso and leg while walking to his BMW parked in the driveway.

Police said the shooter or shooters fled while the 30-year-old was able to stumble inside and call triple zero.

"This is clearly a targeted and brazen shooting," Detective Superintendent Adam Johnson.

Underworld figure Mahmoud "Brownie" Ahmad was shot dead on the same street in April last year.

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Less than 24 hours after Abbas was shot, another man was shot dead in Canterbury – less than 10 kilometres from the brazen daylight attack on Thursday.

Ferenc Stemler, also known as David, was shot dead on Broughton Street at 2am this morning.

Police say the 28-year-old was targeted but the motive remains unclear.

Police are hunting for the gunman or gunmen involved in the three shootings, no arrests have been made yet.

Taskforce established to crack down on shootings

As a result of the spate of gun violence, NSW Police have launched Task Force Magnus to investigate the spate of recent shootings and "associated organised criminal activities".

The task force is combining existing task forces into one including 70 detectives and 30 additional policing staff to patrol Sydney's south-west.

Police said drugs and gangland rivalry will form part of the task force's investigation.

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The task force will investigate shooting crimes dating back to the Bondi Junction execution of high-level Comanchero Alen Moradian in an apartment carpark.

After Moradian's fatal shooting, brothers William Siale, 33, and Etuate Eric Siale, 20, were shot inside a hair salon in Marrickville.

Since these two brazen daylight crimes, there have been three shooting incidents in Greenacre and Canterbury.

No arrests have been made over the execution of Moradian nor the injury of the Siales.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley told Chris O'Keefe on 2GB she's had a gutful of the criminal behaviour on Sydney's streets which has sparked this new taskforce.

"It is absolutely shocking," she said.

She said the government and police are throwing everything at the gun violence problem "including the kitchen sink".

All five recent shootings investigated are linked, police say

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the past five shootings are believed to be linked.

"It's important that we look for and assume as I said these are linked at this stage until proven otherwise," she said.

"Therefore, if they're linked, there's a common denominator and we need to find that."

O'Keefe said the spate of shootings is unacceptable.

"As it becomes more frequent and brazen I think Sydneysiders are feeling the obvious and inevitable outcome of this is, 'I could be shot as collateral damage,'" he said.

"We can't have people being murdered in daylight. We can't have people being murdered on the streets or in suburbs full stop."

He said it's in part a result of the black market and the battle over drug supply.

"That black market is so lucrative at the moment that people are being shot dead in the streets," he said.

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She said it is a "sad indictment" that the streets of the city's south-west are seeing this level of violence as residents live in fear.

Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said the three shootings in the past week, as well as Moradian's execution and the Marrickville hair salon attack, have common links.

"Common modus operandi, common traits in relation to the way that the offences have been committed," Hudson said.

He added that the offenders in these crimes often "have been outsourced by criminal groups to commit these acts of violence".

"They've then been engaged in destroying their getaway vehicles," he said.

Hudson said these criminals will end up in one of two places: "In the back of a paddy wagon heading to Long Bay or the back of a hearse heading to Rookwood cemetery."

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