Tag Archives: oceania

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'Confusion and shock' as SA tightens border with NT

When Hayden Stewart-Redgewell touched down in Adelaide last night, the last thing he expected was the four walls of a medi-hotel to become his view.

Mr Stewart-Redgewell is one of several travellers to be caught out after South Australia tightened its border with the Northern Territory, amid a growing COVID-19 outbreak.

The new rules, which came into affect at 7.45pm yesterday, mean any travellers who have not received a COVID-19 vaccination are not permitted into the state without first seeking a travel exemption.

READ MORE: Young woman is third positive COVID-19 case in NT

Hayden said he arrived in South Australia before the travel deadline.

Mr Stewart-Redgewell claims he has been stuck in hotel quarantine despite arriving before the restriction deadline.

"Just confusion and still a bit of shock that I'm here," he told 9News.

"I just shouldn't be here".

For Brad, another traveller, the confusion started as soon as he prepared to disembark off the plane.

He has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Brad on the balcony of his quarantine hotel.Nathan Voller said his flight touched down at 6:20pm.

"(The pilot) goes, 'actually folks just had a message through if you're not double-vaxxed you're in a bit of a strife'," he said.

The sentiment is echoed by Nathan Voller, another arrival into the state.

"I mean our flight come in at 6.20pm we shouldn't really be here, we should have walked straight through," he said.

"You feel like you're in prison to be honest like treated like a criminal."

Instead, the travellers were met by authorities and forced to wait more than two hours in the airport.

Travellers who arrived in the state at 6:20pm last night were forced to wait for hours at the airport.

Fully-vaccinated travellers coming from the Northern Territory are only required to get tested on days 1, 5 and 13 and only need to self-quarantine until the first negative result.

9News reached out to South Australia Police for comment, they said that under questioning they determined the travellers fell under level six restrictions and were therefore not permitted to enter.

"South Australia Police can advise that an Authorised Officer, pursuant to the Emergency Management Act is able to give a person a direction prior to the publishing of a Direction by the State Coordinator," they said in a statement.

"It was determined that the (travellers) were subject to level six restrictions (not permitted to enter) and directed to medi-hotel accommodation until a return flight could be arranged by SA Health."

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Swimmer missing after shark attack at Perth beach

Police are searching for a man in his 50s after a shark attack off a popular Western Australian beach.

St Johns Ambulance crews attended Port Beach in Fremantle at 10am local time.

The attack was witnessed by a group of teenage boys who tried to help the victim, then warned other swimmers to get out of the water.

READ MORE: Australia hits 80 per cent double dose milestone

"We looked over and a kid was coming, flying down, trying to tell everyone to get out of the water," one witness told 9News.

Witnesses believe the shark was a 4.5-metre great white.

Western Australia police said the search will continue into the night and will resume at "first light".

Acting Inspector Troy Douglas praised the actions of the boys who alerted emergency services to the attack "pretty much straight away".

The victim was a regular swimmer at Port Beach, police said.

Police boats and lifesavers are searching for the victim in the water. His condition is not known.

Police boats and other vessels are in the water.

Several beaches along the coast has been closed following the attack.

The attack has forced the closure of several beaches along the coastline.

Port Beach was quickly closed, followed by Leighton Beach and Cottesloe Beach.

Surf Life Saving reported an unknown species of shark about two metres long had been spotted off Port Beach just after 10am.

READ MORE: Cleo Smith's family thank police in statement

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Afterpay expands 'buy now, pay later' service to hospitality venues

Afterpay has expanded its buy now, pay later service to hospitality venues, allowing diners to pay off a night at the pub in four instalments.

Australian Venue Co. is the first hospitality group to partner with the platform. It's rolled out the payment method to its 160 pubs, restaurants and bars across the country.

Paul Waterson, the managing director of Australian Venue Co, said initial trials are proving popular — especially among younger patrons.

READ MORE: St Kilda penguin dies after allegedly thrown against wall, kicked

You can know use Afterpay in select hospitality venues around Australia.

"It's only early days, it's only been a week, but already uptake has been very strong," he said.

"A lot of our patrons are millennials, they use Afterpay for budgeting purposes and they don't typically have credit cards."

The concept of using buy now, pay later in hospitality venues is nothing new.

READ MORE: New data shows how buy-now-pay-later services stack up

It comes after Payo, Australia's first hp

Payo, Australia's first "hospitality only" buy now pay later service, is already available in more than 700 venues across Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

However, prospective patrons are being warned to take care using the service.

In the last financial year, AfterPay made almost $100 million dollars in late fees, which accounts for about 10 per cent of its total revenue.

"If you don't have enough money for a night out, think about going somewhere cheaper," Sally Tindall, research director for RateCity, said.

"Or think about delaying your plan until you can properly treat yourself."