Tag Archives: oceania

Qantas flight turns back twice in one day over separate issues

A Qantas flight headed from New Zealand to Melbourne was forced to turn back twice today over two separate issues.

Flight QF168 departed Christchurch at 6.46am local time (8.46am AEDT) today, however it landed back at Christchurch International Airport after less than two hours.

A Qantas spokesperson confirmed the flight, operated by a Boeing 737, was diverted due to an issue with the plane's radio.

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Flight QF168 diverts back to Christchurch

The flight was then back in the air around 9.30am but turned around once again after reaching the Tasman sea.

It landed for the second time in Christchurch around 11.18am local time.

This time, the turnaround was blamed on an "unusual smell".

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Flight QF168 diverts back to Christchurch

"We apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused by these unrelated air returns, and are working hard to get customers on their way as quickly as possible," a Qantas spokesperson said.

"Pilots originally elected to return to Christchurch due to an issue with their radio. The issue was fixed by engineers and the aircraft cleared to return to service.

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"Shortly after taking off again, an unusual smell was reported in the cabin. The pilots followed standard procedures and returned to Christchurch where the plane landed normally."

Qantas planes.

The exact cause of the smell is still being investigated by engineers.

The impacted passengers will be accommodated on flights leaving Auckland later today, Qantas said.

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Reserve Bank gets biggest shake-up in decades

Jim Chalmers has unveiled the make-up of the RBA's two new specialist boards under the biggest shake-up to the central bank in decades.

The government passed legislation on the last sitting day of the year to split the Reserve Bank's current board into two – one to focus specifically on setting interest rates, the other tasked with the bank's other governance duties.

Chalmers today announced Renée Fry-McKibbin and Marnie Baker have been appointed to join the monetary policy board.

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Treasurer Jim Chalmers gives a press conference.

They will join Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy and four existing board members who chose to join the interest rates panel: Carolyn Hewson, Ian Harper, Iain Ross and Alison Watkins.

Two other board members, Carol Schwartz and Elana Rubin, opted instead to sit on the governance committee, where they'll be joined by new appointees Jennifer Westacott, David Thodey, Danny Gilbert, and Swati Dave, and RBA chief operating officer Susan Woods.

EXPLAINED: What the RBA is really looking at when it sets interest rates

Governor Michele Bullock, and her deputy, Andrew Hauser, will sit on both boards.

"These are high-quality, high-calibre people, and together they represent the best mix of relevant skills and abilities and experience," Chalmers said.

He said the government had consulted with the opposition on the appointments midway through the year.

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Michele Bullock during an estimates hearing at Parliament House

"We tried to make this as bipartisan as it could be and that extended to the way that we consulted in a genuine way," Chalmers said.

The dual-board structure was one of 14 recommendations made following a review of the central bank by a three-person panel, which included new appointee Fry-McKibbin.

"This is about modernising the Reserve Bank, picking up international best practice and making sure we equip the Reserve Bank to make the best, most considered decisions into the future," Chalmers said.

"And that's what the whole Reserve Bank review has been about."

The two boards will come into effect on March 1, between the RBA's first and second interest rate decisions of 2025.

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Bathurst man’s low-key plans after $4.8 million lotto win

A NSW man who won $4.8 million on a "Set for Life" says he's not doing anything major to celebrate after discovering his win.

The Bathurst man won the prize in the December 12 draw, but only checked his ticket after missing multiple calls from The Lott.

"Honestly, I'm pretty calm! I don't think I'll do anything to celebrate right away," he told Lottery Officials after checking his ticket.

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News N More Bathurst sold the winning ticket.

The prize will be delivered in instalments of $20,000 every month, for the next 20 years.

Despite the cash coming his way, he says it won't change who he is as a person.

"I'm not sure what I'll do with the prize yet. I'll have a good think about it," the winner said.

"One thing I do know is I'll keep working.

"It's funny when I went past the newsagency, I saw they had sold a winning Set for Life ticket, and I thought that could be me!"

He said he realised he had missed several calls from an unknown number.

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"I thought that was odd," he said.

"I finally checked my ticket and it's great news.

"I had a nice syndicate win earlier this year so I'm pretty happy. I'm feeling lucky.

"It's certainly wonderful, but it won't change me as a person!"

His winning ticket was purchased at News N More Bathurst.

The newsagent's owner Mark McManus said he and the shop's team were thrilled to sell such a lucrative winning ticket.

"What fantastic news and what great timing, right on Christmas!" he said.

"We've sold a few nice prizes here in the past, but this win, $20,000 a month for 20 years, equating to $4.8 million, surpasses anything we have sold before."

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