BTN: Episode 10 Transcript 1/5/18 Hey, Amelia here, welcome to BTN. Coming up today. • We find out why some big Aussie banks are in a bit of trouble. • Kids around the country tell us how they've been contributing to their communities. • And a ten-year-old business owner tells us the secrets of his success. But first up let’s find out about some of the big stories that have been in the news over the past week. This Week in News There's been some good news about North and South Korea. The leaders of the two countries have met for the first time in 10 years and they say they're working towards a peace treaty. That's a big deal because North and South Korea have been enemies since a civil war back in the 1950s. North Korea has made threats against its neighbour in the past and it's tested nuclear weapons. But for the past few months it's been making an effort to start friendlier talks with the South. Australia's Government's announced it's going to put half a billion dollars towards protecting the Great Barrier Reef. For a while now, experts have been worried about threats to the reef like pollution, climate change, and an invasive species called crown of thorns starfish. Now the government says it'll put the funds towards stuff like improving water quality on the reef and fighting crown of thorns. It's also planning to research ways to make the coral stronger. And finally, the newest member of the British royal family has been named. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge decided to call their newborn son Louis Arthur Charles with his official title being His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge. Louis's the middle name of his dad Prince William and his brother George. And he's the fifth in line to the throne. Banking Royal Commission Reporter: Ruby Cornish ©ABC 2018 INTRO: Another story that you might've heard a lot about lately involves Australia's banks. They're the subject of a big investigation going on called a Royal Commission and it's found that some big finance companies have been doing some pretty dodgy things. Let’s find out more. If you were going to put someone in charge of all your money, you'd have to trust them, right? BANKER: Thank you. Well, that's basically what we're doing when we use banks. As well as looking after your money for you, banks can lend you money (maybe to buy a house, or start a business), and they can give you advice about what you should do with your dosh. RUBY: So, I don't actually have a job but I'm really good at baking, so I was thinking about opening my own cupcake shop. But for a while now, there have been worries that not all Aussie banks deserve our trust and have actually been ripping us off. RUBY: So, what do you think? BANKER: Oh yes, we can definitely give you that loan. RUBY: Great. See, as well as helping us out with our money matters, banks are businesses, which means they're out to make a profit. And they make big profits. Just last year, our biggest four banks made a combined 31.5 billion dollars profit. They do it through things like charging us fees for our accounts and credit cards, and interest on our loans. Recently we've found out that some banks have been using dodgy methods to boost their profits. BANKER: How many zeros should I put on your cheque? RUBY: Ah, I’m not actually sure that I can afford to borrow that much. BANKER: Oh don't worry, you can afford it. You could open a whole chain of cupcake stores. RUBY: Really? And they've also made people pay for services they never actually got. BANKER: Oh, I almost forgot. You didn't pay us for the advice we gave you on your new boat. RUBY: My boat? I never bought a boat, I've never even thought about buying a boat - BANKER: Time's up. Next. ©ABC 2018 Banks have even charged people for services they couldn't possibly have asked for because they'd died years ago. BANKER: Ah yes sir, here are your bills for this month. Right now, there's a Royal Commission going on into the behaviour of our banks. It's a big investigation which was started by the Aussie government last year after a lot of political and public pressure. So far, the commission's heard that Aussie banks might have taken hundreds of millions of dollars they weren't entitled to and left a lot of people in financial trouble. It's left many of Australia's money experts shocked, and two managers of one big company have already resigned. It'll be a while before the Commission wraps up, but some people are saying there need to be tough consequences for banks that did the wrong thing, that could include things fines or even jail time if people have broken the law. There are worries that punishing banks could affect their customers and the Australian economy, but many agree that something has to be done if banks want to seem trustworthy into the future. Villers-Bretonneux Centenary Reporter: Amelia Moseley INTRO: Last week we commemorated ANZAC Day, a time to remember Australians who served in wars and conflicts. Now you probably know that the date, April 25th, was when ANZAC troops landed in Gallipoli during the First World War. But it's also the anniversary of another really important battle that happened a few years later in a little French town called Villers-Bretonneux. Let’s find out more about it. It's known as the Great War, the First World War, and there are plenty of tales of great bravery from that time. But the story of thousands of Australian soldiers who fought to free this small town in France is sometimes overlooked back home. Yet, these men helped change the course of history. In early 1918, the world had been at war for nearly four years. Allied forces including Britain, France and Australia, were trying to hold back the German Army at what was known as the Western Front. It was a series of trenches that ran hundreds of kilometres from Belgium to Switzerland and German forces were moving further into France. That's when a tiny French town called Villers-Bretonneux became one of the most important strategic points in the war. You see on April 23rd, 1918, the town was taken over by the German Army. That was a big problem. Nearby was the city of Amiens. It was an important transport, communication and supply centre that helped the Allies control the region. If Amiens fell to Germany, Paris could be next, and the Allies could lose the war. So, thousands of Australian soldiers were sent on a mission to help British forces take back Villers-Bretonneux. The thing was they were massively outnumbered by German soldiers and had to attack without much help from artillery, aircraft or tanks. Nonetheless, on the eve of ANZAC Day (April 24th, 1918) cloaked in the darkness of night. The Australian soldiers approached the town from two different directions and surprised the German forces. The battle ended in the deaths of at least 1,200 Australian soldiers in just ©ABC 2018 one night. But it was a victory for the Allies. The German Army retreated and Villers- Bretonneux was freed. Many agree it was a turning point in the war. TIM FISCHER, VIETNAM WAR VETERAN: It was an unbelievable breakthrough. Fierce fighting. It was as far west as the Germans ever reached in World War One. The victory was also the beginning of a lifelong friendship between Australia and Villers- Bretonneux. The people here have promised never to forget the Australian soldiers and their sacrifice, and little reminders of their home country can be seen across the town. From an Aussie flag flying on the town hall and kangaroo emblems in shop windows, to familiar street names and even a school named after the state of Victoria, which was rebuilt using donations collected by Victorian kids. Its students still learn about Australian ways. Now a new memorial centre has been opened in Villers-Bretonneux to teach the next generations about the battle. And this year on ANZAC Day, 100 years after the town was freed, many Australians including our PM attended a very special dawn service to honour the soldiers who gave their lives. MALCOLM TURNBULL It was, to both friend and foe, one of the greatest feats of the war. And we meet here 100 years later; on land long healed - to remember them. Lest We Forget. Quiz In what year did World War One start? Was it 1913 1914 1916 The answer is 1914. Kids Contribute Results Reporter: Amelia Moseley INTRO: Now, did you take part in the BTN Kids Contribute Survey? Well if you're one of the 11 thousand kids who did then I'd like to say a big thank you, on behalf of the whole BTN team, for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Over the holidays we put together all of your answers. So, let's find out how you're contributing. Whether it's doing chores at home, lending a hand at school, or volunteering in your community; it seems a lot of Aussie kids like to do their bit to help others.