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Old 23-08-2015, 09:31 PM
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PCH (Paul)
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The OED offers more than the 'power of 10' as a meaning for the expression 'order of magnitude' though.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/de...r-of-magnitude

So it would seem the SMH reporter was quite right to use the expression to convey the idea of simple 'size or quantity'.