NewsMatch Alert: Press Release Summary | 17 February 2025
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Welcome to Medianet’s daily media alert featuring a curated list of today's most newsworthy press releases handpicked by our editorial team.
Today's highlights
Australia isn’t ready for the next cardiac epidemic, warns landmark heart valve disease report
Leading heart charity, Hearts4heart has launched Australia’s very first Heart Valve Disease Patient Journey Report. Coinciding with the organisation’s annual Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week (17 to 23 February), the report highlights the scale of the challenges with heart valve disease (HVD) care, including: low public awareness; delayed diagnosis; and unequal access to care. "Heart valve disease is a severely underestimated health issue in Australia that can easily be prevented and managed with early detection and intervention," said Tanya Hall , CEO and Founder of Hearts4heart, and recently appointed to the World Heart Federation Board.
Salvos to release a second Social Justice Stocktake revealing the concerns of Australians by nation, state/territories, and individual electorates.
With a federal election looming once again, The Salvation Army has delved into the very heart of individual Australian communities to discover which social justice issues are of prominent concern right now and what can ultimately be done to address them. On February 20, World Social Justice Day, The Salvation Army’s National Social Justice Stocktake Reports (NSJSR) will be released online in a purpose built website allowing everyday Australians, policy makers and politicians on a local, state and federal level to ascertain issues impacting individuals and their communities - and how these issues will affect voting in the federal election.??
Evolving role of local governments
A federal parliamentary committee inquiry has undertaken extensive consultation with stakeholders including local governments, councils and shires. The inquiry received over 280 submissions and held 16 public hearings in regional areas. The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport has presented its interim report for the inquiry into local government sustainability.
ACOSS demands action after 10 income support recipients died
ACOSS is demanding an overhaul of the income support compliance system following shocking revelations that at least 10 people have died after being wrongfully cut off from vital payments. “We have known for years that payment suspensions and cancellation have extremely harmful impacts on people, including homelessness, relationship breakdown and destitution,” said ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie AO .
Thousands of Western Sydney workers to suffer under proposed cuts to penalty rates
Thousands of workers in western Sydney could lose crucial penalty rates and workplace entitlements if the Australian Retailers Association’s application to the Fair Work Commission succeeds, new data has revealed. The proposed cuts seek to abolish overtime, weekend and evening penalty rates, reduce rest time between shifts, remove work breaks and scrap annual leave loading for retail workers. Secretary of Unions NSW Mark Morey said the changes undermine hard-fought worker protections and severely impact low paid employees already struggling to make ends meet.
Productivity Commission backs builders’ long-standing calls for reform
Peak building and construction industry association Master Builders Australia applauds the Productivity Commission for their comprehensive assessment of productivity issues in the residential construction sector. The review?Housing construction productivity: Can we fix it??confirms what builders and the broader industry have long called for: we aren’t going to build the homes Australians need without a focus on improving productivity.
Taxpayers should not foot the bill for nuclear risk: Australians for Affordable Energy
If private insurers refuse to cover nuclear reactors the financial risks will be shifted onto Australian taxpayers, meaning we are still unclear how much taxpayers will have to cover of the nuclear bill. Australians for Affordable Energy has expressed deep concern over the revelation the private sector may not be able to insure nuclear reactors, following comments on Monday from the CEO of the Insurance Council of Australia.
Media alert – CA ANZ Chief Economist Richard Holden on interest rates
Chartered Accountants ANZ (CA ANZ) Chief Economist Professor Richard Holden is available for interviews (on request) about tomorrow’s Reserve Bank of Australia’s interest rates decision. Professor Holden, who remains Scientia Professor of Economics at UNSW Business School , is also available to speak as CA ANZ Chief Economist on the economic impact of party policies in the lead up to, and after, the Australian Federal Election.
Monash expert: Landmark approval of weight loss drug for heart disease
For the first time in Australia, a weight loss drug has been approved to also treat cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese patients. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has granted approval for semaglutide 2.4 mg (sold as Wegovy) to be used as a complementary therapy for reducing major adverse cardiovascular events such as cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (heart attack), or non-fatal stroke. Monash experts are available to comment.?
Researchers spin ‘wheel of fortune’ to land big prize: a fundamental proof of quantum mechanics
Researchers from the 新加坡国立大学 (NUS) and University of New South Wales ( 悉尼新南威尔士大学 ) Sydney have proven fundamentally that a spinning atomic nucleus really is a quantum resource.?It has long been inferred that tiny particles such as electrons or protons are indeed quantum due to the way they get deflected in a magnetic field. However, when left to spin freely, they appear to behave in exactly the same way as a classical spinning item, such as a Wheel of Fortune turning on its axis.
Climate Action Week Sydney 2025 to feature nearly 300 community-run events across Greater Sydney – March 10-16
As global urgency around climate action intensifies, Climate Action Week Sydney 2025 (CAW.SYD.25) is set to take centre stage from March 10-16, bringing individuals, businesses, and communities together to collaborate, celebrate progress, and accelerate the transition to a zero-emission, nature-positive future.
Celebrating 50 years of Australia’s most celebrated railway film A Steam Train Passes
Train and film enthusiasts are in for a rare treat this April as?A Steam Train Passes, widely regarded as Australia’s finest railway film, returns to the big screen in Sydney and Canberra. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of its theatrical release in 2024, the acclaimed short film will be showcased in superb 4K resolution at a special gala event at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace on Wednesday 2 April 2025, presented by Transport Heritage NSW and the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA).
Tay Tay shakes her way into most popular pet dog names
Music superstar Taylor Swift has now entered the pet’s name hall of fame and has been joined by other music royalty including Beyonce, Madonna, Britney, Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, as the Bupa Pet Insurance top pet names are unveiled for 2024. The popular pet names based on Bupa’s pet insurance policies, also drew inspiration from Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Star Wars, designer clothing brands, fast cars, and food.
Barber to the stars Frank Ciccone is making a buzz for Australians living with blood cancer
Leukaemia Foundation / World's Greatest Shave
The Leukaemia Foundation is thrilled to announce internationally acclaimed barber and men’s hairdresser Frank Ciccone as an official Hair Ambassador of its iconic World’s Greatest Shave campaign for 2025. The Melbourne salon owner, who was recently inducted into the Australian Modern Barber Awards Hall of Fame, is set to bring plenty of style to this year's campaign, with his business Hair by Ciccone crowned International Salon of the Year at the 2024 Social Media Hair and Beauty Awards.
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??International Barber of the year?? HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE - AMBA International Salon of the Year - Hair by Ciccone Best Men’s Styling Product of the Year 2023-SMASH IT AMBASSADOR Heiniger Clippers & Excellent Edges
1 周Can’t wait to fly the flag high for the legends at Leukaemia Foundation ??