NewsMatch Alert: Press Release Summary | 18 February 2025
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Today's highlights
Public Hearing – Defence Annual Report 2023-24: Sovereign Defence Industry, Defence Estate, Security & Resilience and AUKUS
On 18 February 2025, the Defence Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will conduct its first public hearing into the Department of Defence Annual Report 2023–24. Chair of the Subcommittee, Hon Mr Brendan O'Connor MP, explained, 'Parliamentary committees are an important mechanism parliament uses to keep a check on Government activities and government departments, and to hear from experts and public interest groups.'
New eSafety advisory hub warns unrestricted chatbots threaten child development
Children are using AI-driven chatbots for hours daily, giving them interactive access to unrestricted themes from sex to drug-taking, self-harm, suicide and serious illnesses, such as eating disorders. The first of eSafety’s new Online Safety Advisory series warns chatbots are exposing children to unmoderated conversations which may encourage or reinforce harmful thoughts and behaviours. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman - Grant said most AI-driven chatbots were not designed with safety in mind and children were not developmentally ready for the risks.
Shortages of pain relief medications unresolved – still!
Growing shortages of essential palliative care medicines in Australia are having a devastating impact on patients, especially those nearing the end of life, and the clinicians who care for them. “Patients are suffering unnecessarily, enduring heightened pain and distress, because the medications that typically control their symptoms are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive,” says Dr Peter Allcroft, Chair, Palliative Care Australia.
AI-generated journalism falls short of audiences’ expectations: report
A new industry report has found audiences and journalists are growing increasingly concerned by generative artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism. Report lead author, Dr T.J. Thomson from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, said the potential of AI-generated or edited content to mislead or deceive was of most concern. “The concern of AI being used to spread misleading or deceptive content topped the list of challenges for both journalists and news audiences,” he said.?
Structural uplift in global dairy production costs, but Australia remains among lowest-cost producers – Rabobank report
The cost of producing milk in Australia continues to compare favourably with other dairy- exporting regions, despite a structural lift in global milk production costs across the past five years, according to a new report by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank.?Report author, RaboResearch senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins said globally, dairy production cost increases have been broad-based. “The majority of the cost pressure has been on-farm working expenses rather than other ancillary costs, such as serving debt, taxes and depreciation.”
Cellular clean-up: solving the mystery of how cells recycle
A new discovery from an international collaborative research team has solved the mystery of how cells turn on their recycling process and create ‘garbage bags’ to remove proteins. The study, co-led by WEHI and published in?Science, sheds new light on how cells get rid of waste and could help towards finding future cures for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Mobile GP Education Program expands healthcare impact in rural and remote Australia
辉瑞 Australia
Heart of Australia (HoA), an innovative mobile health service, has teamed up with leading biopharmaceutical company, Pfizer Australia, to expand its GP Education Program with the aim of improving healthcare delivery in rural and remote parts of Australia. Small rural towns have almost 60% fewer health professionals than major cities. However, rural GPs are needed in greater numbers and require a broader skill set to serve communities with higher burdens of disease where populations are dispersed over vast distances.
Well-being pays dividends: New report reveals the $4-for-$1 business case for investing in employees
Companies that prioritise employee well-being significantly outperform the market, delivering up to three times higher shareholder returns, according to a groundbreaking report compiled by UAre Group. Titled Maximising Return on Investment in Your People 2025, the report consolidates findings from leading global research institutions—including 美国哈佛大学 , 英国牛津大学 , MIT, and 德勤 —to make a compelling case for why investing in employee well-being is no longer optional.
Record numbers seeking legal aid for housing problems: demand grows by 19% in one year
Record numbers of people in NSW are seeking legal assistance because of housing and tenancy problems. New figures - which come ahead of the RBA's interest rate decision today - show almost 4,500 people per year are now seeking help from Legal Aid NSW to deal with those issues. In addition, the Legal Aid annual report shows overall demand for free legal help in NSW has also grown significantly, with tens of thousands more people seeking assistance as cost-of-living pressures increase.? ?
Australia needs more than a rate cut: ACOSS
ACOSS urges all parties and candidates to commit to delivering more direct support rather than rely on the Reserve Bank to address financial hardship following today’s rate cut.“This rate cut is long overdue but will not be nearly enough to help people who are really struggling,” said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie AO . “The next government will have to take more action to protect living standards. Millions of people on low and fixed incomes, many of whom do not have mortgages, need more than rate cuts. They need direct government support."
Schneider Electric survey reveals homeowners are overlooking the potential of technology to reduce energy costs and emissions
Homeowners are seeking energy efficiency but overlooking the critical changes needed to cut down energy consumption, according to a new survey by Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation. The third edition of its consumer survey revealed that 87% of Australian homeowners ranked energy efficiency as the most important home improvement change, but 60% were hesitant to implement smart home technologies due to high upfront costs.
CDU expert: Applied economist says there were warning signs about the effectiveness, risk of corruption and cost of IEPS in 2018
Associate Professor Pascal Tremblay is available for comment and states: “The initial policy design of the Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum (IEPS) (and some subsequent proposals) based on government meddling with public procurement and contracts that led to the currently mediatised debacle appears to have been rushed, poorly assembled and lacking transparency, as stated in both the KPMG independent evaluation as well as the comprehensive 2017 analysis by the NT Auditor General which contained all the necessary forewarnings."?
Minister Keogh & Senator Green – Albanese Government Tackling Veteran Homelessness in Cairns
The Albanese Government is addressing veteran homelessness in Cairns with local organisation Access Community Housing receiving $1.65 million through the Veterans’ Acute Housing Program. Thanks to this funding, Access Community Housing will deliver the Veterans’ Transitional Housing Program. This will see six units custom built in Edmonton to provide crisis and transitional accommodation to veterans and families who are experiencing, or at risk, of homelessness.
From miniature ponies and trauma-informed dentistry to boxing, justice and art – forum explores the many roads to recovery for victims of sexual assault
Sexual Violence: The Right to Recovery is a unique event bringing together world-leading academics, practitioners in the sexual assault services sector and other experts to explore what actually works in supporting survivors of sexual violence to recover and rebuild their lives. The sold-out event, convened by Victoria’s peak body for sexual assault services, Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic) takes place in Melbourne on Wednesday, 19 February. ?
Macquarie River - Wambuul Flood Recovery Program complete
Approximately ten shipping containers worth of human-made debris have been removed from a 90-kilometre stretch of the Macquarie River-Wambuul near Warren, marking the completion of a complex flood recovery program led by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA). Beginning in April 2024, the clean-up works were undertaken to help clear several large debris rafts, comprising organic and human-made materials, that formed in part of the river following severe flood events in the state’s central west.?
How the world’s largest religious gathering inspired student’s diversity efforts
Attending the Maha Kumbh Mela was not just a culturally enriching experience for Abhishek Singh – the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will also shape his role as a leader within Darwin’s student community.?Mr Singh, a Charles Darwin University (CDU) student and secretary of the Indian Students’ Forum, said the auspicious dates marked a 45-day period of celebration where millions of people gathered to bathe in the Triveni Sangam for a spiritual cleansing.
Cirrus reveals 2025 SR Series G7 Australis? Edition aircraft
Cirrus (Cirrus Aircraft Ltd) revealed the 2025 SR Series G7 Australis? Edition aircraft. This third release of the Australis Edition is thoughtfully designed and configured for the climate and remote flight operations that Australian pilots regularly experience.
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