NewsMatch Alert: Press Release Summary | 20 November 2024
Medianet - Media Intelligence Made Smarter
Medianet | Australia’s fully integrated media intelligence solution for PR and Communications professionals.
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
Treaties Committee recommends ratification of OCCAR Agreement
The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has tabled a report recommending the ratification of the Security Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation ( OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation) ) on the Protection of Classified Information. The Agreement establishes security measures to protect classified information generated from activities between Australia and OCCAR Member States.
Super action sees over $900 million super returned
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) is reminding employers that paying correct super entitlements on time is not optional, and it will take action to protect employees. Latest data shows ATO actions have led to $932 million dollars of previously unpaid superannuation reaching the retirement accounts of 797,000 employees in the past year.
Alarming spike in violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
A third of women killed allegedly by men’s violence since June are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women – despite making up just 4% of the population. It’s believed 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have reportedly been killed in that time including eight in the NT – yet the alarming reality has barely registered in most national media.??
Major Australian cities fail international tree canopy goals: study
New research measuring access to nature for eight major global cities, including central Melbourne and Sydney, found most have inadequate canopy cover despite access to an abundance of trees. Lead researcher Dr Thami Croeser from RMIT University said better canopy cover was urgently needed to cool down our cities.?
Angry at covert pricing tactics? Blame inflation and a lack of competition
Claims of “shrinkflation” and other covert retail tactics that pass costs on to consumers are drawing increased attention as Australians continue to struggle with high living costs. But with inflation squeezing both retailers and shoppers, the causes of big price rises, falling value for money and unfair pricing practices are complex. Professor Nitika Garg in the School of Marketing at UNSW Business School points to a lack of competition, including in the Australian supermarket “near-duopoly” of Coles and Woolworths, as a leading source of the problem.
7 in 10 Aussies watching their spending more this Christmas, 56% will spend less on food, new Salvos research finds – The Salvation Army launch their annual Christmas Appeal
The Salvation Army this week launched its annual Christmas Appeal, aiming to raise $27 million to support the Australian community doing it tough during the festive season. The launch coincides with new research by The Salvos, which found over 15.3 million Australians (72%) will be more mindful of their spending this Christmas compared to previous years, and over 4 in 10 (42%) will have their Christmas negatively impacted this year because of the cost of living.
Bitcoin surges as Trump boosts crypto confidence: What it means for Australia
Renewed confidence in the cryptocurrency market has seen Bitcoin surge in value in recent weeks, due to a “perfect storm” of factors including President-elect Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance, post Bitcoin halving momentum and falling interest rates in the US. bitcoin.com.au CEO, Adrian P. , said the impact of these developments was not confined to the US crypto market, with Australia perfectly positioned to benefit from a thriving global crypto ecosystem.
Monash expert: Australia opts out of global nuclear energy pact
Following news that Australia declined to join the UK-US nuclear energy pact, a Monash University expert is available to comment: "Australia’s decision to decline joining the 30 nations that committed to the UK-US nuclear energy pact highlights its cautious approach to nuclear energy, even as global adoption gains momentum."
New report makes case for preventing chronic diseases, rather than spending billions on treatment
The Public Health Association of Australia urges the Australian Government to invest in actions that prevent people developing many chronic diseases, as new figures show the cost of treating such illnesses rose by $13b in one year.?The peak body’s comments follow the release of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s?Health system spending on disease and injury in Australia 2022–23?report.
Record number of GPs to enter training, but RACGP warns more funding needed
The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has filled all its Australian GP Training (AGPT) Program places for the first time in years, and is calling on the Government to commit additional funding to address Australia’s GP shortage. ??
A nation on the move: New tool tracks Australia’s climate progress
Millions of Australian homes and businesses are driving a surge in clean energy adoption, embracing rooftop solar, batteries, and cleaner transport choices.? Today the Council Council unveils a new tool, Momentum Monitor to track progress in each sector. Progress has been analysed using publicly available Australian government data and will now be collated and monitored quarterly.
Repurposing flood debris saves $2.4 million in the Northern Rivers
More than 10 Olympic sized swimming pools of flood debris has been diverted from landfill and reused, saving $2.4 million following a collaborative effort between the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Richmond Valley Council.
No surprise that report finds half Australians think immigration too high
The finding by the Scanlon Foundation that a rising number of Australians (49%) think immigration is too high, should come as no surprise, according to Sustainable Population Australia (SPA).?SPA National President Peter Strachan says there is a growing awareness of the strong link between cost-of-living pressures – notably housing – and rapid population growth, caused largely by housing demand, as a result of record immigration numbers.
Another year of Ministerial Direction 107 would be disastrous for Australia
Statement from Professor?Theo Farrell, Vice-Chancellor, La Trobe University:?We are deeply disappointed by the failure of the Senate to pass the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 (ESOS), which would have brought certainty to what has been an extremely challenging time for many universities in Australia.?
Half of Aussies ignoring impact of diet on mood
A new survey from the number one global food and nutrition tracking app, MyFitnessPal found that while 64% of Australians have experienced noticeable changes to their mood after consuming certain foods, we’re not turning those benefits into habits - with half (49%) not making any attempts to improve their mood and wellbeing by adjusting their diet.
Monash-led research is expanding treatment options for high cholesterol
Melbourne researchers are helping expand options for people with high cholesterol that puts them at risk of heart attack or stroke, including world-first drugs for potentially deadly conditions. Monash University and Monash Health are collaborating on projects that aim to develop the first effective drug for two types of high cholesterol that until now have had no effective treatment.
Preventing falls and Standing Tall: what we can do to reduce our falls risk – expert available for comment
Falls injuries cost our health system $4.7 billion in 2020-21 and are leading cause of injury hospitalisations and death. But, what can we do to improve these national figures and reduce our own falls risk? NeuRA’s Professor Kim Delbaere is a Senior Principal Research Scientist and Director of Innovation and Translation at the Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre is available to answer these questions and talk about the work she and her colleagues are doing in this space. ?
What happens between 2 and 5 years of age is crucially important: Landmark series from The Lancet
The Lancet has launched a landmark series on the importance of ‘the next 1,000 days’. Building on the foundation of the first 1,000 days of life (conception until two years old), the next 1,000 days (from age two to aged five) is a crucial window of opportunity to provide overall health, nutrition, security and safety, responsive care-giving and learning (called nurturing care) at an early age for children.
$1 million to create Aboriginal-led history books
La Trobe University and the University of Melbourne have begun a million dollar project to compile a four-volume collection of key documents that tell the story of Australian history from an Aboriginal perspective, which will be sent to remote community schools across Australia and will eventually be in every school and public library.
First Nations student turned author Mia Speed writes children’s book in her Wirangu language that hops into our hearts!
On 22 October, talented 18-year-old student Mia Speed returned to her former Lincoln Gardens Primary School in Port Lincoln, South Australia to launch her first children’s book written in her Wirangu language.?Inspired by her nieces and nephews who wanted to learn more about their language and culture, the book was created when she was 16 as part of a school research project, with a goal of providing a Wirangu language resource for kids in her Community.?
Log in to Medianet for Journalists to view all of today's releases
How can my press release be featured in Medianet's NewsMatch Alert?
All releases distributed through Medianet are eligible to be featured in our NewsMatch Alert, based on their editorial merit. NewsMatch is distributed to journalists daily via email and our new LinkedIn newsletter.
I'm a journalist, how do I subscribe to NewsMatch?
This newsletter is sent daily to email subscribers. To subscribe, sign up to our NewsMatch email alert.
Where can I see all press releases?
To read all press releases, visit our NewsHub . Journalists also have access to embargoed press releases and the ability to setup personalised alerts by signing up to Medianet for Journalists (free).