NewsMatch Alert: Press Release Summary | 21 December
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Today's highlights
Australian Red Cross welcomes “Dasher-8” to deliver cheer to those in need this Christmas
QantasLink ’s ‘Dasher’ 8 Q400 has touched down in the Western Downs region in QLD, loaded with Christmas gifts in a bid to brighten the spirits of bushfire impacted children this Christmas.?The haul of presents, donated by Qantas staff, as well as Trauma Teddies hand-knitted by Australian Red Cross volunteers, will be delivered to children in the community of Tara, where bushfires destroyed 56 homes and took the lives of two people in October. Australian Red Cross Chief Funding Officer, Jason Laufer , said volunteers have delivered over 300 hours of support to date and are looking forward to putting their Santa hats on to spread some festive cheer. ?
End of productivity freefall no cause for complacency
Australia’s labour productivity has halted its decline but mostly because people worked fewer hours in the 2023 September quarter, according to Productivity Commission research. For the first quarter since March 2022, labour productivity rose – increasing by 0.9% in the September quarter, although labour productivity was still down 2.1% through the 12 months to September. This increase in productivity was driven by a 0.7% decline in hours worked over the quarter coupled with relatively minor growth in GDP of 0.2%.
The state of NSW fails to block festival strip search class action
The NSW government has failed in its attempt to “declass” the representative proceeding filed in the Supreme Court of NSW on behalf of hundreds of festivalgoers who were subjected to strip searches by police between 2016 and 2022. The decision has been welcomed by Slater and Gordon and the Redfern Legal Centre who jointly filed the group proceeding in July last year.
The Fair Work Commission’s first Enforceable Undertaking (EU)
The General Manager of the Fair Work Commission (Commission), Murray Furlong , has today accepted the Commission’s first enforceable undertaking (EU) using one of the new enforcement tools in section 316C of the?Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009?(the RO Act). The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) State Public Services Federation (SPSF) entered into the undertaking after admitting non-compliance by its Western Australia Prison Officer’s Union Branch (the Branch).
PALM visa conditions exploit Pacific partners working in lucrative Australian industries
New analysis from the Australia Institute has highlighted the extent to which temporary workers from the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste are supporting essential agricultural and food processing industries, adding weight to calls for much needed improvements to working conditions for temporary visa holders participating in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
Report: Shareholders deceived by offshore gas sector
A new international report by an independent energy think tank says energy industry shareholders are effectively being deceived by an offshore gas and oil industry keen to cover up its pending liabilities.?The report, entitled Australia’s decommissioning challenge raises financial risks for governments and shareholders, from the global Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), also says that the Australian taxpayer will inherit billions of dollars in clean-up costs if there is a rapid global exit from gas.?It was written by Josh Runciman, who is a former Director for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and a former economist for the Australian Productivity Commission.
Power stations licence review identifies areas for change
Work will begin on implementing a range of improvements for the state’s four coal-fired power stations following the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) recent community consultation and review of environment protection licences.?EPA Executive Director Regulatory Operations Jason Gordon said the EPA has a comprehensive and robust framework for regulating power stations in NSW and is committed to ensuring they operate with environmental responsibility.
Six shortlisted for $2 billion Hydrogen Headstart funding
On behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has today announced that six applicants have been shortlisted and invited to submit a full application in the next stage of the $2 billion Hydrogen Headstart Program.?
ACA commends NSW progress and calls for National Construction Strategy
The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) CEO Jon Davies welcomes the NSW Government’s progress report on agency performance against the 10-point commitment to the construction sector.?“With the construction industry currently grappling with a workforce shortage of 229,000 and substantial budgetary pressures, it is imperative government revisit and update the approach. We’re calling for a National Construction Strategy that reflects the current realities and secures consensus on procurement principles at a national level."
领英推荐
Rail safety is no joke this silly season. Expect the Unexpected. Watch out for trains!
As holidays and the silly season approaches, the TrackSAFE Foundation is reminding the community that rail safety is no joke!?With an average seven fatalities a month on the Australian rail network, and an increase in people travelling at this time of year, TrackSAFE, the rail sector’s National Harm Prevention Charity is urging both locals and those passing through to ‘Expect the Unexpected. Watch out for Trains!’
GPs vital in combatting future pandemics
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has called on government to back GPs and practice teams in managing future public health emergencies including pandemics. It comes following the College’s submission to the federal Government’s COVID-19 Response Inquiry Panel.?RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins MBBS FRACGP GAICD said that GPs and practice teams should never be forgotten.
La Trobe launches AlleSense to enhance cancer, disease diagnosis
La Trobe University is launching its first major spin-out company with technology that is set to revolutionise medical imaging and potentially save millions of lives.?AlleSense has been created to support the commercialisation of technology invented by La Trobe researchers Professor Brian Abbey and Dr Eugeniu Balaur , from the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences and the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science.
Bupa strikes key prostheses reform to help keep healthcare affordable
Bupa has become the first major private health insurer to announce new funding arrangements with?all hospitals on almost 500 medical consumable items used in everyday surgeries, including glues, sponges, staples, and catheters to provide greater certainty for hospitals and drive lower healthcare?costs for our members.
Lack of homelessness outreach life or death this summer
Victoria’s peak body for homelessness advocacy is urging the state government to boost funding for outreach workers to identify and assist people sleeping rough with a horror bushfire season looming.?Council to Homeless Persons CEO Deborah Di Natale says many parts of Victoria including Gippsland, the Central Highlands and South-West Victoria do not have funded outreach workers and this makes it impossible to know just how many people are sleeping rough in regional areas.
$1.5m for food relief in Sydney as cost of living bites
The City of Sydney has awarded $1.5 million in grants to 12 organisations to help get food and essential items including menstrual care products to struggling inner city residents over the next year. “Local food relief organisations report that demand for food relief is now higher than during the pandemic, with people forgoing food to pay for housing and health services,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said.
What the holidays unwrap about your new relationship
Stark Raven ON BEHALF OF eharmony
“Australians have it drummed into them from a young age that summer is the time for swimming between the red flags – which is crucial for keeping safe at the beach, but my advice for daters this holiday season is gravitate to the green flags.” Being alert to behaviours that reveal both positive and concerning traits – green and red flags – can tell daters a lot about their partner’s compatibility, according to an eharmony psychologist, Sharon Draper. Sharon is sharing some relationship red and green flags that might be raised at this time of year.
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