NewsMatch Alert: Press Release Summary | 26 February 2025
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Today's highlights
Initial reactions — House Select Committee releases interim report for nuclear power inquiry
As part of its inquiry into nuclear power generation in Australia, the House of Representatives Select Committee on Nuclear Energy has released an interim report. The Committee was established to inquire into and report on the consideration of nuclear power generation, including deployment of small modular reactors, in Australia. Chair of the Committee, Mr Dan Repacholi MP, the Federal Member for Hunter, said: ‘This interim report focuses on two key issues that have dominated the evidence we’ve received to date: whether nuclear power generation could be rolled out in Australia in an acceptable timeframe, and how affordable it would be – particularly compared to alternative power generation technologies currently available in Australia.’
Parliamentary inquiry finds nuclear is high risk, zero reward
The Coalition's nuclear scheme is high risk, zero reward—that’s the clear takeaway from the interim findings of the federal inquiry into nuclear power generation in Australia. The committee’s interim report confirms that nuclear energy is not a viable option to meet Australia’s energy needs or climate commitments. The Climate Council, which appeared at the inquiry, said the inquiry’s interim findings confirm what experts have long warned: nuclear reactors are too risky for Australia.
‘Don’t give up: Heart Foundation encourages smokers to keep trying to quit
The Heart Foundation is urging Australia’s 1.8 million smokers not to give up trying to quit. The supportive call comes as detailed new research by 澳大利亚国立大学 (ANU) shows more people in Australia die from smoking than previously thought. The ANU study, published in BMC Medicine, followed 178,000 people over time and provides the first detailed evidence to date on smoking and cause of death in Australia, finding that smoking increases the risk of dying from 23 common causes including heart disease.
Coffee concrete wins national research award
RMIT University’s coffee concrete innovators have won an award at Universities Australia ’s Shaping Australia Awards in the Problem Solver category, after tallying the most votes from the public.? Dr Rajeev Roychand , Professor Jie Li , Associate Professor Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch , Dr Mohammad Saberian , Professor Guomin (Kevin) Zhang and Professor Chun Qing Li’s innovation strengthens concrete by 30% using biochar made from spent coffee grounds to give the drink-additive a “double shot” at life and reduce waste going to landfill.
Researchers to study the impact of mountaineering activities on the world’s highest peaks
A Charles Darwin University (CDU) researcher will climb the highest peak on each continent, known as the Seven Summits, to study the impact of mountaineering activities on these isolated and unique environments and communities. CDU Lecturer in Sustainability Leadership and Management and adventurer Dr Chrystie Watson, GAICD, MBA, FHEA will be climbing each of the Seven Summits with Climbing the Seven Summits (CTSS) to observe the environmental conditions, mountaineer behaviours, and industry practices.?
Simulating scientists: New tool for AI-powered scientific discovery
Published in Nature Machine Intelligence, an Australian team led by Monash University researchers has developed a generative AI tool that mimics scientists to support and speed up the process of scientific discoveries.?Named LLM4SD (Large Language Model 4 Scientific Discovery), the new AI system is an interactive Large Language Model (LLM) tool which can carry out basic steps of scientific research i.e. retrieve useful information from literature and develop hypotheses from data analysis. The tool is freely available and open source.?
Housing fund critical to addressing Australia's housing crisis
National Affordable Housing Alliance ( ACOSS Australian Council of Social Service , Master Builders Australia , Property Council of Australia , National Shelter Community Housing Industry Association , Homelessness Australia , Housing Industry Association (HIA) )
The Housing Australia Future Fund represents a crucial long-term investment in addressing Australia's housing shortage and must endure, according to an alliance of construction, housing, and community peak bodies. The HAFF is already delivering results and should be strengthened. With close to one million Australians projected to have their housing needs unmet by the private market by 2039, we cannot afford to abandon this vital initiative.
Thousands of Victorians to benefit from life-changing housing fund
Community Housing Industry Association Victoria said the Housing Australia Future Fund is a crucial long-term investment that the state is counting on to help ease the housing crisis.?The HAFF has funded more than 4,100 social and affordable homes across 35 projects in Victoria so far. Victoria has been the biggest beneficiary of the HAFF to date, receiving the largest share of funded homes out of all states and territories. CHIA Vic chief executive Sarah Toohey said the HAFF represents a key component in solving the housing crisis puzzle.
Embedding genomic research in cancer clinical trials
The Albanese Labor Government is taking a significant step forward in cancer research and care by establishing the Cancer Genomics Clinical Trials Fund to drive advancements in genomic medicine and ensure equitable access to cancer clinical trials incorporating genomics. This initial $3 million investment will be open to Australia's 14 Multi-site Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Groups as part of the Support for Cancer Clinical Trials (SCCT) program.
Project unlocks battery benefits for organisations and community
An innovative project is helping organisations install 39 batteries that benefit the community and unlock potential revenue streams. The project, which has received funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and is being coordinated by Hydro Tasmania ’s energy retailer Momentum Energy, will see batteries installed at community and professional sporting clubs, a major university, retirement living, retail facilities and small-scale agricultural solar farms.
Breaking News: Randwick votes to remove shark nets
Randwick City Council , has Tuesday night, voted no to the continued use of shark nets, meaning none of the eight councils with shark nets have supported their continued use. The NSW Government has consulted with coastal councils over the future of shark nets at their ocean beaches, and Randwick was the last council to vote. The overwhelming lack of support for shark nets from all affected councils now paves the way for the Minns Government to announce a modern and effective shark safety program that dispenses with the destructive and ineffective nets.?
Largest forced displacement in the West Bank since 1967 amid surge in Israeli military and settler violence causing widespread destruction and severely hampering humanitarian work: Oxfam
A dramatic rise in Israeli military violence has caused the largest forced displacement in the West Bank since the Israeli occupation began. As the ‘Gazafication’ of the West Bank unfolds, vital humanitarian work and projects are being delayed or destroyed, Oxfam warned today.
The world’s most attractive investment migration programs in 2025
Malta retains 1st place in the 2025 Global Citizenship Program Index for the 10th consecutive year, while Greece reaches the top of the 2025 Global Residence Program Index for the first time, highlighting the dominance of European residence and citizenship by investment programs on Henley & Partners’ annual rankings of the most important investment migration programs in the world. Australia, which recently launched its National Innovation Visa (NIV) Program to attract high-level tech skills, Canada, which introduced changes to its Start-Up Visa Program to enhance its appeal and flexibility for entrepreneurs, and Spain (due to close in early 2025) are all joint 4th, each scoring 69.
Conservation breakfast to highlight role of traditional knowledge
Empowering Aboriginal-led Traditional Knowledge to conserve wildlife and nature will be the focus of the 14th annual Celebrating Women in Conservation Breakfast on Friday 28 February at the Grand Ballroom, Sofitel Hotel on Wurundjeri Country. Keynote speaker Teagan Shields, a proud Arabana descendant, has worked in the community engagement and environmental sector for 15 years.?
First Nations students from Dawurr Boarding House in Nhulunbuy become first-time authors
In a new book, Sweet Home: Stories of Country and family published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, 28 students from Dawurr Boarding House share their heart-felt stories about what home means to them. “Home is where the heart is. But home is two things for the kids. It’s home and then it’s home away from home,” says Stuart Martin, Rembarranga man from Bulman who has worked with the students at Dawurr Boarding for four years.
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