NewsMatch Alert: Press Release Summary | 27 February 2025
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Today's highlights
More than half of Aussies surveyed witness or experience racism in community sport
More than half of Australians surveyed who play community sport report experiencing or witnessing racism, a new study led by Monash University shows. The startling report, from a survey canvassing the experiences of Australians playing community sport, found 30 per cent of participants had directly experienced racism, with a further 26 per cent having witnessed it. As a result, 20 per cent of those targeted reduced or changed their participation.
Punishing people for not having homes to go to is not only cruel, but dangerous
Homelessness Australia is sounding a warning that the City of Moreton Bay Council’s plans to criminalise sleeping rough will only intensify harm to people already suffering the consequences of the national housing crisis. The council on Wednesday announced all forms of homelessness camping in Moreton Bay would be criminalised from March 12, and they are planning to alert those sleeping rough in the area today.?“We are in the depths of a housing crisis, and there are simply no homes these people can go to.?It may be uncomfortable to see our fellow community members sleeping in parks and on the street, but this is the inevitable consequence of not having enough social housing” CEO of Homelessness Australia Kate Colvin said.?
Grill, baby, grill: Aussies set to swelter if leaders follow Trump’s climate chaos
The Climate Council
The Climate Council's Heat Map tool released today reveals Australia’s biggest cities could experience dangerous hotter temperatures in the coming decades without accelerated climate action. It also shows that continuing to cut climate pollution can safeguard Australians from the worst impacts of soaring heat.?Under a high pollution or “drill, baby, drill” scenario, where the world follows US President Donald Trump’s lead and fails to cut back on burning coal, oil and gas, Australia will suffer. Some areas will swelter through two thirds of the year above 35℃ by 2090.
US trade surplus helping Australian agriculture avoid tariff ‘wheel of misfortune’
The US’s trade surplus with Australia has so far helped keep Australian food and agri exports off the ‘wheel of misfortune’ when it comes to the new wave of US tariffs, Rabobank says in a newly released global report. And this may hold Australia in good stead when it comes to any future US tariff announcements.
Groundbreaking allergy advice platform to help bridge the gap in care for rural Australians
A groundbreaking new platform, believed to be the first of its kind globally, is set to transform the landscape of allergy care for rural and remote Australians. The National Allergy Council, in partnership with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) , has launched allergy assist?, a free online platform designed to provide timely, specialist advice to General Practitioners (GPs) and Rural Generalists.
Law Partners Calls for Independent Inquiry Into Deaths at Latrobe Regional Hospital
Michael Passaro , a Managing Solicitor at Law Partners in Victoria has written a letter to Mary-Anne Thomas, Victoria’s Minister for Health, calling for an independent inquiry into recently publicised deaths at Latrobe Regional Hospital in eastern Victoria. Michael is currently representing his client, Nadine Lont, in a related medical negligence matter.
Flying shrapnel from giant ventilation fan forces shutdown of Snowy 2.0 tunnel work
AWU
The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) confirms that all underground operations at the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project have been halted following a catastrophic failure of critical ventilation equipment that could have resulted in worker fatalities. "This latest incident represents a significant near-miss that could have resulted in workers being killed," said Tony Callinan, AWU NSW Secretary.?
Sea sponge inspires super strong compressible material
Inspired by the humble deep-sea sponge, RMIT University engineers have developed a new material with remarkable compressive strength and stiffness that could improve architectural and product designs. The double lattice design was inspired by the intricate skeleton of a deep-sea sponge known as Venus' flower basket, which lives in the Pacific Ocean.
Are our refrigerants safe? The lingering questions about the chemicals keeping us cool
A team of scientists at 悉尼新南威尔士大学 has discovered that some of the most important new refrigerants break down, in part, into persistent greenhouse gas pollutants, including compounds that have been banned internationally. Refrigerants are chemicals that turn from a liquid to a gas – and vice-versa – and transfer heat in the process, that are used for refrigeration and indoor heating and cooling. The chemicals are also used as aerosol propellants, fire retardants and in the manufacture of foamed plastics.
How ‘Omega’ is a quantum leap for Australia – interview available
PsiQuantum, the company building the world’s first utility-scale quantum computer in Brisbane, has just announced a significant scientific milestone: Omega – a manufacturable chipset that will take quantum computing out of the lab and into the real world.?
AHISA calls for a new narrative for Australian schooling
The Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA) today launched a discussion paper calling for a public debate about the purpose of and approach to Australian schooling. “It appears that policy makers have been slow to notice that performative, outcomes-driven models of schooling are failing our children,” said AHISA’s CEO Christopher Duncan.
With E-Scooters a crash isn’t always clear cut
While e-scooters offer an eco-friendly and convenient mode of transport, accidents can happen, leaving riders and pedestrians vulnerable to injury and unclear about their legal options. ?Expert in motor vehicle accident law Ally Jalbert lets you know how your legal options differ if you’re on an e-scooter compared to a car.
ATO targets property investors: Are your records audit-proof?
According to BMT Tax Depreciation, a leader in property depreciation services, 66% of investment properties have undergone renovations or upgrades, yet many landlords fail to claim eligible deductions. This oversight could leave thousands of dollars on the table – and expose landlords to increased scrutiny during an ATO audit. BMT’s Chief Executive Officer, Bradley Beer , explains: "Landlords often overlook renovations made by previous owners or fail to document their own property upgrades."
Builders put politicians on notice this federal election
Peak building and construction industry association Master Builders Australia will launch its Federal Election campaign today, putting all parties and independents on notice to stop the talk and deliver real action to end the housing crisis. The campaign, More Homes For Aussies, is focused on the key areas that will ensure there is enough housing supply and supporting infrastructure right across the housing spectrum: social and affordable housing, private rentals and owner-occupiers.
Making stuff here – leading innovator releases blueprint to reinvigorate Australian economy
Leading Australian entrepreneur and scientist, Steven Camilleri , is today releasing a blueprint for reinvigorating the Australian economy through innovation. As Australia’s next Federal Election races towards us, Camilleri’s blueprint is a call to arms for all those hoping to lead Australia in the coming years. Australian industry is in crisis and plans to rebuild a future-proofed Australia must be founded in our domestic industry.?
Intersolar Europe: The Time for Hybrid Power Plants Has Come
The era of hybrid power plants has arrived. By combining solar, wind, and hydropower with smart storage, these plants integrate renewable electricity efficiently into the grid. As the global solar industry gathers at Intersolar Europe, discussions will focus on the latest advancements, regulations, and future prospects of hybrid power plants.
New Research Reveals 84% of IT Leaders Trust AI Agents Equally or More than Humans
SnapLogic, the leader in generative integration, today announced the findings of its “AI Agents: The Final Frontier of the Enterprise” report, offering critical insight into the readiness of IT infrastructures for successful implementation of AI agents. Polling over 1,000 IT decision-makers across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia, the report analyzes the investment, readiness, and adoption of AI agents to streamline IT and business processes.
AI to be the nerve centre for family offices, PE firms: Eton Solutions
Growing allocation of capital to private markets by wealthy Australians is driving changes to family office operations, and generative AI is emerging as the nerve centre in this transformation. A report by KPMG Australia , Australian Family Offices: The Role of Technology (sponsored by Eton Solutions), found that 45% of Australian family offices are actively considering generative AI, with 8% already deploying AI-driven solutions.
Australians Urged to Prioritise Brain Health During Brain Awareness Week 2025
The Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) has joined forces with the Brain Foundation in this year’s Brain Awareness Week, by calling for improved action to address one of the biggest public health issues in Australia: the growing burden of neurological diseases, disorders, and injuries. Conditions affecting the brain and nervous system impact people of all ages and from all walks of life, with roughly 2 in 5 Australians experiencing a brain disorder in their lifetime. Neurological disorders account for 8.4% of Australia’s total disease burden, a staggering 91.9% increase since 2003.?
Muslims will welcome the holy month of Ramadan this weekend
Muslims across Australia will welcome the holy month of Ramadan starting from the evening of Saturday, 1 March 2025. As a lunar month, the first day of Ramadan will be on Sunday, 2 March 2025. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, holds profound spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide. It is a month dedicated to fasting, prayer, reflection, and community service. This year, Ramadan arrives at a time when our communities are becoming increasingly polarised.
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