NewsMatch Alert: Press Release Summary | 6 February 2025
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Today's highlights
From Classroom to Community: Strengthening civics education
Recommendations for strengthened and standardised civics education for Australian students have been made by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters in its report, From Classroom to Community: Civics education and political participation in Australia. Committee Chair, Senator the Hon Carol Brown said ‘Australia’s system of compulsory voting means that all Australians need to be informed to participate in our democracy and elections. This is particularly important at a time where democracies around the world, including Australia, are facing rising disengagement, distrust, and misinformation and disinformation in a complex online information environment.
Dementia prevalence to double without urgent commitment to brain health
According to 2025 figures released today, the prevalence of dementia is projected to double within the next 30 years without significant intervention, highlighting the urgent need for a national conversation on dementia and brain health. Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan, PhD GAICD said there are an estimated 433,300 Australians living with dementia in 2025 and it is increasingly being understood as the public health, disability and aged care challenge facing Australia. ?
Genomics Framework charts new course in cancer care for future generations
The Australian government has released Cancer Australia's National Framework for Genomics in Cancer Control, marking a significant step toward improved cancer outcomes through personalised cancer care.?Genomic medicine is at the cutting edge of medicine, using a person’s own DNA to better identify disease risks, prevent illness, make earlier diagnoses and personalise treatment. It has the potential to deliver vital insights into the way gene mutations drive cancer behaviour.?
BCNA calls out government for failing to protect Australians from genetic discrimination while showcasing its new genomics framework
BCNA welcomes Cancer Australia's Framework for Genomics in Cancer Control, but condemns the Australian Government’s failure to follow through on its commitment to legislate a full ban on genetic discrimination in life insurance, a critical reform to ensure all Australians can access genetic testing without fear of financial repercussions. BCNA contributed to the consultation that informed the National Genomics Framework and remains committed to ensuring genomic testing is accessible, equitable, and safe. However, the lack of legal protections is already creating real-world consequences.
Counting the cost of climate change for business
Accounting for climate change is in its infancy – and a 悉尼新南威尔士大学 academic says getting it right requires new ways of thinking. In January this year, mandatory climate reporting requirements affecting more than 6000 Australian organisations came into effect.?UNSW’s Dr Tanya Fiedler, an internationally recognised pioneering expert in the field of climate risk accounting and accountability, says organisations are not set up to accurately calculate their exposure to risks from climate extremes using current approaches, and risk accusations of greenwashing and greenhushing if they do not do so with care.
School closures reduced Covid impact in most countries but not all: study
School closures reduced the impact of COVID-19 in most countries but had negative effects in some, Monash University-led research encompassing 74 countries has found. In Australia, the researchers found that school closures probably had a positive impact by reducing SARS-CoV-2 infections, peak hospital occupancy and deaths.
Monash expert: Leaving children unattended in vehicles during a heatwave
A Monash University expert is available to comment on the need for additional educational campaigns to prevent parents/caregivers from leaving children in vehicles during summer in Australia, even for short periods of time.
300,000 EVs on Aussie roads, with prices starting under $30,000
Australian drivers have put more than 300,000 electric vehicles on the road, signalling a shift toward cleaner, more affordable transport, the Electric Vehicle Council said. Analysis of EVC and public data shows that of the electric vehicles that have been sold in Australia, about 248,000 are battery electric and about 53,500 are plug-in hybrids.
Countdown is on: Last chance to save thousands on a plug-in hybrid
领英推荐
The National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA) is issuing a final call for Australian workers to secure a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) before a major tax discount vanishes. The Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for PHEVs comes to an end on April 1 - a discount that can save motorists thousands of dollars on the cost of owning and running a new low emissions car.
Union welcomes new public hospital funding as positive step
The Health Services Union (HSU) has welcomed the federal government’s $1.7 billion announcement for public hospitals as an important first step in securing a new long-term funding model. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Health Minister Mark Butler today announced the additional money as part of a one-year deal between the Commonwealth, state and territory governments.
Australians are making a noise about better access to palliative care
Australians are responding to the call for ‘better access to palliative care’ with thousands of people joining Jean Kittson to “make some noise.”?Well-known performer and author, Jean Kittson , launched Palliative Care Australia’s (PCA) latest campaign in late 2024, sharing her own trauma and distress around the death of her beloved mum, Elaine, earlier that year. In the last eight weeks, 13,000 people have signed PCA’s petition calling on government to deliver ‘better access to palliative care.’?
Save Our Shrine campaign launched
Military veterans and concerned citizens have launched a ‘Save Our Shrine’ organisation and website in Melbourne to protect the Shrine of Remembrance from being transformed into a tourism and entertainment venue. The Group’s spokesperson Peter Whitelaw said today the Shine had been 'deliberately turned' from its memorial of respect to all Veterans into a commercialised venue to 'pay for bloated staff and crass advertising campaigns' in an 'apparent desperate move by the State government to save money'.
Reckon secures new partnership with NSW Rugby Union to support grassroots clubs
Reckon is proud to announce a new partnership with NSW Rugby Union (NSWRU), the governing body for Rugby Union in New South Wales, which leads the development and promotion of the sport at all levels, from grassroots initiatives to elite competitions. This exciting collaboration will see Reckon provide valuable support to NSWRU clubs over the next two years, strengthening both organisations’ commitment to financial literacy, sustainability, and growth.
Chutes open this weekend in Scone on PBR Australia's 2025 Grand Finals Journey
With the dust still settling on news that Queensland’s Brady Fielder (Clermont) is now the number one bull rider in the world (and the first Australian in 28 years), the chutes to the Professional Bull Riding (PBR) Australian season officially open this weekend in Scone, New South Wales, with Brady’s fellow Queenslanders leading the charge
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