@matildagirl Thanks for sharing. I love these commercials every year. I'm a Yank... but I LOVE lamb, too!
Australians living with recurrent melanoma will have a new treatment option subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
The health minister, Mark Butler, said without the subsidy, these same patients could pay about $315,000 for a course of treatment.
The current patient fees and charges?
Patient co-payments
The co-payment is the amount you pay towards the cost of your PBS subsidised medicine. Many PBS medicines cost significantly more than the co-payment amount.
From 1 January 2024, you may pay up to $31.60 for most PBS medicines, or $7.70 if you have a concession card. The Australian Government pays the remaining cost (with the exception of brand premiums and certain other allowable charges).
This is the type of Scheme I think would really benefit Americans if the government got its act together.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
I thought you might like the quote from a former Prime Minister of Australia after a phone call with Trump when he was President.
"Big bullying billionaires, they all think they're God's gift to humanity," says Turnbull of his infamous call with Donald Trump over Australia's refugee swap deal with Washington.
Regards
Matildagirl
@freya @matildagirl, I loved that commercial. Loved seeing Australians young v old, such a contrast. We can get a bit insular over here in the Northern Hemisphere.
https://apple.news/AWVVYK9FCRuaMWDZK4lpoVg
A new government inquiry will examine women’s pain and treatment. How and why is it different?
The Victorian government has announced an inquiry into women’s pain. Given women are disproportionately affected by pain, such a thorough investigation is long overdue.
The inquiry, the first of its kind in Australia and the first we’re aware of internationally, is expected to take a year. It aims to improve care and services for Victorian girls and women experiencing pain in the future.
Medical misogyny
Women in pain are viewed and treated differently to men. Women are more likely to be told their pain is psychological and dismissed as not being real or “all in their head”.
Hollywood actor Selma Blair recently shared her experience of having her symptoms repeatedly dismissed by doctors and put down to “menstrual issues”, before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018.
It’s an experience familiar to many women in Australia, where medical misogyny still runs deep. Our research has repeatedly shown Australian women with pelvic pain are similarly dismissed, leading to lengthy diagnostic delays and serious impacts on their quality of life.
Maybe we will get changes that benefit all women, fingers crossed.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-09/ir-laws-employers-could-face-criminal-penalties/103445984
SYDNEY, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Australia will introduce laws giving workers the right to ignore unreasonable calls and messages from their bosses outside of work hours without penalty, with potential fines for employers that breach the rule.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
I didn’t know where to put this it’s not really Australian news but of the World.
Elections in 2024 will test democracy like never before, as almost half the world goes to polls
“The world is more democratic than it was 100 years ago, but it has recently declined.
The trend is "very serious", said Tony Banbury, president of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
"We see in country after country someone gaining power through the ballot box, through a democratic process, and then once in power, they start to dismantle the democratic institutions of their country," he said.
He said most leaders tend to follow an "authoritarian playbook" by going after the systems that help promote free and fair elections.
That includes election management bodies, the judiciary, and the free press.
"They change laws, change the constitution, and make the country less and less democratic via democratic means, and that is very worrying," he said.
Ahead of elections, voters are also increasingly being targeted with disinformation and misinformation campaigns from both domestic and foreign sources.”
“With so many nations going to the polls, there is little doubt that this year has the potential to change the course of history.“
It is not just America.
This article is really worth reading.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
On a happier note
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-15/anthony-albanese-engaged-to-partner-jodie-haydon/103469246
The prime minister has taken to social media to announce his engagement to his partner Jodie Haydon.
Regards
Matildagirl
This is an exciting development Daniel Timms has invented an artificial heart which is going to human trials this year.
https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/dr-daniel-timms
Regards to all
Matildagirl
'Leave now': Hundreds of Victorian residents urged to evacuate as out-of-control bushfire threatens homes
Not good
Regards to all
Matildagirl
Fire danger risk could reach catastrophic levels in parts of Victoria, as huge bushfire continues to burn
Authorities are warning of potentially catastrophic fire danger across parts of Victoria mid-week as the west of the state reels from a bushfire that has been burning for five days.
—-
Tyers CFA captain Ross Wisewood said he had immense pride for his volunteers who dropped everything they were doing to lend a hand.
"It's just about helping your mate, helping your community," Mr Wisewood said.
"We don't do it for the medals or the honour; we do it to help our family."
It was not uncommon for CFA volunteers to travel long distances to assist other brigades when bushfires got out of control.
In recent years, Mr Wisewood said the CFA had become much better at ensuring available resources were sent to the right place at the right time.
"We might be volunteers, but we pride ourselves on delivering a professional service to the community," he said.
Volunteers are everywhere in Australia especially CFA the rural fire service, they come from interstate as well and our mates in NZ come as well when fires get really bad as does USA and Canada. We do the same for them.
People can be wonderful and selfless all is not bad in the world.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8578505/sam-mostyn-named-as-australias-28th-governor-general/
We have a new Governor General starting in July. It’s the 2nd woman to hold the office. She will be the representative for King Charles in Australia as head of state.
A previous GG Sir John Kerry sacked the Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and appointed the opposition leader Malcolm Fraser as caretaker Prime Minister until a new election. It is a powerful position.
It’s known as The Dismissal and happened in 1975, if interested there is information below. It’s sort of like Biden being removed from the presidency and the republican leader installed instead but on condition a new election was held. It was about supply, which is the same thing when you guys hit the debt ceiling and need congress to pass it otherwise the government has no money.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_Australian_constitutional_crisis
This bit is interesting in that allegations have repeatedly been made about CIA involvement in the Whitlam dismissal, but remain unsubstantiated.
We survived, there was bitterness and Labor maintained the Rage for some time. Below is the reasoning the GG made for his Decision.
“Because of the federal nature of our Constitution and because of its provisions the Senate undoubtedly has constitutional power to refuse or defer supply to the Government. Because of the principles of responsible government a Prime Minister who cannot obtain supply, including money for carrying on the ordinary services of government, must either advise a general election or resign. If he refuses to do this I have the authority and indeed the duty under the Constitution to withdraw his Commission as Prime Minister. The position in Australia is quite different from a position in the United Kingdom. Here the confidence of both Houses on supply is necessary to ensure its provision. In the United Kingdom the confidence of the House of Commons alone is necessary. But both here and in the United Kingdom the duty of the Prime Minister is the same in a most important aspect – if he cannot get supply he must resign or advise an election.
— Governor-General Sir John Kerr, Statement (dated 11 November 1975) “
Some of Gough Whitlams quotes
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-21/photos-and-quotes-whitlam/5829298
The public reaction
Regards to all.
Matildagirl
PS we can do turmoil too.
Well we have had a mass killing in a shopping centre, not with guns but a knife. 6 people died plus the assailant who was shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, who entered the shopping centre alone after getting the call. He also stabbed a 9 month old baby which is just unbelievable, her mother sadly died.
It appears to be from mental illness rather than a terrorism attack. Don’t know if it was significant that the victims bar one were female, it may just be they were an easier target.
So sad and not an event we want.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
@matildagirl Oh, Mathildagirl! I just read some of the details and it was horrific! The dying mother that handed off her bleeding baby girl to a stranger. I desperately hope that baby survives, and I'll be following the story. These events are unfortunately not new to us in the US, but the death toll is usually higher here because of our proliferation of guns over knives. The shock is always the same. My heart goes out to these families, all Aussies and you. I am so very sorry for this deep pain.
Just horrific news, I can imagine! Sending prayers and a lot of love to the families of this tragedy.
@matildagirl Oh, this is such shocking and horrific news. I am also sending out love to the victims and all of Australians.
@matildagirl, 😢. Our planet seems in the grip of mental instability. May you know that LOVE encircles you all, giving courage and comfort to those whose hearts are heavy. ✨💫✨
Thank you, it is a shock, the last time there were people killed at a shopping centre (by guns that time) was in 1991 at Strathfield (a shopping centre I had been to) which was before the Port Arthur massacre (another place I had been to) and gun control being brought in, 1996 I think gun control came in. I think what I just wrote is right.
One of the tragedies within the tragedy, one victim was getting married soon and one of the police responders was her fiancée.
It is all so stupid and pointless but a minor blip on the world stage, look at Ukraine, Gaza as examples, far more death and tragedy there.
We as humans really need to grow up.
Regards to all
Matildagirl