Latest news with #EmilyKowal
The Age
4 days ago
- The Age
More must be done to attract quality childcare staff
For the tens of thousands of NSW families who send their young children to childcare, it has been a difficult few weeks. The news that an alleged paedophile had worked across several childcare sites in Melbourne has left parents asking: is my child safe? As Emily Kowal and Nigel Gladstone write in today's Sun-Herald, concerns have now been raised about the reliability of publicly available quality ratings for Australia's childcare centres. Parents are being warned that they cannot trust the National Quality Standard childcare centre ratings, with years passing between assessments (more than six for hundreds of centres in NSW). In addition, NSW childcare centres in particular have become increasingly reliant on temporary waivers to excuse breaches of the standards, particularly in relation to staffing ratios. Loading In Sydney's outer south-west, more than one in five centres have been excused to operate without meeting the requisite staffing level. The figure is also high in the city's north-west, south-west and on the Central Coast. The reality is that we do not have enough childcare workers to meet demand. The presence of these waivers means parents in the city's western suburbs – a region where places are highly sought after – can return to work. To force centres to close until they meet staffing requirements would lock an unacceptable number of parents – especially mothers – out of the workforce. As the heartbreaking stories in today's article reveal, the consequence of all this is, ultimately, children's safety: stories of injuries and improper first aid show what can happen to kids when their childcare is not providing adequate care. The mothers who spoke to The Sun-Herald for today's story spoke of their guilt, regret and disappointment at sending their children to poor quality centres. That centres can be waived of staffing requirements is not ideal, but demands on the sector mean this cannot be avoided.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
More must be done to attract quality childcare staff
For the tens of thousands of NSW families who send their young children to childcare, it has been a difficult few weeks. The news that an alleged paedophile had worked across several childcare sites in Melbourne has left parents asking: is my child safe? As Emily Kowal and Nigel Gladstone write in today's Sun-Herald, concerns have now been raised about the reliability of publicly available quality ratings for Australia's childcare centres. Parents are being warned that they cannot trust the National Quality Standard childcare centre ratings, with years passing between assessments (more than six for hundreds of centres in NSW). In addition, NSW childcare centres in particular have become increasingly reliant on temporary waivers to excuse breaches of the standards, particularly in relation to staffing ratios. Loading In Sydney's outer south-west, more than one in five centres have been excused to operate without meeting the requisite staffing level. The figure is also high in the city's north-west, south-west and on the Central Coast. The reality is that we do not have enough childcare workers to meet demand. The presence of these waivers means parents in the city's western suburbs – a region where places are highly sought after – can return to work. To force centres to close until they meet staffing requirements would lock an unacceptable number of parents – especially mothers – out of the workforce. As the heartbreaking stories in today's article reveal, the consequence of all this is, ultimately, children's safety: stories of injuries and improper first aid show what can happen to kids when their childcare is not providing adequate care. The mothers who spoke to The Sun-Herald for today's story spoke of their guilt, regret and disappointment at sending their children to poor quality centres. That centres can be waived of staffing requirements is not ideal, but demands on the sector mean this cannot be avoided.
The Age
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
National News LIVE: Shock rate decision reaction; Medicinal cannabis crackdown; Bungle that caused mushroom murder havoc
Posts area Latest posts Latest posts 7.03am Shock reserve bank decision hits ASX By Emily Kowal and Shane Wright The Australian sharemarket is set to slide on opening following the Reserve Bank's surprise decision to hold interest rates steady, a move that caught many traders and economists off guard. Yesterday, the Reserve Bank shocked experts (and many homeowners) when it announced it would not cut rates. It was the first time in the bank's history that a vote on a rate decision was made public, revealing a split between those who wanted to stick at 3.85 per cent and those who believe more relief is needed due to easing inflation pressures and the threat posed by the Trump tariff agenda. Governor Michele Bullock said while the bank did not cut rates on Tuesday, further rate relief was likely, with the outcome of the June quarter inflation report – released at the end of the month – the key factor. 'The decision today … was about timing rather than direction,' she said. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said people would be disappointed that the bank had not cut rates. 'There will be millions of Australians around the country who were desperately hoping for more rate relief today, in addition to the two rate cuts that we've already seen over the last five months,' he said. 6.55am Why a major Sydney university has stripped students of their degrees By Christopher Harris To some news in Sydney. Students at the state's biggest university have been caught submitting fraudulent admissions documents, using fake medical certificates to get assignment extensions and increasingly misusing artificial intelligence, with more than 3000 breaches of its academic integrity policy recorded last year. There were more than 1000 cases where University of Sydney students were issued a fail grade for an entire subject after being caught cheating, while 13 graduates were stripped of their degree after the university discovered they had committed fraud, its annual report on misconduct said. 'The university has seen an increase of fraud, in particular, students submitting fraudulent medical certificates in support of their special considerations application, but also the increase of contract cheating in combination with the misuse of artificial intelligence,' it said. Read the full story by Christopher Harris here. 6.50am Over a million Australians have been prescribed medical cannabis. Now, regulators are cracking down By Angus Thomson Patients in emergency departments with cannabis-induced psychosis, consults lasting less than a minute and doctors who have issued more than 10,000 scripts in six months are among the cases that have prompted Australia's alarmed healthcare watchdog to announce clearer guidelines for the booming medicinal cannabis industry. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) on Wednesday released guidance for doctors prescribing medicinal cannabis products amid what it described as poor prescribing practice and surging patient demand. 6.44am What's making news today By Emily Kowal Good morning and welcome to the national news blog. My name is Emily Kowal, and I will be helming our live coverage this morning. It's Wednesday, July 9. Let's jump into it.
Sydney Morning Herald
08-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
National News LIVE: Shock rate decision reaction; Medicinal cannabis crackdown; Bungle that caused mushroom murder havoc
Posts area Latest posts Latest posts 7.03am Shock reserve bank decision hits ASX By Emily Kowal and Shane Wright The Australian sharemarket is set to slide on opening following the Reserve Bank's surprise decision to hold interest rates steady, a move that caught many traders and economists off guard. Yesterday, the Reserve Bank shocked experts (and many homeowners) when it announced it would not cut rates. It was the first time in the bank's history that a vote on a rate decision was made public, revealing a split between those who wanted to stick at 3.85 per cent and those who believe more relief is needed due to easing inflation pressures and the threat posed by the Trump tariff agenda. Governor Michele Bullock said while the bank did not cut rates on Tuesday, further rate relief was likely, with the outcome of the June quarter inflation report – released at the end of the month – the key factor. 'The decision today … was about timing rather than direction,' she said. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said people would be disappointed that the bank had not cut rates. 'There will be millions of Australians around the country who were desperately hoping for more rate relief today, in addition to the two rate cuts that we've already seen over the last five months,' he said. 6.55am Why a major Sydney university has stripped students of their degrees By Christopher Harris To some news in Sydney. Students at the state's biggest university have been caught submitting fraudulent admissions documents, using fake medical certificates to get assignment extensions and increasingly misusing artificial intelligence, with more than 3000 breaches of its academic integrity policy recorded last year. There were more than 1000 cases where University of Sydney students were issued a fail grade for an entire subject after being caught cheating, while 13 graduates were stripped of their degree after the university discovered they had committed fraud, its annual report on misconduct said. 'The university has seen an increase of fraud, in particular, students submitting fraudulent medical certificates in support of their special considerations application, but also the increase of contract cheating in combination with the misuse of artificial intelligence,' it said. Read the full story by Christopher Harris here. 6.50am Over a million Australians have been prescribed medical cannabis. Now, regulators are cracking down By Angus Thomson Patients in emergency departments with cannabis-induced psychosis, consults lasting less than a minute and doctors who have issued more than 10,000 scripts in six months are among the cases that have prompted Australia's alarmed healthcare watchdog to announce clearer guidelines for the booming medicinal cannabis industry. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) on Wednesday released guidance for doctors prescribing medicinal cannabis products amid what it described as poor prescribing practice and surging patient demand. 6.44am What's making news today By Emily Kowal Good morning and welcome to the national news blog. My name is Emily Kowal, and I will be helming our live coverage this morning. It's Wednesday, July 9. Let's jump into it.
The Age
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Australia news LIVE: Erin Patterson found guilty in Victorian mushroom trial; RBA tipped to deliver fastest interest cut rate since beginning of COVID-19 pandemic
Latest posts Latest posts 7.56am Zoo to reopen after lion attack By Emily Kowal A Queensland zoo will reopen today after a woman's arm was ripped off by a lion over the weekend. Darling Downs Zoo in Pilton, near Toowoomba, made headlines on Sunday after a woman in her 50s was attacked. The victim, who remains stable in hospital, lost an arm in the attack that has shocked staff and the local community where the family-owned park has operated since 2005. The owners of a zoo said they are yet to determine what led to the attack. In a Facebook post, the zoo said the woman, who is a relative of the owners but not a staff member, remained in hospital 'and is surrounded by members of our extended family'. 'It has still not been possible to interview her to establish what led to this tragic incident,' read the statement. The zoo said the woman was bitten by a lioness in an attack that did not take place inside the animal's enclosure. 'It was not hungry, skinny, taunted or tortured – it is a lion,' the zoo said. 'It comes from a long line of captive-born lions in Australia, but it is still a lion – not a pet.' The lion will not be put down. 7.46am 'Nothing has changed for Australia': Minister on Trump tariffs By Emily Kowal Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth has weighed in on the latest Trump tariff saga after US President Donald Trump sent letters to countries overnight announcing further tariffs. Speaking to Today, Rishworth said 'nothing has changed for Australia'. 'When it comes to what Donald Trump is calling reciprocal tariffs, we're getting the lowest level that any other country has had,' she said. Australia was hit with a 10 per cent tariff on all exports to the US back in April. 'So some of the letters that you've seen overnight are suggesting reciprocal tariffs of 25 per cent. We are already at the lowest level, but of course, we will keep putting forward the case to say that we don't think any tariffs are justified,' Rishworth said. Liberal senator James Paterson, also on Today, said the only fair tariff on Australia would be 'zero per cent', but said Australia hasn't 'given ourselves the best chance of securing that from the Trump administration'. 'The prime minister has not even met President Trump, now seven months after he was elected, in stark contrast to other world leaders like the UK prime minister, who did secure an exemption from steel and aluminium tariffs because he did form that personal relationship with President Trump,' Paterson said. 'I really hope the prime minister doesn't leave it any longer before he forms that relationship.' 6.56am De Minaur's Wimbledon campaign ends in disappointment By Marc McGowan Australia's hopes of a Wimbledon win have been toppled after Australian Alex de Minaur's loss to Novak Djokovic. With Roger Federer watching from the royal box, Australia's perennially underestimated tennis torchbearer returned to Wimbledon's centre court for the showdown he was supposed to have 12 months ago – and fell agonisingly short. Read how it played out here. 6.47am Are rate cuts coming? Australia awaits RBA decision By Millie Muroi and Shane Wright All eyes will be on the Reserve Bank this afternoon with RBA governor Michele Bullock expected to deliver its fastest cut in interest rates since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. On a $600,000 mortgage, a rate cut on Tuesday would be worth $100 a month and take the monthly savings since the Reserve Bank started easing monetary policy in February to $300. However, not all economists are convinced the RBA will cut rates. Betashares chief economist David Bassanese said the bank could wait until the next quarter inflation report, due to be released at the end of the month, to get a better handle on how the economy was performing. 6.38am This morning's top stories at a glance By Emily Kowal Good morning and welcome to today's national news blog. My name is Emily Kowal, and I will be taking you through today's top stories. It's Tuesday, July 8. Here's what is making news this morning. Erin Patterson has spent her first night behind bars after she was found guilty in the mushroom murder case. Our reporters take you inside the evidence we couldn't publish during the trial, including the moment Erin Patterson lost her cool, and where the unlikely murder weapon was found. In the United States, President Donald Trump has unveiled a raft of new 25 per cent tariffs. Find out which countries are impacted here. The Reserve Bank is tipped to deliver its fastest interest rate cut since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. NSW Police will drop some of the charges laid against former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas after a review found officers incorrectly sought to use extraordinary emergency powers introduced to quell major riots.
