Latest news with #Picton
7NEWS
04-07-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Humble ham sandwich back on the menu amid South Australia's junk food advertising ban
Claims that 'healthy' foods would be included in a state government's ban on junk food advertising have been dismissed. The South Australian Government said its advertising ban — which came into force on government-owned public transport on Tuesday — targeted processed meats, chocolate, lollies, desserts, ice creams, soft drinks and chips in a bid to curb childhood obesity. However, there were claims that 'healthy' foods — such as rice crackers, soy milk and even the humble ham sandwich — would fall victim to the advertising ban, according to a report by Newscorp. Australian Association of National Advertisers CEO Josh Faulks told the outlet the ban was confusing. 'The government has not been able to clearly articulate what is in and what is out of their banned list and has told businesses to submit their ads to an expert panel for assessment if they are unsure,' Faulks said. SA Health and Wellbeing Minister Chris Picton has said the ban only targeted highly processed foods containing high fat, high salt and high sugar. 'South Australia has become the second place in the country to no longer put junk food ads on our public transport,' Picton told 'We need to take action against junk food because the obesity crisis has overtaken smoking as the leading cause of preventable disease.' Picton accused the AANA of trying to undermine the advertising ban. 'Unfortunately the advertising industry lobbyists have opposed these junk food restrictions from the beginning,' he said. 'Because they can't win the actual argument about junk food advertising they are concocting spurious click-bait hypotheticals instead. 'The SA Government will continue to take public health advice from the Cancer Council and Heart Foundation and not advertising industry lobbyists.' SA Health said the foods targeted by the advertising ban are set out by Council of Australian Governments Health Council's National interim guide to reduce children's exposure to unhealthy food and drink promotion, and based on Australian dietary guidelines. It includes sweetened drinks such as fruit and vegetable juice with added sugars along with soft drinks, confectionery; fatty, sugary or salted snack foods; and prepackaged unhealthy meals including many fast foods. understands products such as soy milk and rice crackers can still be advertised as long as they do not contain additives such as sugars. Preventive Health SA data reveals 66 per cent of South Australian adults and 37.1 per cent of children are overweight or living with obesity, which can put people at greater risk of many diseases and health problems, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. South Australia has the nation's highest rate of diabetes. The AANA had told the government's ban was confusing and claimed it was 'effectively discouraging people from consuming what are widely considered to be nutritious core foods'. 'We fully support measures that encourage healthier choices but the implementation of these policies must be based on credible, evidence-based criteria,' Faulks told the outlet. 'The government has not been able to clearly articulate what is in and what is out of their banned list and has told businesses to submit their ads to an expert panel for assessment if they are unsure. This list should be science-based, objective and create certainty for business, not create more confusion.'
Herald Sun
03-07-2025
- Health
- Herald Sun
SA flu cases increased 70 per cent
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Flu cases sweeping through South Australia are packing emergency departments with suffering patients and creating 'a perfect storm' in GP clinics as numbers surge 70 per cent higher than last year. New figures released by Health Minister Chris Picton show across the state there have been 10,569 flu cases reported so far this year – 70 per cent more than the 6212 cases at the same time last year. In the past week alone, SA health authorities had recorded a sharp rise in numbers with 1627 new cases, a 28 per cent increase on the 1268 new cases reported the week before and 918 cases two weeks ago. Australian Medical Association SA president Peter Subramaniam said doctors were telling the industry group that the SA's escalating flu case numbers meant GP practice appointment schedules were fully booked days in advance. This meant doctor surgeries across the state were struggling to accommodate patients at short notice. 'We're seeing a perfect storm of increased patient presentations and reduced practice capacity due to healthcare workers falling ill,' Associate Professor Subramaniam said. Mr Picton reported the high number of flu patients was putting intense pressure on medical emergency departments. Friday's figures showed that 1,042 South Australians had been hospitalised with flu this year compared to 673 at the same time last year, a massive 55 per cent increase. As presentations increased, Mr Picton urged South Australians to get vaccinated to reduce their own health risk and to help stop the spread. 'Those of particular concern are children under five and older South Australians, especially those in residential care. They are most at risk of flu complications,' he said. Common complications of flu in children include ear infections, pneumonia and croup. The latest figures showed that SA had currently reached almost the equal highest number of weekly flu cases of any year in the past five years – the highest number was 1653 in August, 2024. Despite SA having the highest uptake of the flu vaccine on mainland Australia at 32.1 per cent, Mr Picton said 'we still need more people to roll up their sleeves'. SA Health chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said there were several reasons why flu cases were so high. Every influenza season was different with some more severe than others with Ms Spurrier blaming aspects of human behaviour, circulating strains and the 'closeness of vaccine match' impacting figures. The AMA said the surge in reported cases reinforced why annual influenza vaccination was critical. It wanted the state to have co-ordinated action across government, healthcare providers and the community to protect SA's most vulnerable and to support 'our stretched healthcare workforce'. Flu vaccinations were free for those most likely to end up in hospital including children aged under five years of age, those aged over 65 years, pregnant women, Aboriginal people and those with underlying health conditions. Originally published as Health Minister Chris Picton releases latest flu figures showing skyrocketing cases are causing a 'perfect storm' for GP surgeries and hospitals
RNZ News
30-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Port companies and KiwiRail reach agreements over two new Cook Strait ferries
The new ferries will replace the ageing Interislander fleet. Photo: Flickr user Sid Mosdel CC BY 2.0 Agreements have been reached with port companies and KiwiRail on the type of infrastructure and equipment needed before two new Cook Strait ferries arrive in 2029. Rail Minister Winston Peters announced the agreements between Ferry Holdings, Centre Port, Port Marlborough and KiwiRail while in Picton on Tuesday. "The agreements entered into effectively mean the ports and KiwiRail are in, boots and all, with Cabinet's preferred low-cost option," Peters said. Existing port infrastructure would be used where possible to keep costs down, he said. New wharves would be built in Picton and the existing wharf in Wellington would be modified, strengthened and extended "by the minimal amount necessary" to accommodate the new, larger ships, Peters said. New linkspans will be built at both ports. The plan aims to reuse the current passenger and commercial vehicle facilities and the terminal building at both ports. "We are pleased to confirm for the locals in Picton that the Dublin Street overbridge will be built - ridding the town of the blocked streets it will experience when freight-laden trains arrive at the port," Peters said. "The road and rail will be grade separated before 2029 as a safety and an efficiency improvement for road and rail." The ports and KiwiRail have agreed to minimal scope improvements to the rail yards, which Peters said would avoid a costly scope creep by reusing as much of the existing yards as possible at both ports. Six shipbuilders have been shortlisted for the job of delivering the new Cook Strait ferries, with a contract expected to be awarded later this year. The investment split between the companies and each company will also be confirmed later this year. Ferry Holdings - which was set up to lead contractual negotiations with shipyards and ports - has outlined the jobs ahead to 2029 as part of its first Statement of Performance Expectations and Statement of Intent. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
West Australian
26-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Not selling MinRes mining services unit says Mike Grey, with Onslow staying in the black a white-hot focus
The 'crown jewel' of Mineral Resources is not for sale, according to the man that oversees the division, because keeping it could help the company's flagship mine turn a decent profit even if iron ore crashes below $US60 per tonne. MinRes mining services chief executive Mike Grey shot down speculation a big chunk of the business unit he oversees could be flogged off to ease the company's swelling debt burden. The speculation emerged following a note published by Morgan Stanley this week. 'There's no truth to it all, no truth,' Mr Grey told The West Australian. Director of strategy, Tim Picton, chimed in to say the division – called CSI Mining Services – was the company's 'crown jewel'. 'You don't sell the crown jewel and mining services is the heart of our business and what makes us competitive against the majors,' Mr Picton said. 'We've got no plans to sell any of our assets, except the (mothballed) Yilgarn (iron ore complex).' CSI is the mining services provider at MinRes' majority-owned iron ore and lithium mines, and is also contracted to other operations run by the likes of BHP, Rio Tinto and Gina Rinehart. MinRes' $3.5 billion Onslow Iron project is arguably CSI's most important gig. Onslow is the only mine in the MinRes stable that can generate the meaningful sums of cash required to pay down the company's $5.8 billion debt pile. MinRes reckons its 57 per cent stake in Onslow can bring in annual earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of $727 million when the iron ore spot price is $US90/t. The steelmaking commodity is currently at about $US92/t with Australia's big four banks broadly pencilling in the price to fall to $US80/t by the end of the year. MinRes predicts Onslow's break-even price is $US57/t. Mr Picton said this estimate does not include the money raked in from mining services at Onslow, which would push the break-even price 'down a material amount'. But all the estimates are contingent on Onslow Iron running smoothly, and so far, there have been numerous bumps along the road. The biggest bump has been the performance of its haul road that links the Kens Bore mine to the Port of Ashburton. MinRes is spending $230 million to fix and upgrade the road following cyclonic weather earlier this year and a spate of truck rollovers. The company struggled to attract drivers to transport ore along the road and recently had to lower its driver experience requirements while boosting the pay on offer. Mr Grey said those hiring struggles are now behind MinRes. 'The labour side has really stabilised across the supply chain recently which is really good,' he said. 'We're at our peak now with (truck) drivers.' MinRes plans to roll out autonomous trucks with no drivers in the cabs during the latter half of next year.
RNZ News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Curious, concerned: Picton residents weigh in on SH1 changes
By Kira Carrington , Local Democracy Reporter NZTA staff meet with residents at Picton Library about moving State Highway 1 onto Kent Street. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ Kira Carrington In a small room in Picton's library, dozens of people have gathered to discuss the intricacies of truck routes, intersections, school crossings and parking spaces. They pored over stands and wall displays, showing the proposed permanent State Highway 1 route along Kent Street to the ferry terminal, instead of through central Picton. The proposed changes have already caused controversy, with one resident calling them "horrible" , when they were announced on 11 June. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi's pop-up sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday hummed with questions, fresh ideas and a bit of debate, but not from Heather Hopkins, a resident of upper Kent Street, who had popped in to see how the highway would go past her home. She was pretty happy, she said. Picton resident Heather Hopkins says she has no concerns about NZTA's proposed changes. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ Kira Carrington "I'm not really affected, I just wanted more information," Hopkins said. "[I have] no concerns at all, it'll be free flowing, once everyone gets used to it." In the evening session, people were most drawn to the board showing where Kent Street met the Wairau Road/SH1 intersection, which would take ferry passengers and freight trucks from the terminals out of town under the new proposal. As part of a realignment of SH1 through Picton, changes have been proposed to the intersection of State Highway 1 and Wairau Road. Photo: NZTA Lara O'Brien, who lived around the corner from Kent Street, said the intersection's new alignment would cut residents off from their own town centre during peak traffic. Drivers on SH1 south of Kent Street wanting to get into central Picton would need to make a right-hand turn onto Wairau Road towards Nelson Square. During peak ferry traffic, they would be stuck in a right-turning lane with no gaps, O'Brien said. "These people [leaving the ferry terminal] get to just go, but people going to town, when do they get to go?" O'Brien said. "You get 60 trucks coming out of the ferry terminal. This is going to be a congestion point for locals coming out of town." Another group lingered around the board showing the relocation of the Picton School crossing on Kent Street. People are particularly drawn to the planned changes for the Wairau Road/Kent Street intersection. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ Kira Carrington Many of the attendees were reluctant to speak publicly about their opinions on the divisive subject. The loss of roadside parking and problems with trucks parking along the road were common complaints. A truck driver from Levin, whose cousin was a Picton-based truckie, came along to the evening session. He said NZTA did a similar consultation about a pedestrian overpass in Levin and he was sceptical that feedback would alter the proposal. A Picton resident praised NZTA for moving the crossing outside Picton School back to its original position, saying he didn't know why it was put there a few years ago. "They're just putting it back to where it was, because people don't use it." Graphics supplied by NZTA show the loss of parking on Kent Street under the new proposal. Photo: NZTA NZTA regional manager of system design Robert Osborne said the sessions were a valuable way of sharing information with Picton residents and getting their feedback. "The drop-in sessions were all well attended, with around 30 - 40 people each session and some coming to visit us a couple of times to ask further questions," Osborne said. "We received a great range of questions and comments, which will help us with our detailed design work. "We also understand... that there will likely be a wide range of opinions about them. However, this project is aimed at improving Picton's roads and making it easier for people to get around. "We look forward to continuing to hear from the community about our plans." Design plans would now be finalised and work would start next winter. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
