Push to flush drug decriminalisation is dead on arrival
The federal Liberals are pushing to overturn ACT drug decriminalisation laws after claiming they would be a Canberra "tourism attraction''.
health
Show us the money, as rural health on life support
Rural Australia is the engine room of the national economy, but little profit is returned for crucial services like healthcare, a conference has been told.
Prenatal program helps Indigenous mums and bubs thrive
A unique prenatal health care program is closing the gap in maternal and infant health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mums and their babies.
New mums more likely to spot faces in everyday objects
Women who have just had a baby are much more likely than other women to see faces in everyday objects.
Cosmetic cowboys face fines with new surgeon laws
Strict protections over the title "surgeon" have been passed by Queensland's parliament to crack down on doctors falsely advertising qualified cosmetic surgery
Boys’ mistreatment prompts action on disability report
Five recommendations put forward by the disability royal commission will be adopted fully or in principle by the Queensland government.
New regional sleep program targets First Nations people
A newly-funded sleep program is linking western and Indigenous knowledge to treat the medical condition of sleep apnoea in regional First Nations communities.
Major upgrade to ageing hospitals in $3b NSW govt blitz
Western Sydney's stretched health services and hospitals will receive a significant boost as part of a major budget investment by the NSW government.
UN observer slams Australia over toxic threats, climate
Australia has been scolded over contaminated sites, new oil and gas projects and a "reactive" environmental protection framework by a UN investigator.
Top coroner calls for drug testing after MDMA death
A coroner has repeated a plea for drug testing services after a 26-year-old IT worker died following a suspected overdose from a "Blue Punisher" MDMA pill.
Roundup blamed for cancer pain in landmark class action
A lengthy class action to determine whether a weed killer contains a human carcinogenic has begun in the Federal Court of Australia.
CWA speaks up for neurodiversity in women and girls
The NSW CWA is raising awareness of neurodiversity after one of its members said a late ADHD diagnosis left her grieving for the person she could have been.
Meals on Wheels does more than just deliver food
As Meals on Wheels marks 70 years of serving the community, the organisation is looking back on the hidden value it provides to its elderly and infirm clients.
Here’s what new 60-day prescriptions mean for you and your hip pocket
From today, there are significant changes to how some common medicines are prescribed and dispensed in Australia. This means you could walk away from the pharmacy with 60-days’ worth of your usual medicine from a single prescription. Until now, most long-term medicines were only available for 30 days at a time. So the price of these medicines for some patients may effectively halve.
Queensland hospitals vaccine mandate to be scrapped
Consultation will begin to scrap a rule that disallowed unvaccinated health workers from working in Queensland hospitals during the pandemic.
Queensland Speaker returns after mental health break
Curtis Pitt has returned to political duties as Queensland's parliamentary Speaker following mental health leave.
Bush maternity decline a red flag for rural health care
Doctors warn the loss of regional maternity services are often followed by the closure of other critical healthcare facilities and pose a problem for everyone.
Doctor strikes aggravate health care collapse in Sudan
Doctors and nurses in Sudan say they have not been paid for four months, as the government's budget is decimated by the army's war with paramilitary forces.
Family loses Mount Isa mine lead-poisoning claim
A Queensland court has ruled against a family claiming $5 million from Mount Isa Mines alleging a teenager suffers brain damage as a result of lead poisoning.
Chief midwife, funding boost for Qld maternity services
The new role of a chief midwife and $4 million in annual funding are part of expanded maternity services in Queensland following protests by regional staff.
PCYC $56m boost for at-risk youth rolls out in QLD
Early intervention programs aimed at helping young people at risk of offending will benefit from a $56 million investment in PCYC facilities across Queensland.
British nurse murdered seven newborn babies
A neonatal nurse in a British hospital has been found guilty of murdering seven newborn babies and trying to kill another six babies.
Study casts doubt on benefits of blue light blockers
Researchers have cast a poor light on block blockers, warning the lenses seem to do little to protect the eyes from staring at screens.
Boost for spinal unit after concerns about patient care
Queensland's only spinal unit will receive a $20 million boost towards "immediate" improvements following claims of poor patient treatment at the facility.
Hypertension linked to earlier cognitive risk in study
High blood pressure may lead to earlier cognitive decline, according to the results of an Australian study indicating "subtle but real" changes in cognition.
Doctor fined $12,000 for assisted dying signature error
Victorian doctor Nick Carr has accepted a $12,000 fine for a clerical error, saying it shows the state's voluntary assisted dying laws are being scrutinised.
Cheaper medicine policy to start, veto threat remains
Cheaper medicines and 60-day dispensing will go ahead as planned but a second push to veto the policy will come up for a vote just days after it starts.
Doctors sound health alarm over gas expansion plans
Doctors have rallied at Parliament House against the expansion of Australia's gas industry, warning it will harm future generations.
Cook of deadly suspected mushroom meal denies foul play
A woman at the centre of a deadly suspected mushroom poisoning of four people has spoken of her devastation and denied any wrongdoing.
Estia Health agrees to $959m takeover by Bain Capital
ASX300 aged-care operator Estia Health has agreed to be taken private by Bain Capital, the same Boston-based firm that owns Virgin Australia.
Rising child deaths spark hospital reports reform
A spike in preventable deaths and harm in Victorian hospitals will lead to the creation of an escalation system to allow parents to report their concerns.