Weight-loss drugs cause emergency room spike
It comes amid a spike in calls to the NSW Poisons Hotline.
Genevieve Adamo is a Senior Pharmacist at the NSW Poisons Information Centre and she told ABC NewsRadio's Sarah Morice how people can avoid the risks.
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Huge change': ASX falls as CSL announces new business plan
Australia's sharemarket snapped a six-day winning streak after pharmaceutical giant CSL had its worst day of trading on record after announcing a disappointing earnings update. The ASX 200 index dropped 63.10 points or 0.70 per cent to 8,896.20 while the broader All Ordinaries fell 59.70 points or 0.65 per cent to 9,173.80 The Australian dollar slipped 0.14 per cent to 64.85 US cents. Seven of the 11 sectors ended higher but a slump in the healthcare sector led to the market downturn. Healthcare stocks fell 8.73 per cent, led by CSL shares which slumped 16.89 to $225.50 its biggest ever one day fall, despite reporting underlying profits were up 14 per cent to $3.3bn. This was a fall of around $21bn in market cap. Shares plunged in the healthcare giant after it announced it would cut 3000 global roles costing $770m initially before helping the business save $500m-$550m over three years. CSL also announced its intention to demerge its influenza prevention vaccines-focused unit known as Seqirus into a separate ASX-listed business in 2026. It will also combine the commercial and medical operations of its core blood plasma and iron deficiency businesses into one unit. eToro market analyst Josh Gilbert said while the restructuring comes with a sizeable one off cost, the move is expected to sharpen the group's focus on its high-growth plasma and kidney care business. 'For investors, the view here is that CSL is trying to create a clearer business structure and improve investor returns. However, markets hate uncertainty, and this shake-up brings plenty of it,' he said. 'These are huge changes that come with execution risk, and in my view, the market will react poorly to the news short term.' Australia's second-biggest company BHP jumped 1.57 per cent to $42.12 after the business delivered its latest financial update. The company reported underlying profits of $US10.2bn ($A15.7bn), a 26 per cent fall compared with last year. Revenues came in at $US51.3bn ($A79bn), an 8 per cent fall in 2024. Despite falls in revenue and earnings, chief executive Mike Henry called the results 'a strong performance'. 'FY25 was another strong year for BHP, marked by record production, continued sector-leading margins and disciplined capital allocation,' he said. 'Safety remains our highest priority and we achieved year-on-year improvements across key metrics.' Shares in iron ore rivals Rio Tinto and Fortescue were down 0.22 and 0.15 per cent respectively. Financials were a brighter spot, with all four banks gaining. CBA added 0.51 per cent to $171.05, Westpac gained 0.65 per cent to $37.31, NAB jumped 0.77 per cent to $40.54 and ANZ finished 0.61 per cent higher to $32.77. In company news, Seek was one of strongest performers on the ASX 200 after it announced an increase in revenue despite fewer job ads, leading to a 7.99 per cent bounce to $27.72. Australia's largest manufacturer and distributor of 4x4 accessories ARB shares marched 8.55 per cent higher to $39.49 after the business told the market sales revenue was up 5.3 per cent to $729.9m, while net profits after tax were down 5 per cent to $97.5m. Judo Capital also eked out a gain of 0.29 per cent to $1.75 after full-year profits were up 24 per cent to $86.4m, on the back of a lift to its all important net interest margin. Reliance Worldwide shares fell 6.74 per cent to $4.29 despite the business announcing sales were up 5.5 per cent and reported net earnings after tax jumped 13.5 per cent to $US125m ($192m).
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
WA government to ban mobile phones from childcare centres after review into industry
Mobile phones will be banned in Western Australia childcare centres and more money provided for safety checks after a snap one-month review into the state's sector found compliance issues are on the rise. The review was ordered by Early Childhood and Education Minister Sabine Winton last month following reports a Melbourne childcare worker had been charged with more than 70 offences, including sexual assault and producing child abuse material Ms Winton confirmed on Tuesday the state government would move to ban all personal devices in centres across WA, including those that have a camera, like smart watches and iPads, "as fast as [it] can". "This move is in line with strong responses from states such as South Australia and Victoria, and recognises that these devices can pose a risk to the safety of children," she said. "I need to work with the union and our sector partners to make sure that there are no unintended consequences." She said "reasonable adjustments" could be made for workers who have caring responsibilities and might require access to a device. "We as parents need to know that children are safe in those settings and that is my number one priority through this work I've done," she said. "I need to not only assure parents right across Western Australia that child safety is the government's number one priority, but it's the number one priority of our sector partners, and that's why I called the snap review." The review was conducted by the state's Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU), the body which overseas and applies regulations in WA's childcare sector. This was in addition to The Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority's (ACECQA) review of child safety arrangements under the National Quality Framework. Authorities made five recommendations following the WA probe. These include increasing training for early childhood educators, requiring providers to improve their approach to child safety and to urgently progress the Education and Care Services National Law Application Bill 2025 through parliament. Ms Winton said in addition to supporting all the recommendations "subject to ongoing national and state work", the government will inject $1.1 million to bolster the capacity of ECRU for compliance checks at centres. "It's a 10 per cent uplift in the total cost that ECRU have right now, and so I'm very confident that this is immediate funding that ECRU can have to step up the important role that they play," she said. The report however found compliance issues have increased in the past year in WA's early childcare services — up 14 per cent in 2024-25 from the previous financial year, which it suggests is likely a result of growth in the number of services operating. "There are actually now more services in place than there ever have been … when you get more compliance notifications, it actually means ECRU are doing their job, and I don't apologise for that," Ms Winton said. United Worker's Union WA branch secretary Carolyn Smith described the ban on mobile phones from the workplace as a "measured and sensible" response. "Unfortunately we know that personal devices have been involved in some of the really, really awful things we've seen in the last few months in early education," she said. "Many providers already have that ban. Ms Smith said the additional funding from the state government was also welcome. "We absolutely welcome extra money to the regulator," she said. "We need the regulator out in centres checking that centres are doing the right things and holding them to account." Opposition spokesperson for Early Childhood Liam Staltari said he welcomed review's findings. "We will support any measure that makes our centres safer, makes our children safer, gives confidence to parents and gives respect and certainty to the amazing childcare workers and educators who give their all every day," he said. "We did note with some concern, the review shows that WA lags the national average for the proportion of centres that meet the national quality standard benchmark. "We'll work in support of any measures that lift that because again, all sides of politics can work together to make our centres safer." Ms Winton also signed off on — along with all other Australian education ministers — stronger, mandatory child safety measures back in June. The changes, which come into effect from September, include mandatory 24-hour reporting of any allegations, complaints or incidents of physical or sexual abuse, as well as stronger protections around digital technology use.
ABC News
5 hours ago
- ABC News
Artificial eye maker Jack McDonald ordered to stop providing services while investigation underway
Artificial eye maker Jack McDonald has been ordered to stop operating while the Health Complaints Commissioner in Victoria continues an investigation into him. The ABC has heard from clients of Mr McDonald who have been unhappy with the artificial eyes he has made for them. The Health Complaints Commissioner, Adjunct Professor Bernice Redley, said she had published the Interim Prohibition Order against Mr McDonald. "An Interim Prohibition Order (IPO) is a measure I can put in place if I reasonably believe a general health service provider has contravened the code of conduct applying to general health services, and I am satisfied that an IPO is necessary to avoid a serious risk," she said. The IPO prevents Mr McDonald from providing or advertising health services for 12 weeks, but it could be extended if the investigation is ongoing and deemed to be needed to avoid a serious risk to the public. "I take any alleged breach of the General Code of Conduct in respect of general health services very seriously and will take the necessary action against providers who put the public's health, safety or welfare at risk," Commissioner Redley said. Previously, Mr McDonald's website stated he was operating out of offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Dandenong, Hobart, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Geelong and Auckland. The Victorian Health Complaints Commission IPO is mutually recognised in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. Head of the Ocularists Association Peter Knowles has previously raised concerns about Mr McDonald's work. He has welcomed the decision by the commissioner. "It clearly shows that government departments such as the health complaints commission continue to play a vital role in ensuring that health services are provided in a manner that places patient care and wellbeing first," Mr Knowles said. "My concerns also remain for those many patients who … have outlaid a considerable amount of money and time and received nothing suitable or fit for purpose in return." There are no government regulatory hurdles to clear before being able to act as an ocularist in Australia and no requirement to be a member of the Ocularists Association. Mr McDonald is not a member of the Ocularists Association of Australia, nor is he required to be. Mr McDonald has been contacted for comment. Clients of Mr McDonald have previously shared their grievances against him with the ABC. Ron Clark in Sydney said the eye made for him by Mr McDonald "bulged out of the socket". He said the situation became intolerable after the eye fell out while he was out for dinner. "I was actually chasing [it] around the restaurant floor and the back of the eye was white and so was the tile flooring of the restaurant," he said. Mr Clark spoke to the ABC because he did not want others to "suffer through like I have". Jenny Miller lost her eye to cancer. She told the ABC the eye made for her by Mr McDonald was "hideous" and like a "fish eye". Ms Miller described the process of having an eye made by Mr McDonald as "quite harrowing". She made a complaint with the Health Complaints Commissioner in Victoria. "I just don't want people to go through this," she said. "I am old and weathered and quite resilient, but if you're young and this is something that's happened, it's not a nice thing." The Health Consumers Forum of Australia has previously called on the federal government to bring the sector together with clients and clinicians to talk about how best to improve the situation.
