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Telix subpoenaed by US regulator over cancer therapy

Telix subpoenaed by US regulator over cancer therapy

Cancer diagnostic giant Telix Pharmaceuticals says the US Securities and Exchange Commission had issued it with a subpoena seeking information about disclosure related to the development of the company's prostate cancer therapies.
Melbourne-based Telix said on Tuesday it had notified the Australian Securities and Investments Commission about the subpoena, which it called a 'fact-finding request'.
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Victorian government housing agency hires home-buyer as part of public housing demolition plans
Victorian government housing agency hires home-buyer as part of public housing demolition plans

ABC News

time21 minutes ago

  • ABC News

Victorian government housing agency hires home-buyer as part of public housing demolition plans

The Victorian government's housing agency is hiring an internal home-buyer as it works to find new homes for residents displaced by its controversial plan to redevelop Melbourne's public housing towers. The successful candidate will work with Homes Victoria to identify properties that are suitable for leasing or purchase, "including bulk and off-the-plan purchases". They will also have a thorough understanding of the property market and transaction process, according to a job advertisement that closes tomorrow. Homes Victoria regularly purchases and leases properties to add to the state's social housing stock, but the job ad's mention of a "high priority Tower Relocations program" suggests acquisitions could scale up as the 44 towers are progressively retired over the next 25 years. While the move will likely help residents remain close to their existing communities, the government's critics say it could add more pressure to the strained property market. "Our concern is the government obviously has absolutely no plan for how they are going to house 10,000 people that they are relocating in the middle of a housing crisis," the Victorian Greens' housing spokesperson, Gabrielle de Vietri, said. "The government has said that it's simply too expensive for them to refurbish these public housing towers. "Yet what they are engaging in is an incredibly expensive and inefficient process of buying up and head-leasing private homes to move public housing residents into." The government has been under fire over the effect its plan to progressively redevelop the ageing towers, which generally house hundreds of people, will have on housing demand across the city. It is unclear how many private market homes could be required over the life of the plan, with many tenants likely to be moved into existing social housing properties. A Homes Victoria spokesperson declined to say how many private market homes would be required across the first three towers to be retired — in North Melbourne and Flemington — but the government has previously revealed four dwellings were leased and 16 dwellings purchased in surrounding suburbs in the first half of the year. It is understood the homes were acquired at market value. The Real Estate Institute of Victoria also said it was aware of a government initiative to purchase private dwellings for social housing, but its members had not reported any significant activity in that area. "Increasing supply through new builds is the most effective way to address affordability and availability over the long term," a spokesperson said. "However, we acknowledge that in some circumstances, the time frames associated with new developments may not meet urgent demand, and the use of existing stock may be a necessary interim measure." Meanwhile, the Victorian Greens say they were recently contacted by a constituent claiming a real estate agency working on behalf of the government had approached multiple owners in their inner-west Melbourne apartment block about potential sales. The movement comes as Melbourne's overburdened property market suffers from a citywide vacancy rate of 1.4 per cent, a near-record low according to property research body Cotality. Head of research Tim Lawless said additional demand against this backdrop of low supply would generally place upward pressure on rents and property prices in the inner-city suburbs where the towers were located. "I suppose from a positive perspective, it's good to see the state government looking after those tenants in government-owned properties and looking to relocate them," he said. "I think the challenge is actually going to be finding enough housing to ensure those people have a quality lifestyle and a reasonable level of comfort." The tower refurbishment plan is the focus of a current parliamentary inquiry that has heard evidence from distressed residents, legal centres and housing groups, as well as a resident-led class action that was dismissed but is currently being appealed. However, the government argues the ageing towers have reached the end of their useful life and do not meet modern standards of design, comfort and energy efficiency. It has promised to increase social housing by 10 per cent at each site when the estates are rebuilt, with a mix of social and private market housing. More than 55,500 households were waiting to enter public housing in March this year, while a further 10,500 existing tenants had applied for transfers.

Parents back push to expand child care subsidy options
Parents back push to expand child care subsidy options

The Advertiser

time2 hours ago

  • The Advertiser

Parents back push to expand child care subsidy options

A push to expand Australia's childcare subsidy to include more care options has the support of parents, advocates and politicians as the government remains focused on improving standards at existing centres. A bill empowering authorities to strip funding from childcare operators who fail to meet safety standards, among other measures, was this week fast-tracked during the first sitting of the 48th federal parliament. Operators who fall down on quality, safety and compliance standards could be cut out of subsidies, which typically cover a large proportion of parents' fees, and also blocked from opening new centres. Education Minister Jason Clare says he doesn't want to see funding removed and that the legislation should more compel providers to improve standards in the wake of recent abuse cases. The crackdown is part of the government's promise to guarantee universal access to early education and while welcomed by parents and advocates, there are also calls for a national early-childhood commission to ensure consistent oversight and accountability. Advocacy group For Parents has gone a step further, launching a petition calling on the government to provide equitable support for families who choose alternatives to centre-based care. In an economy where most families need both parents to work, there should be more choice when it comes to childcare, says co-founder Cecelia Cobb. "This is about giving families more freedom because the way that the subsidy currently works is that centre-based childcare is the only option many can afford," she told AAP. "There is a huge potential for additional workplace participation, as lots of people delay going back to work until they can get into their preferred centre." The childcare subsidy is predicted to exceed $16.2 billion in 2025/26 and helps families manage childcare costs but access and the amount depend on specific eligibility criteria. Yet services such as BubbaDesk and CoWork Creche, which combine co-working spaces with flexible childcare, are not supported by the subsidy. While the price per day is based on the average of local daycare centres, the lack of subsidy means many parents cannot afford to use the service. "The demand is huge as traditional daycare doesn't always fit with people's needs," BubbaDesk founder Lauren Perrett said. "When you become a parent, you wonder why close-proximity care hasn't been built into traditional office spaces - it's a no-brainer. "Parents are delaying their return to work and considering not returning at all because they don't feel their kids are safe in out-of-home care and the instinct is to keep our babies close." Illawarra-based mum Jenna Bush placed her baby girl Grace on multiple childcare waitlists when she was born but received few placement offers. The one place she was offered and toured gave her the "ick" and she could not bring herself to enrol Grace there. Instead, she started using BubbaDesk as she was able to work remotely from the co-working space. "Being in close proximity and having that contact to her throughout the day gives me that peace of mind," she said. "But financially, even though I can claim some of the co-working part through tax, reducing that fortnightly payment would be really helpful if the subsidy was expanded." Liberal senator Maria Kovacic is among those backing the For Parents petition. She says it's not about "tearing down" formal childcare centres. "Expanding the subsidy in the way these families are calling for would not only deliver flexibility," she told parliament on Wednesday. "It would (also) begin to recognise in a tangible way the value of informal care and the unpaid labour that holds up our economy and our communities." A push to expand Australia's childcare subsidy to include more care options has the support of parents, advocates and politicians as the government remains focused on improving standards at existing centres. A bill empowering authorities to strip funding from childcare operators who fail to meet safety standards, among other measures, was this week fast-tracked during the first sitting of the 48th federal parliament. Operators who fall down on quality, safety and compliance standards could be cut out of subsidies, which typically cover a large proportion of parents' fees, and also blocked from opening new centres. Education Minister Jason Clare says he doesn't want to see funding removed and that the legislation should more compel providers to improve standards in the wake of recent abuse cases. The crackdown is part of the government's promise to guarantee universal access to early education and while welcomed by parents and advocates, there are also calls for a national early-childhood commission to ensure consistent oversight and accountability. Advocacy group For Parents has gone a step further, launching a petition calling on the government to provide equitable support for families who choose alternatives to centre-based care. In an economy where most families need both parents to work, there should be more choice when it comes to childcare, says co-founder Cecelia Cobb. "This is about giving families more freedom because the way that the subsidy currently works is that centre-based childcare is the only option many can afford," she told AAP. "There is a huge potential for additional workplace participation, as lots of people delay going back to work until they can get into their preferred centre." The childcare subsidy is predicted to exceed $16.2 billion in 2025/26 and helps families manage childcare costs but access and the amount depend on specific eligibility criteria. Yet services such as BubbaDesk and CoWork Creche, which combine co-working spaces with flexible childcare, are not supported by the subsidy. While the price per day is based on the average of local daycare centres, the lack of subsidy means many parents cannot afford to use the service. "The demand is huge as traditional daycare doesn't always fit with people's needs," BubbaDesk founder Lauren Perrett said. "When you become a parent, you wonder why close-proximity care hasn't been built into traditional office spaces - it's a no-brainer. "Parents are delaying their return to work and considering not returning at all because they don't feel their kids are safe in out-of-home care and the instinct is to keep our babies close." Illawarra-based mum Jenna Bush placed her baby girl Grace on multiple childcare waitlists when she was born but received few placement offers. The one place she was offered and toured gave her the "ick" and she could not bring herself to enrol Grace there. Instead, she started using BubbaDesk as she was able to work remotely from the co-working space. "Being in close proximity and having that contact to her throughout the day gives me that peace of mind," she said. "But financially, even though I can claim some of the co-working part through tax, reducing that fortnightly payment would be really helpful if the subsidy was expanded." Liberal senator Maria Kovacic is among those backing the For Parents petition. She says it's not about "tearing down" formal childcare centres. "Expanding the subsidy in the way these families are calling for would not only deliver flexibility," she told parliament on Wednesday. "It would (also) begin to recognise in a tangible way the value of informal care and the unpaid labour that holds up our economy and our communities." A push to expand Australia's childcare subsidy to include more care options has the support of parents, advocates and politicians as the government remains focused on improving standards at existing centres. A bill empowering authorities to strip funding from childcare operators who fail to meet safety standards, among other measures, was this week fast-tracked during the first sitting of the 48th federal parliament. Operators who fall down on quality, safety and compliance standards could be cut out of subsidies, which typically cover a large proportion of parents' fees, and also blocked from opening new centres. Education Minister Jason Clare says he doesn't want to see funding removed and that the legislation should more compel providers to improve standards in the wake of recent abuse cases. The crackdown is part of the government's promise to guarantee universal access to early education and while welcomed by parents and advocates, there are also calls for a national early-childhood commission to ensure consistent oversight and accountability. Advocacy group For Parents has gone a step further, launching a petition calling on the government to provide equitable support for families who choose alternatives to centre-based care. In an economy where most families need both parents to work, there should be more choice when it comes to childcare, says co-founder Cecelia Cobb. "This is about giving families more freedom because the way that the subsidy currently works is that centre-based childcare is the only option many can afford," she told AAP. "There is a huge potential for additional workplace participation, as lots of people delay going back to work until they can get into their preferred centre." The childcare subsidy is predicted to exceed $16.2 billion in 2025/26 and helps families manage childcare costs but access and the amount depend on specific eligibility criteria. Yet services such as BubbaDesk and CoWork Creche, which combine co-working spaces with flexible childcare, are not supported by the subsidy. While the price per day is based on the average of local daycare centres, the lack of subsidy means many parents cannot afford to use the service. "The demand is huge as traditional daycare doesn't always fit with people's needs," BubbaDesk founder Lauren Perrett said. "When you become a parent, you wonder why close-proximity care hasn't been built into traditional office spaces - it's a no-brainer. "Parents are delaying their return to work and considering not returning at all because they don't feel their kids are safe in out-of-home care and the instinct is to keep our babies close." Illawarra-based mum Jenna Bush placed her baby girl Grace on multiple childcare waitlists when she was born but received few placement offers. The one place she was offered and toured gave her the "ick" and she could not bring herself to enrol Grace there. Instead, she started using BubbaDesk as she was able to work remotely from the co-working space. "Being in close proximity and having that contact to her throughout the day gives me that peace of mind," she said. "But financially, even though I can claim some of the co-working part through tax, reducing that fortnightly payment would be really helpful if the subsidy was expanded." Liberal senator Maria Kovacic is among those backing the For Parents petition. She says it's not about "tearing down" formal childcare centres. "Expanding the subsidy in the way these families are calling for would not only deliver flexibility," she told parliament on Wednesday. "It would (also) begin to recognise in a tangible way the value of informal care and the unpaid labour that holds up our economy and our communities." A push to expand Australia's childcare subsidy to include more care options has the support of parents, advocates and politicians as the government remains focused on improving standards at existing centres. A bill empowering authorities to strip funding from childcare operators who fail to meet safety standards, among other measures, was this week fast-tracked during the first sitting of the 48th federal parliament. Operators who fall down on quality, safety and compliance standards could be cut out of subsidies, which typically cover a large proportion of parents' fees, and also blocked from opening new centres. Education Minister Jason Clare says he doesn't want to see funding removed and that the legislation should more compel providers to improve standards in the wake of recent abuse cases. The crackdown is part of the government's promise to guarantee universal access to early education and while welcomed by parents and advocates, there are also calls for a national early-childhood commission to ensure consistent oversight and accountability. Advocacy group For Parents has gone a step further, launching a petition calling on the government to provide equitable support for families who choose alternatives to centre-based care. In an economy where most families need both parents to work, there should be more choice when it comes to childcare, says co-founder Cecelia Cobb. "This is about giving families more freedom because the way that the subsidy currently works is that centre-based childcare is the only option many can afford," she told AAP. "There is a huge potential for additional workplace participation, as lots of people delay going back to work until they can get into their preferred centre." The childcare subsidy is predicted to exceed $16.2 billion in 2025/26 and helps families manage childcare costs but access and the amount depend on specific eligibility criteria. Yet services such as BubbaDesk and CoWork Creche, which combine co-working spaces with flexible childcare, are not supported by the subsidy. While the price per day is based on the average of local daycare centres, the lack of subsidy means many parents cannot afford to use the service. "The demand is huge as traditional daycare doesn't always fit with people's needs," BubbaDesk founder Lauren Perrett said. "When you become a parent, you wonder why close-proximity care hasn't been built into traditional office spaces - it's a no-brainer. "Parents are delaying their return to work and considering not returning at all because they don't feel their kids are safe in out-of-home care and the instinct is to keep our babies close." Illawarra-based mum Jenna Bush placed her baby girl Grace on multiple childcare waitlists when she was born but received few placement offers. The one place she was offered and toured gave her the "ick" and she could not bring herself to enrol Grace there. Instead, she started using BubbaDesk as she was able to work remotely from the co-working space. "Being in close proximity and having that contact to her throughout the day gives me that peace of mind," she said. "But financially, even though I can claim some of the co-working part through tax, reducing that fortnightly payment would be really helpful if the subsidy was expanded." Liberal senator Maria Kovacic is among those backing the For Parents petition. She says it's not about "tearing down" formal childcare centres. "Expanding the subsidy in the way these families are calling for would not only deliver flexibility," she told parliament on Wednesday. "It would (also) begin to recognise in a tangible way the value of informal care and the unpaid labour that holds up our economy and our communities."

Melbourne: 90+ suburbs where house, unit prices have declined
Melbourne: 90+ suburbs where house, unit prices have declined

News.com.au

time2 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Melbourne: 90+ suburbs where house, unit prices have declined

House or unit prices have gone backwards across the past five years in almost 100 Melbourne suburbs — but experts believe we'll soon see a growing number swap doom for boom. In 80 areas, mostly across the city's inner ring, typical values for units including apartments have decreased since 2020, creating opportune conditions for bargain-hunting buyers. Analysis of data from research arm, PropTrack, shows median house prices in 16 suburbs – also mostly among inner suburbs – have declined. But on the flip side, houses in more than 40 areas predominantly in the leafy north east and south east have gone from doom to boom since the pandemic. Median prices in areas such as Lower Plenty, Lysterfield and Diamond Creek have all since surged past $1m, adding hundreds of thousands of dollars to their owners' hip pockets along the way. PropTrack senior economist Angus Moore said that Melbourne's units had not experienced strong growth compared to other Australian states. In a sign that now might be an ideal time to buy, he added that conditions in Victoria's capital were looking firmer this year than they have in a while. 'This is a real change from the past few years, since the RBA started raising rates, where home prices were tracking sideways or falling,' Mr Moore said. Prominent Melbourne-based buyers' advocate Frank Valentic said Victoria was still experiencing the pandemic ripple effect of people wanting larger blocks and homes with space to work remotely. And with many middle-to-outer suburbs in the north east and south east being relatively affordable, first-home buyers have been pushing up prices and competition. 'We will continue to see many middle 'doom suburbs' go to boom suburbs,' Mr Valentic said. When it comes to units and apartments, there's an oversupply of them compared to detached houses in many areas, he added. Mr Valentic said while buying a bargain in these suburbs was possible, it was important for purchasers to steer clear of cheap 'lemon' properties. In Malvern, where unit and apartment typical values now sit at $650,000 compared to $813,500 five years ago, Belle Property Armadale principal Walter Summons said the market was seeing signs of recovery. Values became 'very hot' in 2020 to 2021 before multiple interest rate rises prompted an exodus of investors who have since been replaced by first-home buyers. 'We've certainly seen, in the last couple of months, some improvement with the lower interest rate environment,' Mr Summons said 'So prices may well increase over the next few months.' In Melbourne's east, Blackburn units were among the top performers, with its median soaring from $570,000 in 2020 to $765,000 today – equating to a $195,000 increase. Woodards' Blackburn partner Rachel Waters said many younger buyers who had grown up in the area with a 'gorgeous village feel' wanted to remain local. 'We're often selling these units and apartments to people who have mum and dad around the corner,' she said. But the main reason Blackburn's unit market has stayed strong was a shortage of opportunities to secure low-maintenance properties on a budget, she noted. 'So anything that's between $500,000 and $800,000 still stays quite consistent in terms of the results,' Ms Waters said. When it comes to the Melbourne suburbs where typical house values increased the most, Jellis Craig Eltham's Justin Booth said areas like Diamond Creek and Lower Plenty offered good access to the city for buyers seeking bigger blocks. 'You can have a backyard space for kids to run around, you've got space for the dog – you're not on the back door of your neighbour and jammed in or anything like that,' Mr Booth said. 'The traditional Aussie backyard is still available in Diamond Creek.' The PropTrack data excludes areas with less than 20 sales in the past 12 months, as well as the Mornington Peninsula which had a massive buyer influx when Covid hit only for holiday home markets to be impacted by a limited time tax increase on secondary homes last year. How to get a bargain in an underperforming suburb: + Aim to buy a property that has good resale and growth fundamentals. + Small, older-style boutique apartment and unit blocks are often a good option. + Off-street parking is a plus. + An outdoor area such as a courtyard is a good feature to have. + Try to find a home that's a decent size – not too small. + Buy in an area considered 'blue chip' with good amenities. + Remember the adage 'land appreciates, buildings depreciate'. Source: Buyers' advocate Frank Valentic, Advantage Property Consulting. MELBOURNE: BEST-PERFORMING SUBURBS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS SUBURB: 2020 MEDIAN / 2025 MEDIAN / CHANGE Lower Plenty: $950,000 / $1.586m / 66.9% Gembrook: $650,000 / $1.0498m / 61.5% Kinglake: $606,500 / $930,600 / 53.4% Research: $1.0825m / $1.6m / 47.8% Longwarry: $407,000 / $592,800 / 45.7% Lysterfield: $951,400 / $1,361,444 / 43.1% Beaconsfield Upper: $1.040m / $1.48m / 42.3% Diamond Creek: $760,000 / $1.076m / 41.6% Wandin North: $672,569 / $951,125 / 41.4% Millgrove: $432,500 / $605,000 / 39.9% UNITS: Hampton East: $687,500 / $975,000 / 41.8% Doveton: $386,500 / $535,000 / 38.4% Hampton Park: $410,000 / $560,000 / 36.6% Blackburn: $570,000 / $765,500 / 34.3% Beaumaris: $895,000 / $1.175m / 31.3% Sunshine West: $450,000/ $590,000 / 31.1% Ivanhoe East: $710,000/ $930,000 / 31% Mont Albert North: $888,000 / $1,156,944 / 31% Watsonia: $582,500 / $752,500 / 30.3% Narre Warren: $437,000 / $564,000 / 29.2% MELBOURNE: WORST-PERFORMING SUBURBS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS Cranbourne South: $1.015m / $790,000 / -22.2% Balaclava: $1.46m / $1.3025m / -10.8% Parkville: $1,968m / $1.82m / -7.5% Kensington: $1.0815m / $1.018m / -5.9% Armadale: $2.6m / $2.45m / -5.8% Windsor: $1.39m / $1.315m / -5.4% Elsternwick: $1.925m / $1.826m / -5.1% Cremorne: $1.29m / $1.25m / -3.1% South Melbourne: $1.423m/ $1.38m / -3% Middle Park: $2.63m / $2.55m / -3% UNITS: Aberfeldie: $980,000 / $548,500 / -44% Kingsbury: $530,550 / $395,000 / -25.5% Toorak: $1.005m / $780,000 / -22.4% Albion: $360,000 / $281,000 / -21.9% St Kilda West: $659,000 / $524,500 / -20.4% Malvern: $813,500 / $650,000 / -20.1% Balwyn: $994,000 / $800,000 / -19.5% Blackburn South: $965,000 / $779,500 / -19.2% Kingsville: $499,000 / $410,000 / -17.8% Forest Hill: $777,500 / $661,250 / -15% Source: PropTrack Market Trends Suburbs July 2025. Excludes the Mornington Peninsula and areas with fewer than 20 sales in the past 12 months.

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