November 12, 2019

UOW expert commentary this week (12 - 16 November)

UOW academics provide expert comment, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing and breaking news stories.

BUSHFIRES

Senior Professor Ross Bradstock is available for interviews about the current bushfires in New South Wales and Queensland. Prof Bradstock is the Director of the Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires at UOW. In an article for The Conversation Prof Bradstock says, “These unprecedented fires are an indication that a much-feared future under climate change may have arrived earlier than predicted”. Prof Bradstock is only available for phone interviews this week.

Dr Owen Price can also speak about bushfires. His research focuses on bushfire risk and the impact on human health, houses and the environment. Dr Price is a Senior Research Fellow with the Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires at UOW. He recently developed a new method for mapping bushfire risk based on past fire patterns.

PILL TESTING

Dr Jody Morgan can speak about pill testing. She says Australian governments are shying away from pill testing despite evidence suggesting it can lead to harm reduction. In an article she co-authored for The Medical Journal of Australia Dr Morgan says pill testing, “provides a useful opportunity not only to identify the most dangerous drugs but also to engage with a vulnerable group to provide education and connect users to support services”. She is an Associate Research Fellow in the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health.

ABS DATA: WAGE PRICE INDEX AND LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS

Dr Betty Frino can provide commentary on publications due for release by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, including the Wage Price Index (released 13 November) and Labour Force statistics (released 14 November). Dr Frino is a Lecturer in the School of Management, Operations and Marketing. Her research covers remuneration systems and wage setting, labour regulation, workplace productivity and pay equity.

FORMER BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT EVO MORALES' GRANTED ASYLUM IN MEXICO

Dr Luis Gomez Romero is available for interviews about former Bolivian president Evo Morales being granted asylum by Mexico, after he announced his resignation on Sunday. Dr Gomez Romero is a Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory in the School of Law.

MEDIA RESOURCES

The University of Wollongong has an in-house Globelynx camera for TV interviews. This means we can facilitate reliable, live and high-quality television interviews from our Wollongong campus.

MEDIA CONTACT

Kate Mayhew, UOW Media & Public Relations Coordinator
M: +61 475 388 887 | E: kmayhew@uow.edu.au 

UOW academics exercise academic freedom by providing expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing social issues and current affairs. This expert commentary reflects the views of those individual academics and does not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the University of Wollongong.