October 15, 2019

UOW expert commentary this week (15 - 19 October)

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

INTEREST RATE CUTS  - ACCC

Dr Paul Mazzola can talk about Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s decision to direct the ACCC to conduct an inquiry into home loan pricing, in response to banks refusing to pass on interest rate cuts in full. Dr Mazzola is a Lecturer in banking and finance in the Faculty of Business. He has more than 25 years banking and finance experience in the Australian, European and Asian Pacific markets. 

Dr Andy Schmulow can also provide commentary on the ACCC inquiry. He says Australian banks are shielded from competition and the inquiry is vital. Dr Schmulow is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Law.

THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO AGED CARE QUALITY AND SAFETY

Professor Kathy Eagar is available for interviews about the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Hearing 3 which is taking place in Melbourne this week. On Monday Professor Eagar appeared as an expert witness and gave evidence that Australian residential aged care staffing levels compare poorly with international and national benchmarks. Professor Eagar is the Director of the Australian Health Services Research Institute. Professor Eagar isn't available on Thursday.

ABOLISHING PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Dr Paul Kidson recently wrote about whether we could abolish private schools in Australia, after the UK’s Labour Party recently voted in a similar policy. Dr Kidson is a Lecturer in the School of Education. His research is around school leadership, governance and policy. He is a former principal and has an extensive background in non-government schooling.

TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF #METOO MOVEMENT

Dr Rachel Loney-Howes can provide comment on the two-year anniversary of the #MeToo movement. In October 2017 the #MeToo movement went into overdrive after a series of high-profile men were the subject of sexual harassment and assault allegations. Dr Loney-Howes is the co-editor of a new book #MeToo and the Politics of Social Change. She is a criminology scholar who specialises in researching gender-based violence.

START OF HSC WRITTEN EXAMS – THURSDAY 17 OCTOBER

Mark Donovan is available for interviews about the start of the written exams for the HSC. Mr Donovan is a clinical psychologist and can talk about different ways students can manage stress and anxiety during the HSC. Mr Donovan is the Director of Northfields Psychology Clinic at UOW. Mr Donovan is available on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning.

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.