November 18, 2024

UOW expert commentary (18 November)

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

Biodiversity impacts of 2019-2020 bushfires

Associate Professor Owen Price can talk about the biodiversity impacts of the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires. Associate Professor Price has contributed to new research published in Nature that found the largest effects on plants and animals in the fires were in areas with frequent or recent past fires and within extensively burnt areas. Associate Professor Price is the Director of UOW’s Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires.

Cash mandate

Associate Professor Andy Schmulow is available for interviews about the federal government’s plans to force businesses selling essential items to accept cash as payment from 2026. Associate Professor Schmulow is from the School of Law and is a prudential regulation expert.

Banks face new levy to keep rural branches open

Associate Professor Andy Schmulow is also available to talk about a new proposal by Treasurer Jim Chalmers to make banks pay a levy costing millions of dollars each year if they don’t keep enough regional and rural branches open.

World Antimicrobial Resistance Week (18 – 24 November)

Associate Professor Chris Degeling can talk about World Antimicrobial Resistance Week (18 to 24 November). Associate Professor Degeling says the use of antibiotics in agriculture often causes controversy. He says while people are quick to blame agriculture for rising rates of antimicrobial resistance, the evidence suggests Australian farmers are practising antibiotic stewardship far better than their peers in other parts of the world. Associate Professor Degeling is a health social scientist and philosopher in the Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values at UOW.

Clearer guidelines needed on gestational diabetes

Dr Monique Francois can discuss new research that revealed diagnosing and treating gestational diabetes in the first trimester didn’t improve health outcomes for most mothers and their babies. The study has stressed the need for clear guidelines on the early screening, diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes to both prevent increased anxiety and stress among women at a delicate time in pregnancy and reduce the burden on clinicians and the health system. Dr Francois is a researcher in the School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences.

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. 

FIND AN EXPERT

The University of Wollongong boasts world-leading experts across a range of disciplines. Visit our Find an expert page for a selection of our experts who can speak to current ongoing and breaking news stories, or contact the Media and Public Relations Unit for help finding relevant experts, organising interviews and providing answers to specific questions.