Search

Getting antivirals for COVID too often depends on where you live and how wealthy you are

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-breadon-1348098">Peter Breadon</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168">Grattan Institute</a> Medical experts <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/treatments/eligibility">recommend</a> antivirals for people aged 70 and older who get COVID, and for other groups at risk of severe illness and hospitalisation from COVID. But many older Australians have missed out on antivirals after getting sick with COVID. It is yet another way the health system is failing the most vulnerable. <h2>Who missed out?</h2> We <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/How-we-analysed-COVID-antiviral-uptake-Grattan-Institute.pdf">analysed</a> COVID antiviral uptake between March 2022 and September 2023. We found some groups were more likely to miss out on antivirals including Indigenous people, people from disadvantaged areas, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Some of the differences will be due to different rates of infection. But across this 18-month period, many older Australians were infected at least once, and rates of infection were higher in some disadvantaged communities. <h2>How stark are the differences?</h2> Compared to the national average, Indigenous Australians were nearly 25% less likely to get antivirals, older people living in disadvantaged areas were 20% less likely to get them, and people with a culturally or linguistically diverse background were 13% less likely to get a script. People in remote areas were 37% less likely to get antivirals than people living in major cities. People in outer regional areas were 25% less likely. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/620627/original/file-20240920-20-yc7sq5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/620627/original/file-20240920-20-yc7sq5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/620627/original/file-20240920-20-yc7sq5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=329&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/620627/original/file-20240920-20-yc7sq5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=329&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/620627/original/file-20240920-20-yc7sq5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=329&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/620627/original/file-20240920-20-yc7sq5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=413&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/620627/original/file-20240920-20-yc7sq5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=413&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/620627/original/file-20240920-20-yc7sq5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=413&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>Dispensing rates by group. Grattan Institute</figcaption></figure> Even within the same city, the differences are stark. In Sydney, people older than 70 in the affluent eastern suburbs (including Vaucluse, Point Piper and Bondi) were nearly twice as likely to have had an antiviral as those in Fairfield, in Sydney’s south-west. Older people in leafy inner-eastern Melbourne (including Canterbury, Hawthorn and Kew) were 1.8 times more likely to have had an antiviral as those in Brimbank (which includes Sunshine) in the city’s west. <h2>Why are people missing out?</h2> COVID antivirals should be taken when symptoms first appear. While awareness of COVID antivirals is generally strong, people often <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40121-024-01003-3">don’t realise</a> they would benefit from the medication. They <a href="https://www.phrp.com.au/?p=43363">wait</a> until symptoms get worse and it is too late. Frequent GP visits make a big difference. Our analysis found people 70 and older who see a GP more frequently were much more likely to be dispensed a COVID antiviral. Regular visits give an opportunity for preventive care and patient education. For example, GPs can provide high-risk patients with “COVID treatment plans” as a reminder to get tested and seek treatment as soon as they are unwell. Difficulty seeing a GP could help explain low antiviral use in rural areas. Compared to people in major cities, people in small rural towns have about 35% <a href="https://hwd.health.gov.au/resources/data/gp-primarycare.html">fewer</a> GPs, see their GP about half as often, and are 30% more likely to <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-services/patient-experiences/latest-release">report</a> waiting too long for an appointment. Just like for <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/A-fair-shot-How-to-close-the-vaccination-gap-Grattan-Institute-Report.pdf">vaccination</a>, a GP’s focus on antivirals probably matters, as does providing care that is accessible to people from different cultural backgrounds. <h2>Care should go those who need it</h2> Since the period we looked at, evidence has emerged that raises <a href="https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/FmjFC91ZVBSmBpXpZSEh9CqMtQx?domain=nejm.org">doubts</a> about how effective antivirals are, particularly for people at lower risk of severe illness. That means getting vaccinated is more important than getting antivirals. But all Australians who are eligible for antivirals should have the same chance of getting them. These drugs have cost more than A$1.7 billion, with the vast majority of that money coming from the federal government. While dispensing rates have fallen, more than <a href="http://medicarestatistics.humanservices.gov.au/statistics/do.jsp?_PROGRAM=%2Fstatistics%2Fpbs_item_standard_report&itemlst=%2712910L%27%2C%2712996B%27&ITEMCNT=2&LIST=12910L%2C12996B&VAR=SERVICES&RPT_FMT=6&start_dt=202201&end_dt=202408">30,000</a> packs of COVID antivirals were dispensed in August, costing about $35 million. Such a huge investment shouldn’t be leaving so many people behind. Getting treatment shouldn’t depend on your income, cultural background or where you live. Instead, care should go to those who need it the most. People born overseas have been <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/covid-19-mortality-australia-deaths-registered-until-31-january-2024#deaths-due-to-covid-19-country-of-birth">40% more likely</a> to die from COVID than those born here. Indigenous Australians have been <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/covid-19-mortality-australia-deaths-registered-until-31-january-2024#covid-19-mortality-among-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people">60% more likely</a> to die from COVID than non-Indigenous people. And the most disadvantaged people have been <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/covid-19-mortality-australia-deaths-registered-until-31-january-2024#deaths-due-to-covid-19-socio-economic-status-seifa-">2.8 times</a> more likely to die from COVID than those in the wealthiest areas. All those at-risk groups have been more likely to miss out on antivirals. It’s not just a problem with antivirals. The same groups are also disproportionately missing out on COVID <a>vaccination</a>, compounding their risk of severe illness. The pattern is repeated for other important preventive health care, such as <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/54a38a6a-9e3c-4f58-b2f6-cdef977a7d60/aihw-can-155_15sept.pdf?v=20230915162104&inline=true">cancer</a> <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/27f32443-5206-4189-8775-0c1f55a26bc4/aihw-can-160.pdf?v=20240617095924&inline=true">screening</a>. <h2>A 3-step plan to meet patients’ needs</h2> The federal government should do three things to close these gaps in preventive care. First, the government should make Primary Health Networks (PHNs) responsible for reducing them. PHNs, the regional bodies responsible for improving primary care, should share data with GPs and step in to boost uptake in communities that are missing out. Second, the government should extend its <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mymedicare">MyMedicare</a> reforms. MyMedicare gives general practices flexible funding to care for patients who live in residential aged care or who visit hospital frequently. That approach should be <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/a-new-medicare-strengthening-general-practice/">expanded</a> to all patients, with more funding for poorer and sicker patients. That will give GP clinics time to advise patients about preventive health, including COVID vaccines and antivirals, before they get sick. Third, team-based pharmacist prescribing should be introduced. Then pharmacists could quickly dispense antivirals for patients if they have a prior agreement with the patient’s GP. It’s an approach that would also <a href="https://theconversation.com/pharmacists-should-be-able-to-work-with-gps-to-prescribe-medicines-for-long-term-conditions-212359">work</a> for medications for chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. COVID antivirals, unlike vaccines, have been <a href="https://theconversation.com/covid-wave-whats-the-latest-on-antiviral-drugs-and-who-is-eligible-in-australia-218423">keeping up</a> with new variants without the need for updates. If a new and more harmful variant emerges, or when a new pandemic hits, governments should have these systems in place to make sure everyone who needs treatment can get it fast. In the meantime, fairer access to care will help close the big and persistent <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/0cbc6c45-b97a-44f7-ad1f-2517a1f0378c/hiamhbrfhsu.pdf?v=20230605184558&inline=true">gaps</a> in health between different groups of Australians. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-breadon-1348098">Peter Breadon</a>, Program Director, Health and Aged Care, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168">Grattan Institute</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/getting-antivirals-for-covid-too-often-depends-on-where-you-live-and-how-wealthy-you-are-239497">original article</a>. </div>

Caring

Bluey blasted over extravagantly “wealthy” home

A concerned parent has blasted the canine family in Bluey for living in a house that they deemed too wealthy. The viewer said it is “discouraging” to see the animated family of dogs living in a home worth several millions of dollars, but also believes the dog parents’ humility in their riches has given them the freedom to be “such amazing parents”. The show depicts the Heeler family of Bandit and Chilli and their two children Bluey and Bingo, with one passionate viewer pondering whether their parenting skills are due to the dogs being “millionaires”, sparking a debate online. “Confession: it bothers me that the Heelers are wealthy,” the concerned parent began on Reddit. “It’s been estimated that the Heeler home is worth at least $1-$2 million, if not more. It’s hard to say exactly because the floor plan changes to fit the needs of the story.” “A few real estate articles say $4 million, but $1-2 million seems to be the most realistic answer.” “Every once in a while, the thought creeps into my mind that the reason they are such amazing parents is because they are millionaires.” The parent did clarify that they do believe the animated Heelers to be “fantastic people who live frugally and they don’t flaunt their money”. “They live in a great neighbourhood, send their kids to fantastic schools, and their jobs seem to be very flexible so they spend a lot of time home with their kids.” They concluded saying that “as a parent who isn’t wealthy, it’s a little discouraging”. Fans were divided with the Reddit post, with some entertaining the parent’s theory, while others thought the children’s show was being “overanalysed”. “They’re also talking dogs which I’ll never be,” one user pointed out. “Please don’t compare yourself to a cartoon dog, especially one you only see for six-minute segments. Anyone can be an involved parent for seven minutes,” a second wrote. “Dear god, it’s a cartoon. Are you also upset that SpongeBob lives in a two-story home by himself off a fry cook salary?” another said. Another joked, “I’m getting really sick of explaining this over and over again. Their house is worth a lot of money NOW, but that’s only because the housing market in Brisbane has exploded over the last 10 years.” Image credits: ABC iView

Real Estate

Top 5 tips to be financially healthy, wealthy and wise

Financial health, wealth and wisdom aren’t exclusive to the billionaires of the world – every Aussie can use these tips to live happier and more secure lives. The old saying goes ‘Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.’ I believe this refers to more than just sleeping habits and speaks to the importance of a good routine and planning ahead. ith that in mind, here are some tips to ensure you and your bank balance remain on good terms: 1. Build strong foundations There are five financial foundations I recommend which form the building blocks for a strong relationship with money: <ul> <li>Emergency fund</li> <li>Spending and investment plan (more in-depth than a budget)</li> <li>Superannuation</li> <li>Adequate insurance cover</li> <li>Estate planning</li> </ul> Having these foundations in place allows you to build wealth to enjoy a good lifestyle, protect you and your family against any unexpected disaster or loss of income, and plan for a comfortable retirement. The earlier you put them in place, the more time you have for them to work in your favour (think back to your schooldays about the benefits of compound interest!) 2. Take charge – it’s YOUR money Do you know your current superannuation balance? The interest rate on your mortgage? How much you spent last month? Many people don’t – often because they leave the finances up to their significant other. It’s a risky move. What if your partner invests unwisely? Develops a gambling addiction? You split up? Sadly, many people have faced financial ruin simply because they wrongly believed their partner had everything hunky-dory. It’s important to be actively involved in your finances – know where your money comes from and where it goes. Don’t just leave it up to someone else, no matter how much you may love them. 3. Avoid runaway debt Unpaid bills, late tax returns, missed Afterpay instalments and credit card repayments – they all accrue interest and can quickly snowball until you’re buried under an avalanche of debt. Find ways of managing repayments that work for you. That could be: <ul> <li>Setting reminders in your phone and/or on your fridge to pay bills by their due date. </li> <li>Using a mortgage offset account to reduce your payable interest.</li> <li>Paying with cash/debit rather than credit/buy-now-pay-later (convenience typically costs more than transparency).</li> </ul> If you’re struggling, tackle your most expensive debts first (those with the highest interest rates). You may also be better off consolidating your debts into one, such as your mortgage – to pay less interest overall and to cut the number of repayments to keep track. 4. Don’t ‘set and forget’ Your income, expenses, debts and taxes all change as your life and circumstances change, meaning they should be reviewed regularly. Update your spending and investment plan whenever you change jobs, move house, expand your family, get a payrise etc. Scrutinise your expenses to cut wasteful spending – like that gym membership or TV subscription you no longer use. Examine ways to reduce your taxable income throughout the year, such as extra contributions to your super and keeping records for allowable deductions. Beware the ‘loyalty tax’ – banks, utilities and insurers typically offer better deals for new customers than existing ones. If you don’t review those at least once a year, or simply pay the renewal without comparing, you’re probably paying more than you need to. (If you do switch providers, double check that you are getting a like-for-like service – read the fine print carefully.) 5. Look after yourself ‘What does self-care have to do with money – apart from costing lots?’ I hear you ask. My response is – who can really afford to be sick given how fast healthcare costs keep rising! Not to mention lost earnings and other impacts. Looking after yourself – physically and mentally – means you’re less likely to need to pay for medical care, treatments and medications. Plus, you’ll need less sick or unpaid leave from work. And you’ll reduce your chances of a debilitating condition which could cut short your ability to earn a living, such as a stroke or heart attack. Then there’s the benefits of better cognitive function – making smarter decisions about money and better productivity at work (increasing your prospects for promotions and higher incomes). Invest in self-development too. Learning new skills and gaining extra qualifications aren’t just good for mental health but help you earn a higher income. Hence looking after yourself means lower costs AND higher income. What’s not to love about that?! Helen Baker is a licensed Australian financial adviser and author of the new book, On Your Own Two Feet: The Essential Guide to Financial Independence for all Women (Ventura Press, $32.99). Helen is among the 1% of financial planners who hold a master’s degree in the field. Proceeds from book sales are donated to charities supporting disadvantaged women and children. Find out more at <a href="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au/">www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au</a> Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

225kg "Hank the Tank" bear ransacks wealthy neighbourhood

Residents of a wealthy California neighbourhood have been terrorised by a 225kg black bear, nicknamed Hank the Tank by authorities. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) , the one bear has been linked to "property damage at 38 different properties" in the affluent Tahoe Keys neighbourhood. The trouble-making bear has been the source of more than 150 calls between law enforcement and wildlife personnel in recent months. Peter Tira, a spokesperson for the CDFW said Hank has been spotted more and more as he has developed a taste for pizza, and has yet to be deterred by efforts from local police to scare it off with paintballs and sirens. “It’s easier to find leftover pizza than to go in the forest,” Tira said “This is a bear that has lost all fear of people,” he added. “It’s a potentially dangerous situation.” Due to the heightened number of sightings and complaints about Hank, the CDFW has been setting up traps to catch the beast, but to no avail. “The trapping activity is a measure of last resort to capture and euthanise a specific and what we call a severely habituated or human-food conditioned black bear,” Tira said. Despite the potential danger, the bear hunt has sparked an outcry from local residents, who tried to sabotage them by trying to scare away the bear, playing loud music, and even spray-painting “Bear Killer” on the government’s trap. A bear activist group called the BEAR League has been coordinating with the CDFW for Hank the Tank to be relocated to a wildlife sanctuary instead of euthanised. “The BEAR League reached out to the director of an excellent out-of-state wildlife sanctuary who agreed he has room and would be very willing to give this bear a permanent home,” said executive director Ann Bryant. “We notified [the California Department of Fish and Wildlife] on Tuesday morning asking that this option be seriously considered rather than killing the bear.” While talks to relocate Hank are still ongoing, the CDFW has urged residents to practice preventive measures to keep bears out, such as securing garbage properly and keeping trash out of cars. According to the New York Post, when people relocated to Tahoe Keys to work from home due to the pandemic, these new residents did not adhere to preventive measures, prompting Hank the Tank to come out of the woods and forage for food. Image credits: Facebook - BEAR League

Family & Pets

Anti-racist street signs slammed in wealthy suburbs

Residents of some of Australia’s wealthiest suburbs <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/outrage-over-woke-anti-racist-street-signs-in-wealthy-sydney-suburbs/ar-AATR1gL?ocid=hplocalnews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have called</a> for the removal of “woke” anti-racism street signs, despite residents in other areas with the signs having zero complaints.Red signs with the phrase “#RacismNOTWelcome” displayed in white text were erected in several wealthy eastern suburbs within the Woollahra Local Government Area (LGA), including Paddington, Rose Bay, Bellevue Hill and Double Bay.<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF;border: 0;border-radius: 3px;margin: 1px;max-width: 540px;min-width: 326px;padding: 0;width: calc(100% - 2px)" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/COY25tALOnc/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"><div style="padding: 16px"><div style="flex-direction: row;align-items: center"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 40px;margin-right: 14px;width: 40px"> </div><div style="flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 100px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 60px"> </div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0"> </div><div style="height: 50px;margin: 0 auto 12px;width: 50px"> </div><div style="padding-top: 8px"><div style="color: #3897f0;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;font-style: normal;font-weight: 550;line-height: 18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0"> </div><div style="flex-direction: row;margin-bottom: 14px;align-items: center"><div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px;flex-grow: 0;margin-right: 14px;margin-left: 2px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 20px;width: 20px"> </div><div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 2px solid transparent;border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom: 2px solid transparent"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: auto"><div style="width: 0px;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right: 8px solid transparent"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;flex-grow: 0;height: 12px;width: 16px"> </div><div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left: 8px solid transparent"> </div></div></div><div style="flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center;margin-bottom: 24px"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 224px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 144px"> </div></div><a style="color: #c9c8cd;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;font-style: normal;font-weight: normal;line-height: 17px;text-decoration: none" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COY25tALOnc/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Racism Not Welcome (@racismnotwelcome)</a></div></blockquote>The initiative started by Woollahra Council as part of a city-wide campaign last year to raise awareness of the issue.But, local residents have complained that the signs inadvertently make it seem like the suburb is racist, while Liberal councillors have demanded the signs be ripped down.“Locals say the signs give a false impression that Woollahra locals are racists, while there has been no evidence presented to that fact,” a motion before the local council read.“The signs do not properly represent our community and are simply an appropriation from some other community, or other local government area, where racism may be rife.”Appearing on 2GB radio on Tuesday, Woollahra councillor Mary-Lou Jarvis said, “Lecturing people with street signs is not going to cut it.“I was overwhelmed from people around the area when the signs went up. There was an incredible diversity in the people that contacted me.”Councillor Jarvis shared one example of a Jewish woman who reached out and asked for the signs to be taken down.“She was the first that said to me, ‘This is woke-ism gone mad.’“This is all about us taking personal responsibility.”Three Liberal councillors initially proposed for all 12 signs to be removed from the LGA, which was followed by a compromise to move the signs from residential streets to public areas such as parks and transport hubs.However, the compromise failed after Councillor Jarvis insisted the signs be removed from the area entirely.“This has divided the council, it’s divided the community,” she said. “It’s wokeism writ large and has created division where there wasn’t any before. This is all about making people feel good rather than taking actions to reduce racism.”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Now having to argue to keep Racism Not Welcome signs because some people don’t like them on their street 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ <a href="https://t.co/LHv7Ng9pcE">pic.twitter.com/LHv7Ng9pcE</a>— Nicola Grieve (@nicolagrieve) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicolagrieve/status/1493173119162658819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>Greens councillor Nicola Grieve said she was “flabbergasted” by the opposition to the signs and that there was definitely racism in the area.“I think it’s completely obscene and absurd. There is clearly racism in this electorate: I’ve heard it,” she said.“These signs send a message that we are standing up for people of colour and don’t tolerate racism.”When the issue was debated on Monday night, Woollahra Municipal Council <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/nsw/push-to-remove-woke-anti-racist-street-signs-from-woollahra-fails-20220215-p59wkk.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted 8-7</a> to keep the signs in their current locations.The #RacismNOTWelcome street sign campaign, spearheaded by former Socceroo player Craig Foster, began in Sydney’s inner west before spreading to other council areas, including Woollahra.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I asked <a href="https://twitter.com/Craig_Foster?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Craig_Foster</a> today if opposing the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/racismNOTwelcome?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#racismNOTwelcome</a> road signs in <a href="https://twitter.com/woollahramc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@woollahramc</a> indicates to him that racism does exist? This is what he had to say: "Some or all councillors here say there is NO racism here...well...we should beg to differ"<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Woollahra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Woollahra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sydney?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sydney</a> <a href="https://t.co/GJFaJfLnsS">pic.twitter.com/GJFaJfLnsS</a>— Nabil Al Nashar (@NabilAlNashar) <a href="https://twitter.com/NabilAlNashar/status/1493521809509351427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2022</a></blockquote>Foster shared his disappointment at the backlash with <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/woollahra-councillors-push-to-remove-anti-racism-signs-20220214-p59w7n.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sydney Morning Herald</a>, telling the publication that the signs send a powerful message to everyone entering a council area that racism won’t be tolerated.“A minority saying they feel confronted by the very word ‘racism’ is as old as Australia itself,” he said.“It is a disappointment for our whole community when any LGA demonstrates an unwillingness to commit to a more truthful conversation.”Image: @racismnotwelcome (Instagram)

Real Estate

Wealthy countries accused of "snatching up" global COVID-19 vaccines

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> A medical charity has slammed wealthier countries for "snatching up" more than their fair share of the global COVID-19 vaccine supply. The charity has also urged companies who have developed the vaccine to share the data so the vaccine can be produced by other organisations. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) executive co-director Dr Sidney Wong warned that the lifesaving vaccinations need to be scaled up with more companies able to make the vaccine in order for it to be useful worldwide. “While the world waits with bated breath for the possible approval of these COVID-19 vaccines, it’s not time to celebrate yet,” he said. “Right now, we’re in a situation where a lion’s share of the limited number of first doses have already been snatched up by a handful of countries like the US and UK, as well as the EU, leaving very little for other countries in the short term. “What we really want to see is a rapid expansion of the overall global supply, so there are more vaccines to go around and doses can be allocated according to WHO’s public health criteria, not a country’s ability to pay.” The UK has started to roll out around 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to those in vulnerable categories, including the elderly. Grandmother Margaret Keenan, 90, was the first to get the jab and said: “My advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it. If I can have it at 90 then you can have it too.” “I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against COVID-19.” The touching moment bought UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock to tears. “This simple act of vaccination is a tribute to scientific endeavour, to human ingenuity, and to the hard work of so many people,” he said. “Today marks the start of the fightback against our common enemy, coronavirus, and while today is a day to celebrate there is much work to be done.” Britain is currently the only country to have approved a vaccine so far, but competition for the remaining supply is set to intensify as more countries wait and see the results of the British vaccine. Policy Advisor for MSF’s Access Campaign, Dana Gill, said by keeping critical information like the costs of research and development and trials hidden from the public, companies are “shirking” their responsibilities. “The public has a right to know. Without transparency, the public cannot assess fair pricing and governments cannot negotiate lower prices based on true costs. Pfizer and Moderna should set a new example of accountability and open their books. No company should be allowed to profiteer off the back of this pandemic.” Earlier this month, the United Nations Children's director Henrietta Fore said that the COVID-19 pandemic has been the first "truly global" crisis the world has faced and called for equality. “As we begin to imagine a day when COVID-19 is behind us, our guiding principle must be that the light at the end of the tunnel needs to shine for all,” she said, saying the COVAX facility is the best way to ensure equitable distribution. “This would not only be fundamentally unfair, it would be unwise. The whole world will remain vulnerable to the virus until countries with the weakest health systems are protected from it as well.” </div> </div> </div>

News

The superannuation change that helps the wealthy at the expense of the young

Another federal budget, and yet more tinkering to superannuation tax breaks. But the latest changes will only help older wealthier Australians. The losers are younger workers and taxpayers. What's the plan? From July 1 2020, Australians aged 65 and 66 will be able to make voluntary pre- and post-tax superannuation contributions without having to pass the <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Definitions/?anchor=P1358-111493#P1358-111493">Work Test</a>, under which they are required to work a minimum of 40 hours over a 30-day period. About 55,000 Australians aged 65 and 66 will benefit from these changes at a cost of A$75 million over the next four years. It's another boost for tax planning Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the changes will help Australians save for their retirement. But most 65- and 66-year-olds still working to top up their superannuation are already eligible to make voluntary super contributions, because they satisfy the Work Test. Working 40 hours over a 30-day period – or little more than one day each week – is hardly onerous. For every dollar contributed to super that genuinely helps Australians save more for their retirement as a result of these changes, there will be many more dollars funnelled into super to make extra use of superannuation tax concessions. The biggest winners will be wealthier retired 65- and 66-year-olds with other sources of income, such as from shares or property, which they will now be able to recycle through superannuation. They will be able to put up to $25,000 into super from their pre-tax income and then – because super withdrawals are tax-free – take the money back out immediately. Their contributions to super are taxed at only 15%, whereas ordinary dividends or bank interest is taxed at their marginal tax rate. The tax savings can be <a href="https://theconversation.com/tax-free-super-is-intergenerational-theft-60369">as high as $5,000 a year</a>. Such strategies aren’t costless: other taxpayers must pay more, or accept fewer services, to make up the difference. It will mean larger inheritances The government is also allowing 65- and 66-year-olds to make three years’ worth of post-tax super contributions, or up to $300,000, in a single year. These changes will mainly boost inheritances. Most people who make after-tax contributions already have large super balances and typically contribute from existing pools of savings to minimise their tax. Grattan Institute’s 2016 report, <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/876-A-better-super-system.pdf">A Better Super System</a>, found that only about 1% of taxpayers have total super account balances of more than $1 million, yet this tiny cohort makes almost one-third of all post-tax contributions. These changes will turbo-charge so-called “recontribution strategies” that minimise the tax paid on superannuation fund balances passed on as inheritances. When inherited, super fund balances originally funded by pre-tax contributions can be <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Super/In-detail/Withdrawing-and-using-your-super/Withdrawing-your-super-and-paying-tax/?page=6#How_tax_applies">taxed</a> at 17% (including the Medicare levy), depending on the age of the deceased and the beneficiary. To avoid this tax on their estate, individuals can withdraw superannuation funds tax-free and contribute them back as a post-tax contribution, up to the annual <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Super/Self-managed-super-funds/Contributions-and-rollovers/Contribution-caps/#Nonconcessionalcontributions1">post-tax contributions cap</a> of $100,000 each year. It fails the government's own test In 2016, the government tried – but failed – to define the <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/news/when-comfort-in-retirement-comes-at-too-great-a-cost/">purpose</a> of superannuation as providing “income in retirement to supplement or substitute the Age Pension”. The proposed objective <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/news/submission-to-senate-standing-economics-committee-inquiry-into-the-superannuation-objective-bill-2016/">rightly</a> implied that super should not aim to provide limitless support for savings that increase retirement incomes. The benefits of super changes should always be <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/news/submission-to-senate-standing-economics-committee-inquiry-into-the-superannuation-objective-bill-2016/">balanced</a> against the costs of achieving them. The government’s latest changes fail that test. Written by Brendan Coates. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-budget-super-change-that-helps-the-wealthy-at-the-expense-of-the-young-114811">The Conversation</a>.

Money & Banking

8 wealthy celebrities who aren't leaving their kids a cent

When you’re a major celebrity a big bank balance comes with the territory, so you’d think the children of these mega-stars would be set for life. But this isn’t always the case. Some celebrities are opting against spoiling their kids with extravagant handouts, to help teach them the value of a dollar. To see eight wealthy celebrities who aren’t leaving their kids a cent, scroll through the gallery above. What are your thoughts?

Retirement Income

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Getting antivirals for COVID too often depends on where you live and how wealthy you are

Bluey blasted over extravagantly “wealthy” home

Top 5 tips to be financially healthy, wealthy and wise

225kg "Hank the Tank" bear ransacks wealthy neighbourhood

Anti-racist street signs slammed in wealthy suburbs

Wealthy countries accused of "snatching up" global COVID-19 vaccines

The superannuation change that helps the wealthy at the expense of the young

8 wealthy celebrities who aren't leaving their kids a cent

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Getting antivirals for COVID too often depends on where you live and how wealthy you are

Bluey blasted over extravagantly “wealthy” home

Top 5 tips to be financially healthy, wealthy and wise

225kg "Hank the Tank" bear ransacks wealthy neighbourhood

Anti-racist street signs slammed in ﻿wealthy suburbs

Wealthy countries accused of "snatching up" global COVID-19 vaccines

The superannuation change that helps the wealthy at the expense of the young

8 wealthy celebrities who aren't leaving their kids a cent

Our Partners

Anti-racist street signs slammed in wealthy suburbs