Melissa Sweet
@melissasweetdr.bsky.social
Journalist sharing news on health in all policies, First Nations health, health equity, social determinants of health and climate justice. Based in Australia, and providing local, national and global coverage. Editor in Chief, Croakey Health Media (NFP) .. more
Journalist sharing news on health in all policies, First Nations health, health equity, social determinants of health and climate justice. Based in Australia, and providing local, national and global coverage. Editor in Chief, Croakey Health Media (NFP)
Melissa Sweet is an Australian journalist and nonfiction writer. Formerly employed by The Sydney Morning Herald, The Bulletin magazine, and Australian Associated Press, she specialises in writing about human health and medicine. .. more
Public Health
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Medicine
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Pinned
And that's a wrap on this week's Croakey Health Media bulletin. Thanks to everyone who contributed!
Read up here:
www.croakey.org
And subscribe here, if you'd like to support independent media....
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Read up here:
www.croakey.org
And subscribe here, if you'd like to support independent media....
www.croakey.org/subscribe-to...
ICYMI: tobacco control, wealth inequality, punitive laws, vaccine misinformation and conference snaps galore
As Federal Parliament rises for the year, many public health concerns remain unaddressed. The column this week also details collective
www.croakey.org
#ICYMI: tobacco control, wealth inequality, punitive laws, vaccine misinformation and conference snaps galore – Croakey Health Media
www.croakey.org/icymi-tobacc...
www.croakey.org/icymi-tobacc...
On the ubiquity of institutional racism and the trauma it causes
When senior Indigenous medico Dr Louis Peachey heard about police racially profiling a 17-year-old Aboriginal boy in Canberra, pulling him
www.croakey.org
On the ubiquity of institutional racism and the trauma it causes – Croakey Health Media
www.croakey.org/on-the-ubiqu...
By Dr Louis Peachey
www.croakey.org/on-the-ubiqu...
By Dr Louis Peachey
Law reform needed to ensure safety of LGBTQIA+ students and teachers
Introduction by Croakey: Reducing traumatic experiences during childhood is essential for suicide prevention and for contributing to lifelong wellbeing, according
www.croakey.org
Law reform needed to ensure safety of LGBTQIA+ students and teachers – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/law-reform-n...
Hoping you are going ok, Miriam.
Federal Government faces uproar over its approach to food policy
Introduction by Croakey: What did the Albanese Government think would happen when they announced a National Food Council without strong
www.croakey.org
Federal Government faces uproar over its approach to food policy – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/federal-gove...
#publichealth
#AusPol
#publichealth
#AusPol
Powerful artworks document Indigenous knowledges on climate and Country
The power of art in documenting the impacts of the climate crisis upon the health of Country and underscoring the
www.croakey.org
Powerful artworks document Indigenous knowledges on climate and Country – Croakey Health Media
www.croakey.org/powerful-art...
@mariemcinerney.bsky.social reports from #HEAL2025
www.croakey.org/powerful-art...
@mariemcinerney.bsky.social reports from #HEAL2025
Inquiry into ‘forever chemicals’ highlights concerns about health and environmental racism
Introduction by Croakey: A national Environment Protection Agency is expected to be established next year as a result of this
www.croakey.org
Inquiry into ‘forever chemicals’ highlights concerns about health and environmental racism
www.croakey.org/inquiry-into...
By Jason Staines and including comments ex @charlesmk.bsky.social
#PublicHealth
#AusPol
www.croakey.org/inquiry-into...
By Jason Staines and including comments ex @charlesmk.bsky.social
#PublicHealth
#AusPol
Australian diet set to worsen as national food policy is drawn up by profit-driven industry, experts warn
Many industries on new council are ‘associated with significant health harms’, one academic says
www.theguardian.com
Australian diet set to worsen as national food policy is drawn up by profit-driven industry, experts warn
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Labor’s nature law overhaul contains wins – but we should watch for gremlins in the details | Adam Morton
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act changes are an improvement, but the rush to pass them was purely political
www.theguardian.com
Labor’s nature law overhaul contains wins – but we should watch for gremlins in the details
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Inside the 72-hour rush that ended the long fight to fix Australia’s nature protection laws
Labor hailed ‘a new era for the environment and productivity’, Greens say they landed ‘some tough blows’ and the Coalition claimed ‘dirty deal’ was done
www.theguardian.com
Inside the 72-hour rush that ended the long fight to fix Australia’s nature protection laws
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Fear Santos gas plan may start fracking rush that poses ‘major risk’ to NT water supply
Fossil fuel company plans to expand exploration in Beetaloo basin
www.theguardian.com
Fear Santos gas plan may start fracking rush that poses ‘major risk’ to NT water supply
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Is oral health a priority for the Albanese Government? Apparently not… – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/is-oral-heal...
#AusPol
#AusPol
A note to our leaders, on how to improve Australians’ mental health – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/a-note-to-ou...
#AusPol
#SDOH
#AusPol
#SDOH
Plane and car crash safety still skewed to “average man”, putting women at risk – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/plane-and-ca...
Better policies; better leader: new study reveals why Labor won the 2025 federal election
A new study reveals the reasons behind Labor’s landslide win at the 2025 election, including short-term and long-term factors.
theconversation.com
"The Coalition attracted votes from just 28% of women in 2025, the lowest level on record. It is very difficult for a party to win government with such a low level of support from such a significant group of the population."
theconversation.com/better-polic...
theconversation.com/better-polic...
Barnaby Joyce quits Nationals, as he eyes One Nation Senate seat
The sandwich-press steak dinner may yet work a charm, but the MP has quit the Nationals while not yet saying where he’s headed next.
theconversation.com
Barnaby Joyce quits Nationals, as he eyes One Nation Senate seat
theconversation.com/barnaby-joyc...
theconversation.com/barnaby-joyc...
Regular @croakeynews.bsky.social readers may have noticed a new editor at work: Richard Pullin.
This is an #AppreciationPost to acknowledge Richard's generosity in donating time from his well-deserved retirement – volunteering one day a fortnight. Thankyou!
www.croakey.org/the-croakey-...
This is an #AppreciationPost to acknowledge Richard's generosity in donating time from his well-deserved retirement – volunteering one day a fortnight. Thankyou!
www.croakey.org/the-croakey-...
Drug driving is dangerous; here’s a toolkit for reducing its toll
Introduction by Croakey: “If you drink, then drive, you’re a bloody idiot” is regarded as one of Australia’s most successful
www.croakey.org
Drug driving is dangerous; here’s a toolkit for reducing its toll – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/drug-driving...
#PublicHealth
#PreventionMatters
#PublicHealth
#PreventionMatters
Reposted by Melissa Sweet
MPR News
@mprnews.org
· 1d
St. Paul Police use of force during ICE protests raises press freedom concerns
Three photojournalists hit by police munitions while covering an ICE protest Tuesday believe they were targeted by police while doing their jobs.
www.mprnews.org
On Tuesday, three photojournalists were hit by police munitions while covering a federal immigration arrest that drew hundreds of protesters to St. Paul’s East Side.
They believe police targeted them for doing their jobs.
They believe police targeted them for doing their jobs.
The Zap: bumper edition of health and aged care news, plus dozens of consultations now open
The harmful effects of racism experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and the adverse outcomes of ageism in
www.croakey.org
Who said this?
“for too long we’ve seen governments stuck in trench warfare playing the blame game on hospital funding”.
www.croakey.org/the-zap-bump...
#TheZap comes with a bonus quiz this week, thanks to @charlesmk.bsky.social
#AusPol
“for too long we’ve seen governments stuck in trench warfare playing the blame game on hospital funding”.
www.croakey.org/the-zap-bump...
#TheZap comes with a bonus quiz this week, thanks to @charlesmk.bsky.social
#AusPol
Senate urged to consider health focus in proposed environmental reforms
Amid intense politicking around national environmental law reforms that the Albanese Government appears determined to finalise this week, ahead of
www.croakey.org
"The human health harms were enough to ban asbestos and stone bench tops and to regulate tobacco, why should they not be used in our assessments of coal mines and gas fields?"
www.croakey.org/senate-urged...
www.croakey.org/senate-urged...
Stories from global climate negotiations of hope, solidarity, community and joy
The global climate negotiations known as COPs have so often been marked by disappointment, but they are also places of
www.croakey.org
"This sense of community is fuel. It is the motivation that propels you throughout the year to keep fighting for a liveable climate, not just worldwide, but in your local community."
www.croakey.org/stories-from...
www.croakey.org/stories-from...
Wrapping – and rapping – health wins and losses at COP30
Introduction by Croakey: As the world becomes increasingly turbulent and dangerous, and extreme weather events escalate, experts say that "our
www.croakey.org
“While not a total loss, #COP30 certainly cannot be counted as a strong win for people around the world who are looking to our leaders to take meaningful action that will protect us all from climate change.”
www.croakey.org/wrapping-and...
www.croakey.org/wrapping-and...
