The News – 11 August 2014

Overview

  • Federal Government budget cuts will cause an increase in domestic violence and substance abuse, Democratic Labour Party Senator John Madigan says.
  • The Queensland farming family behind Australia’s first fresh fruit vending machine believes its latest breakthrough will lead to a significant increase in the consumption of fresh fruit in the country.
  • Fathers play a key role in supporting breastfeeding and are actively involved in their infants’ feeding, according to a new study.


Stories Discussed
News on Health Professional Radio. Today is the 11th August 2014. Read by Rebecca Foster.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-10/budget-cuts-will-lead-to-more-drug-use-violence-dlp/5660886

Federal Government budget cuts will cause an increase in domestic violence and substance abuse, Democratic Labour Party Senator John Madigan says.

Senator Madigan, who met with Treasurer Joe Hockey to discuss the budget last week, says the budget targets people in society “who have got the least”.

“The Government [is] targeting their savings on those people on lower incomes,” …

He says that by targeting low-income earners, the Government could be increasing social problems like vandalism and drug use.

“If we attack those people with the least, I believe we’re going to have more domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, vandalism, mental health problems and what’s the cost of that going to be to mop that up?” he said.

Mr Hockey is trying to convince the crossbench – which includes Senator Madigan – to pass key measures in the budget.

….

Former treasurer Peter Costello has said the Government should drop another controversial budget measure, the GP co-payment, because it is not going to pass the Senate.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-09/family-behind-fruit-vending-machines-inundated-with-requests/5659320

The Queensland farming family behind Australia’s first fresh fruit vending machine believes its latest breakthrough will lead to a significant increase in the consumption of fresh fruit in the country.

The Mackay family’s FruitBar offers a variety of fruit and salad vegetables, ranging from a single piece of fruit to snack packs with various mixes that also contain nuts and biscuits.

In the three weeks since two machines began operating in Brisbane, the company has been inundated with requests for hundreds of machines.

FruitBar’s Mike Evans says the most surprising inquiry has come from one of Australia’s major petrol suppliers.

At Brisbane Boys Grammar School the FruitBar vending machine outside the sports complex has been such a hit with students that another machine has been ordered.

“It’s in a good spot, it’s got a population that is hungry early in the morning, late afternoon and so that’s really helped,” deputy headmaster David Carroll said.

Queensland strawberry grower Bec Scurr from Pinata Farms says growers are excited about the development.

The FruitBar is the brainchild of the Mackay family based in Tully, far north Queensland.

As the biggest grower of bananas in Australia they account for 40 per cent of the country’s bananas.

Twelve months ago they launched the BananaBar, Australia’s first banana vending machine.

Located in busy public areas like train stations and hospitals, they have been a big success, with some machines being refilled several times a day.

The Mackays developed FruitBar after repeated requests from banana customers for a wider selection of fruits.

A fruit vending machine is an idea many in horticulture have talked about, but due to the logistical challenges involved such as sourcing and packaging perfectly ripe produce, and refilling machines on a daily basis, it has never been commercialised.

But encouraged by BananaBar sales the Mackays ventured out of their comfort zone.

Mr Evans says finding suppliers to provide the best in-season produce is the key to the success of the new business.

The Royal Brisbane Hospital’s commercial services manager Russel Shepherd says initially he was sceptical when a machine was installed there.

The FruitBar machine at the Royal Brisbane Hospital has been so well patronised it is being refilled several times a day.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-08/dad27s-support-vital-in-breastfeeding-success3a-new-research/5657470?section=tas

Fathers play a key role in supporting breastfeeding and are actively involved in their infants’ feeding, according to a new study.

The Tasmanian researchers hoped the study, commissioned by the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation, would help other fathers when their partners struggled with breastfeeding.

University of Tasmania researchers interviewed 26 fathers, 14 mothers and 11 community workers from across the state for the report ‘Exploring the Role Played by Fathers in Supporting Mothers to Breastfeed.’

They found the fathers held positive views about the value of breastfeeding and were actively involved in feeding babies, making decisions about how babies were fed and supporting mothers to breastfeed.

Researcher Emily Hansen said fathers play a crucial role.

Ms Hansen said most research into breastfeeding has been about mothers or general attitudes.

“We found out that fathers are very involved in infant feeding and breastfeeding and breastfeeding is an issue of relevance not only to mothers but to fathers as well,” she said.

The Tasmanian Early Years Foundation’s Mark Green said he hoped the research would help fathers.

“When dads hear what happens with other dads, they can really relate to that and think: ‘Well there’s someone who’s gone through this experience as well, I’m not alone in thinking this or feeling this’,” he said.

When Derek Hagstrom’s son Angus was born, his wife struggled to breastfeed.

“I think the most important thing for us was that someone had to tell her that it was okay not to, I think she struggled with the decision to give up,” he said.

“Not all guys are prepared or really trained up enough to be supportive and that’s what it really is about.

“I know a lot of dads have been the position where they’ve felt alone on this, they didn’t really know what they needed to do, I don’t think there’s enough resources out there for dads.”

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