WHERE TO GET THE TIMES

Winston Hills Shopping Mall

Caroline Chilsholm Dr Shops

Parramatta LGA libraries

Toongabbie Bowling Club

Carlingford Bowling Club

Holiday Inn Parramatta

Mercure Parramatta

Lake Parramatta Shops

Northmead Sports Cub

Westmead Sub newagency

Westmead Health precinct

Parramatta KPMG Building

Parramatta Chamber Events

SOP Quest

SOP Novotel

Merrylands Bowling Club

Cumberland Council

The Fiddler Hotel

Granville RSL

Cumberland Council Library

Parramatta Council

Cafés in Parramatta LGA

THE Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has warned that funding of smoking harm research by Philip Morris International (PMI), the world's largest cigarette company, reflects Big Tobacco's attempt to gain a new generation of users.

PMI, the sole funder of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW), which claims its mission is to end smoking, contributed the vast majority of the FSFW's $166.2M income from 2019-21.

RACGP President, Dr Nicole Higgins, has previously called for a crackdown on nicotine vaping products, which are often marketed to young people and sidestep regulations.

She says that the FSFW is just a front for PMI's real business, nicotine addiction. The RACGP supports nicotine vaping with GP supervision but warns that the industry is already lobbying for unrestricted sales in Australia, which would lead to a new generation of young users struggling to stop.

Dr Higgins calls the FSFW research a continuation of Big Nicotine's fight against public health.

Best locations for immigration

A RECENT study commissioned by Immigration to Australia found surprising results on the best cities in Australia for international immigrants. The study surveyed 1002 Australian residents on eight factors of habitability to identify the best cities in Australia for immigrants.

While Sydney and Melbourne are world-famous cities, the study shows that they may not necessarily be the best location for the 195,000 permanent migrants moving to Australia this year.

Melbourne was voted the most welcoming city for immigrants, while both Sydney and Melbourne took equal first place as the best cities to start a business.

Sydney was ranked as the top city for well-paying jobs, while Melbourne was the top family-friendly city. Adelaide was voted as the best-value city, while Brisbane was voted as the best lifestyle and climate.

Hobart was voted as the safest city, and Darwin and Perth did not achieve first ranking in any key factor of habitability for immigrants.

The study results provide valuable insights for the Australian Government's permanent Migration Program, which is increasing its intake to 195,000 placements in the 2023 financial year.

Doctors’ morale damaged

THE Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has raised concerns over vexatious complaints against GPs, which it says are damaging the morale of doctors across Australia.

In a survey of 1290 GPs, 80% reported that they had experienced vexatious complaints. The number of complaints received by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has increased significantly, with Ahpra attributing the rise to an increase in patient complaints due to the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine rollout.

The RACGP has called for greater action to protect hardworking GP, and for the complaints system to be used appropriately, highlighting the impact that vexatious complaints can have on doctors' mental health and patient care.

The Medical Board of Australia has introduced a triage process for frivolous complaints to reduce the impact on clinicians.

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