Melissa Sweet
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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

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 31%
Medicine 20%
Pinned
Quotable at @croakeynews.bsky.social home page is from a series investigating primary healthcare's role in addressing planetary health crisis.

By @mariemcinerney.bsky.social for our new #PHCmatters initiative, with support from LINA

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AMA welcomes Director General of Australian Centre for Disease Control

‘A champion of Aboriginal rights’: Alice Springs leader Geoffrey Shaw dies aged 79

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‘A champion of Aboriginal rights’: Alice Springs leader Geoffrey Shaw dies aged 79
The 79-year-old Vietnam war veteran and founding member of the Central Land Council ‘believed deeply in service’
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Australia’s gun laws have long been the envy of the world. They must remain so, especially after Bondi

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Australia’s gun laws have long been the envy of the world. They must remain so, especially after Bondi | Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz
As a public health expert and Jewish Australian, I urge our leaders to ensure gun legislation matches the world we live in
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Trump administration plans to promote loyal diplomats after recall of 30 ambassadors, sources say

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump administration plans to promote loyal diplomats after recall of 30 ambassadors, sources say
Move comes as union representing US diplomats said it was ‘deeply concerned’ by the process, which could ‘politicise’ foreign service
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Albanese says he feels ‘weight of responsibility’ as Labor criticises Coalition for politicising terror attack

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
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Reposted by Melissa Sweet

95% of Australian political media coverage is a demand for a dog and pony show.

Something happened, we expect you to respond this way, why aren't you responding the way we expect, oh my god, you are now under pressure to respond the way we expect!

Reposted by Melissa Sweet

Quite a few people in the opposition and media forgetting just how fragile is a civil society.

Reposted by Melissa Sweet

RANZCP: Australian and New Zealand governments must take a careful, clinically grounded approach to decisions about puberty blockers, with the mental and physical health of children and adolescents placed at the centre of all policy and service decisions.

The AMA NT rejects the NT government ban on puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones for under 18s, saying it has been made on the basis of politics and not science

“Policies that strengthen independent news organizations, bolster local journalism, fund public media, and prohibit the concentration of media power in too few hands are not only possible – they are necessary for a functioning democracy.”

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The tug-of-war over CNN shows how dysfunctional US media has become | Margaret Sullivan
The network’s fate has become a battle of corporate ownership, not a question of what benefits Americans
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Minns’ outrageous rhetoric on peaceful protests sows division in our community. It’s unbecoming of his office

www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
The NSW premier’s outrageous rhetoric on peaceful protests sows division in our community. It’s unbecoming of his office | Timothy Roberts
The antisemitic attack in Bondi was an act of hate-fuelled violence. Rushing through regressive laws in such distressing times is poor leadership – and dangerous
www.theguardian.com

Recommendations for your summer reading, listening and watching – Croakey Health Media
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Thanks to all who contributed, to this compilation and throughout the year
Recommendations for your summer reading, listening and watching
The Croakey team are taking a summer break. This article leads our final proper Croakey News bulletin for 2025, and
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As Federal and NSW Governments move on gun control, what more could be done? – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/as-federal-a...
By Stephen Bendle
As Federal and NSW Governments move on gun control, what more could be done?
Introduction by Croakey: The Albanese Government will establish a National Gun Buyback Scheme for surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms
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Amid Federal Government announcements, trauma expert calls for “visible, tangible solidarity” with the Jewish community – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/amid-federal...

By STARTTS CEO Jorge Aroche
Amid Federal Government announcements, trauma expert calls for “visible, tangible solidarity” with the Jewish commun
Introduction by Croakey: The Federal and New South Wales Governments have declared Sunday, 21 December as a Day of Reflection
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Reposted by Mark Petticrew

Moving beyond individual choice: why public health language matters – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/moving-beyon...
By Mark Robinson, Mark Chenery and James Smith
Moving beyond individual choice: why public health language matters
Introduction by Croakey: As we head into the season for New Year's resolutions, we will begin to see advertising, media
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Put health, communities and the environment at heart of food security strategy, Federal Government urged – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/put-health-c...
By Emma-Kate Rose, Jade Miles, Kelly McJannett, Michelle Gortan, and Serenity Hill
Put health, communities and the environment at heart of food security strategy, Federal Government urged
Introduction by Croakey: As we reported recently, many experts have signed an open letter to the Australian Government expressing strong
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A safe news and information environment: what will it take? – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/a-safe-news-...

#HEAL2025
A safe news and information environment: what will it take?
Following the mass shootings at Bondi Beach on 14 December, many media organisations have reported on the spread of related
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The mid-year budget update – and what it means for health and aged care – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/the-mid-year...

By @charlesmk.bsky.social
The mid-year budget update – and what it means for health and aged care
Charles Maskell-Knight writes: Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher released the 2025 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook
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An urgent call for government investment in place-based climate adaptation – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/an-urgent-ca...

By Dr Ned Bible, NT Climate Justice Project Officer for the Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places.
www.croakey.org

The Health Wrap: rise of pseudoscience, key safety and quality concerns, data gaps – and more great adventures – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/the-health-w...
The Health Wrap: rise of pseudoscience, key safety and quality concerns, data gaps – and more great adventures
The unintended consequences of whole-body scanning for heathy people, an examination of Indigenous health checks, innovation in healthcare, and the
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Reposted by Melissa Sweet

Weighing up the evidence and ethics on shaken baby syndrome – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/weighing-up-...
By Dr Kerry Breen AO and Dr Stephen Cordner AM.
Weighing up the evidence and ethics on shaken baby syndrome
Introduction by Croakey: Action is needed to address ethical issues surrounding the medical diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome, particularly when
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Social media companies allow antisemitic hate to flow ‘unchecked’, Australia’s race discrimination commissioner says

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Social media companies allow antisemitic hate to flow ‘unchecked’, Australia’s race discrimination commissioner says
Giridharan Sivaraman warns of a surge of racially motivated violence in wake of Bondi shooting, saying ‘it’s going to get worse before it gets better’
www.theguardian.com

The mid-year budget update – and what it means for health and aged care – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/the-mid-year...
By @charlesmk.bsky.social
#AusPol
#HealthMatters
The mid-year budget update – and what it means for health and aged care
Charles Maskell-Knight writes: Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher released the 2025 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook
www.croakey.org

Walanmarra – an exhibition not to miss – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/walanmarra-a...
By the multi-talented Prof Megan Williams
Walanmarra – an exhibition not to miss
Introduction by Croakey: An art exhibition titled Walanmarra or ‘strong’, on Dabee Wiradjuri Country at Kandos in New South Wales,
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