Alison Branley

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Conor Duffy |Alison Branley

Bethan Reece enrolled her daughter Ada in child care when she was four months' pregnant, but it would take two more years before she secured a place. Bethan and Ada live in Alice Springs, one of the many "childcare deserts" around Australia. When Ada finally got a place at 18 months old, Bethan was only offered one day a week. Bethan works in early childhood education. But without enough child care herself, she was forced to quit her job.

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Alison Branley

A NSW Police officer has been told he can keep his job, despite pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death. Sergeant Justone Wong was convicted in July over a fatal crash in 2022 which killed a 76-year-old bus driver in Sydney's west. The Greens have called for an independent NSW Police regulator with greater powers and funding, while the NSW Coroner is investigating the death. A NSW Police officer convicted over a fatal crash in Western Sydney in 2022 will be allowed to keep his job.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Alison Branley

You've probably heard a lot about something called the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) this week. It's been in the news because both sides of parliament announced they'll drop the cost of PBS medication to $25. There have also been fears that the United States will impose tariffs on Australian pharmaceuticals because US pharmaceutical giants dislike that the PBS sometimes subsidises cheaper generic medicines, rather than more expensive brand-name ones.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Alison Branley

For mother-of-three Kimberley Grima, the costs of specialist fees quickly add up. Ms Grima has had to defer medical appointments and scans because her family simply couldn't afford to pay. She's one of many patients questioning why a proposed $8.5 billion injection into GP services over four years hasn't been matched with a similar investment in specialist care.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Alison Branley

Patient groups are calling for any funding injection into Medicare to relieve specialists' fees. Both sides of politics have promised an eight point five billion dollar increase to help GP bulk billing ratesBut figures show it's at the specialists office where patients are really feeling the pinch.