Morning Edition: 19 July 2024

The Morning Edition of News Fix for 19 July 2024, straight from the Newstalk ZB newsroom - bringing you everything you need to know in news, politics, business, entertainment and sport.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Good morning, I'm never ready Manu, and this is your
morning news fix for Friday, nineteenth of July. In this update,
it's said to get more expensive to go to the doctor.
Health new Zealand will implement a four percent increase in
court general practice funding via a compulsory variation to payments
after the sector rejected the offer. General Practice chair Brian

(00:26):
Betty says the sector doesn't feel this increases enough to
cover increased costs from the past year, and he says
this only leaves practices with one option.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
The money that the government gives true capitation doesn't fully
compensate for the cost of delivering SKIP, so patient fees
will probably have to increase by about seven point seven percent.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
Health new Zealand says it understands the cost pressures clinics
are facing. Job ads continue to decline as unemployment rises.
SEEK data shows the number of job ads dropped by
eight percent in June and by twenty five percent year
on year, and not surprisingly, the number of kiwis living
on the benefit is expected to continue rising. Social Development

(01:08):
Ministry figures show those on welfare have reached a new record,
with more than three hundred and eighty thousand people in
the June quarter, up eight point three percent annually. Sanctions
are also up. Council of Trade Union's economist Craig Rennie
told Ryan Bridge this isn't going to stop anytime soon.

Speaker 2 (01:25):
Treasury forecasts that the number of people who were unemployed
will rise by about forty seven thousand since the discuipment
has taken office because of the changing economic background.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation says it's surprised and concerned
about cuts to excise tax on heated tobacco products. Associate
Health Minister Casey Costello says reducing the tax is unprecedented
and she's calling the move a trial. Foundation medical director
Bob Hancock says, while likely not as harmful as cigarettes,
there's no proof the heated tobacco products are safe. It's

(01:58):
one year since the disappearance of christ Church real estate
agent Yan Fei Bao. A search was launched after the
forty four year old failed to pick up her nine
year old daughter from after school care ting. Jhun Kao
will stand trial for her murder in October. Although Bao's
body has yet to be found, Emily Ansel has more.

Speaker 3 (02:17):
Last year, search teams focused their efforts on the Hallswill
River and Lake Ellesmere. Detective Inspector Nikola Reeves has confirmed
they are still looking, including one recent effort which saw
them return to the Green Park area. Reeves said they
still haven't found items which were part of a public
appeal last year, including clothing, handbag contents and a shovel.

Speaker 1 (02:38):
Wonica locals aren't mcloven the idea of McDonald's opening in
the town. The first public submissions to the Queenstown Lakes
District Council showed the majority opposed plans for the restaurant
next to the new Mount Iron Roundabout. Auckland University planning
expert Bill McKay se is how people feel about McDonald's
doesn't come into it.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
Basically, the only basis is the effects on the environment,
not public sentiment.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
In sport, a humbling outing for many of the world's
top golfers in the Open Championship first round at Royal
True Limit and Medley of Weather, Justin Thomas as the
clubhouse leader, shooting at three hunder pass sixty eight. Victor
by name and actions on Stage eighteen of Cycling's Tour
de France, Victor Companante has conquered the one hundred and

(03:23):
seventy nine kilometers league after a three men sprint. England's
batters have enjoyed a greedy day at the crease to
open the second cricket Test against the West Indies at Nottingham.
They were dismissed for four hundred and sixteen. I'm never
retty Manu in that your latest news fix. We'll be
banked with the next update at midday from the newstalk
ZB news room.