The number of Australians ditching private healthcare is set to reach to 2.2 million, according to a new survey.
A YouGov galaxy poll found 47 per cent of people who previously had private insurance have dropped it within the past five years.
The survey comes as pressure mounts on Health Minister Greg Hunt to tackle private health care affordability. Mr Hunt is considering new reforms to the private health sector to combat premium increases. Image: Getty
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'Smoggys' pollution masks to support RFS | Sky News AustraliaFour young Australians have founded a small business known as ‘Smoggys’ which sells pollution masks featuring iconic Australian designs, with proceeds from sales going to the Rural Fire Service.\n\nThis comes as more than 80 fires burn across New South Wales with Sydney residents breathing through at least 28 days of hazardous air quality.\n\nOne of the founders Marco Del Castillo told Sky News “The idea of the mask was to deliver on two strategies: to increase donations to the RFS and to get Aussies wearing the masks themselves and protecting them from the smoke”.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia\n
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Boxing Day sales 'started off very slow' after a tough year for retailers | Sky News AustraliaRussell Zimmerman from the Australian Retailers Association predicted for Boxing Day retail sales to reach $2.5 billion and says “we’re tracking okay”.\n\nMr Zimmerman told Sky News he thought December 26 was going to be “a disaster” for retail after it “started off very slow,” but the crowds started to arrive by mid-morning. \n\nMr Zimmerman said it “absolutely” has been a tough time for retailers with an “incredibly large number of closures this year,” with brands including “Napoleon Perdis, Build-A-Bear, and Karen Millen”.\n\nImage: Getty
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