The Briefing

Seven aid workers for the World Central Kitchen, including Australian Zomi Frankcom, are confirmed to have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Since news of the attack broke, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, conveying the country’s outrage over the death. The Israeli government says it will investigate how the deaths occurred. One of Australia's leading voices on humanitarian aid and the former head of World Vision Australia, Reverend Tim Costello, says he is devastated by the news, and that he hopes this will be a turning point in the conflict. But will already limited aid in the conflict come to a halt after this death? He joins The Briefing's Bension Siebert to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Armaguard, the cash delivery business, is going broke. No one uses cash anymore so the nation's number one cash-in-transit business is losing money. What does the collapse of Armaguard mean for Australia's cash flow? Most consumers use tap-and-go to pay for goods and services, and it means businesses like big supermarket chains simply don't have cash reserves like they used to. In this episode of The Briefing, we investigate what the Armaguard crisis tells us about the future of cash, what Australia would look like if we go cash-less and what is thefuture of cash in Australia? Headlines: Albanese demands meeting with Netanyahu over aid killings in Gaza Channel Ten wins bid to reopen Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial NASA investigating after chunk of metal from ISS rips through Florida home Taylor Swift is listed on the billionaire rich list for the first time Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Late last month, Richard Slayman became the first person in history to successfully undergo an organ transplantation of a genetically modified pig kidney. While human-to-animal transplant, or xenotransplantation, isn't new (heart valves from horses, cows and pigs having been used for over 30 years), cases of entire organ transplants are incredibly complex, while raising a host of other ethical and health concerns. So how significant is the recent pig kidney transplant, where are we at with this science, and could this one day be our go-to solution for those in desperate need of an organ transplant? To explain the science of xenotransplantation, Bension Siebert is joined by Wayne Hawthorne, professor of transplantation at the University of Sydney.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reddit has gone public, making its debut on the New York stock exchange. Its value made it over $9b. Reddit is one of the world’s most popular websites, with 73 million unique active visitors a day—and can engage in over 100,000 forums. Going public could majorly change the platform though, with everything from ads through to how Reddit forums are moderated likely to be put under the microscope. In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with James Hennessy to find out what this IPO means for the future of the website. Headlines: Australia could become a dumping ground for nuclear waste under AUKUS deal IDF ends 14-day Al Shifa Hospital siege in Gaza amid protests in Israel against Netanyahu New evidence could be heard in Lehrmann defamation case Round up of the best April Fool's pranks Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Though Beyoncé has claimed that Cowboy Carter is a 'Beyoncé album', rather than 'a country album', it's a release that definitely dips into the genre. And country music has a complex relationship with Black musicians - a few years back, Lil Nas X faced a heavy backlash from Old Town Road, which was scrapped from Billboard's country chart, triggering criticism that the reason was in part racially motivated. Yet over the last few years, country has seen a massive boom in its widespread popularity, with many large-name artists delving into the sound. So what can we expect next, and why is it significant that Black artists are making music in the space? In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with LiSTNR journalist Loren Howarth to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you have thousands of emails in your inbox, or are you an Inbox Zero type of person? A new study is looking at personal email management, and has found only half of people are happy with how they deal with their inbox. In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt talks to Matt Balogh from the University of New England about what we should be doing with our emails. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emma Chow is one half of the 14-years strong radio duo Mike E & Emma- broadcasting live every weekday nationally for their breakfast show. Emma has achieved radio queen status with her radio husband but admits that there have TMI moments throughout her career. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Emma reminisces about having one of the most unique gender reveals on air- and then copping slack for returning to work weeks after giving birth. You can hear Emma on Mike E & Emma live 6-9am Nationally on RnB Fridays Radio as well as 9am-11am on 2DayFM in Sydney! WEEKEND LIST Challengers movie Beyond Utopia documentary McoBeauty eyebrow gel House of Gods on ABC iview Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Ballard is possibly the most political comedian in Australia, with his stand up tackling issues including asylum seekers, racism, the monarchy and capitalism. His new show, Good Point Well Made, is no different. He reflects on Australia's failed voice referendum and Donald Trump- alongside a healthy dose of toilet humour. In this chat with Tom Tilley, Ballard opens up about the process of writing the show, why he loves performing, and the rise of fellow comedian and friend Hannah Gadsby. Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone’s hustling, everyone’s struggling with cost of living pressures, rents are rising, interest rates are rising. We’re exhausted, and it’s only March. We’re constantly told to look after our mental health and to support those around us who need love and care – family and friends. But how can we, when we’re at the point of burnout almost every day. In this special episode of The Briefing brought to you by Medibank, our hosts Sacha Barbour Gatt and Bension Siebert talk about why they’re feeling burnt out and what they do about it. You’ll also hear some awesome stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things and practical ways to improve your overall wellbeing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time bilbies lived all over Australia; where there was desert, there was a bilby. After the introduction of cats and foxes, the bilby’s numbers plummeted, in the 80s they were only found in a couple of tiny patches in the wild. Now their numbers are up and growing, and partly that’s thanks to the idea of the easter bilby. Chocolate bilbies appeared in shops in the 90s as an environmental alternative to the easter bunny, the idea has raised awareness and funds. In this episode of The Briefing we find out how bilbies have come back from the brink. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right now, Moshtix is in the process of refunding all of the tickets for the Splendour in the Grass festival, after the unexpected news that the event had been cancelled. Though we've seen many festivals across the country postpone or cancel their events, we've also lately seen several big concerts, with a massive demand for tickets. Often, it feels like no matter how quick you are to get onto the website, whether you actually get a ticket seems pretty random. But is it? What is actually happening in the background when we log in? Who decides who gets a ticket and why and they so goddamn expensive? On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with LiSTNR journalist Tessa Randello, to find out why we need to look closer at Australia’s ticketing industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Splendour in the Grass will not go ahead this year, and we are yet to learn the official reason. This isn’t the first time the event has been hit with difficulties. In 2022 the first day of Splendour was cancelled due to flooding, and last year saw the event far from selling out, with ticket sales down 30%. In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert spoke with Swinburne’s Event Management and Public Relations expert, Associate Professor Robert Gill to find out what his take was, and what the future could hold for Australia’s large music festival industry. Headlines: Entire countries could be blacklisted under Labor’s deportation bill Cargo ship’s black box recovered in Baltimore disaster A billion meals go to waste everyday as people go hungry Thailand to legalise same sex marriage Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About 1:30AM local time, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US city of Baltimore collapsed after being struck by a container ship. The loaded ship reportedly suffered a power issue just prior to the incident, alerting a mayday just in time to stop traffic from crossing the bridge. Tragically, eight roadworkers were still working on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Two were rescued, one body has been recovered, while searches for the remaining have been suspended until morning. Authorities have said they are presumed dead. On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with the Chair of the Insititute of Structural Engineers, Colin Caprani, about why the bridge collapsed, and whether the same could happen here in Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden have now secured their respective parties’ presidential nomination for the November US presidential election.Biden will partner with Vice President Kamala Harris for the second election in succession. But who will be Donald Trump’s running mate? Most pundits are pointing to South Dakota governor Kristi Noam.So who is she? And why is Donald Trump keeping his cards so close to his chest before naming his running mate? Headlines: Julian Assange granted legal lifeline Search underway in icy conditions after Baltimore bridge collapse Australia could move to holding federal elections every four years The iconic floating door from Titanic film sells at auction Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noland Arbaugh was paralysed from the shoulders down after a diving accident eight years ago. But now, thanks to a brain computer interface chip, he's able to play video games like Mario Kart or virtual chess simply by concentrating his mind on the screen. The chip, which is the size of a coin, was surgically implanted back in January by Elon Musk's company, Neuralink. While the company have said there are still a few problems to work through, it is incredible technology that promises to give people with severe disabilities a much better quality of life. So how does this technology work, and is it as incredible as it appears? On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert is joined by neural engineering expert, Associate Professor Sam John to explain how this works, the ethical dilemmas and how common it could be in the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia has suffered its deadliest terror attack in 20 years, after 133 people were killed and 100 were injured when gunmen opened fire at a theatre in Moscow. Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, fresh from his election win has blamed Ukraine for the attack despite a terrorist group called ISIS-K claiming responsibility. In this episode of The Briefing Bension Siebert speaks to terrorism expert Greg Barton from Deakin university about what’s going on. Headlines: UN has called for a ceasefire in Gaza for the first time Trump’s fraud bond reduced Boeing CEO steps down Rebel Wilson names Sacha Baron Cohen "massive arsehole" Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The results from Tasmania's election, which took place over the weekend, are mostly in. While Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff called the election a year early in the hopes of forming a stable majority government, he hasn't been able to secure the outcome he was hoping for. It's expected that the Liberals will hold 13-15 seats, which is more than Labor... But short of the 18 required to form a majority government. So what will this mean for Tasmania's future, and the controversial policies that have divided the island? And could this be a preview of how our next federal election could unfold? To explain what's happened, and what it means, Bension Siebert is joined by LiSTNR journalist, Tessa Randello.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know Australia has been recruited by America to produce some of its weapons?The wars in Ukraine and Gaza have stretched US capabilities to make things like artillery shells and missiles, so it’s taking advantage of our munitions factories that have room to grow. On today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Charles Edel from the Center for Strategic and International Studies about where the weapons being made in Australia are ending up and the geopolitical impacts of buying and selling devices made to kill people. Headlines: Day of mourning declared in Russia after terror attack Labor concedes defeat in Tasmanian election Royal spokesperson urges public to give Kate and William space Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Zac Seidler is a clinical psychologist, researcher and leading men’s mental health expert. With seven men across Australia dying by suicide every day- globally, an average of one man every minute- it’s his mission to create a dialogue with men, not about them, in the mental health space. In this chat with Tom Tilley, Zac opens up about how his father’s suicide shaped his career, explains why we should ditch the label “toxic masculinity”- and why men need more friends. If you are in need of help, call LIFELINE now on 13 11 14.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reuben Kaye is what happens when you tell your children they can be anything. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Reuben recalls the moment he discovered he was funny, opens up about finding humour in dark places- and explains why he stands by that controversial joke about Jesus he told on The Project last year. You can catch Reuben’s show Apocalipstik and his signature huge eyelashes at the Melbourne Comedy festival from next weekend, before he heads to Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane. WEEKEND LIST Late Night with the Devil One Day on Netflix 1Q84 The Imperfects Podcast- Social Anxiety See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are politicians so desperate for the sport vote? As Tasmania head into an election this weekend, one of the major talking points surrounds whether they really should be about to build a new AFL stadium. And this isn't the first time we've seen governments wrestle with the politics of stadia, with other states and territories similarly finding themselves similarly under fire over proposals and upgrades. So why are politicians so desperate to spend so much money on stadiums, that will only ever be used by a very small percentage of voters? Or should all states and territories have these facilities? On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Dr Hunter Fujak, a lecturer in Sport Management at Deakin University to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tasmania goes to the polls this weekend, and one of the major issues people will be voting on is whether to log or not to log the state’s forests. The coalition, who have been in power for a decade say they will ramp up the logging of Tasmania's native forests, Labor has said they will extend logging contracts to 2040, while the Greens are the only party wanting to get rid of native logging altogether. In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt talks about what’s at stake this weekend with Bob Brown, and what does Leonardo DiCaprio have to do with it? Headlines: US files landmark lawsuit against Apple Jobs surge puts doubt on rate cut Man plays chess with his mind thanks to brain chip Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been a lot of attention on Boeing recently, after a spate of inflight incidents. In January, a Boeing 737 Max on a flight from Portland to Ontario in California had its emergency door plug blow off mid-flight, while in February, pilots reported a Boeing 737 Max having jammed flight controls as the plane landed in New Jersey. And just last week, the LATAM 787 Boeing Dreamliner, flying from Sydney to New Zealand plunged midflight, injuring 50 people. After so many well-publicised safety incidents, should we still trust a Boeing plane? Or is this an overblown crisis in an industry otherwise renowned for its extremely high safety standards? One of our producers, Simon Beaton, spoke with the Head of Aviation at Central Queensland University, Professor Doug Drury, to find out what's going on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is Harmony Day when Australia celebrates its multiculturism and diversity, but did you know we’re the only country who does? It’s because Australia has a difficult relationship with what the day is actually for internationally, which is the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt delves into Australia’s murky past with Listnr investigative journalist Claudianna Blanco to find out why this is such a controversial day. Headlines: Kevin Rudd to remain as US ambassador after Trump comments Celebrities looking to include Rupert Murdoch in lawsuit against his papers Affordable housing now out of reach in all Australian eastern capitals Australia ranks 10 in the world for happiness Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, over half a million Australians saw their HECS debt grow faster than it was being repaid. Teal Independent MP Dr Monique Ryan says it’s because Australia has an unfair HECS indexation system. In fact, the government got more money last year from HECS debts than it did from its main fossil fuel tax. Dr Ryan has begun a petition calling on Education Minister Jason Clare to change the way HECS debts are indexed. In this episode of The Briefing, we hear from Dr Ryan as we investigate why it feels like you’ll never pay off your HECS debt. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, a report found that Australia offers the least amount of parental leave support to parents of multiples in the OECD. In fact, extra payments to families with multiples only account 7% of the differential costs. In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with mother of triplets, Silje Andersen-Cooke who is also the director of the Australian Multiple Birth Association to find out what has happened in the year since the report was released, and why families with multiples are so overlooked in Australia. Headlines: 2023 breaks every single climate indicator White House slams Trump’s comments on Jewish voters RBA keeps rates steady Another Kate Middleton photo under scrutiny Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Banksy is the artist behind the most famous, subversive and satirical street art on the planet. Yet despite their notoriety over the last two decades, Banksy has impressively managed to maintain their anonymity. But that could all change, due to a current court case between two art collectors and Banksy's authentication company, which could see the artist forced to reveal their identity. In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with LiSTNR Investigations Editor, Clair Weaver about the current theories on who the artist could be, and the potential ramifications of Banksy losing their anonymity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US is moving to ban TikTok after a bill passed through its House of Representatives last week. It’s given TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance about six months to divest before 150 million users face not being able to access the platform. In this episode of The Briefing Bension Siebert speaks with Crikey’s Cam Wilson about the ban, what it says about data ownership and what the implications could be for us here in Australia. Headlines: Greens to introduce bill that would break up Coles and Woolies Putin addresses crowds at Red Square after landslide election ‘win’ Qantas workers tell hearing they suffered depression after being illegally sacked Intimacy ban lifted for the Paris Games Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vladimir Putin has been re-elected as Russia’s president for the fifth time over the weekend. Before the polls even opened all serious challengers had been wiped out, with Putin’s only real opposition, Alexei Navalny dying in mysterious circumstances weeks before. In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Politico’s Zoya Sheftalovich to find out why Russia holds elections when the outcome has already been decided, and how Putin came to power in the first place. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The war between Israel and Hamas has been raging for five months, more than 30,000 people have been killed, and it’s spawned a massive refugee crisis. Currently 1.4 million Palestinians who have fled to the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt are hemmed in. So are any of Palestine’s neighbouring countries willing to accept them? And if not, why not? In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Anas Iqtait from the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at ANU about Arab countries’ role in the crisis. Headlines: Some visas reinstated for Palestinians heading to Australia Russians around the world protest election TikTok ban talks ignite in Australia Space X is building a spy satellite network for the US Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick deWitt is an award winning author, and screenwriter. In this chat with Tom Tilley, Patrick talks about his latest novel The Librarianist, and why he hopes it provides readers with an escape from the “ugly” world we live in. Patrick also reflects on his decision to leave high school to pursue his dream of becoming a writer, and explains his take on why literature and art should focus less on young people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney-based content creator Veronica B is many things, but she’s perhaps best known for her hilarious comedy skits where she plays Aunty Salma, a character she says represents “every ethnic mum”. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Veronica takes us back to the moment she invented Aunty Salma, opens up about her decade-long journey in content creation before having her breakout moment on TikTok during the pandemic- and tells us why she wishes she could be a sellout. She also chats about using humor to cope with chronic illness- having grown up with colitis and Crohn’s disease. WEEKEND LISTBroadsheet’s episode with Hannah GadsbyAldi ProseccoRunning clubsAntoinette’s episode of Abbie Chatfield’s It’s A Lot podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first ever academic study has finally been written about Salad Fingers, a video series created in 2004 that later went viral on YouTube. Salad Fingers featured a sickly green figure with lettuce leaves for hands who liked to stroke rusty spoons. The study argues Salad Fingers was a trailblazer of “weird youtube” and is still influencing internet culture today. In this episode of The Briefing, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate speaks with Jessica Balanzategui, a Senior Lecturer in Media at RMIT University, about why she thinks the series has been so influential. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a new phone-scam that’s being reported around the world, and it’s petrifying. It uses an AI generated cloned version of a loved one, who calls, claiming that there’s an emergency (often that they’ve been kidnapped and a ransom needs to be paid). They’re emotive, they’re high-quality replications, and they’re expected to hit Australians soon. So how does the scam work, and what do you need to know to ensure that you or your loved ones don’t fall victim to it? In today’s episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Toby Murray, Associate Professor of Computing and Information Systems at the University of Melbourne to find out more. Headlines: Federal government under fire for pulling Palestinian Visas Australian women died in Bali landslide EV purchases soar in Australia Space X mega rocket reaches new heights, before ending up lost Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Haiti has been all over international headlines this week, and it’s culminated in the Caribbean country’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry being forced to step down. His resignation follows weeks of mounting pressure and increasing violence. Henry is currently stranded in Puerto Rico after being prevented by armed gangs from returning home. Now the Caribbean country is looking towards creating a transitional government for the foreseeable future. In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert sits down with Australian National University's Professor Nicolas Lemay-Hebert to find out why Haiti is in such strife, and what will happen next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facebook and Instagram could soon be wiped of news content. It’s after their parent company Meta, announced it will stop paying for news content in Australia when the current deals it has expire. In the future, Meta will encourage news publishers to buy extra services to increase their own traffic, flipping the flow of funds from Meta to news publishers, rather than the other way around. The move brings into question the issue of the sustainability of news journalism in Australia. The Albanese government has said it will move to force Meta to negotiate. In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Cheek Media’s Hannah Ferguson, whose platform grew through Instagram, to talk about how she plans to deal with the change, and what she thinks the impact will be on news in Australia. Headlines: The US is one step closer to banning TikTok Two-thirds of women report bias in Australian healthcare Hot autumn ahead for Australia Clive Palmer unveils plans, again, to build the Titanic II Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1969, Leila Khaled became the world's first female aeroplane hijacker when she took control of a flight from Rome to Tel Aviv. Now, at almost 80, she remains on the national committee for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and is set to appear as a speaker at Green Left’s Ecosocialism 2024 conference in WA in June. But with her past history and her more recent activism, would she be allowed entry into Australia? Or would her name be added to the long list of other controversial figures - like Novak Djokovic, Chelsea Manning, Chris Brown, who have been banned from entering the country? In today’s episode, Bension Siebert speaks with LiSTNR Investigations Editor, Clair Weaver, about how visa decisions on controversial figures are decided.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s housing market has been in crisis for years and it only seems to be getting worse. Interest rate hikes last year have pushed many families’ budgets to the brink while renters are finding more and more of their pay cheque disappearing each month. All sides of politics have their own ideas to tackle rising rents, supply issues and soaring house prices, from assisting first home buyers to increasing the number of new builds.So is it time for a royal commission into the real estate industry and would that make a meaningful dent in fixing the housing crisis? In the final episode of this three-part series, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather to find out. Headlines: Illicit drug use in Australia soars by 17% year-on-year Andrew Tate to be extradited to the UK Gaza medics tell BBC of inhumane treatment 1 in 4 properties in NSW, Victoria and QLD were paid for in cash Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s love of an underdog is really special and unique – we're always cheering on the Aussie battler. It goes hand in hand with our belief that everyone deserves a fair go, but we’re also pretty renowned for being the first to cut down someone who might stand out. It’s called Tall Poppy Syndrome and has become synonymous with Australian culture. But why? And is it time to rethink our approach to success and standing out? On today’s episode, The Briefing host Sacha Barbour-Gatt talks to Dr Rumeet Billan, the author of 2023 study ‘The Tallest Poppy’, to find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s housing market has been in crisis for years and it only seems to be getting worse. Interest rate hikes last year have pushed many families’ budgets to the brink while renters are finding more and more of their pay cheque disappearing each month. All sides of politics have their own ideas to tackle rising rents, supply issues and soaring house prices, from assisting first home buyers to increasing the number of new builds.So is it time for a royal commission into the real estate industry and would that make a meaningful dent in fixing the housing crisis? In the second episode of this three part series, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Jordie Van Den Berg a.k.a. Purple Pingers, to find out. Headlines: Princess of Wales apologises for editing family photo Ramadan starts in Gaza without a ceasefire deal Roosters prop Spencer Leniu cops eight week ban over racial slur Oppenheimer sweeps the Oscars Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first official photo of the Princess of Wales since her abdominal surgery has been released. It shows Kate smiling while surrounded by her three children, alongside a message from the royal thanking well-wishers for their support. Within hours of its release, several global news agencies announced they were pulling the image because it had been doctored. To what extent, we’re not sure, but if the recent conspiracy theories about Kate’s wellbeing are anything to go by, this latest development will only add to the wild rumours being thrown around. But why are people so ready to engage in conspiracies? How has that changed over the years? And just how significant is this move by agencies like Reuters, AP and Getty? On today’s afternoon episode of The Briefing, we discuss these issues with Axel Bruns, a Professor for the Digital Media Research Centre at Queensland University of Technology. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The housing crisis in Australia is well documented and much debated. All sides of politics have their own ideas to tackle rising rents, supply issues and soaring house prices, from assisting first home buyers to increasing the number of new builds. But on the ground the feeling is that it’s all just kicking the can down the road, and a lot of the solutions fail to address the sometimes dodgy and underhanded tactics used by our country’s real estate agencies. So is it time for a royal commission into the real estate industry and would that make a meaningful dent in fixing the housing crisis? In the first episode of this three part series, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks to Rob Westwood, National Chairman of First National Real Estate to get his take on the housing crisis. Headlines: US military ship departs for Gaza port-building mission Suspected drug overdose death at Victorian music festival First image released of Princess Kate since surgery Oscars hit by plagiarism scandal hours before the event Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wendell Sailor represented Australia in both rugby league and rugby union at the highest level in the 90s and 2000s. Now, he spends his afternoons on the airwaves with Triple M’s Sydney drive show The Rush Hour with Gus Worland and Jude Bolton. In this chat with Tom Tilley, Wendell weighs in on the latest racism scandal in the NRL, and opens up about his own experiences with racism growing up. He also reveals what it was like finding out he’d been adopted, and explores why a two-year ban for cocaine use in 2006 was the making of him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clare Verrall was a contestant on season two of Married At First Sight - and by her description, she was “hurled into the lion’s den”. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, she shares how her experience impacted her mental health, and why she wants others to think twice before applying for reality television shows. The pair also explore her journey being diagnosed with ADHD and autism as an adult, her massive love for fostering dogs, and the Taylor Swift tattoo typo she’ll never forget.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alabama has been in a state of turmoil after a legal case had unexpected consequences by implying that frozen embryos could be interpreted as having the same rights as children. After the judgment, several IVF clinics around the state suspended services due to the fear of legal ramifications, leaving prospective parents undergoing procedures in the dark. On Thursday, legislation was passed to protect IVF providers, but has this opened the door to further debate over reproductive rights in the US? And how much of this conversation is linked to religious or political views? On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with John Sharp, a local news reporter based in Alabama.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve seen two major decisions affect the reproductive rights of women in the lead up to International Women’s Day: the decision of the Alabama Supreme Court to declare embryos created through IVF as children, and France’s move to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution. They present the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to the issue of women’s health, so where does Australia stand? On today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with the Chair of the Australian Women's Health Alliance, Bonney Corbin, to dive deeper into the reproductive rights of women in Australia. You'll hear what we’ve achieved, and what work is still needed to ensure the health, safety and respect of women’s bodies and choices. Headlines: Police allege Samantha Murphy was murdered in “deliberate act” Hamas delegates leave Cairo without a ceasefire deal AFL pays tribute to Luke Davies and Jesse Baird at season opener Debate sparked by Sam Kerr revelation Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The importation of all non-therapeutic vapes is now illegal in Australia. This means anyone wanting to import a vape into the country needs a licence to do so, and anyone wanting to buy a vape will need a prescription from their doctor. With vaping rates continuing to soar across the country, will this next step in the government's crackdown on vaping make a noticeable difference? And will the latest legislative changes push those who can't access a vape onto smoking cigarettes instead? Federal Health Minister Mark Butler joins Bension Siebert to explain why he's so focused on trying to get young people off the vapes in 2024, and why he "shares the fear" about those vaping switching back to smoking instead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PFAS are known as forever chemicals, and they're really bad for the environment - they never break down, and can spread into waterways, land, animals...and us. Research has also shown that they can be really bad for us, with high exposure also been linked to a various range of health conditions, and a higher risk of some cancers. Larry Acton has been farming cattle for over 50 years, but when he bought his property in 2021, he had no idea it was contaminated with PFAS. He's now seriously worried about his cattle drinking the groundwater, and whether that could make it into the meat, and eventually into consumers. Speaking to The Briefing, the long time cattle farmer shares his concerns, and what he thinks needs to be done about it. Headlines: Nikki Haley drops out of run for Republican presidential nomination ASEAN ends with watered down warning to China Sam Kerr’s alleged slur revealed Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Super Tuesday in the US presidential election, but the biggest day in America's primary season won't be like any other we've seen in recent history. In today's episode, Bension Siebert sits down with Planet America's Chas Licciardello to explain what Super Tuesday is, why Donald Trump looks set to wipe the floor with his closest rival, and why Americans are stuck with two unpopular old men running for President. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know there is a World Cup of Gay Rugby? Technically called The Bingham Cup, it's an international tournament for gay and inclusive rugby teams from around the world - and the next one will be in Rome this coming May. The Cup has been around for 20 years, and Australian teams are some of the most successful. The Sydney Convicts have won the competition five times! In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Ken Averre, Sydney Convicts club president to find out all about this year’s Bingham Cup. Headlines: Football Australia blindsided by Sam Kerr charge Anthony Albanese referred to the ICC as an 'accessory to genocide in Gaza' Super Tuesday gets underway in the US Queensland unions push for 10 days of reproductive health leave Jeff Bezos reclaims world’s richest person title Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.