The Briefing

At 8:30am today, Woolworths announced its CEO Brad Banducci is retiring after eight years in the top job. Woolworths announced to the stock market that Banducci will be retiring in September, to make way for the company’s head of loyalty, Amanda Bardwell. It comes after Balducci's disastrous interview on the ABC’s Four Corners on Monday night. So was this change due to Banducci's conduct in the interview, or was this plan already in the works? And can a change in leadership stem the PR bleeding for Woolworths, which, much like Coles and Qantas, has nosedived in recent months? On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert chats with Tim Burrowes - one of the country’s top media and PR analysts and author of the popular newsletter UnMade - to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmacists are being given more power to give and refill prescriptions. It comes as more and more GPs opt out of bulk billing and a doctor shortage in regional areas mean it’s more difficult to see a doctor. So where are the trials and what types of medications can you get without having to see a GP? We’ll hear frome the Australian Medical Association, someone involved in the NSW/ACT Pharmacy Trial, and look at where those trials are at the moment, if they’re being considered successful and if they really will take the pressure of GPs. Headlines: Assange facing last appeal against US extradition US vetoes Gaza ceasefire resolution at the UN Triple murder takes place in Sydney Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney is currently dealing with a widespread asbestos-contaminated mulch investigation, with 45 locations - including potentially six schools - contaminated with bonded asbestos that was mixed in with garden mulch. Since investigation into the mulch began, most identified sites have been found with the much lower risk bonded asbestos, while two have been found to include friable asbestos, which poses a much greater health risk to the community. So how did this happen, and is the rest of the country at risk? And could this current situation in NSW lead to greater control of asbestos nationally moving forward? On today's episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with LiSTNR journalist Tessa Randello, who has been following the recent crisis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of people charged with human trafficking in Australian Federal Police is growing year on year. We’re talking about forced marriage, sexual exploitation, child trafficking, forced labour, domestic servitude and even slavery. In this episode of the Briefing, we’re joined by Justine Nolan is a Professor in the Faculty of Law and Justice at UNSW Sydney and Director of the Australian Human Rights Institute, to take a deep dive on what constitutes human trafficking and why, despite increased awareness, it keeps growing year on year Headlines: Alexei Navalny's widow vows to keep fighting for a free Russia Labor senator backs drug and alcohol testing for politicians Woman goes into labour at Taylor Swift's concert Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The man many considered Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most powerful critic, Alexie Navalny, is dead. His death comes after a highly publicised assassination attempt a few years ago, when it's believed Russian secret services tried to kill him by putting the deadly nerve agent Novichok into his underpants. Incredibly, Navalny survived that assassination attempt. However, instead of remaining safe in exile overseas like many of the country’s opposition figures, he returned to Russia, where he was quickly arrested and sent to prison. So who was Alexie Navalny, and why was it now that Putin has supposedly had him killed? And what does this mean for the pro-democracy movement in Russia moving forward? On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Russian politics specialist from La Trobe University, Dr Robert Horvath, to learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are 450,000 Australians living with Dementia. Our parents or grandparents drift away from us as the disease takes hold. So are we doing enough to manage the crisis? Closed wards, limited interactions with the outside world, a long list of medications, in some cases restraints, doesn’t sound like the way we’d like to see our loved ones treated. In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by Maree McCabe, the CEO of Dementia Australia, to try to find out what can be done for our family and friends as the number of Australians with Dementia escalates. Headlines: Anthony Albanese blames Putin for Navalny's death Around 40 suspected asylum seekers transported to Nauru Sydney's asbestos problem grows Taylor Swift wraps up her Melbourne shows Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Armstrong is a proud Gamilaroi man and former AFL player, turned TV presenter, podcaster and two time Logie winner. With his moustache and cheeky smile all over our screens as the sports presenter on ABCTV News Breakfast and a regular on the project, Tony seems to have it all. In this chat with Tom Tilley, Tony unpacks his relationship with Adam Goodes, how he feels since the Voice referendum and why hard work doesn’t always pay off. Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Azure Antoinette is a Grammy nominated poet, a corporate crisis fixer, a public speaker and a global ambassador for living with multiple sclerosis. Azure moved to left LA and arrived on Australian shores a few years ago, both for love, and because of threats from the Ku Klux Klan which drove her from home. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Azure breaks down what it’s like being the co-host of a new podcast, The Antoinettes, with our very own Antoinette Lattouf. Weekend List: Bogan San Choy Bao Dance class at your gym or at home with MadFit on Youtube Taylor Elyse Tomlinson Netflix specials Dance Life on Amazon Prime Send us your Weekend List suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylor Swift is the talk of the town, with the icon shortly kicking off her leg of the Australian Eras Tour show tonight in Melbourne. The hype is real, with Swifties creating palpable levels of excitement right across the country. So why have we become so caught up in Swiftmania? And in a broader sense, why do fan girls cop more criticism than sports fans, who are often just as passionate? On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with LiSTNR journalist Loren Howarth, who has deep-dived into our cultural criticism of music fans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Measles is making a comeback. Here’s what you need to know. Australia was declared Measles-free ten years ago, but a resurgence in cases, largely from people visiting from overseas, has seen it return. It’s not just a itchy rash, either. It can lead to very serious health problems. So in this episode of The Briefing, how and why has Measles returned to Australia and what you need to know to stay safe. Headlines: Judge lists first Trump criminal trial for next month Politicians call for HECS overhaul Israeli army storms Gaza’s main hospital Britain slides into recession ahead of election Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tasmania, currently the last Liberal government in the country, will head to an election more than a year earlier than planned. Yesterday, Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced that Tasmanians will vote on March 23rd, amidst claims that the parliament has become unworkable after two former Liberal MPs ditched the party and won’t agree to pass legislation. On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Tessa Randello from the Listnr newsroom joins Bension Siebert to discuss how the party in power for the last 10 years ended up in a minority, and the impact this result could have on the rest of the country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gen Z or a Millennial? You’ve probably been told you’re more likely to vote toward the left of the political spectrum, only to drift further right as you get older. Well new research suggests that’s not actually the case. Gen Z and Millennials are sticking with the left. They’re deciding things like LGBTQI+ issues, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, wider gender issues and climate change, are really important and they expect their politicians to think the same. In this episode of the Briefing, we’re joined by Shaun Ratcliff, a political scientist, lecturer at Sydney University and data scientist at the political research firm Accent Research. We pose the question, why are Gen Z and Millennials bucking the trend in their political persuasions? Headlines: Victorian disaster payments 200 million Indonesians voted in the world's largest single-day election Tasmanian election campaign kicks off a year early Taylor Swift has touched down in Australia Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Valentine’s Day for most usually means overpriced chocolates, flowers, presents (and maybe even sex). But Chanel Contos says it's also a particularly good time to talk about consent, and how to keep it front and centre in our intimate relationships. The pressure surrounding Valentine’s Day can be overwhelming, with partners seeking consent often forgotten about or assumed. Is there a larger conversation needed about how we view and educate others about consent as a society? In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Chanel Contos from Teach Us Consent to learn more about consent and her partnership with the condom brand, Lifestyle, to help share the message of consent this Valentine’s Day. If you need support, contact the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or check out their website for resources. To find out more about Teach Us Consent: Website Instagram To find out more about their partnership with LifeStyles: Website (Let's Talk Consent) Instagram Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re all recycling, buying electric cars, taking paper and recycled bags to the supermarket, but do our climate change actions really move the needle on global warming? There are anti-global warmists who say renewable energy is a myth, you achieve nothing by recycling your bottles and cans, and putting your paper in the paper bin is a waste of time. Are they right...? In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by Amanda McKenzie, the CEO of Climate Council to find the truth in the debate over whether your and my climate action really makes a difference in the grand scheme of things. Headlines: Victorian storms and fires Israeli ceasefire talks back underway Taylor tix hacked Don’t swim with diarrhea 💩 Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong to Russia systematically doping its Olympic athletes, there has been no shortage of drug cheating scandals in the world of sport. But what if we throw out the rule book, letting athletes push their bodies to the maximum possible performance - using whatever drugs they want? Aron D'Souza is the president of the proposed Enhanced Games, an elite international sporting event without drug testing being planned to take place later this year. While he says the event would have strenuous health testing to keep athletes safe, many experts have countered that the games put athletes at serious risk. On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Aron D'Souza to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climate change is having an incredible impact on the continent of Antarctica. Historic drops in sea ice are accelerating the melt of ice sheets and the slowing of ocean currents, as well as catastrophic failures of emperor penguin colonies. A deteriorating climate in Antarctica will have a devastating impact on Australia. In this episode of the Briefing, we’re joined by Professor Matt King, an Antarctic expert at the University of Tasmania, and Director of the Australian Centre of Excellence in Antarctic Science. We find out how Antarctica’s climate crisis will impact Australia. Headlines: Two Israeli hostages freed from Gaza have been reunited with their families A catastrophic fire danger warning has been issued in Victoria Joe Biden wins the Superbowl Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you see the video and memes over the weekend of Nationals MP and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce lying down next to a planter box on a Canberra footpath at night, swearing loudly into his phone? Since the video surfaced, Barnaby Joyce has said he’d been "drinking" and was on "prescription medication" at the time. However, the incident raises a question on the expectations we place on our politicians and whether they are different for different people. On this afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Sean Kelly, a columnist with the Nine Newspapers and former advisor to prime ministers Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has a dire shortage of apprentices. Some say it’s because of low pay and physically demanding work. Others argue Generation Z is simply too lazy or soft. Advocates want more subsidies and investment to boost the workforce. But some young apprentices have reported toxic workplaces and hazing. Meanwhile, older tradies are struggling amid a surplus of work and drought of young workers. So how did we get into this mess – and how can we fix it? ACTU assistant secretary Liam O’Brien joins us in today’s deep dive. Headlines: Barnaby Joyce won’t be at a scheduled Nationals party meeting today Donald Trump says he would encourage Russia to attack NATO countries A third of Aussie kids can’t read 58th Superbowl is on today Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Josh Thomas became a house hold name after his series Please Like Me was nominated for an Emmy, hitting the global stage. The Aussie comedian has spent the last seven years living in LA - but has decided it’s time to come back home. In this chat with Tom Tilley, Josh unpacks his new stand up comedy show, Let’s Tidy Up, about his ADHD, autism and how that turns into a messy house. Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ellie Cole is Australia's most decorated female Paralympian, but that’s not what bought her happiness. When Ellie claimed her seventeenth Paralympic swimming medal in Tokyo she made history. And this year she was just recognised in Australia Day honours. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Ellie explains how she found true happiness once she stopped swimming. Weekend List: Fly screens from Bunnings Uno card game Secrets we keep: Nest of Traitors season 2 Lounder Milk on Netflix Send us your Weekend List suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Supreme Court has a massive decision to make – whether to kick Donald Trump off the ballot in the 2024 election. It follows a decision of Colorado’s top court that Trump is ineligible to be on the ballot in that state. But should a court strip voters of their right to choose the next President of the United States? Dave Levinthal is Editor-in-Chief of Raw Story. He joins Bension Siebert from Washington D.C. to tell us what happened in the Supreme Court overnight and what it might mean for the US going forward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dog-loving world went into meltdown recently, with the announcement of a brand new drug to help increase the life expectancy of large-breed dogs. The company behind it, Loyal is on the path to getting conditional approval from the US FDA for the drug and has also just kicked off a new study for a pill that’d see our smaller four-legged friends live longer, too. So how soon can we expect to see these treatments available? And what are the ethical issues surrounding such a pill? On today’s episode of The Briefing, we chat with Brennen McKenzie, the Director of Veterinary Medicine at Loyal. Headlines: Labor is going to have to re-work its right to disconnect legislation Global warming exceeds 1.5c level Live export update Paris medals to have Eiffel Tower in them Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you seen the #legginglegs hashtag that was circulating on TikTok and Instagram? The trend saw female influencers posting videos of themselves wearing leggings, with the subtext promoting the idea that you need slim legs to do so. It quickly saw backlash over concerns that it could lead girls towards unhealthy eating or exercise behaviours, even leading to intervention from TikTok itself, now when you search for #legginglegs you'll be directed to Butterfly Foundation resources). So why do we keep seeing these diet culture trends repackaged? Are we getting any better at calling them out? And should we be striving for body neutrality instead of comparing ourselves to endless online trends? On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert is joined by LiSTNR journalist Micaela Savage to explain the #legginglegs trend. Help is always available. If you need support with an eating disorder, or have body image concerns, you can call Butterfly’s National Helpline on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673), or head to www.butterfly.org.au for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylor Swift is a global superstar. She’s sold over 200 million records and is the highest-grossing female touring artist of all time. And now she’s the subject of a MAGA conspiracy. Donald Trump supporters are spreading the theory Taylor Swift is working with the Democrats to ensure Joe Biden is re-elected at the November US presidential elections. AND they’re going so far as to say her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, the NFL itself, AND the Pentagon are also part of the wild conspiracies. In this episode of the Briefing, we’re joined by Matt Harris, an associate professor of political science at Park University in the United States to learn how and why Tay Tay is driving the MAGA community to invent these wild theories. Headlines: Workers will be given the ‘right to disconnect’ after hours from their bosses Hamas proposes truce deal Earth Aid Live Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How often do you work outside of your paid hours? Are you checking emails, or Teams messages, or taking phone calls when you could be spending that time with loved ones? The Government is looking at giving you the 'right to disconnect', as federal parliament kicks off for 2024 this week. If successful, the new law could mean you get the right to switch off your devices, and refuse to engage with work altogether, out of hours. Greens Senator Barbara Pocock has been pushing for the right to disconnect for a long time. On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Senator Pocock, as well as employment lawyer Natalie Gaspar, over how the proposed changes would work, and how our lives might change if the law passes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Albanese government’s tax plan will see Australian women taxpayers, on average, receive a tax cut of $1,649 from 1 July. Childcare workers, disability carers and aged care workers are some of the most likely to benefit. In this episode of The Briefing we’re joined by Minister for Women Katy Gallagher to find out how the tax cuts will work and what they mean for you. Headlines: US court rules Donald Trump does not have presidential immunity Prince Harry returns home to visit King Charles 'Right to switch off’ Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

News broke this morning that King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer, with an official release from Buckingham Palace stating that while he "remains wholly positive about his treatment", he will be stepping away from his public-facing duties. Despite the high hopes for the monarch’s future health, the situation has raised concerns over Australia’s lack of regency laws – which cover what happens if the reigning monarch becomes incapacitated. On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with former Independent Senator Rex Patrick to find out the impacts of our lack of regency laws and what it could mean in the unfortunate event that Charles could no longer rule.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16,000 sheep and cattle have been stranded on a ship off the coast of WA for just over a month. The livestock were being exported to the Middle East but the ship was turned back because of the conflict in the Red Sea. Several hundred head of cattle disembarked over the weekend – when temperatures hit the mid-30s. But there are still thousands of animals stranded at sea. In this episode of the Briefing, we take a look at why the live export trade, which is agonisingly cruel to the livestock, is still allowed to occur. Headlines: King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer. Yang Hengjun sentenced to death in China Coalition to support tax cuts Taylor Swift at the Grammys Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of people marched down the streets of St Kilda, south of Melbourne, yesterday for the annual Victorian LGBTQIA+ pride march at Midsumma festival. Queer and ally police officers were among the marchers, joining the celebration when about 50 people tried to block the officers’ way. Some of them were chanting ‘cops kill gays’ and there were banners that read ‘no cops at pride’, with outward aggression from both sides. The conflict has sparked debate over whether police officers should be permitted in pride marches while in uniform. Diane Minnis is a 78er - which means she was at the very first Mardi Gras march in Sydney in 1978, where many queer people were violently thrown into police vehicles and arrested. On today's afternoon edition of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Diane about her history, what happened over the weekend, and how to build a better future between the queer community and law enforcement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Evergrande used to be a market giant, and now it's become the poster child of the bust. It received a liquidation order from a Hong Kong court on Monday two years after officially defaulting on public debt. Its collapse is the largest in a crisis that's dragged down China's economic growth and led to a record number of defaults by developers. What is this firm, who is it run by and how did Evergrande become the most significant domino in this event? In this episode of The Briefing we speak with economist Richard Holden to find out, and ask what the implications are for the Australian economy. Headlines: Fuel efficiency standards for Australian cars US strikes continue Protesters target Police at Melbourne’s Midsumma Pride March Russian cosmonaut sets a record for the longest time spent in space Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caleb Finn was named the 2nd most influential Australian on social media in 2022, known for his avant-garde, dress-ups, and short horror stories. He has nearly 16 million followers on TikTok and 800k on Instagram. And yet he describes himself as an introvert and doesn’t like to leave the house. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf Caleb explains how long it takes him to create content and how it’s changed since having a baby. Weekend List: Wicked the musical Aldi insulated tumbler with straw Going to your local library Listeners recommendations! Keep them coming Send us your Weekend List suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Medicare is 40 years old this month, and the little green card is now a ubiquitous presence in our wallets and on our phones. It has become a point of pride for Australians - especially those of us who have ventured over to the United States. But that wasn’t always the case. The birth of Medicare was fraught; with its first iteration, Medibank, finding a very controversial reception by the public when it was first introduced by Gough Whitlam. In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Kees Van Gool, a professor of health systems and policy at the University of Sydney, about how it all came together, and what still needs to be improved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up to 80 percent of new years resolutions fail by the end of January. So what is our obsession with starting fresh in the new year? Dr Gordon Spence from the University of Sydney sits down with Sacha Barber Gatt to reveal what tools you can use to help change your habits and why so many people become unstuck. Headlines: US to launch air strikes on Iran-backed militia group AEC releases the who's who of political donations Universal music has been taken off TikTok Chinese spy pigeon is set free by Indian authorities Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many Australians, Indian food equals butter chicken. It’s delicious and creamy and it’s incredibly popular here and across the world. But it hasn’t been around forever – in fact, it’s less than 100 years old. And now, a fight over exactly who invented butter chicken and when has erupted in India’s high court, with two families - and two restaurants - battling it out for bragging rights. On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert is joined by Delhi chef and food writer, Sadaf Hussain, to hear more about what's been going on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest series in the Secrets We Keep podcast is called “Nest of Traitors” and follows LiSTNR journalist Joey Watson’s three-year journey to find the spy who betrayed Australia. During the Cold War an Australian spy turned to work for the enemy, providing intel to the KGB and potentially sabotaging ASIO from the inside. In this episode of The Briefing, Joey Watson sits down with Sacha Barbour Gatt to talk through his journey into a world of deception Headlines: Tech firms face US Senate hearing Millions of songs are being pulled from Tiktok States fight for more school funding Medicare is turning 40 today Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us try to do the right thing with recycling. We sort our rubbish into plastics, cardboard and paper, and our landfill waste, in the hope we’re saving the planet. But there have been reports of recyclable waste ending up in landfill, or even being shipped overseas for processing (that’s quite a carbon footprint). So The Briefing team decided to do our own experiment, placing trackable AirTags into plastic bottles at locations across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Central Coast to see where they ended up. On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with LiSTNR Investigations Editor, Clair Weaver, to unpack what was found. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is trying to pass a bill that would allow the UK to deport refugees, asylum seekers and illegal immigrants to Rwanda. The inspiration for the idea has come from Australia and our use of third-party countries like Nauru to deal with illegal immigrants. The policy is extremely controversial, it was initially launched by Boris Johnson in April 2022, and was then struck down by the Supreme Court over safety concerns. Bension Siebert is joined by Jill Rutter, Director of Strategy and Relationships at the UK think tank British Future, to explain the bill. Headlines: December retail spending dips US President has decided on response after soldier deaths New Zealand is banning PFAS in make up products Channel Nine apologises after altering politician image Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While a neo-Nazi demonstration was shut down in Sydney over the Australia Day long weekend, this isn't the only time that white supremacist groups have made the news recently. Last month a group of masked men marched through Ballarat chanting that 'Australia is for the white man', while earlier last year, about 30 men repeatedly performed the Nazi salute during an anti-trans rally. So how worried should you be about neo-Nazism in Australia? Nick McKenzie is one of Australia's most renowned investigative journalists, with an extensive knowledge of how white supremacist groups operate in Australia. On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert is joined by Nick to find out more about the current situation and the threat that they pose. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A ship called The Serenade of the Seas has embarked on a nine-month cruise, visiting more than 60 countries across all seven continents. It's being hailed as the world's longest cruise, and it gained notoriety when passengers began posting on TikTok - and it's now gone completely viral. In this episode of The Briefing, we're joined by Christian Hull, comedian, YouTuber and host of the Complete Drivel podcast here at LiSTNR, to find out why the cruise is taking the world by storm. Headlines: New poll shows what we think of Albanese's tax cuts Rental listings drop to record low Another La Nina event possible this year King Charles and Princess Kate leave hospital Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The potential for artificial intelligence is indisputable. Though it has just been over a year since Chat GPT launched, now over 100 million people use the site weekly. But how far could the technology go? Could AI accurately predict the future? Some Danish researchers believe that it already can. In a published study, they've taken the principles of large language models, like Chat GPT, and applied it to data of Denmark's 6 million people, predicting with 78% accuracy aspects such as personality and behaviour, and even the likelihood of death within a given timeframe. In today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with lead author and researcher, Professor Sune Lehmann, about what the study found, and what it could mean for the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With annual fees pushing $50,000 at Australia's costliest elite private schools in 2024, it's time to look at what the data says on student performance in the big private vs public school debate. Is it actually worth sending a child to private school? What do they get for that eye-watering amount? Or is public education a better option, even if they don't have the fancy tennis courts and plunge pool? In this episode of The Briefing, authors David Gillespie and Jane Caro reveal what the evidence tells us on what factors actually matter in getting the best education for a child in Australia today. Headlines: Jannick Sinner wins Aus Open First US service men killed in Gaza Neo-nazis warned they could be unmasked Activists throw soup at Mona Lisa Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tina Rahimi is one of the 12 boxers who have been selected to represent Australia at the Paris Olympics this year. She’s already made history without stepping into the ring. The Sydney sider is our first female Muslim boxer to make it to the Olympics. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf Tina explains how she went from a makeup artist to boxer in a few years, going on to win a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games. Weekend List: Dubai Bling on Netflix SBS on Demand Always Was, Always Will Be Love on the spectrum season 2 on Netflix Send us your Weekend List suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does January 26 really mean to ordinary Australians in 2024? Yevheniia Cherkasova found safety in Melbourne after she fled the war in Ukraine with her now-16-year-old sister, making a home here for almost two years. Jeffrey 'Yello' Simon-Ullungurra grew up on the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin. He’s been looking for new ways to reconcile First Nations and Australian identities, and how to help his country heal. Michael Kheirallah witnessed a dramatic change in his Lebanese migrant community this year, as they process feelings of regret over the Voice referendum, and fear over war in the Middle East. Speaking with Bension Siebert, they each reflect on what Australia Day means to them in 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year’s Australia Day comes after the defeat of the indigenous Voice to parliament last year - and the decision by a number of big retailers to stop stocking Australia Day merchandise. The question for many Australian’s over whether we should be celebrating on January 26 is still in debate. In this episode of The Briefing, ANU’s Frank Bongiorno speaks with us about Australia Day’s difficult history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many ways in Australia to have children if you can’t physically procreate. You can foster or look into adoption - or you can find a surrogate. In Australia, it’s illegal to pay someone to carry a child for you – but nothing is stopping you from paying someone overseas. However, surrogacy isn't without contention or is an easy road - just this month the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, described surrogacy as 'deplorable'. Luke O’Halloran and Scott O’Halloran, otherwise known as Luke and Sassy Scott, are brothers with a massive public profile, with their podcast and TikTok presence amassing a plethora of fans here and overseas. Last year Scott and his partner Marcus decided to become parents via international surrogacy. On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert sits down with Luke and Sassy Scott to find out firsthand about the experience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our chat with Nicky Bentham, an Australian movie producer living and working in London. Nicky’s been nominated for an Academy Award for her work producing the short film ‘The After’. In this episode of The Briefing, we talk with Nicky about what it’s like to get the call to say you’re nominated, what it means for her career, and what she expects to happen on the big night. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We stare into the crystal ball to see what's in cryptocurrency's future in 2024. Last year saw the notorious high-profile crypto court cases involving Sam Bankman-Fried and Changpeng Zhao. But despite the downfall of two of the currency's biggest players, crypto ended the year 160 percent up on 2022. In this episode of The Briefing, we're joined by Dr Dimitrios Salampasis, a financial technologies expert from Swinburne University, to find out what's in store for crypto in 2024. Headlines: Changes to stage three tax cuts Cyclone Kirrily set to make landfall IVF could save the northern white rhino Steve Smith joins call to "change the date" Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 will be the largest single election year in human history, with voters representing more than 40 per cent of the world’s population going to the polls this year. Fascist, authoritarian and strong-man candidates are candidates in many of those elections – threatening no less than the future of democracy. We take democracy for granted, but democracies can actually be very fragile. On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt and Bension Siebert unpack the world’s biggest election year, and what it might mean for the future of democracy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've been online at all in the last decade, you would've seen the phrase 'do your own research' in likely hundreds of comments sections. It turns out 'doing your own research' is precisely what can lead you to believing something untrue, according to a new study from the University of Central Florida. In this episode of The Briefing we speak with lead author Kevin Aslett about why we're more likely to believe misinformation even if we try to verify it. Headlines: Scott Morrison announces retirement from politics Labor caucus meets to discuss stage three tax cuts Voting opens in New Hampshire primaries Margot Robbie snubbed in Oscars nominations Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scomo is finally calling it – the former PM announced today he will be stepping down from federal parliament. It closes a wild chapter in Australian political history. Most Australians came to know him as Immigration Minister in 2013, but Scott Morrison got the top job when he toppled Malcolm Turnbull to become Prime Minister in 2018. As PM, he came to grief over a badly timed holiday to Hawaii while much of Australia burned in the 2019-2020 bushfires. He also gained a reputation for secrecy, famously signing the massive AUKUS submarine deal with the United States and Britain, snubbing France along the way. He led the country through the COVID crisis. And finally lost the prime ministership when Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party defeated the Coalition in 2022. Bension Siebert is joined by Tom McIlroy, federal political correspondent for the Australian Financial Review, to reflect on today's news, Scott Morrison's political journey and the legacy he leaves behind.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.