The Briefing

Today we take a look at how we’re looking after our elderly loved ones and how it all went wrong at some Nursing Homes in Australia. We speak to Liz Lane whose 85 year old mother is a patient at Newmarch House in palliative care with less than a year to live, and the moment she became really scared for her mum. We also speak to Aged Cared Advocate Ian Yates about how we might solve the visiting dilemma in aged care facilities.   In today's news headlines: Roll out of restrictions – Updates for VIC & NSW Conspiracy theorist protesters gather in Sydney & Melb Sydney mum made international headlines after arrest Economists warn Australian unemployment won’t return to pre-pandemic levels till 2024 American photographer Spencer Tunick seeking Aussies for online mass nude photo shoot   In today's Briefing we ask: What is happening at these places responsible for outbreaks? What makes aged care facilities so dangerous and how can we safely visit our grandparents? What can we do to protect the super vulnerable to the pandemic?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If someone was writing horrific abusive messages to you, would you out them? Post the message publicly with their name? ... what if they’re a child? This week Clementine Ford received an abusive message from a stranger and she posted his message online along with his photo and details. He was 14. We speak to Clementine Ford (feminist writer and commentator) and Justin Quill (M&K Lawyers).   In today's news headlines:  National cabinet’s meeting, but some states have already flagged no changes Redacted documents claim Cardinal George Pell “conscious” of clergy abusing children in the 1970s NRL players allowed to refuse vaccinations Madonna reveals she had coronavirus earlier this year   In today's Briefing we ask: Was it the right thing to do? What are some of the ethics around publicly naming and shaming children for bad behaviour? Is any of this behaviour on either side was actually against the law?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re living through a once in a century pandemic. Today we explore the mental health impact of having normal life ripped out from under you, with no promise of return. The signs to look out for, and where you can go for help if you are struggling. Our guest is Professor Ian Hickie, co-director of the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney.   Today's news headlines: Corona wrap: National cabinet reportedly considering letting 10 people gather for Mother’s Day Businesses push for power to force employees to install COVIDSafe app to return to work Falls Festival “moves forward with optimism”, confirms summer event   In today's Briefing we ask: How many calls has Lifeline received during this crisis? What should you do if it's all getting too much for you or someone that you really care about? What impact is coronavirus having on our minds and moods? When does stress become something more serious? What's the importance of purposeful activity, and the practical steps to take if you’re struggling?   If you are struggling, or need help, call Lifeline: 13 11 14See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore the impact of Coronavirus on live Music and how hard the industry has been hit. Our guests are Michael Chugg (Chugg Entertainment) and singer Dave Hosking (Boy and Bear).   Today's News Headlines: COVID-19 UPDATE: TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK, “RANDOM HUGGING” STILL 10-15 MONTHS AWAY CALLS FOR MINIMUM WAGE TO INCREASE TO $810 PW QUEEN CALLS SCO MO   In today's Briefing we ask: Why is Australia’s music Industry is asking fans to hold on to their tickets rather than ask for refunds? How many fans are doing that? Who's angry about it? What's it like as an artist to have touring taken away? Why is the #keepyourticket campaign is so important to a band? Has anything like this happened to the music industry before? What does the future of music gigs look like in a post Corona restrictions Australia?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 11,000 Aussie weddings have been affected by the current restrictions. Would you get married over a zoom call, or would you postpone? We’ll also find out why some couples are resorting to drive-thru weddings. Our guests today include Jane Costin (who was supposed to get married on Anzac Day) and Klara McMurray – Co-founder ‘Drive Thru I do wedding’   Today's news headlines: Jacinda Ardern joins National Cabinet to discuss the trans-Tasman “bubble” National Cabinet also looking at community sport, dining out Update on officer who took photo of former AFL coach in wig, makeup Up to 50 shooting stars an hour over the next few days!   In today's briefing we ask: Coronavirus is forcing us to think about why we’re getting married - is it about doing it for the family and community?  Is it about getting married so you have children in the traditional order? Or is it just about the two of you? What is it like having a wedding without key people in your life? Plus, we discover the emergence of the drive-thru wedding in Australia with "Drive Thru I Do".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we edge towards lifting restrictions and slowly get our freedoms back we’re constantly being warned about a second wave of Covid-19 infections. How concerned should we be about this in Australia, given what has happened overseas? We speak to Dr Nic Geard - Computational Epidemiologist.   Today's news headlines: COVIDsafe can’t be hacked International University students may be allowed into country despite travel ban Photos leaked of Former North Melbourne Coach after arrest Slater and Gordon urging travellers to join lawsuit   In today's Briefing we ask: Both Singapore and Japan had a second wave, what can we do to avoid that happening here in Australia? How bad have these second waves been in other countries? Is a second wave inevitable and manageable and is Australia in a good position to handle it? Which measures are going to create the most risk of a second wave of infections?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians think of ourselves as rebellious and free but has Covid-19 revealed who we really are? What have we learnt about what it means to be Australian in the time of Corona? Our guests include Merrick Watts (Comedian, Presenter, Broadcaster)and Dr Rebecca Huntley (Social Researcher)   Today's news headlines: How Covid restrictions are lifting, state by state America slams Chinas threat to boycott Aussie exports Viral Tweet compares Captain Cooks arrival to virus Lawyer for gangland figures wins defamation payout over Google search results   In today's Briefing we ask: We think of ourselves as relaxed, carefree and suspicious of authority. But are we? If we were relaxed... would we be panic buying toilet paper and pasta? If we were so carefree... why do we have so many laws? And if we were so suspicious of authority, why would so many millions of people have downloaded the tracing app so quickly? So who are we?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The question is will Australia’s homeless be turfed back on to the street after this pandemic? Or will the minor miracle that they’ve been kept quite safe help us find a long-term solution? Our guest is Gareth Ward - NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Service.   Today’s news headlines: The Key Covid info you need to know today (COVIDsafe app, NewMarch House, UK reporting deaths) Australia - China Relations hit new low Australia’s Rental Affordability snapshot   On today’s Briefing we ask: How did state governments around the country act quickly to put 2000 fought sleepers into accomodation? Why hasn’t there been a Covid-19 outbreak in our homeless population? What is it like to be homeless and then be put up in hotel accomodation? What is going to happen to our homeless when this month is up? Will they just go back out onto the sleep or can we make the most of this opportunity and help them turn their lives around? If we were able to scale up so quickly, why didn’t we do this before? What is the cost of putting up a homeless person into temporary hotel accommodation? What will the government be doing to keep people safe within the shelters?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vaccines usually take years (like, ten years...) but last week Oxford Uni researchers started testing a vaccine on humans they hope could protect us against Covid-19. The first two volunteers were injected last week and one of them is a Sydney PhD working in oncology medical research living in the UK. His name is Edward O’Neill he joins us from London.    Today’s news headlines: Corona Wrap – Newmarch/Greg Hunt Community Transmission NRL/AFL season restarts Supermarket restrictions lifted   In today’s Briefing we ask: why did Dr Edward O’Neill put his hand up to be an early tester for a vaccine? How much do you get paid to be a human guinea pig? What’s it like not knowing if you were injected with the control vaccine or the real vaccine? Is he confident it will be successful? What work has been going on to create the Coronavirus vaccine based on the MERS vaccine? What does he have to do now, and does he have to try and get the coronavirus to see if it works? Is he being hyper vigilant to symptoms, and what it like being part of a trial like this in daily life? Will he sign up for more trials in the future?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Young Australians have been hit hardest by job losses and short-term economic pain, but we’re also going to be the ones paying it back for decades. Today we find out what we should be doing first before we look at dipping into our super and how we can get through this as best as we can. Our guest today is Danielle Wood – Economist,The Grattan Institute.   Today's News Headlines: COVIDsafe update & hoax text House prices could drop by 30% according to NAB Chinese scientists under Covid probe studied in Australia Vegemite Sales are up by 55% & Alcohol restrictions lifted   In today's Briefing we ask: what is the impact of dipping into your super early? What things should we do first before taking our super? What could be the long-term economic impacts for young Australians? What is scarring? And how does it affect us beyond these 6 months and our long-term careers? How many years will it take to pay back the $200b the government has poured into the economy? What will the hit to this years budget be? What will the economic environment look like on the other side? How will this affect house prices? What should you do if you're thinking of buying a property?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been 270 reports of these horrific attacks so far. We speak to Rosa Do -  a Vietnamese Australian who was the 19-year-old victim of a racial attack that went viral and Race Commissioner Chin Tan (from the Australian Human Rights Commission).   Today's news headlines: COVIDsafe App is live Some states are rolling back restrictions Victorian Truck Driver Charged Harry & Meghan plan tell all book PM’s Ratings approval highest in almost a decade   On today's Briefing we ask: Why are these race based Coronavirus attacks happening? What’s being done about it? What should you do about it if you witness one of these attacks? And what it’s like to be the victim of one of these attacks? How prevalent was racism against Asian Australians before Coronavirus?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’d think that deadly outbreaks of Covid-19 on several cruise ships around the world would be enough to keep holiday makers away from taking a cruise for some time, but people are still booking cruises. A cruise booking site claims their bookings are up 40% from this time last year. Today we speak to a cruise-a-holic who isn’t cancelling her upcoming bookings and a passenger from the Ruby Princess who caught the virus.    Today's news headlines: An update on Melbourne Officer Deaths The National Cabinet meets to update Coronavirus restrictions Anzac Day 2020: Driveways at Dawn   In today's Briefing we ask: Why would you book a cruise? What's it like making friends on a cruise as a solo traveller? What's so great about going on a cruise? What does a healthcare worker think about the conditions on a cruise? What was it like on the Ruby Princess during the outbreak? What's it like to have asymptomatic Coronavirus? What was it like disembarking from the Ruby Princess? Can you avoid close contact with others on a cruise ship? Would a passenger on the Ruby Princess ever consider going on another cruise?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you go on a date when you can’t even go out to dinner? We take a look at what dating is like in an age of isolation. We talk to some singles trying to continue their romantic journey and relationships expert Dr Nikki Goldstein.   Today's news headlines: Four officers killed in Victoria police’s single biggest loss of life Covid-19 update (0.2% increase, Ruby Princess, the PM speaks) 1in 3 Aussies have gained Quarantine Kilos   In today's Briefing we ask: What is an 'exercise date'? Would you go on a first date if it was a 10k run? How do you deal with the expectation of a little kiss or a hug at the end of a date in the time of Corona? How hard is it to be single in this age of isolation? What are the biggest changes in dating now? How are people exploring connections on a deeper level now outside of the physical? If we're having Zooms and House Party dinners, what do we miss out on when we’re not in the same space as our date? Is dating in this time changing the outcome of peoples connections and how people are reassessing what is important to them in life? What are the long term effects of Coronavirus on dating? Will we see a huge spike in hook-up culture when this is over? How is Coronavirus a huge test for existing relationships and is it a make or break time?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They’ve been blamed for Covid-19 but what are wet markets and should they be closed altogether? Guests include Aussie Annabelle Brett, who has visited these types of markets backpacking across China and Dr Delia Linn (Senior Lecturer in Chinese studies) who grew up in Wuhan and believes we’ve got it all wrong.   Today's news headlines: Young Aussies hardest hit by Covid-19 job losses South Korea and China have denied Kim Jong-Un is fighting for life. UK to trial human vaccine from Thursday   In today's Briefing we ask: What are inside the wet markets? How have the traditional wet markets changed following the outbreak of bird flu, SARS and other viral outbreaks? Why doesn't the Chinese government itself want the wet markets? Are the wet markets to blame for Covid-19? What sort of animals can you find in the Wuhan wildlife market? Do Chinese people actually enjoy to consume wildlife or is it a common misconception? What is life like in the city of Wuhan (and why is it known as a 'city of rebels'?)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst has spent nearly two years with the threat of jail hanging over her head. Last week, the High Court ruled that the warrant used to raid her Canberra home was invalid. But the evidence seized has not been destroyed, and she could still face prosecution. Today we interview The Briefing's co-host and ask what is it like to be raided by the AFP? Guests include Lawyer Peter Bartlett (MinterEllisons) to recap the decision of the high court last week.   Today's news headlines: Virgin Australia enters voluntary administration South Korea reports 179 new positive Coronavirus tests Oil prices dip below zero making petrol cheap as chips   In today's Briefing we ask: What's it like to be the centre of a news story when it blew up last year? How did it go down when 7 federal police officers turn up at your door when you're leaving for work? What is it like to hear Bono mention your case during a U2 concert and having other celebrities weigh in on freedom of the press? Has it changed your view on other people who have been thrust into a spotlight? At what point does surreal and bizarre become really hard and hurtful? What's the emotional effect of a raid on your personal items like texts to friends, screenshots and notebooks? How do you prepare for the worst case scenario of jail? Has it been worth it? Would you pursue that story again?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is the social tracing app the government wants you to download going to work, what info will it collect, and how will it aid efforts to control the spread of Covid-19? Guests include: Mark Andrejevic (Professor of Communications and Media Studies at Monash University) and John Dawson (an Australian living in Shanghai).   Today's news headlines: Pollies weigh in on the proposed contact tracing app. One World: Together at Home concert. Turnbull's tell-all memoir out today.   In today's Briefing we ask: What is contact tracing and how does it help fight Coronavirus? How will your phones detect you are near someone using bluetooth? What is 'decentralised tracing'? How many people need to sign-up to the app for it to be effective? What data will be collected by the government and how will it be used? How is the app working in China today? What is the difference between China's approach to collecting information via technology vs the Singapore model? How can an app help ease social distancing restrictions? What is life like in China today?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.