The Daily Aus

The BBC has reinstated high-profile sports presenter Gary Lineker, after he was suspended for tweeting a political opinion. His tweet called the UK’s Illegal Migration Bill targeting asylum seekers “immeasurably cruel”, igniting a political firestorm. So why did Lineker’s tweet cause such a stir, and what does it say about the state of free speech at the BBC?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) over the weekend was the largest bank failure since the 2008 global financial crisis. The Biden administration has guaranteed that no customers will lose their money. Will this end up being a one-off event? Or could it lead to economic contagion? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re expecting some big news overnight about the future of Australia’s nuclear submarines. As tensions in the pacific rise, the question is, will the new submarines keep Australia safe? Or escalate tensions in the region?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re all familiar with the parent influencers filling our feeds with their aesthetic family lives, but what does it mean for their kids’ privacy? New legislation in France could set some parameters to how parents can share content featuring children. So is time for the rest of the world to follow suit? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melbourne’s first medically supervised injection room is set to become permanent after a five year trial. While advocates are calling for more supervised injection rooms, the roll out across the country has been slow. So what’s the pushback and can we expect to see more sites across Australia soon?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gunai Woman Kirli Saunders is a writer, educator, artist and so much more. In this special International Women’s Day episode, Kirli and TDA journalist Sunny Adcock talk about matriarchy, environment and womanhood, as well as how achieving equality is “a really hard thing to do” over IWD cupcakes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Independent MP and her chief of staff are in a legal dispute over work hours. Ryan claims Rugg wasn’t meeting expectations, while Rugg claims her workload was unreasonable. So what led to this point and what does it say about workplace culture in Australian parliament? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last month we brought you an interview with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. In another special episode, TDA journalist Tom Crowley sits down with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to talk climate, the economy, the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and other policies important to you. Some extra reading/ listening:Voice to ParliamentThe National Plan to End Violence against Women and ChildrenGovernment subsidised therapy sessions are set to halveWhy is the government’s emission target 43%?Domestic violence leaveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ACT is set to become the first Australian jurisdiction to legally change the way young intersex people are treated by health professionals.Under the new legislation, medical interventions for intersex children will be banned until they are able to provide consent. Urgent or life saving medical procedures will still go ahead under the law. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The soft plastic recycling program formerly used by supermarkets in Australia has officially folded. It comes after revelations the company was stockpiling over 5,000 tonnes of plastic meant for recycling. So what went wrong with REDcycle, and what does it mean for the future of Australia’s plastic waste?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s growing awareness about the severe long-term health consequences from brain injuries sustained in sport. So is the risk associated with contact sport just part of the game? Or do injured players deserve compensation?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 3 February, just over three weeks ago, a train derailed in a small town in the U.S. Since then, we’ve heard that close to 44,000 animals have been potentially killed as a result of the derailment. So does this have implications for local residents and if so, what are the risks? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After three years of wet weather, you might expect the fire risk of the next summer to be low. A new report from the Climate Council and Emergency Leaders for Climate Action however, has found there is actually risk of a potentially “devastating” fire season ahead. So what’s caused this risk and what can we do to prepare for it? Climate researcher and co-author of the report, David Karoly, will explain what you need to know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was the 24th of February 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine. The world watched with bated breath to see how this latest European conflict would play out. One year on, Ukraine is faring better than many expected, but not without a price. So what’s happened so far, and what’s likely to happen next? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UN's torture investigation body looks the treatment of prisoners around the world. In more than a decade of operations they’ve only had to cancel one visit, to Rwanda in 2017-18. So what has caused them to cancel a trip to Australia and what does it say about the state of human rights in this country? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unions are calling for a dangerous substance called Crystalline Silica to be banned, with some comparing it to asbestos. The mineral is used to make kitchen and bathroom counter tops, but working with it can produce tiny dust particles which cause irreversible lung damage. We’ll explain what you need to know in the deep dive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new Federal Government report has made several recommendations as part of a strategy to improve privacy in the digital age. It makes recommendations to provide protection from data breaches and hold companies more accountable. So what will it mean for you moving forward? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indian tax authorities have raided BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai.It comes just weeks after the Indian Government banned a BBC documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Why was the documentary so controversial, and what does the response say about the state of the world’s largest democracy? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

105,000 people have been laid off from tech companies this year according to a tracking site. From big names like Amazon, Microsoft, Spotify and Google, to those closer to home like Milkrun, workers in the tech space are taking a hit. So what does it all mean and is the worst yet to come? We'll let you know in the deep dive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wondered why there’s a female contraceptive pill but not a male one? New research might be one step closer to making it happen. A team of scientists are working on an ‘on demand’ pill that could make men temporarily infertile. So could this soon be widely available? And why has this taken so long to happen? We’ll let you know in the deep dive. You can fill out the survey here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost 20,000 refugees on temporary visas will be granted permanent residency status under a new pathway announced by the Federal Government this week. But while this will allow for some refugees to permanently settle in Australia, it doesn’t signal any meaningful change in the government’s overall immigration policy. We’ll tell you what you need to know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A spy balloon from China, and at least three other objects have been shot down in recent days in North America. In today’s deep dive, we’ll fill you in on what we know so far, and whether Australia is at risk of international surveillance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has rejected an application for a coal mine proposed by one of Clive Palmer’s companies. But last month, Plibersek approved an extension to the licence of another mine in Queensland until 2063. So why has Plibersek blocked this latest proposal and what does it mean for the future of fossil fuels in Australia? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another month, another interest rate rise. When the RBA put up interest rates this week it was the ninth consecutive increase. So what does this mean for you? Well it depends who you are. If you’re renting, saving, have a mortgage or hoping to get one, this is the deep dive for you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When disasters of the magnitude we’ve seen this week in Türkiye and Syria strike, it can be hard to know how to help. In today’s deep dive, Sam sits down with Alex Mathieson, Director of International Programs at the Australian Red Cross, to find out how the Red Cross is responding to the crisis, and what we can all do to help. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Northern Territory Government has announced it will reimpose alcohol bans in First Nations communities in Central Australia. So what led to this decision? And how have these types of bans played out in the past?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We asked our Instagram audience about their recent experiences in the health care system, and the majority of responses highlighted growing gap payments and the struggle to find bulk billing GPs. Last week, National Cabinet met to discuss healthcare reform, and recommendations made by an expert taskforce. So what were the recommendations, and how would they impact you? Find out in today’s deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s not every day we get to sit down with the Prime Minister. But when we do, we go armed with the big questions. In this special episode, TDA journalist Tom Crowley asks the PM Anthony Albanese about the First Nations Voice to Parliament, climate targets, mental health, housing and so much more.Some extra reading/ listening:Voice to Parliament The National Plan to End Violence against Women and ChildrenGovernment subsidised therapy sessions are set to halveWhy is the government’s emission target 43%?Domestic violence leaveThe Murugappan family head back to BiloThe pokie problemJacinda Ardern’s legacy at home and abroadSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all see the political ads on YouTube, on billboards and across social media. But do you know who is funding political parties? According to analysis of new data from the Australian Electoral Commission, just 10 donors gave 77% of known political donations in the lead up to the last election. So who are the big donors and what does it mean for our democracy?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week a Victorian coroner found the death of proud Gunditjmara, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman Veronica Nelson, who died in custody in 2020, could have been prevented. In today’s deep dive, we’re going to look at the circumstances that led to Nelson’s death, and what the coroner is recommending moving forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, at the hands of police in Memphis, Tennessee, has triggered protests in the U.S. and sparked outrage around the world. So far, five police officers have been arrested and charged. A further two police have been taken off duty. Emergency Medical Technicians have also been fired. In today’s deep dive, we’ll fill you in on what you need to know - and what could happen next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time since 2013, the Federal Government has released a national policy on the arts. The $286 million plan includes protections for First Nations art, a move towards more local content on streaming services and steps towards improved pay and conditions. We’ll tell you what you need to know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few months ago, we asked our readers to fill out a survey about their experiences undertaking an unpaid internship. Almost three-quarters of respondents said they felt exploited at some point while working as an intern. In a special episode of the podcast, TDA journalist Daniel Lo Surdo talks to Zara about his investigation on exploitation in the unpaid workforce. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the world's best tennis players have taken to the courts in Melbourne, The Daily Aus has been having some big conversations behind the scenes. Sam has spoken to some key people in tennis - including Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley, Australia Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, and player/commentator Casey Dellacqua - about LGBTQI+ representation in the sport. Today’s deep dive features some of those conversations, and the lessons Sam's learnt along the waySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We recently ran a survey on attitudes towards January 26. The overwhelming majority of respondents told us the public holiday should be changed or abolished. So, in the spirit of talking less and listening more, Gamilaroi man and IndigenousX CEO/ founder Luke Pearson joins us in today’s deep dive. Luke shares his perspective on what this day means, and shares some history you might not know. Resources referenced in today’s podcast: IndigenousXAIATSIS10 things you should know about January 267 more things you should know about invasion daySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An estimated 46 people have been killed and hundreds have been arrested as protests in Peru continue. Access to Machu Picchu has been closed and locals are experiencing rising food prices due to road closures. In today’s deep dive, we’ll explain how the country got to this point and the politics behind the protests. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Departments of Education in both NSW and QLD have said they will stop students from accessing ChatGPT at school. This is the latest in a wave of reforms as education institutions grapple with how best to deal with Artificial intelligence (AI). The question is, as new forms of AI emerge, how will educators keep students honest?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes were glued to the TV in the TDA newsroom last week as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her shock resignation. But while internationally she’s being remembered for her empathy in the face of tragedy, closer to home she’s faced criticism over the struggling economy, a housing crisis and rising crime. In today’s deep dive we’re going to look at what’s contributed to these different narratives and what her legacy is likely to be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is home to almost 200,000 pokies, almost half of which are in NSW. As a state election looms, the question of how to best address problem gambling is shaping up to be a point of contention. So what are both sides promising, and why is reform taking so long? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK government has announced it will block a Scottish law designed to make it easier for people to legally change their gender. This has been met with anger from transgender rights activists, as well as members of the Scottish Parliament. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called it a “full-frontal attack”. So what does this all mean and what is likely to happen next? Find out in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More classified official documents have been retrieved from Joe Biden’s private home. Republicans have been quick to draw parallels between Biden’s possession of these sensitive files, and the files found at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. But how similar are the two cases? And what does it mean for Biden? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authorities in China have reported nearly 60,000 COVID related deaths in the last month. This comes as the World Health Organisation expressed concern about information out of the country up until now. Previously, the nation had reported just over 5,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. In today’s deep dive, we look at the new numbers out of China and what they mean amid a departure from the strict zero-COVID policy. You can listen to the last episode we did on COVID in China, "Down with Xi Jinping": Why there are mass protests in China, here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caroline Kennedy is the current U.S. Ambassador to Australia and also the daughter of former U.S. President John F Kennedy. She spent part of her childhood in the White House and has gone on to have a fascinating career. Today, we talk about her work in Australia and abroad, and ask the big questions, like whether 'Sweet Caroline' was written about her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're throwing back to when Chris Hemsworth said he would take time off after discovering he has a genetic pre-disposition to Alzheimer's disease. This prompted a conversation between Sam and Zara about what genetic testing means and how to decide whether or not to do it. Stick around until the end to hear some of the messages we received after this episode first went live. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are vapes really bad for you? It's the question everyone wants an answer to. In a deep dive last April, we brought you the most recent information we had at the time. Today we're throwing back to that episode, but stick around until the end for the latest on vape regulations in Australia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in March 2022, Sam had just returned from a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, but he wasn't the only one visiting around that time. The UN had just sent a delegation to assess the health of the reef, and whether it should be added to the 'world heritage in danger' list. Today we're throwing back to the deep dive we did at the time, but stick around for an update on what the UN delegation found on its visit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Manal al-Sharif is one of the women’s rights activists who helped to start the right to drive campaign in 2011. She saw the injustice of women not being able to drive in Saudi Arabia, and got behind the wheel in protest. When thousands of other women joined her, a movement was born. In today's episode of the summer series, we're throwing back to an interview Sam did with Manal back in March.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode of the summer series, we're throwing back to the most listened to episode of the podcast from 2022. The assassination of Shinzo Abe came as a shock to the world. In our deep dive, we broke down what happened as the news was breaking. We'll also catch you up on what's happened since, and whether anyone has been charged with the murder of Japan's former Prime Minister. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could psychadelics help treat anxiety? In a world first, researchers in Melbourne are investigating whether psilocybin, the naturally occurring compound in magic mushrooms, will be effective in treating Generalised Anxiety Disorder. Back in August 2022, Sam asked Dr Paul Liknaitzky, Head of Clinical Psychedelic Research at Monash University, what psilocybin is, and how it can help if you're struggling with mental ill health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why your energy bill is going up - this was one of our most listened to episodes of last year, and we think that says a lot in itself. We published this episode in early June, around the time that some states were seriously contemplating the risk of black outs due to power shortages. The south east of the country was also experiencing a particularly cold start to winter. Now that summer is here, but our energy bills are still high, we thought it would be a good opportunity to remind ourselves where this all started. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.