The Daily Aus

Writer and researcher Akuch Kuol Anyieth joins Sam and Zara on the podcast in honour of World Refugee Day. Akuch is currently researching family violence intervention orders within Melbourne’s South Sudanese community. She talks about the potential of a trauma-informed approach to reducing violence in communities, and her family’s experience living as refugees in Kenya and Australia that she has documented in her recent memoir, Unknown.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group of 16 young people have taken the government of the U.S. state of Montana to court, arguing its climate policies are jeopardising their rights and violating the state’s constitution. It’s the first time a case of its kind has made it to trial in the U.S., and it follows similar action in Australia and around the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A campaign launched this week by youth-led organisation Make It 16 is calling on the federal government to lower the legal voting age to 16. Supporters of the push say that if 16- and 17-year-olds can drive, pay taxes and join the army, then they should also have the right to vote. Both major parties are saying it is not a priority. In today’s deep dive, we’ll give you the background info you need to help you understand both sides of the argument.We're running a poll on whether the voting age should be lowered in Australia. Have your say here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been indicted for the second time this year. The new criminal charges relate to his handling of secret government documents when he left office in 2021. He’s pleaded not guilty, and dismissed the charges as a political conspiracy. So what happens if he’s convicted, and will this prevent him from running for presidency? We’ll tell you what you need to know in today’s deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Figures released last week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics have ramped up fears that Australia may be heading toward a recession, with economic experts from Commonwealth Bank and HSBC putting the odds at 50%. What does this mean for Australia, and when will we know for sure? TDA journalist Tom Crowley explains in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recently announced Apple Vision Pro has the tech world buzzing. Apple is claiming it marks a new era in tech, and is suggesting that these headsets will become part of our daily lives. But how realistic is a future where we all interact with mixed reality? In today’s deep dive we break down what AR, VR and mixed reality mean, and Sam shares the pros and cons after trying out Apple’s headset himself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first uterine transplant has officially happened in Australia. We first spoke to Kirsty last year, when she was a hopeful candidate for a uterine transplant trial. Now, Kirsty has received not just any uterus, but her mother’s - meaning the uterus she herself grew in is now in her own body. In today’s deep dive, we’ll catch up with Kirsty and hear where she’s at on her remarkable mission to fall pregnant with the help of cutting edge science. Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We often hear about wages in the context of the rising cost of living, wage theft or insecure work. You may have even recently heard about a rise to the minimum wage. But when it comes to wages, how much do you actually understand about how it all works? In today’s deep dive, TDA journalist Tom Crowley is going to explain how wages work and what it means for you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A survey by period justice charity, Share the Dignity, found 15% of those who menstruate in the ACT have experienced period poverty at some point. Now, a bill set to pass parliament today aims to make period poverty history in the ACT. In today’s deep dive, we’ll let you know where free products will be available, and how the ACT’s new legislation will compare to rules in other states and territories.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Federal Government has revealed draft legislation to reform smoking in Australia as part of its plan to reduce the proportion of daily smokers from just over 10% to 5% or less by 2030. We know vaping is popular among young people, in fact we’ve spoken about it a number of times on this podcast, but what’s leading to an uptake in smoking cigarettes? And what is the Federal Government planning to do about it? We’ll let you know in the deep dive. Listen to ‘Could Kathleen Folbigg be innocent? How genetic evidence could overturn her murder conviction’ Listen to ‘Will the vape crackdown work?’ Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Roberts-Smith has lost his defamation case against Nine newspapers. The judge found claims about Roberts-Smith committing war crimes were “substantially true”, and yet he hasn’t been found guilty of any crimes. In today’s deep dive we’ll explain what you need to know about the trial, and what’s likely to happen moving forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're a man who has sex with men, there are limits on whether you can donate blood or plasma in Australia. But things could be about to change. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has now endorsed a proposal that would remove all sexual activity barriers to plasma donations. In today’s deep dive we’re going to look at why some people have been excluded from donating blood, and what’s likely to change moving forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AFL has dropped its investigation into allegations of racism towards First Nations players at the Hawthorn Football Club.AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said it was an “imperfect resolution”, and acknowledged the complainants “pain, hurt and anguish”.In today’s deep dive we’ll look at what’s led to this result, and what it says about how we deal with allegations of racism in sport in this country. Listen to 'From billionaire to behind bars: Elizabeth Holmes' fall from grace' Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the world's harshest legislation against homosexuality has passed into law in Uganda. The law introduces new penalties of up to 10 years for a range of homosexual acts and in some cases, calls for the death sentence. So what are these new laws and are they likely to withhold challenge in the constitutional court? We’ll let you know in the deep dive. Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eating disorders are among the most deadly of mental health conditions, with teens at particularly high risk. Research shows however, that eating disorders receive the least amount of mental health funding in Australia. In today’s deep dive we talk to Dr Sarah Maguire, Director of InsideOut, about whether new measures announced by the Federal Government yesterday go far enough. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) went from investigating multinational fraud for the Australian Government, to being investigated by the government for helping multinational companies to commit fraud. The revelations have raised questions about the way the Government does business, and led to calls for reform. So what led to this point and what’s likely to happen next? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time, Donald Trump threw his support behind Ron DeSantis’ campaign to be Governor of Florida.Now, the two men are going head-to-head in a race to be the Republican nominee for President.In today’s deep dive we’ll look at who DeSantis is and how his launch got off to a rocky start. Listen to 'Why doesn’t a male contraceptive pill exist?'. Listen to 'The inquest into Melissa Caddick's death'. Listen to 'Biden and Trump are in the presidential race. What happens next?'. Listen to '"Catch and kill”: The first U.S. president to face criminal charges' . Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NSW Government is changing the rules for first home buyers. The plan is to scrap an option to pay land tax and to increase the property price limit for stamp duty concessions instead. So what does that mean for first home buyer hopefuls, and how does it compare with other policies around the country? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Federal Court has ruled in favour of Yunupingu and the Gumatj Clan in a landmark native title case in the Northern Territory. The Gumatj Clan is set to receive compensation which could be in the hundreds of millions, and the case could have huge consequences for native title cases in the Territory moving forward. Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Federal Government has announced a crackdown on ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes. The charity Good Shepherd found in a survey last year that around 73% of their clients had sacrificed essential items or payments in order to pay off ‘buy now, pay later’ debt. In today’s deep dive we look at what regulations the government is proposing, and we speak to Dr Roslyn Russell, Director of Research and Advocacy at Good Shepherd about whether they will go far enough.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One year ago today you were waking up to a Labor Government for the first time in almost 9 years.In today’s deep dive we look back at some of the Government’s key election promises, on climate, integrity and the Uluru Statement from the Heart, to see what progress has been made so far.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore is considering laws that would ban cancel culture in the country. It comes after religious groups said they fear being ‘cancelled’ for their views on gay marriage, following the repeal of a controversial law which criminalised homosexual sex. So what would a law on cancel culture do to regulate this debate? And is cancelling cancel culture even possible? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all heard that rental prices are up, and rental supply is down. At the time of recording this podcast, 95.7% of respondents to a TDA survey said they faced eviction or were forced to move because of a rent increase. So when it comes to renting, or finding a rental, what actually are your rights? And are the rules being followed? We’ll let you know in the deep dive. You can read more about rental rise rules here. You can find tenants services in your state or territory here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you turn on the radio or look at what’s trending in the music world, you’re more likely than not going to find music by global superstars like Harry Styles, Beyonce or Ed Sheeran. But what about Aussie artists? Why are they not being recognised on things like Australian music charts? And what impact has Tiktok had on all of this? We talk to ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd in today’s deep dive. Sign up to The Daily Aus newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Trump era border law called Title 42 has been lifted in the United States. Its expiration last week led to fears of a potential surge in migrants trying to enter the U.S. But far from leaving a legal vacuum, the expiration of Title 42 has led to new rules, which some say will make it even harder to seek asylum in the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Federal Government is set to approve a new coal mine. Coal and gas projects are being assessed by the Environment Minister on a case by case basis. So why do some go ahead, while others stall? In today’s deep dive, we look at how the government is making decisions, and what’s likely to happen moving forward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watching Eurovision has been a much loved Australian pastime for decades. Our participation in the contest, however, is a much more recent development. So how did we get in and what does it say about us as a nation? We’ll let you know in the deep dive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been arrested, sparking violent clashes between his supporters and security forces. The reason for Khan’s arrest varies depending on who you ask. He has been charged with corruption, but Khan and his supporters claim he is being targeted to prevent him running in an upcoming election. We’ll tell you what you need to know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that time of year when we spend 6 hours locked in a room furiously reading budget papers so we can bring you a special Budget update. TDA Editor Billi FitzSimons and political journalist Tom Crowley are going to tell you what you need to know, straight from the halls of Parliament House.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 11,000 Hollywood writers have walked off their jobs over demands for better wages and job security. The union representing the writers say they are facing an “existential crisis”, while the alliance representing producers said some of their requests were unrealistic. In today’s deep dive, we’ll let you know what is likely to happen next and what it means for your favourite films and series.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. could run out of money, and fail to pay its debts, as early as June 1. If this were to happen, a U.S. government official has said it would cause an “economic catastrophe”.The solution lies in changing the ‘debt ceiling’, but to do that the Government will need to break through a stalemate in Congress. We’ll tell you what you need to know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Tax Office confirmed this week that student loans are set to increase by 7.1% due to indexation. We polled the TDA audience and found that 90% of respondents didn't think this was fair. We'll tell you what you need to know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The countdown is on for the next federal budget to be handed down. This will be a particularly important one, with a relatively new government, and a continuing cost of living crisis. The budget will show us what the government is prioritising and how they plan to spend our taxpayer money. In today’s deep dive, TDA journalist Tom Crowley will tell you what you need to know ahead of next Tuesday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is cracking down on the availability, flavours, colours and nicotine levels of vapes. Minister for Health Mark Butler says this means, “no more bubblegum flavours. No more pink unicorns, no more vapes, deliberately disguised as highlighter pens for kids to be able to hide them in their pencil cases.” Nicotine vapes are already illegal without a prescription in Australia, and yet they’re everywhere. So what exactly is the Government planning and is it actually going to work? We’ll let you know in the deep dive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conditions in Sudan are deteriorating rapidly as a violent clash between two armed groups threatens to spiral into a full-blown war. A former Sudanese leader has called the situation a “nightmare”, with the conflict already resulting in hundreds of deaths. We’ll let you know what’s led to this point, and what else you need to know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From 1 September, the Federal Government will allow hundreds of common medicines to be prescribed two months at a time instead of one, at half price. The scheme is supposed to save both patients and the Government money. But pharmacists are concerned it will do more harm than good. In today’s deep dive, we’ll explain what you need to know about the scheme, and talk to a pharmacist who is worried about what it will mean for his business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2003, Folbigg was found guilty of killing her four infant children, based largely on evidence from her diaries. However, recent advancements in genetic science have cast doubt on this verdict. So what does this new evidence mean, and could Folbigg be released from prison? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s starting to feel a lot like 2020, with both the key players from the last election returning for a rematch. But just because Trump and Biden have put their hats in the ring, doesn’t mean they will automatically qualify as presidential candidates. We’ll let you know what happens next in the deep dive. Listen to ‘“Catch and kill”: The first U.S. president to face criminal charges’ here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians seeking cosmetic surgery will soon need to pass a psychological assessment to qualify for treatment. Patients will be assessed for underlying psychological conditions like body dysmorphic disorder and could potentially be refused by some surgeons. We’ll discuss whether these new guidelines will make cosmetic surgery safer in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is facing its biggest shake up in decades. A government-endorsed review has made 51 recommendations to change the way the RBA operates, from who’s on its board, to how transparent it has to be, and even how its staff are treated. So what could these changes mean for you? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is lagging behind the rest of the world when it comes to sales of electric vehicles (EVs). Now the Government is trying to catch up, with a strategy to boost EV use to help meet Australia’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. So will the government’s strategy overcome issues with practicality and price? And how sustainable are EVs anyway? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A panel of experts established by the Government has found that the current rate of the JobSeeker payment and related payments are “seriously inadequate”. Their report has recommended a “substantial increase” to JobSeeker, taking it from just over $690 to about $870 for a single person per fortnight. The Government is set to reject this recommendation, saying they “can’t fund every good idea”. TDA journalist Tom Crowley will explain what you need to know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill Shorten, the Federal Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), has announced an overhaul of the system. It’s been described as failing to meet people’s needs and has reportedly been subject to price gouging and fraud. In today’s deep dive, we’ll look at what’s gone wrong and what the Government plans to do about it. If you want more information about the resignation of Julian Leeser from the shadow Cabinet, you can listen to ‘The Liberals and the Voice’ here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s renewed controversy over a proposal to restrict religious schools from discriminating against LGBTQI+ staff and students. Several religious groups have expressed concern about the proposal, while LGBTQI+ advocacy organisations have broadly been in support. We’ll let you know what’s being proposed and what’s likely to happen next in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says there’s about a 50% chance of an El Niño ‘event’ occurring this year. After years of dealing with La Niña and floods, It’s only natural to wonder what El Niño will bring. In today’s deep dive we’ll tell you what you need to know about these weather events, and how they’re being impacted by climate change. To listen to our chat with climate researcher David Karoly, click here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

48 Australian politicians are calling for the release of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. If you haven’t been following the case, he’s currently in prison in the UK, but the U.S. want him transferred there to face espionage charges. We’ll fill you in on what’s happened so far, and what’s likely to happen next, in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The shadow minister for Indigenous Australians Julian Leeser has resigned over the Liberal party’s position on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. His resignation came a week after the party made their no stance on the Voice official. In today’s deep dive, TDA journalist Tom Crowley will explain what this means for the Liberal Party and what it’s likely to mean for the referendum moving forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Federal Government is banning TikTok on all federal government devices. Canada, the U.S, UK and New Zealand all have these kinds of restrictions in place and the U.S. is considering banning TikTok all together. So what’s led to this point and what does it mean for the future of the TikTok in Australia? We’ll let you know in the deep dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the World Health Organisation 10 to 20% of people infected with COVID-19 may go on to develop long COVID, and yet it’s a condition we still know very little about. In today’s deep dive, you’ll hear first hand how someone who once climbed mountains, now struggles to walk up stairs.You’ll also hear from Dr Steven Faux, leader of a long COVID clinic in Sydney, about what he’s learnt so far and what he’s still struggling to understand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has officially become the first current or former President to face criminal charges. He faces 34 counts of falsifying business records, allegedly covering up a hush money payment as an election expense. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, called it a “catch and kill” scheme, while Trump calls the charges against him “massive election interference”. So what does this all mean for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign? We’ll let you know in the deep dive. You can listen to our explainer on Trump’s indictment here. You can listen to The Mirror here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.