The Briefing

Cheng Lei was detained by the Chinese Government back in 2020, accused of espionage and of leaking state secrets to foreign organisations. The Australian journalist, born in China, spent years in detention with no trial, no access to her children and no lawyer - including over six months in solitary confinement.  Lei was eventually forced to plead guilty to trumped-up charges, but in late 202...

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.   She’s pled not guilty to all charges.   In this special series of The Briefing, Helen Smith unpacks day 28 of the trial in under two minutes.&nb...

Afternoon Headlines: Jumping castle operator found not guilty over incident that left six children dead, Chris Dawson’s legal bid over a sexual abuse charge fails and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet US President Donald Trump in the G-7 summit next week Deep Dive: Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s fight has just escalated to dangerous new levels with the tech billionaire letting lo...

Friday Headlines: Pheobe Bishop’s housemates charged with murder, NZ MPs who performed haka in Parliament given record suspensions, weight loss drug warning over pregnancies, major pet changes in family law disputes, and the Socceroos have all but qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Deep Dive: Chocolate prices have surged in the last year, with blocks now selling for $8 at major supermarkets -...

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.   She’s pled not guilty to all charges.   In this special series of The Briefing, Helen Smith unpacks day twenty-seven of the trial in under two m...

Afternoon Headlines: US President Donald Trump bans 12 countries from the US, Senior Coalition members hit back at former Liberal Party Leader Alan Stockdale over comments on assertive women and Perth banned the hiring of E-Scooters after man's death Deep Dive: This week the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency or AHPRA announced sweeping new rules for the cosmetic industry, putting do...

Thursday Headlines: NSW gamblers now losing $24 million to pokies every day, future of Tasmanian Premier and AFL team hangs in the balance, Australia’s defence force chief issues new warning, Enhanced Games hits back at World Aquatics, and Hungry Jacks trials AI drive-thru in Sydney. Deep Dive:  Australia now has the highest rates of early-onset bowel cancer globally, with the number of...

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.   She’s pled not guilty to all charges.   In this special series of The Briefing, Helen Smith unpacks day twenty-six of the trial in under two min...

Afternoon Headlines:  GDP slow growth as economists predict further interest rate cuts, Oreo maker sues Aldi in US over 'copycat' packaging and $70 million Oz Lotto has finally been found Deep Dive: The powerful bromance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk seems to be over, after the tech billionaire left the White House and lashed out at the US Government on social media.   So, what went...

Wednesday Headlines: Samantha Murphy’s accused killer given trial date, Australia’s economic growth downgraded as the OECD singles out our housing crisis, calls for government intervention into e-scooters, the TGA's expanding the use of Mounjaro, and record Ashes ticket demand causes drama for fans. Deep Dive:  Young Australians are among a growing group of critics calling on Aust...

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.   She’s pled not guilty to all charges.   In this special series of The Briefing, Helen Smith unpacks day twenty-five of the trial in under two mi...

Afternoon Headlines: Minimum wage going up by $32 a week, Erin Patterson continues to give evidence in murder trial and Bluey Lego has arrived in Australia.  Deep Dive: The sale of illegal tobacco is skyrocketing and has been linked to crime waves across the country. The NSW Premier says one solution is to cut back on the federal excise on legal cigarettes, but some experts are slamming the m...

Tuesday Headlines: Greens senator Dorinda Cox joins Labor, one in three Australian men have used intimate partner violence, one of Europe’s largest volcanos erupts, Queensland’s looking to become the events capital of Australia, and the Tillies send off interim coach Tom Sermanni with a 4-1 win. Deep Dive:  Whistleblowers are warning that Australia’s mental health system is...

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.   She’s pled not guilty to all charges.   In this special series of The Briefing, Holly Mitchell unpacks day 24 of the trial in under two minutes....

The Ukraine drone attacks on Russia have changed our world forever. The top-secret mission dubbed “Spider’s Web” wiped out 40 Russian aircraft worth around $11 billion dollars.   Natarsha Belling is joined by defence expert Dr Malcolm Davis, who explains why this Ukraine attack signals a new frontier in modern warfare and why we all need to be prepared for a new world o...

Monday Headlines:  Property prices tipped to surge up to 10% by 2026, Sydney vigil held for Alice Springs man who died in custody, major escalation in the war in Ukraine overnight, Covid and flu vaccines reduce hospitalisations, and Oscar Piastri wins the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix.  Deep Dive:  Bots that refuse to shut down, threaten blackmail, and generate entire soundscapes w...

Dr Michelle Wong is a chemist, beauty myth-buster and the brain behind the viral sensation Lab Muffin Beauty Science.  What began as a side project to make sense of skincare labels has grown into a trusted online destination for over a million people, where Michelle dishes no-nonsense, science backed beauty advice.  In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Michelle explains the psychology b...

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.   She’s pled not guilty to all charges.   In this special series of The Briefing, Holly Mitchell unpacks day twenty-three of the trial in under tw...

They were one of Hollywood’s rock-solid couples, married for almost 30 years. Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness announced their split in 2023, but it’s a shock statement from Deborra-Lee this week that has shone a new light on the relationship between the two Aussie actors.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Entertainment Reporter Richard Reid to un...

Friday Headlines: Albanese criticised as 'misinformed' by the President of Israel, markets continue surging after US court blocks Trump’s tariffs, Bondi Junction inquest ends with emotional impact statements, we’re in for a warmer winter across and NSW win Women's Origin 2025 series! Deep Dive: We throw the word ‘narcissist’ around a lot - but do you really understand what...

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.   She’s pled not guilty to all charges.   In this special series of The Briefing Helen Smith unpacks day twenty-two of the trial in under two minu...

Afternoon headlines: A court has ruled some of Donald Trump's tariffs are illegal, Elon Musk is leaving his role at the White House, Magda Szubanski reveals stage 4 cancer battle, and Vinnies launches its website and app. Deep dive: 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop vanished on her way to Bundaberg airport two weeks ago and hasn’t been seen since. Police have been searching for the Australian teenag...

Thursday Headlines: Coalition front bench revealed, head of UNRWA calls US-backed aid model a 'distraction from atrocities', 21 charges authorised against Andrew Tate and his brother, More Australians turning to green homes, and Queenslanders are licking their wounds this morning after Origin thumping. Deep Dive:  From shoes and prosthetics to firearms and even human organs - 3D printing has...

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.   She’s pled not guilty to all charges.   In this special series of The Briefing Helen Smith unpacks day twenty-one of the trial in under two minu...

Afternoon headlines: The Coalition is back together, Inflation holds steady with the Albanese Government calling it a win and Debra Lee Furness breaks silence on 'betrayal' over filing for divorce with Hugh Jackman  Deep Dive: State of Origin between NSW and QLD is one of the biggest sporting games in Australian history. But how did the NRL supershow start and what makes it one of the most su...