The Briefing

At least 2,012 people have died with at least 2000 more injured in the most powerful earthquake Morocco has suffered in 120 years. The 6.8 magnitude quake hit Morocco late on Friday local time, with entire villages levelled. Now the race is on to try and recover survivors from the rubble. Katrina Blowers speaks with Oumaima Azzelzouli, a journalist with Moroccan National Radio who lives in Rabat a...

Welcome to On Topic with the Weekend Briefing, a special series where Jamila Rizvi talks to some of her favourite guests - old and new - about a single, fascinating subject. Over the next two months, you’ll hear from singers, writers, models, actors and change makers on topics as diverse as power and influence, mindset and money, bodies and brains.  Today you’ll hear from Lillian Ahenkan, on influ...

In this headlines-free extra episode of the Briefing:  Tom Tilley's secret passion!! The Rugby World Cup begins in France this weekend – and the Wallabies head into the tournament after losing five lead-up matches.  Coach Eddie Jones has picked a very young, inexperienced side, who he says he will have firing at exactly the right time.  Tom Tilley and Sacha Barbour-Gatt are rugby 'tragics'! Austra...

15,000 people dressed in black attended an illegal rally on Monday in Seoul. This massive protest was triggered after three teacher suicides happened in South Korea in as many months. The first was a young teacher in Seoul who took her own life in July after expressing anxiety over complaints from abusive parents. Teachers are now demanding better protection for themselves amid growing outrage abo...

In this extra, headlines-free episode of The Briefing: the federal government's plans to declare war on feral cats. Today is National Threatened Species Day and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has released a plan to protect another 48 endangered species across Australia, including a program to eradicate feral cats. One part of the plan would see a nationwide night curfew imposed on domestic c...

Anthony Albanese’s personal approval has dropped under the 50 per cent mark for the first time since he was elected Prime Minister. It’s as Labor battles fires on multiple fronts including their Qatar decision; their struggles with the ‘Yes’ campaign; and the Defence Minister’s golf club controversy. In this episode of The Briefing, Tom Tilley speaks with Andrew Leigh, Labor’s assistant minister f...

In this extra, headlines-free episode of The Briefing:  Donald Trump refuses to acknowledge he lost the 2020 election, so would his re-election lead to the demise of democracy?  The United States likes to think of itself as the ultimate democracy, but if Donald Trump wins next year’s presidential election, could the US electorate be endorsing his claims his loss in 2020 was NOT the work of a fair...

We're facing down the prospect of rolling blackouts this summer, with temperatures expected to break records. To find out about just where we’re at with our energy mix, we speak with Professor Samantha Hepburn who is an expert in environmental law research at Deakin University about what we need to do to safeguard our energy supply for the future.   Headlines: A Senate inquiry will be held into bl...

In this extra, headlines-free episode of The Briefing: Qantas CEO Alan Joyce was due to retire in November, but made the stunning announcement this morning he was stepping down today. The news comes after a month of scandals, including facing an investigation by the ACCC that it sold tickets to flights that had already been cancelled.  We’re joined by Flight Centre CEO, Graham Turner, and Helen Bi...

As John Farnham’s anthem becomes the theme song for the Yes campaign we reveal the story behind the song. Turns out it was written by a British musician after he slept in for a protest! Tom Tilley gets the story from Double J presenter Zan Rowe and also speak to political campaign analyst Dee Madigan about the impact it will have on the referendum.   Headlines: No interest rates rises predicted Wi...

Around the country, drivers are forking out an average of $2.05 a litre for petrol, while some unlucky Aussies have had to pay prices as high as $2.38 a litre. In this extra, headlines-free episode of The Briefing, we chat with Chief Investment Officer at The Motley Fool, Scott Phillips, to find out why it’s so expensive, how long we can expect to pay a bomb at the bowser, and tips for making your...

Across Australia paper straws, wooden cutlery and cardboard tubs have replaced plastic in a bid to protect the environment, but new research shows they can contain dangerous chemicals. The chemicals, known as PFAS, are found in many “eco- friendly” straws and takeaway containers because PFAS makes them water resistant. In this episode of The Briefing, Jan Fran speaks with the commercial manager En...

Welcome to On Topic with the Weekend Briefing, a special series where Jamila Rizvi talks to some of her favourite guests - old and new - about a single, fascinating subject. Over the next two months, you’ll hear from singers, writers, models, actors and change makers on topics as diverse as power and influence, mindset and money, bodies and brains.  Today you’ll hear from Milo Hartill on body. Mil...

Skyrocketing ticket prices, massive profits and soaring pay packets. What’s with Qantas? Qantas boss Alan Joyce faced a parliamentary grilling this week, but was unconvincing in his defence of Qantas’ huge profits, not to mention his huge payslip. In this episode of the Briefing, Tom interviews Senator Jane Hume, one of the MPs confronting Mr Joyce to find out why the Albanese government is hellbe...

The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, has officially announced that the country will go to the polls on Saturday, October 14th to vote on both the constitutional recognition of First Nations Australians and the creation of a Voice to Parliament.  Now that we know the date we'll be voting, what can we expect for the next six weeks of the Yes and No campaigns, and what do you need to kn...

On today’s episode The Briefing continues our focus on what you might not know about domestic violence. Today’s episode is more about you and what can you do. Antoinette Lattouf sits down with Emily Maguire, CEO of Respect Victoria on how to spot an abusive relationship and help a friend or relative who's in one. *Content Warning* This episode includes details of domestic violence including sexual...

On today’s episode, The Briefing continues our focus on what you might not know about domestic violence. Antoinette Lattouf sits down with the Assistant Commissioner of NSW Police, Stuart Smith to discuss what tools and strategies police across the country are engaging in to fight domestic violence. Emily Dale from the national domestic violence advocacy group Full Stop Australia also joins to unp...

You’ve may have noticed there’s been more of a push in recent years to help people better identify domestic violence in all its forms, and in particular to encourage victims to report incidents of domestic and sexual violence to police.  But what happens when your perpetrator is a police officer?  Today we speak to a woman we’re calling Audrey. She’s chosen to share her experience for the first ti...

When it comes to crime trends in Australia – domestic and sexual violence tops the list. This week on the Briefing Antoinette Lattouf leads a special investigation into domestic violence challenging the stereotypes facing the issue. We're joined by LiSNTR's Investigations Editor Clair Weaver, victim survivor Monique* and founder and CEO of the Lokahi Foundation Rachael Natoli. *Content Warning* Th...

Welcome to On Topic with the Weekend Briefing, a special series where Jamila Rizvi talks to some of her favourite guests - old and new - about a single, fascinating subject. Over the next two months, you’ll hear from singers, writers, models, actors and change makers on topics as diverse as power and influence, mindset and money, bodies and brains.  Today you’ll hear from Thomas Mayo, a Torres Str...

This is an episode future you will thank you for. Investing in the stock market seems too complicated and risky for many young people, but the founders of Equity Mates have a simple four-part strategy that will help make you wealthier. In this episode of The Briefing, Tom Tilley explores the strategy with the hosts of Equity Mates, Alec Renehan and Bryce Leske. The new book is called Don't stress,...

July 2023 was the hottest month on the planet in 120,000 years. In this episode of The Briefing, we speak with Jeff Goodell whose new book is The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet. He explains what heat does to human beings... and the reality we face in a warming world.   Headlines: Wagner boss reportedly killed in plane crash India lands a rocket on the moon Fyre festi...

Crispian Chan is a Chinese-Australian who grew up in Perth. His parents ran a Chinese restaurant until it was firebombed in the late 1980s. It turns out it was a coordinated race-based attack by neo-Nazis. In this episode of The Briefing, Crispian chats to Tom about how the attack impacted the Chan family, and why he went in search of the perpetrators almost 40 years later. The search led to some...

The Greens are putting lots of pressure on Labor about housing. The party is demanding a cap on rental increases. Are they reading the room or proposing impossible ideas? In this episode of The Briefing, Tom Tilley interviews Max Chandler-Mather, Greens Federal housing spokesperson. Want to stop your rent going up? Find out if the Greens can actually negotiate a freeze on rents to help the million...

When you hear the word ‘slavery,’ you probably get images in your head of pre-civil war America. But it’s happening right now here in 21st century Australia. On today’s Briefing, Katrina’s looking into modern day slavery and the victims who are hiding in plain sight, how to spot a situation where slavery might be taking place and what you should do if you suspect it’s going on. We're joined by sla...