The Daily Aus

Yesterday, Queensland announced the country’s first permanent pill testing service will begin at a music festival next week. It comes just over a year after the state first announced it would move to allow for pill testing. Pill testing is a highly contentious issue, but with two jurisdictions now allowing it, what can we expect to see from the rest of the country? Hosts: Sam Koslowski and Zara Se...

This week, the taxi industry reached a landmark settlement with Uber. The ride-sharing giant has agreed to pay $272 million in compensation after a five year legal battle with taxi and hire car operators. In today's podcast, we unpack the case against Uber and what it means for them. Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Sam Koslowski Audio producer: Emmeline Peterson Do you have feedback for the podcast? Sha...

Over the weekend, First Nations people in South Australia determined the composition of Australia’s first-ever Indigenous Voice to Parliament advisory body. The Voice will be a group of First Nations representatives advising the South Australian Government on matters of importance to their communities. This is a big moment for the country - so we’re going to unpack how the South Australian Voice w...

We’ve heard time and time again how important climate change is to our audience. So, we decided to interview the Climate Change Minister, Chris Bowen, about what the Australian Government is doing to accelerate action. Plus, we talked about the exact timeline for when the Government expects young people to be able to afford an electric vehicle. Hosts: Billi FitzSimons and Sam Koslowski Guest: Chri...

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would force TikTok’s Chinese parent company to sell it or face being banned in the country. The bill still needs to pass a few more steps before it can become a law. So what does this all mean? And could it happen in Australia? Hosts: Billi FitzSimons and Emma Gillespie Audio producer: Emmeline Peterson Do you have feedback for the podcast?...

Australians are using more cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA than last year. How do we know this? It’s according to new sewage analysis by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, who have been testing Aussie wastewater since 2016. Today on the podcast, we speak to Shane Neilson, CIC's Acting National Manager of Data Analytics, about what else this data tells us about Australians' drug co...

Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths have been accused of anti-competitive practices and unfair prices against a backdrop of record profits. Concerns of price-gouging have escalated into multiple formal investigations, including a Senate Inquiry. So what exactly are the supermarkets accused of, what are the inquiries trying to achieve, and will any of it actually lead to cheaper groceries? Host...

Last weekend, a major music festival in Victoria was cancelled due to severe weather warnings, but it's not the first time this has happened. There have been around 45 Aussie music festivals that have been partially or fully cancelled due to weather impacts since 2015. So, with temperatures soaring and climate change an increasing concern, what does the future of festivals look like in Australia?...

This week, a 22-year-old man named Patrick Orren Stephenson was arrested for the murder of Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy. We now know his name, but his identity was initially kept secret under a suppression order. Today on the podcast, we delve into exactly what a suppression orders is, as well as what we know about the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy. Hosts: Sam Koslowski and Zara Seidler Audi...

This week Queensland became the second state to criminalise coercive control as a standalone offence. Today on the pod, we talk about Queensland’s new crime, and how Australia is progressing on domestic violence laws. If you or a loved one is struggling, you can call 1800Respect on 1800 737 732. Credits: Hosts: Billi FitzSimons and Sam Koslowski Audio Producer: Emmeline Peterson Do you have feedba...

This week, millions of people in the U.S. voted in their state’s primary elections in a day known as Super Tuesday. It's one of the most important days in the U.S. presidential election cycle. Today on the podcast, we’re going to take you through Super Tuesday, how it all works and what this week’s results mean. Credits: Hosts: Emma Gillespie, Zara Seidler  Audio Producer: Emmeline Peterson Do you...

To support The Daily Aus, subscribe to our newsletter here . Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced last week it will not renew its deals with large traditional Australian media companies.  Separately, Meta also announced last month it’s taking steps to limit the reach of “political” content on its platforms. Australian news publishers now fear a breakdown in medi...

Over the weekend, the NRL launched its new season in Vegas. In one of the games, Brisbane Broncos player Ezra Mam alleged a racist comment was made against him by Sydney Roosters player Spencer Leniu. We’ll explain everything you need to know about the incident and the wider NRL Vegas experiment in today’s deep dive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener...

According to a recommendation from an independent review of universities that was released last week, students who complete placements as part of their degree shouldn’t suffer financially. It comes after the Federal Government asked the Universities Accords Panel for advice on ways to improve the sector. Today on the podcast, we explain exactly what “placement poverty” is, and what the recommendat...

Tanning represents your skin cells in trauma. That's the message this year’s joint Australian of the Year, Professor Georgina Long, wants you to know. She’s a cancer doctor and was part of a medical breakthrough that transformed the way we treat melanoma. In today’s deep dive, we chat to the Prof Long about her work in the melanoma field, as well as how her medical breakthrough is now being used t...

If you need help, you can speak to the  Butterfly Foundation here . Today, the Butterfly Foundation released a new report on the prevalence of eating disorders in Australia. It found that eating disorders are on the rise in Australia, particularly amongst young people. On today's podcast, we break down what these new findings mean, and what the reason behind the rise is. Hosts: Sam Koslowski and B...

Give your thoughts via our podcast survey Yesterday, Australia’s biggest employers’ were forced to publicly reveal their gender pay gap. Some of the companies with the biggest gaps may surprise you. Today on the podcast, we'll explain exactly what a gender pay gap is, which companies had the biggest pay gaps, and what it all means. Listen to What we know about the murders of Jesse Baird and Luke D...

Last Friday, a NSW Police officer was charged with the murder of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. Although they have charged police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, who was the former partner of Baird, police have said he is not cooperating with the search for the bodies. In today’s podcast, we’ll talk through what we know happened, how the community is responding, and all the things police...

Give your thoughts via our podcast survey Question Time - there’s huge interest in this hour of debate that happens every day at 2pm during parliamentary sitting weeks. According to the Parliamentary Education Office, it's aim is to hold the government to account. So - does it achieve this? Or is it just an excuse for politicians to yell at each other? Today on the podcast, we answer all the quest...

This week, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is back in the news because his final appeal to avoid extradition from the UK to the U.S. is currently underway. Assange is facing 18 charges in the U.S. relating to the leaking of thousands of confidential government documents. If found guilty, he faces penalties of up to 175 years behind bars. Today on the podcast, we break down exactly why this decisi...

According to the latest HILDA (Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia) report, young Australians are more likely to experience loneliness and psychological distress than any other age group. For twenty years, HILDA has been interviewing the same network of 17,000 Australians, every year, to compile results that give us comprehensive insight into the lives of Australians. To help us und...

You can watch a video version of this deep dive here There is a push to curb alcohol consumption in Parliament House after two recent incidents involving parliamentarians and alcohol. Earlier this month, a video went viral of Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce lying on the ground in the middle of a Canberra street. This week, Nationals Senator Perin Davey admitted she had two drinks before a Senate Estima...

Give your thoughts via our podcast survey Over the weekend, Alexei Navalny, the most vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in prison. Navalny was in jail serving multiple sentences for crimes he claimed were "fabricated” at the time of his death. Since the news of his death broke, many western leaders have been quick to blame the Russian Government for his death. On today's podcas...

Give your thoughts via our podcast survey It would have been hard to miss it over the weekend - the Australian leg of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tours kicked off in Melbourne on Friday night. But we have one question: Why exactly is the singer so popular? We explore the phenomenon of Taylor Swift in today's deep dive. Credits: Hosts: Zara Seidler and Billi FitzSimons Guest: Kate Pattison, fan studies PhD...

Read the full statement by the three leaders here . Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has released a joint statement with the leaders of Canada and New Zealand that warns Israel against invading Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, where 1.5 million Palestinian people are taking refuge. It comes as Israel has increased airstrikes into Rafah, and is planning a ground offensive into the city.  Credits: Hos...