The Aussie locked in the world's worst women's prison

Oregon has become the first US state to decriminalize the personal use of all drugs. The "Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act" will allow people arrested with small amounts of hard drugs to avoid going to trial, and possible jail time, by paying a $100 fine and attending an addiction recovery program. In today's episode we find out how Oregon got here, and how Australia’s drug reform advocates have been pushing for a similar harm minimisation approach here when it comes to drug use and criminal punishments. Our guests today are Kate Chatfield - Director of Policy with The Justice Collaborative a non-profit advocating law reform in America and Reverend Simon Hansford - Head of the Uniting Church Australia. In today's headlines: Donald Trump comes close to admitting Joe Biden won the election WA shuts door on South Australia amid hotel quarantine outbreak Vaccine factory to be built in Melbourne under $1.8b deal Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15 Nov 202018min

What could you accomplish if you knew how to improve concentration and overcome distractions? What if you had the power to stay focused and become “indistractable?” In today's Briefing we're going deep on distractions. Nir Eyal is a behavioural scientist and former marketing lecturer at Stanford University and he’s written a number of books on technology and talks us through his groundbreaking new book Indestractable. In today's Briefing we discuss: What is distraction? Our internal and external distraction Triggers The 4 steps to becoming indistractable How to master our internal triggers and hack back external triggers Getting the best out of technology, without letting it get the best of us In today's headlines: Prime Minister warns Australians to brace for “difficult” and “disturbing” news about soldiers Hottest years will feel cool in coming decades, says CSIRO WA’s hard border is softening from midnight Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 Nov 202020min

After Pfizers exciting announcement this week, the reaction from experts around the world has been positive. We’ve already learnt some important things about the vaccine, and in today’s Briefing we’re going to dig deeper and find out how it might speed up our path back to normal life? How it will be rolled out? Who gets it? And how will it change travel? Dr Mary-Louise McLaws is an epidemiologist from NSW University who’s been part of World Health Organisation COVID-19 advisory panel talks us through this possible pathway back to life as we knew it. In today's headlines: Five million Australian vaccinations could happen from March President Trump’s first formal public appearance since election defeat NSW smashes QLD sending State of Origin to a decider Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11 Nov 202019min

A vaccine being produced by Pfizer may be 90 per cent effective in stopping the transmission of COVID-19 which has created a lot of excitement about getting the deadly virus under control and getting our lives back to normal. The Pfizer trial is one of four potential vaccines the Australian Government has signed an agreement to purchase if it is successful. Pfizer have announced they could produce 50 million doses by the end of this year and 1.3 billion by the end of next year. In today’s Briefing topic we ask Dr Norman Swan about some of his concerns about the trial and what it means from here. We’re also joined by Dr Sheryl Recinos, a Californian doctor who was part of this very vaccine trial. In today's headlines: Pfizer vaccine reportedly being fast-tracked for Australian approval Jobseeker supplement extended but reduced Prime Minister won’t take disciplinary action after Four Corners report Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 Nov 202022min

Last week, four innocent people died in a terror attack in Vienna, Austria. The 20-year-old perpetrator had already been in jail after trying to join ISIS and was made to participate in a deradicalisation program during his sentence time. There were reports he was showing signs of a turn around and was subsequently released early from his 22-month sentence. He’d served less than half of it. We’re going to find out more about how these deradicalisation programs work and whether they should be used in early release decisions? Joining the show are guests Johannes Saal, an expert in Austrian extremism at the University of Lucerne, Switzerland and Labor MP Dr Anne Aly. In today's headlines: Major breakthrough: Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine “90 percent effective” US President-elect Joe Biden announces new Covid-19 task force Australia’s Attorney-General considers “legal options” after Four Corners Floor cleaner that’s less effective than water named and shamed in 2020 Shonky Awards Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9 Nov 202016min

Joe Biden is officially the US President-elect. Biden called for unity and calm in his victory speech in Delaware yesterday, but the challenges facing America will be very divisive. First and foremost, bringing COVID under control and managing the economic recovery from the pandemic. He’s also pledged to re-join the Paris agreement, and then there’s the extreme racial division… In this Briefing topic, we’re going to ask where to next for Biden’s America. Matthew Knott, is the SMH and The Age Washington correspondent Headlines: President-elect Joe Biden promises to unify America Donald Trump refuses to concede Victoria becomes “whole again” after incredible Covid-19 results Covid-19 vaccine production begins in Australia Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Nov 202019min

We bring you the latest on the US Presidential Election as it plays out. With Joe Biden insisting every ballot be counted and Donald Trump launching legal action, American voters are anxious and exhausted. Hugh Riminton joins us from Washington as the US election race continues. In today's headlines: US election count update “Stop the count”: Armed guards protect American voting centres from angry protesters NSW Premier “shocked” after QLD Premier rubs in State of Origin win Mardi Gras parade cancelled, moved to the SCG Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5 Nov 202020min

We cross to David Lipson in Washington during the most divisive election in decades, to find out what’s behind the results so far, and how will this super tight election play out? David has spent the last year living and reporting in the US through COVID, civil unrest and a drama-packed election campaign. How likely is it the election will be called today? Do you think its Joe Biden mostly likely to win a path to victory? What has he seen in Washington over the last 24 hours? Why are these remaining states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania so key to this election? Where did Trump do well that had his opponents taking deep breaths? What have we learned about which messages have worked with the American people? The reaction to Trump and Bidens speeches Trump has threatened a supreme court challenge. If that case is to go ahead what would it actually be deciding on? In today's headlines: Tight election race continues after Donald Trump falsely claims victory QLD debutants stun NSW in State of Origin NSW to become the only state to open to the rest of the country Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 Nov 202019min