The Briefing

The world is watching the Ukrainian people fighting back against Vladimir Putin’s massive military might. How long will they hold on? And will the West’s sanctions kick in to force Putin’s hand. Australian journalist Misha Zelinsky was in Kyiv when it came under attack. At one point he took shelter in a bunker with actor Sean Penn… before it got too dangerous and he decided to make the journey to Lviv in the back seat of a 2012 Kia hatchback. He’s there reporting for the Australian Financial Review - he also has Ukrainian Russian heritage, his grandparents that fled the region to start a new life in Australia. Misha takes us to Lviv, a city in the west of Ukraine, to describe what’s happening on the streets, and if the West’s sanctions will be enough to sustain Ukrainians in this David v Goliath battle. Todays Headlines Flood crisis continues in Queensland and northern NSW PM Scott Morrison tests positive to Covid-19 Russia targeting Ukrainian security buildings Housing market cools for first time in two years Follow The Briefing DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR THE BRIEFING NEWSLETTER. LINK IS IN OUR BIO ON INSTAGRAM Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 Mar 202221min

Russian President Vladimir Putin has put Russia's nuclear forces in a "special regime of combat duty". The order means Putin wants Russia's nuclear weapons prepared for increased readiness to launch. Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says the Kremlin and Washington, usually have land and submarine-based capabilities on a hair trigger, but nuclear-capable bombers and other aircraft are not. So what’s behind this latest escalation, and how likely is it to lead us to a massive nuclear showdown? Todays Headlines Floods crisis worsening in NSW and QLD Peace talks on Belarusian border Australians urged not to go to Ukraine WA tightens covid restrictions Trump reckons with growing GOP threat Follow The Briefing DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR THE BRIEFING NEWSLETTER. LINK IS IN OUR BIO ON INSTAGRAM Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28 Feb 202222min

Education ministers have agreed to mandate holistic and age-appropriate consent education in every school in Australia from next year, following a year-long campaign spearheaded by consent activist Chanel Contos. The curriculum will incorporate many facets of sexual education, ranging from power imbalances and coercion to gendered stereotypes, examining how each of these play a role in shaping sexual experiences. As it currently stands, the new curriculum is expected to roll out in 2023 across every school in the country. It's a huge win for Chanel, who joins us to talk about her 12-month journey to change Australia's consent laws Todays Headlines Putin puts Russia's nuclear capabilities on notice Peace talks to begin on Belarus border today Brisbane on flood alert as rain bomb heads to northern NSW Follow The Briefing DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR THE BRIEFING NEWSLETTER. LINK IS IN OUR BIO ON INSTAGRAM Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27 Feb 202219min

Maxine Beneba Clarke is an Australian writer of Afro-Caribbean descent whose work includes fiction, non-fiction, children’s books and poetry. She has won a plethora prizes. From the NSW Premier’s Award to the Australian Book Industry Literary Fiction Book of the Year. Maxine is so much more than a mantelpiece heavy with trophies. Her books, her poetry and her musings on Twitter are a stand-out contribution to this country’s discussion of race, inclusion and politics. She is a voice worthy of your attention. In this episode Jamila Rizvi speaks with her favourite author about growing up in Australia through the lens of race, maintaining being an artist through a global pandemic and what it takes to write and create from a child’s perspective. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 Feb 202229min

Australian Billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes has teamed with Canadian asset manager Brookfield in a bid to buy the Australian energy giant AGL and then accelerate the company’s green energy transition - planning to get the company out of coal by 2030. Mike joins the Briefing to explain his plan for the future of Australia’s energy market, and how he sees his vision playing out. His initial proposal was $7.50 a share - which would see them pay $A8billion for AGL, but it was knocked back by the energy giant. Cannon-Brookes and Brookfield plan to spend $20 billion more to replace the coal-fired plants with large-scale renewable batteries. He says: “Australia should have the lowest-priced energy in the world”. On today’s Briefing, Mike Cannon-Brookes’ vision for Australia’s energy future. Todays Headlines A special report on Russia's invasion of Ukraine with SBS reporter Ben Lewis Follow The Briefing DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR THE BRIEFING NEWSLETTER. LINK IS IN OUR BIO ON INSTAGRAM Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24 Feb 202224min

How would you feel about going shares with the government to buy your first home? Brendan Coates, the Economic Policy Program Director at the Grattan Institute, says it’s time for a national shared equity housing scheme. He says several states already have shared equity schemes, but it’s time for a national approach to address housing affordability. 2021 saw house prices skyrocket across Australia. Melbourne and Canberra joined Sydney to have a median house price above $1 million. Home ownership rates are falling fast. For those without access to the Bank of Mum and Dad, buying a home is now an impossible dream, one which has impacts well into retirement. On today’s Briefing….how to buy your first home sooner. Todays Headlines Ukraine declares state of emergency Wild weather wreaks havoc in NSW and QLD Major construction firm could go under Roberts-Smith trial continues Tennis has a new Bad Boy Follow The Briefing DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR THE BRIEFING NEWSLETTER. LINK IS IN OUR BIO ON INSTAGRAM Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 Feb 202220min

The families of some of the adults and children killed in the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School reached a settlement with gun manufacturer Remington. They won a $A100m lawsuit in a court in Connecticut, with the court ruling Remington had marketed the firearm used in the shootings to young men. Veronique de la Rosa, a mother of one of the schoolchildren killed, joins us to explain how and why they took the legal action. It’s an inspiring story of families who refused to give up, despite lawmakers at both a state and federal level failing to take on the all-powerful American gun lobby. It’s a small victory…some light in the darkness of an unimaginable tragedy. Todays Headlines The US says ‘invasion’ into Ukraine has begun Mask mandates to be rolled back across three states UK scraps all Covid rules New reward for missing backpacker PM supports anti-trans sport bill Follow The Briefing DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR THE BRIEFING NEWSLETTER. LINK IS IN OUR BIO ON INSTAGRAM Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

22 Feb 202220min

Australia’s energy market is changing rapidly. Coal fired power plants are closing earlier than planned... and their owners are building batteries in their place! Last year Energy Australia announced the Yallourn plant in Victoria will close and Origin Energy last week announced its Eraring plant in NSW will close seven years earlier than planned. Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brooks says he wants to take over AGL with a similar plan, shutting down powerplants early and building renewable infrastructure. We’re joined by Mike Foley, the climate and energy correspondent for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald to find out what’s going on and how it will speed up our transition out of coal fired power... and do we risk price hikes and power blackouts... as the Energy Minister Angus Taylor has warned Todays Headlines Cannon-Brookes AGL bid knocked back China hits back over laser incident Fugitive on the run for 12 years finally detained Trump's new social media app launched Sydney trains to run on reduced schedule today Follow The Briefing DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR THE BRIEFING NEWSLETTER. LINK IS IN OUR BIO ON INSTAGRAM Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 Feb 202219min