The Briefing

Vaccines usually take years (like, ten years...) but last week Oxford Uni researchers started testing a vaccine on humans they hope could protect us against Covid-19. The first two volunteers were injected last week and one of them is a Sydney PhD working in oncology medical research living in the UK. His name is Edward O’Neill he joins us from London. Today’s news headlines: Corona Wrap – Newmarch/Greg Hunt Community Transmission NRL/AFL season restarts Supermarket restrictions lifted In today’s Briefing we ask: why did Dr Edward O’Neill put his hand up to be an early tester for a vaccine? How much do you get paid to be a human guinea pig? What’s it like not knowing if you were injected with the control vaccine or the real vaccine? Is he confident it will be successful? What work has been going on to create the Coronavirus vaccine based on the MERS vaccine? What does he have to do now, and does he have to try and get the coronavirus to see if it works? Is he being hyper vigilant to symptoms, and what it like being part of a trial like this in daily life? Will he sign up for more trials in the future?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28 Apr 202018min

Young Australians have been hit hardest by job losses and short-term economic pain, but we’re also going to be the ones paying it back for decades. Today we find out what we should be doing first before we look at dipping into our super and how we can get through this as best as we can. Our guest today is Danielle Wood – Economist,The Grattan Institute. Today's News Headlines: COVIDsafe update & hoax text House prices could drop by 30% according to NAB Chinese scientists under Covid probe studied in Australia Vegemite Sales are up by 55% & Alcohol restrictions lifted In today's Briefing we ask: what is the impact of dipping into your super early? What things should we do first before taking our super? What could be the long-term economic impacts for young Australians? What is scarring? And how does it affect us beyond these 6 months and our long-term careers? How many years will it take to pay back the $200b the government has poured into the economy? What will the hit to this years budget be? What will the economic environment look like on the other side? How will this affect house prices? What should you do if you're thinking of buying a property?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27 Apr 202019min

There have been 270 reports of these horrific attacks so far. We speak to Rosa Do - a Vietnamese Australian who was the 19-year-old victim of a racial attack that went viral and Race Commissioner Chin Tan (from the Australian Human Rights Commission). Today's news headlines: COVIDsafe App is live Some states are rolling back restrictions Victorian Truck Driver Charged Harry & Meghan plan tell all book PM’s Ratings approval highest in almost a decade On today's Briefing we ask: Why are these race based Coronavirus attacks happening? What’s being done about it? What should you do about it if you witness one of these attacks? And what it’s like to be the victim of one of these attacks? How prevalent was racism against Asian Australians before Coronavirus?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26 Apr 202022min

You’d think that deadly outbreaks of Covid-19 on several cruise ships around the world would be enough to keep holiday makers away from taking a cruise for some time, but people are still booking cruises. A cruise booking site claims their bookings are up 40% from this time last year. Today we speak to a cruise-a-holic who isn’t cancelling her upcoming bookings and a passenger from the Ruby Princess who caught the virus. Today's news headlines: An update on Melbourne Officer Deaths The National Cabinet meets to update Coronavirus restrictions Anzac Day 2020: Driveways at Dawn In today's Briefing we ask: Why would you book a cruise? What's it like making friends on a cruise as a solo traveller? What's so great about going on a cruise? What does a healthcare worker think about the conditions on a cruise? What was it like on the Ruby Princess during the outbreak? What's it like to have asymptomatic Coronavirus? What was it like disembarking from the Ruby Princess? Can you avoid close contact with others on a cruise ship? Would a passenger on the Ruby Princess ever consider going on another cruise?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 Apr 202017min

How do you go on a date when you can’t even go out to dinner? We take a look at what dating is like in an age of isolation. We talk to some singles trying to continue their romantic journey and relationships expert Dr Nikki Goldstein. Today's news headlines: Four officers killed in Victoria police’s single biggest loss of life Covid-19 update (0.2% increase, Ruby Princess, the PM speaks) 1in 3 Aussies have gained Quarantine Kilos In today's Briefing we ask: What is an 'exercise date'? Would you go on a first date if it was a 10k run? How do you deal with the expectation of a little kiss or a hug at the end of a date in the time of Corona? How hard is it to be single in this age of isolation? What are the biggest changes in dating now? How are people exploring connections on a deeper level now outside of the physical? If we're having Zooms and House Party dinners, what do we miss out on when we’re not in the same space as our date? Is dating in this time changing the outcome of peoples connections and how people are reassessing what is important to them in life? What are the long term effects of Coronavirus on dating? Will we see a huge spike in hook-up culture when this is over? How is Coronavirus a huge test for existing relationships and is it a make or break time?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 Apr 202019min

They’ve been blamed for Covid-19 but what are wet markets and should they be closed altogether? Guests include Aussie Annabelle Brett, who has visited these types of markets backpacking across China and Dr Delia Linn (Senior Lecturer in Chinese studies) who grew up in Wuhan and believes we’ve got it all wrong. Today's news headlines: Young Aussies hardest hit by Covid-19 job losses South Korea and China have denied Kim Jong-Un is fighting for life. UK to trial human vaccine from Thursday In today's Briefing we ask: What are inside the wet markets? How have the traditional wet markets changed following the outbreak of bird flu, SARS and other viral outbreaks? Why doesn't the Chinese government itself want the wet markets? Are the wet markets to blame for Covid-19? What sort of animals can you find in the Wuhan wildlife market? Do Chinese people actually enjoy to consume wildlife or is it a common misconception? What is life like in the city of Wuhan (and why is it known as a 'city of rebels'?)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

22 Apr 202019min

News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst has spent nearly two years with the threat of jail hanging over her head. Last week, the High Court ruled that the warrant used to raid her Canberra home was invalid. But the evidence seized has not been destroyed, and she could still face prosecution. Today we interview The Briefing's co-host and ask what is it like to be raided by the AFP? Guests include Lawyer Peter Bartlett (MinterEllisons) to recap the decision of the high court last week. Today's news headlines: Virgin Australia enters voluntary administration South Korea reports 179 new positive Coronavirus tests Oil prices dip below zero making petrol cheap as chips In today's Briefing we ask: What's it like to be the centre of a news story when it blew up last year? How did it go down when 7 federal police officers turn up at your door when you're leaving for work? What is it like to hear Bono mention your case during a U2 concert and having other celebrities weigh in on freedom of the press? Has it changed your view on other people who have been thrust into a spotlight? At what point does surreal and bizarre become really hard and hurtful? What's the emotional effect of a raid on your personal items like texts to friends, screenshots and notebooks? How do you prepare for the worst case scenario of jail? Has it been worth it? Would you pursue that story again?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 Apr 202020min

How is the social tracing app the government wants you to download going to work, what info will it collect, and how will it aid efforts to control the spread of Covid-19? Guests include: Mark Andrejevic (Professor of Communications and Media Studies at Monash University) and John Dawson (an Australian living in Shanghai). Today's news headlines: Pollies weigh in on the proposed contact tracing app. One World: Together at Home concert. Turnbull's tell-all memoir out today. In today's Briefing we ask: What is contact tracing and how does it help fight Coronavirus? How will your phones detect you are near someone using bluetooth? What is 'decentralised tracing'? How many people need to sign-up to the app for it to be effective? What data will be collected by the government and how will it be used? How is the app working in China today? What is the difference between China's approach to collecting information via technology vs the Singapore model? How can an app help ease social distancing restrictions? What is life like in China today?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 Apr 202022min