Are we on the brink of an underbelly-style gang war?

Last month our Prime Minister, side by side with the Defence Minister gave us a very strong warning about cyberattacks. Along with that warning here in Australia, there’s been a concerning development in the UK after they accused a Russian hacking group of trying to steal COVID-19 research. On todays episode we find out what harm these attacks could actually do., and what we really need to worry about. Our guest today is Alastair MacGibbon: Chief Strategy Officer, CyberCX and former National Cyber Security Advisor & Head of Australian Cyber Security Centre. In today's news headlines: JobKeeper: payments reduced from October, extended to 2021 NSW at a “critical point” as person in their 30s in ICU Major development in UK Covid-19 vaccine trial In today's Briefing we ask: Why are cyberattacks a threat to us all? How do they really affect our lives? And what harm could these attacks actually do?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 Juli 202019min

On todays episode we interview a disease detective hunting for patient zero and trying to stop the spread of COVID-19. Christian Peut is a Contact Tracer in the Communicable Disease and Control Branch at SA Health. Coronavirus contact tracers or "disease detectives" are the health experts who interview people with COVID-19 to try and work out who they might have got the disease from and who they might have given it to. In today's news headlines: Masks mandatory in Melbourne from Thursday More small business support ahead of JobKeeper tweaks Presidential latecomer Kanye West is holding his first rally today In todays Briefing we ask: How does contact tracing actually work? Is it really possible to track everyone an infectious person has come into contact with? What happens if - or when - the Covid Safe app fails? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19 Juli 202017min

Welcome to a special weekend edition of The Briefing with guest Dr Pimple Popper. In today’s episode, we catch up with global YouTube sensation, dermatologist Dr Pimple Popper AKA Dr Sandra Lee. She has more than 6.5 million YouTube subscribers and 3.9 million on Instagram… with some individual videos clocking up 60 million views. Did she ever expect to clock up 4 million Instagram followers? Her reaction to the success of her videos. Generating an income from what some people squirm over. How pimple popping videos are educating the next generation. Why her videos hit the spot with so many people across the world. The increase in views since COVID-19, and why she thinks there’ll be MORE videos to come thanks to MASK-NE [pron: like acne] from wearing masks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

17 Juli 202019min

Is the pandemic making us watch strange internet videos? Jan Fran has felt the need to watch ASMR and Pimple Popping videos during lockdown and on today's episode we explore why? Pimple popping videos are a type of ASMR which is an Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. We’re joined by the biggest pimple popper in the world: Dr Pimple Popper who has 6.5million subscribers on youtube and 3.9m on Instagram. To learn more our other guest is Dr Craig Richard, an international ASMR expert who created ASMRuniversity.com and is trained in Physiology and Cell biology. In today's news headlines: Perth AFL game hosts biggest crowd since pandemic began Australian unemployment hits 22 year high Celebrity Twitter hack hits Obama, Jeff Bezos In today's Briefing we ask: Is Jan Fran the only one who enjoys this pastime? Why do some people love it and some people hate it? Should more people watch them to relax and ease anxiety? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 Juli 202021min

For 45 years letters between the Queen and Australia’s Governor General have been kept secret. This week, against the Queen's wishes this series of private letters were released. On todays episode our guest is the Gough Whitlam biographer who fought for the palace papers to be released in court - Australian Historian Emeritus Professor Jenny Hocking from Monash University. We're also joined by Niki Savva - was in Canberra at the time of the dismissal. In today's news headlines: $2.5b rescue package for young workers on the way Pokemon Go, KFC: the ridiculous reasons Victorians are breaching lockdown AFL moving north for the rest of the home and away season Young people drinking, using fewer drugs than their parents In today's Briefing we ask: what is in the palace letters? What do they mean for Australia now?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15 Juli 202018min

When most of us could travel overseas we knew that that if it all goes pear shaped you still call Australia home and it will be waiting for you with open arms. But for many Australians overseas that changed this week. Today we're joined by Lachlan Kitchen, who has been trying to build a life in Dubai... but had a redundancy last week. Our other guest is James Mort who is still in London he’s also trying to get home. In today's news headlines: Victoria’s public housing tower cluster linked to protests QLD declares two NSW suburbs hotspots Woman who lost her home in bushfires survives QLD shark attack Palace Papers released decades after Whitlam dismissal In today's Briefing we hear what the reality of being unable to return home means for young Australians who’ve been working abroad. We ask the questions: Should returning Australians chip in for quarantine? Have they had enough warning? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14 Juli 202017min

Should we be wearing face masks in public? To mask or not to mask? It’s a simple question: so why has there been so much mixed messaging about wearing a face mask here in Australia and Overseas? The advice from the World Health Organisation has now become clearer and stronger. Same with the Victorian Authorities and the American Centre for Disease control. To answer this timely question we speak to Professor Kerryn Phelps AM (Doctor and Former President of the Australian Medical Association) and Professor Marylouise McLaws (an infection prevention expert at the University of NSW). In today's news headlines: Victoria warned about possible hotel quarantine bungle months ago NSW pubs hit with tighter restrictions after overnight crisis meeting Charity warns JobSeeker cut would create another national crisis NFL: Washington Redskins announce name change after decades of debate In today's Briefing we ask: Why has the messaging about wearing masks changed? Why has the advice about wearing masks been so unclear? How effective are masks against COVID-19? What type of mask should you use? Where should masks be worn? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 Juli 202019min

We know that Covid-19 testing, especially in hotspots, will be key to stopping it’s spread. However, since the second wave hit Melbourne we’ve heard of thousands of people who have refused the swab test. Should we throw the book at these people who say no? Or are there perfectly valid reasons to refuse the nasal swab? Our guests to discuss this topic are Marylouise McLaws (UNSW Professor in infection prevention and is working on the World Health Organisation’s COVID Advisory Panel) and Lawyer Bill O’Shea (former President of the Law Institute of Victoria, former General Counsel at Alfred Health for 13 years). In today's news headlines: COVIDSAFE app push as cases climb NSW Covid Cluster Ghislaine Maxwell fights to keep secret doc out of court Trump finally masks up on visit to military hospital In today's Briefing we ask: There are various state laws that allow authorities to fine people for not taking a test or you can isolate someone as a way of making them get the test - should we use the full powers of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act to coerce people into taking the test?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 Juli 202019min