Can Australia ever stop drug overdoses at music festivals?
Earlier this month, nine people were hospitalised with hyperthermia (extreme overheating) after taking MDMA in the sweltering heat at Hardmission Festival. A recent study found that since 2000 there have been over 64 drug related deaths at musical festivals. Bension Siebert sat down with Dr David Caldicott to talk us through the scientific evidence for what works and what doesn't in preventing overdoses at festivals. Headlines: UN to review Palestinian refugee operations Uvalde Texas school shooting report handed down Disappointing day at the Australian Open Pope talks sex Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18 Jan 202422min
Former Human Rights Watch head on journalistic censorship and the ABC
In the middle of a short backfill contract on ABC Radio Sydney late last year, journalist Antoinette Lattouf was abruptly sacked for sharing a Human Rights Watch post about Israel using starvation as a weapon of war. Now, Antoinette is taking the ABC to Fair Work Australia, claiming wrongful termination. With a private mediation hearing ending today without resolution, she says she will "fight for as long as it takes", and “will always advocate and fight for an ABC that can operate and inform the masses, inform and entertain the masses without fear or favour". In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with former executive director of Human Rights Watch Kenneth Roth about her co-host's sacking, and if the ABC's decision risks censoring journalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18 Jan 202414min
The rise and rise of ketamine
Ketamine use is growing among young Australian party and festival goers as a cut-price alternative to drugs like cocaine and ecstacy. National wastewater monitoring has found consumption of ketamine rose to a record high last year, but it comes with serious risks. In this episode of The Briefing, we're joined by Dr Monica Barratt, a social scientist at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales to find out what the risks are, and how to cope with the drug's side effects. Headlines: US to redesignate Houthis as terrorists King Charles to undergo prostate treatment Atlassian shows WFH policy has not hit productivity Djokovic slams crowd during tough Aus Open match Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17 Jan 202422min
Meet Sonny Rennison, Australia's first wheelchair ballkid
With all eyes on Melbourne as the Australian Open takes off, now is the time when so many of us go into tennis fever. But this year, get ready to see something completely new. 11-year-old Sonny Rennison is an upcoming superstar in the world of wheelchair tennis, already ranked 15th in the world. Now, Sonny is working with Mastercard to serve up Australia’s first wheelchair ballkid pilot program. With their support, Sonny co-created some nifty technology to help him undertake the role at the high standard required. On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Sonny Rennison, as well as one of Australia's top wheelchair tennis stars, Heath Davidson, about the importance of increasing accessibility for athletes with disability.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17 Jan 202410min
Who are the Houthis and why is Australia getting involved?
Ships in the Red Sea are increasingly coming under attack from Houthis rebels. The Iranian-backed, Yemen-based group has threatened to continue the attacks in a bid to disrupt ships from delivering goods to and from Israel, prompting the US, UK and Australia to carry out strikes against the Houthis. Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Middle East expert Sarah Phillips from the University of Sydney to explain who the rebel group are and how their attacks could lead to a wider conflict with the western world. Headlines: Trump in court after Iowa Wong vows to double humanitarian aid to Palestinian territories The 2023 Emmy Awards Checking in with Antoinette Lattouf Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16 Jan 202420min
How could we better look after those with dementia?
Dementia is the second leading cause of death of all Australians, with more than 400,000 people currently living with the disease in 2024. It can be a horrendous thing to watch a loved one go through, with the impact of the disease on both the individual and those who love them immense. Exploring this experience forms the core element of independent movie maker Jonathan De Jong's latest project, Human Forever. In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour-Gatt sits down with Jonathon to hear about the documentary, which tells the gripping story of 24-year-old Teun, who resides in the closed ward of a nursing home alongside people with dementia – seeking answers about life, ageing, and the uncharted territories of the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16 Jan 202412min
Inside the first day of Donald Trump's race for the White House
The 2024 race to the White House begins today in lowa. The upper mid-west state hosts the first Caucuses of the Presidential election campaign. Donald Trump hopes to secure enough votes to force his rivals to pull out of the race. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley hope to put a dent in Trump's momentum. Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Chas Licciardello, host of the ABC's Planet America, to explain why the lowa Caucus is soimportent in the race to the White House. Headlines: New dangerous party drugs Houthi rebels attack American-owned ship Australia's richest get richer Great day for Australia at the Aussie Open Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15 Jan 202419min
Why does Taiwan's election result matter to the rest of the world?
The recent election in Taiwan has made headlines all over the world and has made China very, very unhappy. It's expected that the new President-elect, Lai Ching-te from the pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), will be pushing further for Taiwan to remain a self-governing democracy, independent of the rule of China - a stance that has ramifications for the rest of the world, given that Taiwan produce over 90% of the world's advanced microchips. On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert is joined by an expert in Southeast Asian politics, Dr Roger Lee Huang from Macquarie University, to explain the situation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15 Jan 202411min
