Day 35: Two-minute mushroom trial recap

Pandemic restrictions have mostly lifted and Australians are gearing up to travel overseas. But many can’t get their passport to allow them to leave the country.  The queues to collect passports are hundreds of metres long, snaking outside passport offices in all capital cities. We’re joined by Amanda, a Briefing listener whose family had to cancel a holiday in Fiji because they couldn’t get passports in time; and Dean Long, a travel industry expert and CEO The Australian Federation of Travel Agents to unpack the crisis. On today’s Briefing, how the passport crisis emerged and what you can do to streamline the process and get your passport sooner rather than later. Today's Headlines: - PM to reset relationship with France- Damning new report on WA’s mining industry- Report into VIC’s Country Fire Authority reveals toxic culture- Senior MPs’ exodus from VIC government- New York’s new gun laws overruled Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 Juni 202219min

It’s been a big week in international sport with FINA and the International Rugby League announcing bans on transgender athletes. It follows an announcement late last year from the International Olympic Committee that it would leave it up to individual sports to formulate policy on trans competitors. Trans athletes even surfaced as an election issue at the federal poll in May. Caroline Layt, a trans woman and former elite rugby league player joins us to tell us what the bans mean for trans athletes. Tracey Holmes, host of the ABC sport podcast The Ticket tells us what the bans mean for the future of other sports. On today’s Briefing, the trans athlete debate and why it’s become such a contentious issue.  Today's Headlines:- Energy market suspension ends- Earthquake kills thousands in Afghanistan- Swimming coach charged with historic sex offences- Landmark gig economy case results in $800k pay out- Sydney’s Crown casino to open its doors Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

22 Juni 202220min

NASA is preparing to launch three rockets from the Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory, scheduled for the end of this month and early July. Professor Melissa Zwart from Flinders University tells us the three rockets are “sounding” rockets. They won’t actually reach orbit, but they will collect scientific data.  It’s a big deal, it’s the first time NASA has conducted a rocket launch from a commercial facility outside the United States.  The traditional custodians of the land, the Gumatj people, support the project. Gumatj Corporation chair Djawa Yunupingu said the launch plans are “a step towards the future for our people”. What does NASA’s plans to launch rockets from the Northern Territory mean for the future of space research in Australia? Today's Headlines: - Higgins' trial delayed after Wilkinson's Logies speech- International Rugby League bans trans athletes- Energy market shutdown could be lifted- La Nina weather pattern ends Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 Juni 202218min

An energy crisis across Australia took us to the brink of blackouts last week.  A cold snap; the war in the Ukraine; and escalating global coal and gas prices formed a perfect storm where we were being urged to turn the dishwasher off.  The crisis prompted the market operator to suspend the short term market and take control over supply.  Mark Ludlow writes for the Australian Financial Review on energy.  He says the long term solution is renewables with storage, but how do we manage that transition whilst avoiding crises like last week’s.  The Energy Security Agency has proposed a capacity mechanism which would essentially keep quickly dispatchable power on standby for moments of shortfall.  So, how would it work and how likely is it to be passed by a Senate stacked with Greens and independents? Today's Headlines:- NSW and QLD reveal budgets- Greens slam proposed energy solution- Single Covid and flu jab nears final stage- Higgins rape trial could be delayed after Logies speech- Mixed reaction to FINA's trans policy Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 Juni 202221min

It’s January 1982, Lyn and Chris Dawson appear to have the perfect marriage. He's a star footballer and popular high school teacher. She's a devoted wife and mother who worked as a nurse. Lyn Dawson goes missing shortly afterwards. Chris Dawson was charged with the 1982 murder of his wife, Lynette.  The cold case was at the center of widely popular investigative podcast series Teachers Pet, which focused on the disappearance and probable murder of the Sydney mother-of-two.   Chris Dawson has pleaded not guilty. We're joined by the Australian's Matthew Condon to go behind the cold case that sparked the Teacher’s Pet Podcast and get the latest on the trial of Chris Dawson. Today's Headlines:- World swimming body rules on trans athletes- $2B to be paid out in Toyota class action- Too late to stop coalition jobseeker system- Assange faces extradition to UK- Hamish Blake wins Gold Logie Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19 Juni 202221min

Pete Helliar is one seriously funny dude. He is also seriously busy.Pete is a regular host on The Project and the creator and star of 10's How To Stay Married. He has created and co-produced two series of the award winning It’s A Date for ABC TV.He hosts a podcast called You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, has written children’s books and his latest stand up special is streaming on Paramount Plus now.But what is Pete about behind the smiles and the jokes? How much of his real life is channeled into his work? And why, even with enormous television success, does he continue to return to stand up?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

17 Juni 202231min

Tik Tok has been the fastest growing social media app ever. In just five years it has had over 2 billion downloads and now reports 1.6b regular users - about half of Facebook, already. Many of its users are young and so there’s obviously concern that it's being used to sell and promote drugs. Dr. James Martin is a senior lecturer in Criminology at Deakin University who specialises in the online drug trade. How concerned should we be about TikTok and where does it fit into the much bigger and more established world of online drug sales, namely the dark web and the encrypted messaging apps. Today's Headlines Family and domestic violence leave to be introduced First national cabinet since election Russia sanctions 121 Australians Penny Wong to visit Solomon Islands Fresh day of evidence in Chris Dawson trial 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.

16 Juni 202220min

The Reserve Bank of Australia provides forward guidance for the economy. One of the key levers of fiscal policy is interest rate projections. RBA boss Philip Lowe predicted he couldn’t see interest rates rising before 2024 – and many Australians took out mortgages based on that advice. Well we now know he was wrong. John Kehoe, the economic editor at the Australian Financial Review, joins us to explain how and why Philip Lowe got it so wrong....and what the consequences will be in the housing market and the broader economy. Philip Lowe conceded his comments were “embarrassing”. Given so many Australians have massive mortgages, should he face consequences for his comments? And what authority will his predictions have in the future. Today's Headlines NSW and VIC commit to paid preschool year Energy regulator suspends trading PM to make fresh climate pledge US federal reserve lifts rates 180,000 workers get minimum wage rise 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.

15 Juni 202225min