Police in hot water over neo-Nazi rally + Is uni a scam?

What does January 26 really mean to ordinary Australians in 2024?  Yevheniia Cherkasova found safety in Melbourne after she fled the war in Ukraine with her now-16-year-old sister, making a home here for almost two years. Jeffrey 'Yello' Simon-Ullungurra grew up on the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin. He’s been looking for new ways to reconcile First Nations and Australian identities, and how to help his country heal. Michael Kheirallah witnessed a dramatic change in his Lebanese migrant community this year, as they process feelings of regret over the Voice referendum, and fear over war in the Middle East. Speaking with Bension Siebert, they each reflect on what Australia Day means to them in 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26 Jan 202416min

This year’s Australia Day comes after the defeat of the indigenous Voice to parliament last year - and the decision by a number of big retailers to stop stocking Australia Day merchandise. The question for many Australian’s over whether we should be celebrating on January 26 is still in debate. In this episode of The Briefing, ANU’s Frank Bongiorno speaks with us about Australia Day’s difficult history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 Jan 202416min

There are many ways in Australia to have children if you can’t physically procreate. You can foster or look into adoption - or you can find a surrogate.  In Australia, it’s illegal to pay someone to carry a child for you – but nothing is stopping you from paying someone overseas. However, surrogacy isn't without contention or is an easy road - just this month the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, described surrogacy as 'deplorable'.  Luke O’Halloran and Scott O’Halloran, otherwise known as Luke and Sassy Scott, are brothers with a massive public profile, with their podcast and TikTok presence amassing a plethora of fans here and overseas.   Last year Scott and his partner Marcus decided to become parents via international surrogacy. On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert sits down with Luke and Sassy Scott to find out firsthand about the experience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 Jan 202417min

Our chat with Nicky Bentham, an Australian movie producer living and working in London.  Nicky’s been nominated for an Academy Award for her work producing the short film ‘The After’.  In this episode of The Briefing, we talk with Nicky about what it’s like to get the call to say you’re nominated, what it means for her career, and what she expects to happen on the big night. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 Jan 202410min

We stare into the crystal ball to see what's in cryptocurrency's future in 2024. Last year saw the notorious high-profile crypto court cases involving Sam Bankman-Fried and Changpeng Zhao. But despite the downfall of two of the currency's biggest players, crypto ended the year 160 percent up on 2022. In this episode of The Briefing, we're joined by Dr Dimitrios Salampasis, a financial technologies expert from Swinburne University, to find out what's in store for crypto in 2024. Headlines:  Changes to stage three tax cuts  Cyclone Kirrily set to make landfall IVF could save the northern white rhino Steve Smith joins call to "change the date" Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24 Jan 202423min

2024 will be the largest single election year in human history, with voters representing more than 40 per cent of the world’s population going to the polls this year.   Fascist, authoritarian and strong-man candidates are candidates in many of those elections – threatening no less than the future of democracy.  We take democracy for granted, but democracies can actually be very fragile.  On today's afternoon episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt and Bension Siebert unpack the world’s biggest election year, and what it might mean for the future of democracy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24 Jan 20249min

If you've been online at all in the last decade, you would've seen the phrase 'do your own research' in likely hundreds of comments sections. It turns out 'doing your own research' is precisely what can lead you to believing something untrue, according to a new study from the University of Central Florida. In this episode of The Briefing we speak with lead author Kevin Aslett about why we're more likely to believe misinformation even if we try to verify it. Headlines: Scott Morrison announces retirement from politics Labor caucus meets to discuss stage three tax cuts Voting opens in New Hampshire primaries Margot Robbie snubbed in Oscars nominations Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 Jan 202420min

Scomo is finally calling it – the former PM announced today he will be stepping down from federal parliament. It closes a wild chapter in Australian political history.  Most Australians came to know him as Immigration Minister in 2013, but Scott Morrison got the top job when he toppled Malcolm Turnbull to become Prime Minister in 2018.  As PM, he came to grief over a badly timed holiday to Hawaii while much of Australia burned in the 2019-2020 bushfires. He also gained a reputation for secrecy, famously signing the massive AUKUS submarine deal with the United States and Britain, snubbing France along the way. He led the country through the COVID crisis. And finally lost the prime ministership when Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party defeated the Coalition in 2022.   Bension Siebert is joined by Tom McIlroy, federal political correspondent for the Australian Financial Review, to reflect on today's news, Scott Morrison's political journey and the legacy he leaves behind.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 Jan 202410min