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An independent daily news show that features the country's best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.
Episodes
Emily Maitlis on the Belfast riots, Elon Musk, and the anti-migrant frenzy
The scenes in Belfast this week have been horrifying to watch - ugly clashes, masked men rioting in the streets, immigrant families begging neighbours to hide their children - fearing for their safety. Politicians, far-right agitators, and billionaire Elon Musk have been accused of sparking the riots - weaponising a brutal stabbing attack, to ramp up anti-migrant rhetoric and whip protestors into
“Hit them hard”: Trump unleashes on Iran amid claims he’s lost control
Donald Trump is right now following through on his threats to “hit Iran hard again” unleashing another round of strikes. Trump says he wants a peace deal, but in the past 24 hours, the war has escalated again. Iran and the US have traded strikes, and one of the most important oil routes in the world remains severely restricted. The ceasefire is still supposed to exist, as is the promis
Ditch the Witch 2.0 and the personal toll of sexist abuse in politics
When Julia Gillard delivered her now-famous misogyny speech in 2012, it was against a backdrop of some horrendous sexist attacks. One of the most prominent was “Ditch the Witch” – a slogan on a placard then-opposition leader Tony Abbott was photographed standing in front of at an anti-carbon tax rally. Now, the ugly slogan is back. This time, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is th
Inside the Neo-Nazi compound funded by millionaires
Last month, the federal government announced that the biggest neo-Nazi organisation in the country would be listed as a hate group. A few days ago, The Age revealed the group’s former leader, Thomas Sewell, has been living in a $2.5 million estate in Melbourne’s suburbs. So what are Sewell’s plans for the compound, and who are the wealthy backers making it possible? Today,
Meet Jeni and her 2681 alter personalities: together they made legal history
The conversation you’re about to listen to is almost certainly unlike any interview you’ve heard before. It’s unlike any 7am has ever done.Dr Jeni Haynes has dissociative identity disorder, otherwise known as multiple personality disorder. In 2019 she set a world first legal precedent when her alters were allowed to testify in court against her abusive father, who was later sente
Mega data centres in bed with big gas: how fossil fuels are powering the AI boom
Right now, AI data-centre mega-hubs as large as 350 hectares are being planned across Australia – that’s the equivalent of 175 MCG playing fields. And the energy they need to fuel them is just as huge: more than the total output of an entire coal plant. The solution? So-called “shadow grids” built in partnership between the data centres and big gas, where gas-fired power pl
Trapped in a Cambodian scam factory
Earlier this year, authorities found something extraordinary inside a Cambodian scam compound: a fake Australian Federal Police office. There were Australian flags, AFP-style logos, and desks staged to look official – all part of a six-storey compound used by scammers impersonating police forces from around the world. It was a reminder that the scam messages Australians receive are often con
Can Tony Abbott save the Liberal party?
Tony Abbott is back at the centre of Liberal Party politics. The former prime minister has been elected unopposed as federal Liberal Party president – a role that sounds administrative, but carries real political weight at a moment of deep trouble for the Coalition. The Liberals are watching voters drift to One Nation, while Abbott argues the answer is to take the fight directly to Lab
Nick McKenzie on Mick Gatto, the underworld, and construction corruption
In Melbourne, few names carry the weight of Mick Gatto. For decades, he’s been known as a survivor of the gangland wars, a man whose influence has stretched from the city’s underworld into the heart of the construction industry. This week, police raided his home. Gatto and his wife were arrested, then released without charge. He says it was all over a driving infringement. Police
Do we need a royal commission into violence against women?
29 women have been killed in Australia so far this year - most allegedly by their intimate partner. Their names sometimes hit the headlines, but often not. And even then, the outrage seldom lasts. We’ve known for a long time that Australia has a problem with violence against women. Little seems to work to change the statistics. For some advocates - a Royal Commission is the only chance
Could Pauline Hanson actually become Prime Minister?
For decades Pauline Hanson has been on the fringe of politics. Sometimes mocked, often ignored, occasionally courted. Even from that position she’s been influential: her presence can be felt in our immigration policies, dating back to Howard. But her power and her popularity have never been greater than they are today. A recent poll has one Nation as the most popular party in the
The next pandemic: Why the world’s more at risk than ever
Five years on from COVID, a new report has found the world is even more vulnerable to new pandemics than it was before. The report, by a body linked to the World Health Organisation, has been released as the world grapples with Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks, as well as one of Australia's worst diphtheria outbreaks on record. The report found that, despite advances in vaccines and diagnostic
Why Sarah Wilson says civilisation is collapsing
The world is facing a series of large-scale crises – war, declining democracy, climate catastrophe. So, is it all a sign that our civilisation is reaching its limits – and that our economic and political systems are nearing collapse? That’s the question Australian author Sarah Wilson has been interrogating for the last three years for her new book, ‘I Eat The Stars&rs
‘We do not feel safe’: Kumanjayi White’s grandfather on the danger of the NT police
One year ago this week, a 24-year-old Warlpiri man, Kumanjayi White, died after being restrained by police inside a supermarket in Alice Springs. This week, his family was told the officers involved will not face charges. The coronial investigation is still underway, with another directions hearing expected next month. Kumanjayi White’s grandfather – Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves – ha
Teal party power and Albo’s political booby trap: the week in politics
Well, the budget blowback is showing no signs of easing but this week the government doubled down, introducing the legislation for its tax changes to parliament. Albeit with the detail around CGT still TBC and with an inbuilt political booby trap for the Coalition. At the same time, Pauline Hanson is floating her own negative gearing model - as One Nation surges in the polls. And while Labor and t
‘A serious mess’: The crisis inside the corruption watchdog
Paul Brereton – the outgoing head of Australia’s National Anti-Corruption Commission – was grilled at Senate estimates this week. Brereton’s time leading the body charged with investigating serious corruption in the Commonwealth public sector has ended in a crisis of confidence – over Robodebt, his ongoing Defence links, and whether the watchdog properly managed confl
The fantasy of Trump’s Iran deal
Guest host Waleed Aly joins the 7am team as the US launches fresh strikes inside Iran, in the middle of a ceasefire. Days earlier, Donald Trump had said an agreement to end the war was close. Now Iran is threatening to retaliate, amid fears the conflict could escalate again. And while Trump insists peace talks are still “proceeding nicely”, he has raised the stakes for negotiators &nda
Kids forced to represent themselves in court: The NT’s legal aid crisis
For most of us, facing court with no lawyer and no legal advice in a case that could change the course of your life would be unthinkable. But that’s the situation currently facing dozens of defendants in the Northern Territory – many of them disadvantaged or with English as their second or third language, some just children – all being forced to go it alone in a legal system most
Part 1: On board the flotilla captured by Israel
This week, seven Australians returned home after being detained by Israel. They had been part of the Global Sumud Flotilla – more than 400 activists from 56 countries trying to reach Gaza by sea, carrying food and medicine. Four days after they set sail from Turkiye, Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters and took the passengers to Israel. Then Israel’s nationa
Part 2: The legal fight to hold Israel to account
Lawyers for the Australians detained after Israel intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla are now building a record of what happened. They’re reviewing footage, collecting medical evidence, and taking witness statements alleging beatings, humiliation, denial of food and water, and detention in harsh conditions. The legal team says the evidence points to serious abuse of Australian
Tanya Plibersek on the PM’s viral DV comments and calls for a royal commission
Australia is again being forced to reckon with the violence being inflicted on women and children. The PM is adamant a royal commission isn’t the answer, dismissing the idea in an interview that’s gone viral. But his sudden disdain for royal commissions is out of step with what thousands of Australians want to see in response to the scourge of domestic violence. After anoth
The man who took the fight to Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest
The Federal Court has ordered Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue to pay the Yindjibarndi people $150.1 million. It is the biggest native title compensation payout in Australian history. But for Yindjibarndi leaders, the judgment is complicated. The payout is historic, but it is far below the $1.8 billion they were seeking. The case goes back more than two decades – to Fortescue’s Solomon
Is the budget backlash hurting Labor?
The federal budget has been hit by a fierce campaign from large sections of the media and a handful of high-profile millennial entrepreneurs. But so far, Labor’s polling has remained relatively unscathed. But that doesn’t mean voters are happy. People might not be shifting their votes over this budget, but many still feel there’s nothing in it for them right now. For the Co
Nightclub firebombings and ‘The Ghost’: Melbourne’s latest crime war
It started with a single nightclub attack and escalated into what’s been dubbed Melbourne’s hospitality crime war. More than 30 clubs, pubs and restaurants have now been targeted in drive-by shootings, break-ins and firebombings. And while dozens of arrests have now been made, the people behind the attacks remain a mystery. One theory? That an international crime syndicate led by a man
Jim Chalmers defends his budget
For two decades, we’ve had a tax policy that pushed up house prices, gave landlords huge advantages, and ultimately created an intergenerational wealth divide. A week ago, the government said it wanted to do something about that and announced changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax. But the budget hasn’t gone down well – for some, it doesn’t go far eno
Keli Holiday and the new risk of touring Trump's America
You may know him as Keli Holiday, one-half of Peking Duck, or even as Abbie Chatfield’s boyfriend… Now, Australian musician Adam Hyde has become the latest high-profile victim of Trump’s tough border rules – after he was denied re-entry to the States in the middle of his North American tour. The explanation? National security concerns. That’s it – nothing more.
Doped-up athletes and million dollar prizes: The Enhanced Games is here
This weekend in Vegas, athletes including Australian swimmer James Magnussen will take part in the Enhanced Games – a competition that freely allows doping. It's the creation of controversial Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza, and it's bankrolled by Peter Thiel and one of Donald Trump’s sons. The competition has enticed athletes with huge cash prizes – and is
Eurovision, Israel and the politics of pop music
Over the weekend, Eurovision got a feel-good ending. Bulgaria won the contest for the very first time with their infectious song Bangaranga. And Australia came close - with Delta Goodrem placing 4th. But the controversy over Israel didn’t go away. Israeli singer Noam Bettan finished second, after getting a huge huge public vote – despite protests outside the contest, boycotts from five
AUKUS: This could only end in a very bad place
This week’s budget shows AUKUS is getting bigger. The government is putting more money into the agencies, workforce and infrastructure needed for nuclear-powered submarines. But the deal still relies on the US agreeing to sell them to Australia, and on a Trump administration that has already reviewed AUKUS through an “America First” lens. And as the program grows, the public stil
Why Labor's 'breadcrumb' budget feels like a meal
After Labor handed down its fifth budget, Anthony Albanese spent the week answering one question: had he broken his promise? The government wanted the budget framed as a fairness agenda built around changes to negative gearing, capital gains tax and trusts, and a pitch to younger Australians locked out of housing. Instead, the immediate political fight became whether voters could trust the prime m
David Pocock on the “cowardly” announcement hidden on budget day
Senator David Pocock has been one of the fiercest advocates for the You win some, you lose more report, known as the Murphy Review, and its recommendations to reduce the harms of online gambling. It took the Albanese government 1,049 days to formally respond to the landmark inquiry that called for urgent action to reduce gambling harm, including a phased ban on gambling advertising. When the gover
Why is Rebel Wilson being sued by her co-star?
It's a case where the art has been overshadowed by the drama. The star of Australian film The Deb, singer Charlotte McInnes, is suing Australian actor and director Rebel Wilson for defamation. Over two weeks of hearings, the court was told about smear campaigns, hacked Snapchats, and the central claim: that Rebel Wilson lied about her star actress. Rebel is accused of being a fant
Will the PM’s tax reform fix the housing crisis?
The housing market – and young people without rich parents being locked out of it – has dominated dinner table conversations for years. This budget the Albanese government decided to try and do something about it: limiting negative gearing and replacing the capital gains tax. So what difference will that make and how long will it take for anything to change? One perso
Labor’s budget promises fairness – does it deliver?
It was a budget framed around fairness for workers and for young people locked out of the housing market. Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ fifth budget restricts negative gearing – though not for anyone who was already doing it – while also promising to increase housing supply and deliver a $250 tax cut for workers. Chalmers wants the budget to be seen as ambitious – but
Did Coles and Woolies con customers?
Tim Tams and Tiny Teddies aren’t usually the stuff federal court cases are made of, but product by product, dollar by dollar, the ACCC has been building its case against supermarket giants Coles and Woolies over what it claims were fake discounts. Now, both cases have wrapped and the judge is reviewing the evidence. With inflation and grocery prices soaring, the timing couldn’t b
Bonus ep: Why One Nation’s win changes the game
It’s something Pauline Hanson has been eyeing for years – and on the weekend, she finally got it: a seat in the lower house. Her candidate for Farrer, David Farley, did even better than expected: he was elected on 57 per cent of the vote. It changes things not just for Pauline Hanson and One Nation, but for the country. Today, contributing editor for The New Daily, Amy Remei
“Children saying heil Hitler”: What we’ve learned from the antisemitism hearings
The first week of hearings at the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion opened with Jewish Australians describing what life now feels like. Jewish community groups say reported antisemitic incidents in Australia have surged since October 7. But the commission is not only hearing about what’s happened. It’s also being asked to answer a difficult question: what counts as
The tabloid panic rewriting bail laws
Last year – after months of pressure over youth crime, and claims the system had become too soft – Victoria passed what it proudly called the toughest bail laws in the country. At the time, legal and human rights experts warned the laws would put more children in custody and disproportionately affect First Nations people. Now, the Allan government is doubling down. In this week’s
Will One Nation win its first federal lower house seat?
The seat of Farrer in NSW has been empty since the resignation of former Liberal leader Sussan Ley. Today, a new member will be elected, and while the race is tight – One Nation’s David Farley is ahead in the polls. He’ll be picking up Coalition preferences, but faces a strong challenge from independent Michelle Milthorpe. So will One Nation win its first federal lower hous
The danger of shunning the ‘ISIS brides’
Late yesterday, four women and nine children arrived in Australia from Syria. The women, who originally left the country to be part of the Islamic State caliphate, have spent the years since its collapse in Syrian refugee camps. Many of their children, who are Australian citizens too, have never been here before. But they aren’t the first to come back – since 2019, wo
Beatings and rubber bullets: Onboard the flotilla intercepted by Israel
A flotilla of boats carrying aid towards Gaza was still hundreds of kilometres from the coast when the Israeli navy moved in. Australian activist Zack Schofield was on one of the 50 boats. He says the first sign something was coming was the sound of drones overhead; then radio warnings, military vessels, and soldiers boarding the ship. What happened next is now the subject of serious allegations a
Could the RBA’s rate rise send Australia into recession?
The Reserve Bank has raised interest rates again. The cash rate is now 4.35%, after the third rate hike in a row. For Australians already stretched by the cost of living, it means another hit to mortgage repayments, rents and household budgets. And while the decision was widely expected, the reason behind it is more complicated. Some economists are calling it the “Hormuz hike&rdq
“Our little queen”: Could Kumanjayi Little Baby’s death be a turning point?
On April 25, Kumanjayi Little Baby was reported missing from her bed at the Old Timers town camp, just south of Alice Springs. Five days later, after a community-unifying effort, her body was found. She was five years old. Soon after, community members found the man accused of killing her. They called police and now a 47-year-old man has been charged with murder, and other charges we can’t m
Antoinette Lattouf on her ABC battle and the cost of winning
In 2023, Antionette Lattouf was sacked by the ABC after sharing a Human Rights Watch post about Gaza. What followed became one of the most closely watched employment cases in the country, raising questions about political pressure, media independence and whose voices are allowed to be heard. Now, after winning her case, Lattouf has written a book about her fight, and the women who&rsqu
Why Australia has more guns than ever
In December last year, in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, Anthony Albanese promised the biggest national gun buyback since Port Arthur. He wanted states and territories to agree to new gun laws by March and legislate them by July. But that first deadline has passed – and the national response is fracturing. Queensland and the Northern Territory are refusing the buyback, Tasmania is reje
All aboard Gina Air! Pauline’s private plane and the week in politics
The Albanese government has moved quickly on the royal commission into antisemitism, accepting all the recommendations from its first report, before public hearings begin. It comes at a volatile moment in national politics, after the issue was seized on by the opposition in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, and as the issue of the conflicts in Iran, Gaza and Lebanon continue to expose dee
Why rising terror threat levels could render the Bondi Royal Commission useless
The first report from the Royal Commission into Antisemitism has landed at a volatile moment. Australia’s terrorism threat level is already listed as probable, and the war in Iran is adding new pressure to an already fragile security environment that risks fuelling grievances, inflaming extremism, and increasing the risk facing Jewish communities in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.
Bonus Ep: How Iran is using rap and lego to win the propaganda war
Iran’s war time propaganda videos featuring AI rap music and Lego characters are getting millions of views online. They praise the Islamic Republic, and mock Trump. But their message is also dark, anti-semitic and leaning into conspiracy theories.So how has a regime that’s shut down the internet, and isn’t known for its sense of humor captured the zeitgeist so well? Today, H
The MAGA breakup: Why Tucker Carlson turned on Trump
It was a relationship that saw both Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson rise to power. Now, the Tucker-Trump bromance is officially over. Conservative media powerhouse Tucker Carlson has offered an apology to voters for backing the president, as their relationship turned sour. Today, Jason Zengerle, staff writer for the New Yorker, on the end of Tucker and Trump – and what it means for the MAGA
Andrew Denton on a beloved broadcaster's final taboo act
From his diagnosis with oesophageal cancer in 2024 to openly wrestling with end-of-life decisions, beloved ABC broadcaster James Valentine took his listeners along with him as he stared down his own death. Now, after his passing, that openness continues – with James’ decision to share the fact that he ended his life through voluntary assisted dying, or VAD. Today, Go Gentle Australia f
Fanning the flames: political violence in Trump’s America
Donald Trump has compared himself to Abraham Lincoln and JFK after an alleged shooter, dubbed in his reported-manifesto as the “friendly federal assassin”, charged a security point armed with guns and knives. For a moment, the White House Correspondents dinner continued, the president and his guests unaware until the secret service pulled him from the stage, forming a human shield. Thi
The fight for Dan Duggan - Part 1: From 'Top Gun' to wanted man
In October 2022, Dan Duggan was arrested at a Woolworths in Orange, regional New South Wales, after dropping his kids off at school. American prosecutors claim the former US Marine pilot helped train Chinese military pilots in South Africa more than a decade ago, in breach of US arms trafficking laws. Duggan denies that, and says he believed he was involved in lawful civilian flight training.
The fight for Dan Duggan - Part 2: The extradition battle
Dan Duggan’s case is now an extradition battle. Former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus approved the Australian citizen’s extradition to the United States and the Federal Court has rejected the latest attempt to stop it. Duggan’s supporters say this is no longer just a legal case – they believe it’s also shaped by geopolitics and the growing rivalry between the United St
Part 1: Victoria’s historic treaty
When Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan introduced the state's treaty bill into parliament, she said it would pave the way for a formal apology, the introduction of Aboriginal truth-telling into the school curriculum, and a better future for Indigenous Australians in the state. The treaty is the culmination of almost a decade of work that established the First Peoples’ Assembly – which le
Part 2: The politics and pushback
Indigenous leaders across the country welcomed Victoria’s treaty. The legislation enshrines a democratically elected body for First Peoples, called Gellung Warl, that will be consulted on laws and policies affecting Indigenous communities. Now there are calls for other states and territories to use the Victorian example as a model to establish their own treaties. But there’s also pushb
NDIS shrinks, gas profits soar, and One Nation takes a hit: the week in politics
This week, the Albanese government moved to rein in the NDIS, making a hard political argument that one of the most impactful reforms in recent memory now has to be smaller to survive. In Canberra, a Senate hearing pressed on another pressure point: whether, at a time of global instability and rising costs, Australia should be getting more from its gas exports. And in the first electoral test for
“Confusion and distrust”: The disability community on the NDIS overhaul
The government says the NDIS has drifted too far from its original purpose, has grown too fast and too loosely, and that it now needs a major reset. Health Minister Mark Butler says the changes, which will see eligibility tightened, participants reassessed and 160,000 people booted from the NDIS are about making the scheme sustainable and pulling it back to the people it was originally designed to
Bonus Ep: Punter’s Politics and the gas tax “ripping off” Aussies
It’s not often politicians are taken to task by regular Australians on the issues that fill them with rage. But that’s exactly what happened at this week’s senate inquiry into taxing Australia’s gas companies for their windfall war profits. Konrad Benjamin, a former high school teacher, gave evidence at the hearing – and he didn’t hold back The self procla
A fellow war vet on Ben Roberts-Smith and the long legal road ahead
This week, accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith, who is out on bail for five charges of murdering unarmed Afghan civilians and prisoners in 2009 and 2012, came out swinging. The highly decorated soldier categorically denied the allegations against him, saying he will never give up the fight. Roberts-Smith insists he’s proud of his service in Afghanistan, and of the men and women who served
Inside Putin’s classroom propaganda push
This year a Russian documentary filmed at a school in Russia won an Academy Award. Its hero? A Russian Primary school teacher, Pasha Talankin. After Russia invaded Ukraine Mr Talankin found himself trapped in the job of teaching propaganda to students. He filmed it all until he was forced to flee the country. And what he captured offers a rare glimpse into Putin’s Russia, and the classroom p
Amateur hitmen, mistaken murders and airtasker for crims: the new underworld
It’s been dubbed by underworld kingpins as “disorganised crime” A new wave of young, amateur gangsters is changing the scene – with brazen daylight attacks, hit jobs on rivals’ family members, and cases of alleged mistaken identity. Of course, it’s all about money, notoriety and settling scores. Today, Mark Morri, crime editor at the Daily Telegraph, on the evol
Acid rain, toxic water & tonnes of CO2: The hidden cost of the Iran war
The images coming out of the US-Israeli-led war in Iran have been described as apocalyptic. Oil depots have burned for days. Strikes have hit petrochemical facilities and the area around the Bushehr nuclear power plant. In Tehran, toxic black smoke has blanketed the city, with residents reporting black acid rain falling from the sky. After thousands of missile and drone strikes, Iran and parts of
The powerful firms reshaping our universities
One of Australia’s most prestigious universities is now at the centre of three investigations and could be about to face a fourth. Last year, ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell resigned after pressure over a massive restructure and the hidden role consultants played in shaping it. Now two inquiries are now looking at whether the changes, meant to save $250 million, were ever justified. A sep
“Dumb bigotry” and recession warnings: the week in politics
This week, the Albanese government has been forced to confront a growing sense of instability, with fresh warnings from the IMF about the global economy, including the potential impact on Australia. It’s placed new pressure on Treasurer Jim Chalmers ahead of the budget, as the government deals with a fuel supply scare that pulled the prime minister back to the country in the middle of
Albo’s gambling ad gamble: too little too late?
For years, gambling advertising has spread far beyond the ad break, becoming a familiar part of how Australians watch sport, follow news about sport and spend time online. Three years after the Murphy review called for a comprehensive ban, the Albanese government has finally responded. But the government’s plan to reign in online gambling advertising has drawn sharp criticism. With cam
When kids = content: Inside the world of family influencers
It started as a bunch of mummy bloggers on the internet trading tips on everything from breastfeeding to toddler tantrums. Now the world of child and family influencers has become a billion-dollar business where kids equal content and absolutely nothing is off limits. Today, Fortesa Latifi, author of the new book “Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Onl
Migrants draining the nation: Angus Taylor's hard line immigration plan
It’s a controversial proposal – immigration based on blatant discrimination. Opposition leader Angus Taylor has laid out the beginnings of the Liberal Party’s hard line migration policy in a provocative speech in Canberra. Some of his proposals had echoes of Donald Trump, others of John Howard – as he made a play for One Nation’s growing pool of lapsed Liberal voters.
Death by Hanging: Inside Israel's new laws for Palestinians
Israel has passed a new law allowing for the execution of Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks. The law passed through the country’s parliament despite opposition from Israeli and international human rights groups, as well as the governments of the UK, Germany, France and Italy. Israel’s national doctors’ union has refused to carry out lethal injections, meaning those sentenc
‘I’m sitting at home having seizures. I can't drive my car’: Why John Barnes is suing the AFL
More than a decade after he retired from AFL, John Barnes collapsed without warning and began having seizures. The former Essendon and Geelong ruckman says years of head knocks left him with epilepsy, memory problems, and a life he barely recognised. Now, as a growing class action takes on the AFL over concussion, Barnes is speaking about the damage he says the game caused – and the accounta
Ali Jan’s family speaks: We want to testify against Australian troops
In September of 2012, Australian soldiers descended on the rural village of Darwan in Afghanistan, killing four men. That raid and the events of that day were central to the defamation action brought by Ben Roberts-Smith. The court eventually found it was substantially true that he had committed war crimes – including kicking Ali Jan, an Afghan villager, off a cliff and ordering his executio
Can Singapore help with Australia’s fuel problem?
The fighting may have temporarily eased in the Middle East, but the fallout is still moving through the global economy. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, fuel markets are unsettled, and Australia is exposed. Now, Anthony Albanese is in Singapore trying to secure supply, as the opposition presses the government over how prepared the country really is. Today, Tony Wood, Energy
Chris Masters on unravelling the Ben Roberts-Smith story
Ben Roberts-Smith was once held up as the face of Australia’s war in Afghanistan. This week, he was arrested and charged with war crimes.Ben Roberts-Smith maintains his innocence. For journalist Chris Masters, the road to that moment began almost two decades ago, when he travelled to Afghanistan to report on the war up close. Over time, he began hearing whispers that some elite soldiers had
The Stolen Generations never ended
Eighteen years ago, Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generations and said those injustices must never happen again. But in that same year, Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts was taken from her family at just 10 years old. Now, as a lawyer and advocate, she says Australia is still taking First Nations children from their families – and that the number in out-of-home care is today higher than the est
'A whole civilisation will die tonight': Is Trump threatening war crimes?
It’s been a war of shifting deadlines for President Trump. And now, his latest one expires this morning. Trump is threatening that if Iran fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the US will strike the country’s bridges and power plants in what he’s calling "Energy Plants Day and Bridges Day” – stating 'a whole civilisation will die tonight' if Tehran ignores his ultima
The social media ban isn’t working. Now what?
The first official report from eSafety on how the government’s under-16 social media ban is going has been released. And the early picture is grim. Kids are getting around the ban, and eSafety says it has seen no drop in cyberbullying or abuse reports involving children on those platforms. So is this just a messy start, with the government right to ask for more patience? Or is it proving tha
The Texas oil man planning to frack the Kimberley
Under one of the most remarkable landscapes in Australia is one of the world’s largest undeveloped reservoirs of onshore gas – and a Texas oil man wants to get it out. Project Valhalla would drill an initial 20 fracking wells across an area twice the size of Victoria in the Kimberley. And after the WA EPA recommended it for approval, the proposal is now one step closer to going ahead.
How pro-wrestling shaped Trump
In 2007, future United States president Donald Trump stepped into the wrestling ring for a showdown with Vince McMahon, then head of World Wrestling Entertainment and Trump’s close friend. Trump played the villain perfectly. For decades now, Trump has been shaped by a love affair with professional wrestling. It taught him how to control and manipulate a crowd, how to speak, and how to respon
It’s a tough time to be Jim Chalmers
For months, Jim Chalmers has been trying to write a budget about the future – productivity, reform, repair. But events have a way of dragging budgets back into the present. And right now, the present looks expensive. People are still under pressure. The economy’s been hit by another oil shock. And the Treasurer is trying to make the case for restraint without looking like he’s as
Kathy Lette on the AI book scandal
Readers and writers have been left reeling after a horror novel became the first book to be cancelled over AI claims. The New York Times has reported that an AI detection program indicated that ‘Shy Girl’ was 71 percent AI generated. The news has shocked the publishing industry, with the novel discontinued in the UK and pulled from publication in America. So what are the implications f
‘Cuba’s next’: Can anything stop Trump?
Donald Trump says Cuba's next. For decades, the United States has tried to isolate the country, but now the language is getting stronger, and a tightening of the oil blockade has brought the island to its knees. President Trump has said taking the country would be an "honour", and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, says Cuba cannot fix its economy without changing its government. In Havana, offi
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