One of the first things the Albanese government did when it came to power was to allow a Tamil family to return to the central Queensland town of Biloela. 

That decision focused attention on tens of thousands of other asylum seekers here who have been waiting for immigration rulings for around a decade, and in some cases are living in poverty without access to Centrelink, Medicare or the ability to work. 

Today, national regional reporter Nathan Morris takes us to meet some of them. 

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Nathan Morris, ABC national regional reporter, Gatton, Queensland

A spike in COVID cases has led the Government to urge everyone over 30 to get a fourth vaccine.

But how much longer will we need rolling booster shots?

Today viral immunologist Dr David Martinez on the promising early signs in trials for universal vaccines that could ward off current and future coronaviruses.

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Dr David Martinez, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina

Europe is bracing itself for an energy emergency, amid increasing fears the Kremlin could stop vital gas supply as a tool in its war. 

Germany gets a large proportion of its natural gas from Russia, but the Nord Stream pipeline that provides it has been switched off, and there's growing concern Vladimir Putin won't put it on again. 

Today, energy analyst Tom Marzec-Manser on how that could send not only Germany but the whole of Europe into recession, and mean we would be left paying more too.

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Tom Marzec-Manser, head of gas analytics, Independent Commodity Intelligence Services, London

Even though half a million Australians live with dementia, much remains unknown about the disease.

Recently, one global pharmaceutical company, Biogen, has been promoting a drug to combat its most common form, Alzheimer's, after it was approved for use.

Today, the host of the ABC's Health Report, Dr Norman Swan, on whether the drug really does what the company claims.  

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Dr Norman Swan, host, ABC RN The Health Report and co-host, ABC Coronacast

The BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron are leading to a concerning jump in infections here and around the world.

That's partly because while current vaccines are preventing death and hospitalisation, they're no longer as effective at stopping COVID-19 from spreading.

Today, US virologist Jeremy Kamil on when Omicron-specific vaccines will be ready, and which nations will get them first.

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Dr Jeremy Kamil, associate professor of microbiology and immunology, Louisiana State University Health, Shreveport, Louisiana, US

Did you know koalas were listed as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT this year?

The iconic Australian marsupial is on a slide towards extinction, and the animals could all be gone from the wild on the east coast in less than 30 years. 

Today, ABC Background Briefing reporter, Rachael Brown, on her recent investigation into the multiple threats facing koalas, and the political in-fighting that's hindering efforts to protect them. 

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Rachel Brown, reporter, ABC Background Briefing

As residents of Sydney, the Hunter and their surrounds begin another clean up from devastating floods, it's worth also remembering the residents of Lismore. 

Thousands of residents there still haven't been able to return to their homes, more than four months after flooding destroyed large parts of the city in northern New South Wales. 

Today, local resident and ABC reporter Leah White takes us there, as the community grapples with questions like whether to rebuild amid predictions of more rains to come. 

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Leah White, ABC reporter, Lismore, NSW

Lee and Mike Try, North Lismore residents

After dozens of ministerial resignations, Boris Johnson announced he would step down as the prime minister of the United Kingdom on Thursday, after surviving years of political scandals and personal missteps. 

So what sort of politician was he really? 

And what legacy does he leave behind? 

Today, behavioural scientist Stephen Reicher on why he thinks Boris Johnson was far more dangerous for British democracy than his cavalier approach might suggest.

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Professor Stephen Reicher, behavioural scientist, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland

On Monday, three men embarked on a perilous journey to stop a catastrophe from unfolding on Sydney's shoreline.

On a tugboat, in 9 metre swells, they worked for hours to prevent a cargo ship carrying fuel from ploughing into a cliff, saving the lives of 21 crew members and averting an ecological disaster.

Today we talk to those men about their extraordinary rescue mission.

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Brad Lucas, tugboat captain

Marius Fenger, engineer

Alex Alsop, deckhand

The Australian economy is looking shaky right now, as life gets tougher for millions of Australians with mortgages with major banks passing on this week's interest rate rise. 

But the worst could still be to come, as speculation builds we could end up in a recession. 

Today, finance expert Alan Kohler on what that would look like, and who we should blame if it happens.

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Alan Kohler, financial analyst