Headlines: Donald Trump returns to the White House, new polling shows Aussies are more optimistic in 2025 and Alex de Minaur is through to the AO quarter-finals!

Deep dive: We have a lot to be thankful to Australia’s trade unions for; the five-day work week, annual leave entitlements and protections against unfair. Since the 1800s, the movement has been working hard to protect workers’ rights in this country and ensure those benefits are there for future generations once they get into the workforce.

But as time has progressed, and the number of unions has grown, many have become fixated on achieving monster pay rises for specific groups, all while carrying out hugely disruptive industrial action.

So, as Sydneysiders reel from days of mayhem on the rail network and questions are asked across the country about underworld criminal links to the CFMEU, we ask: is the Australian public being held hostage by unions and their demands? On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with pro-unionist Wilhelmina Stracke to find out.

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