Background Briefing

By ABC AustraliaSociety & Culture Documentary News

Favorites
547
Followers
Typical duration
33 min
per episode
If it hooks
76%
finish an episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Background Briefing episodes

May 30, 2020 How were the kids in this town contaminated?
For children in Port Pirie there is no 10 second rule.
When you grow up in a “lead town” eating off the floor is forbidden, and could be harmful to your health.
But when a mum follows all the strict and unusual rules of the town to keep her son safe and his blood lead still continues to rise, she asks: what am I doing wrong?
Can a town coexist with a lead smelter?
Paul Culliver investigates
41 min
May 21, 2020 Having a baby alone: How the pandemic has changed how we give birth
Pregnancies and births around the world have been radically changed by the spread of COVID-19.
Background Briefing reporter Katherine Gregory is 39 weeks pregnant, and has been watching this news closely.
In this episode, as she goes through her own pregnancy journey, she uncovers how maternal health experts are trying to prevent any long-lasting impacts on new mothers and their babies.
This is the final episode of our three-part series on how Australia is coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.
14 min
May 21, 2020 Having a baby alone: How the pandemic has changed how we give birth
Pregnancies and births around the world have been radically changed by the spread of COVID-19.
Background Briefing reporter Katherine Gregory is 39 weeks pregnant, and has been watching this news closely.
In this episode, as she goes through her own pregnancy journey, she uncovers how maternal health experts are trying to prevent any long-lasting impacts on new mothers and their babies.
This is the final episode of our three-part series on how Australia is coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.
14 min
May 19, 2020 Drive-by dinners: Food relief in the time of Corona
Social distancing measures have robbed many charities of the human connection so crucial to their already vulnerable clients.
But, as our reporter Geoff Thompson finds out, one charity has radically transformed its service, and still feeds almost eight thousand people a week.
This is part two of a three part series into how Australia is coping with COVID-19 Pandemic.
11 min
May 19, 2020 Drive-by dinners: Food relief in the time of Corona
Social distancing measures have robbed many charities of the human connection so crucial to their already vulnerable clients.
But, as our reporter Geoff Thompson finds out, one charity has radically transformed its service, and still feeds almost eight thousand people a week.
This is part two of a three part series into how Australia is coping with COVID-19 Pandemic.
11 min
May 14, 2020 Prison outbreak: Prisoners released to protect them from COVID-19
Australian prison operators say they're well equipped to deal with a possible COVID-19 outbreak inside their walls.
But inmates claim unhygienic conditions are making them fear for their lives.
Now, some are being released early to protect them from getting the virus.
Reporter Meghna Bali speaks to one prisoner about her early release.
This is part one of a three part series into how Australia is coping with COVID-19 Pandemic.
14 min
May 14, 2020 Prison outbreak: Prisoners released to protect them from COVID-19
Australian prison operators say they're well equipped to deal with a possible COVID-19 outbreak inside their walls.
But inmates claim unhygienic conditions are making them fear for their lives.
Now, some are being released early to protect them from getting the virus.
Reporter Meghna Bali speaks to one prisoner about her early release.
This is part one of a three part series into how Australia is coping with COVID-19 Pandemic.
14 min
April 25, 2020 Hotel Corona: How the pandemic could fix homelessness
People experiencing homelessness are being moved from the street and shelters into four-star hotels.
The radical plan is meant to protect them from the pandemic and it's temporary.
But as Hagar Cohen discovers, there are questions about what happens once the virus crisis is over.
40 min
April 25, 2020 Hotel Corona: How the pandemic could fix homelessness
People experiencing homelessness are being moved from the street and shelters into four-star hotels.
The radical plan is meant to protect them from the pandemic and it's temporary.
But as Hagar Cohen discovers, there are questions about what happens once the virus crisis is over.
40 min
April 18, 2020 Who's profiting from the pandemic?
The coronavirus pandemic is causing pain and suffering the world over, but then there are always those who never let a good crisis go to waste.
Some are benefiting from COVID-19 for legitimate reasons: just think of companies that make video conferencing apps, ventilators, or canny investors.
But there are also more nefarious players looking to bank a win off the back of coronavirus fear and confusion: scam artists, fraudsters, counterfeiters.
This week, Geoff Thompson, Mario Christodoulou, Meghna Bali and Kat Gregory investigate who's winning in these turbulent times and how.
42 min

About Background Briefing

From the publisher's feed

Background Briefing is the ABC's flagship investigative journalism podcast. Its award-winning investigations and documentaries expose cover-ups, corruption, real-life mysteries, whistleblowing, crime, fraud and miscarriages of justice — often before these stories receive mainstream attention.