Hack

Increased rates of incarceration, suicide, and children in out-of-home: with only 4 targets on track, here's what you need to know about the latest Closing the Gap report. 

And is the ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia holding? 

Plus, 43% of young people feel lonely. So what can we do about it? 

Listen now: 

01.30 - Update on Closing the Gap

09.47 - What's going on with Cambodia and Thailand?

14.41 - The loneliness epidemic affecting young people

Guests: 

• Tahnee Jash, ABC Indigenous affairs reporter
• Ben Smith, professor of Public Health, University of Sydney 

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• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live at 5:30pm

The Australian government is being pressured to recognise Palestinian statehood after the UK gave Israel an ultimatum.

So what is statehood? And how would recognising Palestine change Israel's bombardment of the region? 

Plus, the under-16 social media ban list has been announced, and YouTube is not happy. 

Listen now: 

01.56 - Why the conversation around statehood is changing

05.23 - What recognising Palestine would mean

21.24 - YouTube v Australia

Guests: 

• Ben Saul, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-terrorism
• Ange Lavoipierre, national technology reporter, ABC

Get the whole story from Hack:

• Follow us on Instagram
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live at 5:30pm

The coalition is arguing about whether to drop its net zero commitment, as the CSIRO releases a report on the cheapest way of generating electricity. Spoiler: renewables did well. 

Plus, ever heard of the partner income test? Some people who rely on the DSP reckon it's outdated, and is putting people living with disability at risk. 

And do you skip your breaks at work? It could be impacting your health. 

Listen now: 

01:30 - Energy commitments

14:45 - How the Partner Income Test is holding back people on the DSP 

20:00 - Why you need to be taking your work breaks

Guests: 

• Paul Graham, Chief Energy economist and lead author of the CSIRO GenCost report
• Vanessa Miles,  organisational psychologist

Get the whole story from Hack:

• Follow us on Instagram
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live at 5:30pm

Palestinian health authorities say 133 people have died from starvation in Gaza in the last week, and 87 were children. 

As Israel begins military pauses and airdrops of supplies, it's denying the reports of starvation. 

Plus, Uber passengers could be paying up to 3 times the true cost of their trip because drivers are gaming the system.

We speak with a driver about how it works.

Listen now: 

01:13 - Gaza's starvation crisis

06:57 - What doctors say is happening in Gaza

12:46 - One man's protest action

19:44 - Uber price surges

Guests: 

• Jennifer Tierney, Executive Director, Médecins Sans Frontières
• Nahed Elrayes, Palestinian Australian artist
• Jarni Blakkarly, investigative journalist, CHOICE 

Get the whole story from Hack:

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• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live at 5:30pm

You expect to see a few clubs trying to recruit at uni O-week. Maybe it's a sport team, or an arts group.

But what about a cult? 

Students across the country are experiencing "walk up evangelism", and it's not just mainstream religious groups using the tactic. 

In this deep dive, hack explores how South Korean church Shincheonji uses campuses to recruit, and why cult-like groups prey on uni students in the first place. 

Guest:

• Sarah Steel, podcast host, Let's Talk About Sects

Get the whole story from Hack:

• Follow us on Instagram
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live at 5:30pm

Albanese has called Gaza's humanitarian crisis "beyond the world's worst fears", but is a statement on Instagram enough as Palestinians in Gaza starve? 

And colleagues yelling at each other, MPs snubbing a Welcome to Country, Bob Katter nodding off — we unpack the big moments as parliament resumes for the first time since the election. 

Plus, while tinned fish is having a moment online, a tinned lizard caused a different stir. 

Host Dave Marchese is joined by PEDESTRIAN.TV's Laura Masia and AAP reporter Dominic Giannini.

Get the whole story from Hack:

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• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live at 5:30pm

For a lot of young parents, childcare is a necessary part of life. But how do you rebuild that trust when allegations of neglect, misconduct and sexual assault come to light? 

Also, thousands of vulnerable people may go without crucial care as Australia's largest private hospital operator closes the majority of its psychology clinics. 

And we're always told: don't mix money and friends. But shouting your mates can actually make you happier according to new research. 

Listen now: 

01:15 - How do young parents feel about childcare? 

16:15 - Ramsay Health Clinic closures 

22:05 - Stingy v generous friends

Guests: 

• Sue Cogur, early childhood educator and registered trainer and assessor
• Steph Dalzell, national health reporter, ABC
• Dr Aimee Smith, research officer, UQ

Get the whole story from Hack:

• Follow us on Instagram
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• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live at 5:30pm

Do you have debt from an apprenticeship, a TAFE course or a uni degree? A bill introduced to parliament today will slash it by 20% and also change how you repay it.

Plus, a series of recent assaults against women who were out jogging has sparked new worry from runners about their safety. 

And Tup Forge went from being a ranch bronc riding rookie in regional Victoria to winning the world champs within 18 months. She tells us about her path to victory. 

Listen now: 

01:18 - The 20% cut to student debt

09:35 - Interview with the shadow education minister

19:45 - Do you ever feel unsafe when running? 

25:05 - Inside the world of ranch bronc riding 

Guests:

• Senator Jonathon Duniam, Shadow Minister for Education
• Tup Forge, winner, 2025 Women’s Ranch Bronc Championship

Get the whole story from Hack:

• Follow us on Instagram
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live at 5:30pm

Is uni worth it? The people in charge are getting paid big bucks, while huge cuts are coming on campus. We're chatting to people impacted. 

And Australia has joined 27 other countries to condemn Israel's "inhumane killings" in Gaza. So does this joint statement mark a shift in Australia's approach to the war? 

Plus: is the changing climate going to change the way we play sport? 

Listen now:

01:08 - Is university worth it? 

06:27 - Unpacking the major education cuts

17.48 - Australia's changing Gaza stance 

24:38 - The athletes prepping for climate change

Guests:

• Conor Duffy, national education reporter, ABC
• Amra Lee, PhD researcher, Australian National University
• Nicola Barr, decarbonising sport lead at FrontRunner and AFLW player

Get the whole story from Hack:

• Follow us on Instagram
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live at 5:30pm

Religious cults are allegedly using uni campuses to recruit new members, and some of the unis are trying to crack down. So does walk-up recruitment need to get banned? 

And health officials in Gaza say Sunday was the deadliest day for civilians in the war, with more than 80 people killed while trying to get food. Now, humanitarian agencies are warning the starvation crisis is getting even worse. 

Plus: ever been the youngest person in your workplace? What if that workplace was Parliament House? The first sitting week of Parliament is about to kick off and we have a new Baby of the Senate. 

Listen now:

01:12 - The Gazans killed while waiting for food

06:08 - The Baby of the Senate

12:11 - Being the youngest in the workplace

19:18 - Uni campus cult recruitment

Guests:

• Sarah McCann Bertlett, CEO and managing director, Australian HR Institute 
• Sarah Steel, podcast host, Let's Talk About Sects

Get the whole story from Hack:

• Follow us on Instagram
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live at 5:30pm