Radio National Breakfast

It could be a historic day in space flight, with the Artemis II rocket set to launch and return humans to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

While the crew won't set foot on the lunar surface, they will voyage around it before returning home.

But not before a technical issue reared its head. 

GUEST: Kathryn Sullivan

PRODUCER: Brooke Young

The Prime Minister addressed the nation, after a week where one subject was on everyone's mind. The Federal Government has moved to cut the fuel excise and offer a suite of measures to help business, all on the backdrop of Donald Trump's mixed messaging over the Iran war. GuestsTom McIlroy, Political Editor at The GuardianKatina Curtis, Canberra Bureau Chief at The West AustralianTom Crowley, Radio National Breakfast's political correspondent.

If you live in a rural or remote community, your risk of dying from heart disease is far higher than your city-dwelling counterparts and your access to specialist healthcare can be much lower.

When electrical engineer-turned-cardiologist Rolf Gomes saw this playing out during his rotations as a junior doctor in the bush...his mind started racing..how could he help fill that gap?

Putting his engineering skills to use, he designed a mobile diagnostic and testing clinic, which today are known as heart trucks, and have helped save hundreds of lives in rural and remote communities in Australia.

Guest: Dr Rolf Gomes is the creator and director or Heart of Australia

The prime minister has used a national address to urge Australians to save fuel for areas and industries that most need it, as the country grapples with supply chain issues caused by the war in the Middle East.But the address has attracted a mixed reaction

• GUEST: Dan Tehan, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle

In a rare address to the nation, the Prime Minister has warned Australians of tough months ahead as the country grapples with fuel supply issues caused by the war in the Middle East.

The Prime Minister's address comes with the government set to announce interest-free loans for struggling freight, fuel and fertiliser companies, and before Australia participates in a UK-led meeting on the Strait of Hormuz.

• GUEST: Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence 
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle

Cutting the migration intake would have significant consequences on essential services.

That was the key message from Australia's former top bureaucrat Martin Parkinson at the National Press Club yesterday.  

• Guest: Martin Parkinson, Chancellor of Macquarie University and former secretary of the departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury and Climate Change
• Producers: Jason Whittaker, Grace Stranger

The war in the middle east has been moving at a rapid pace - with shifting objectives and military milestones.

US President Donald Trump on social media - overnight - demanded that Iran stop blocking the Strait of Hormuz or the U.S. would bomb the Islamic Republic quote “back to the Stone Ages.”

A day earlier, the president had said the U.S. would quote "not have anything to do with” ensuring the security of ships passing through the strait.

Meanwhile he's again threatened to withdraw from NATO, calling the alliance a paper tiger.

• GUESTS: Fergus McLachlan, retired Australian Army major general who served in both Afghanistan and Iraq and Senior Advisor to DroneShield and Director of US defence company L3 Harris and Daniel Davis, Senior Fellow with Defense Priorities and a former lieutenant colonel in the US Army 
• PRODUCER: Joe Sullivan & Eddy Diamond 

Lebanon's capital Beirut has been hit by heavy air strikes overnight.

Human rights organisations have accused Israel of deliberately targeting healthcare workers and facilities in the country.

According to the World Health Organisation, there have been more than 80 attacks on healthcare workers since the latest escalation began at the start of March - killing 52 healthcare workers and injuring 126 others.

• Guest: Lou Cormack, Head of Mission in Lebanon for Médecins Sans Frontières
• Producer: Pip Cook

The federal treasurer Jim Chalmers has moved to ease some of the flow-on economic effects of the Middle East conflict, announcing a suite of measures for small business yesterday.

The Tax Office will now limit compliance action and pause some debt collection - for businesses unable to meet their tax obligations due to fuel supply issues.

• GUEST: Skye Cappuccio, CEO of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia

There is growing speculation that the US could exit the war with Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz still remaining effectively closed. 

We'll unpack the comments fueling the speculation, and hear how Europe and how both sides of Australian politics are responding.

Then, we'll turn to domestic affairs - and hear about the latest debates in parliament and tension within the Liberal party. 

Recap the morning's news, politics and global affairs with the Breakfast Wrap.