Radio National Breakfast

First-home buyers are facing the toughest housing market to date. 

That's according to a new Domain market report - raising new concerns around housing access and affordability.

The data shows entry-level prices nationally rose by almost 70 per cent over the last five years; with the time needed to save for a 20 per cent deposit for an entry-level house now sitting between five and seven years in most capital cities.

• Guest: Peter Mares, independent researcher and author of No Place Like Home: Repairing Australia’s Housing Crisis, who writes about housing for Inside Story Magazine 
• Producer: Grace Stranger

The federal government says US trade officials have confirmed a 10% tariff for Australian imports, but the Trade Minister Don Farrell says Australia is pushing for their removal.

Earlier in the week US President Donald Trump initially threatened a baseline global tariff of 15% in the wake of the US Supreme Court striking down his so-called Liberation Day tariffs. 

• GUEST: Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle

In some Australian suburbs, pokies are more common than "post boxes, ATMs, or public toilets" according to a Grattan Institute report in 2024.

That fact underlines the fact Australia has the largest per capita gambling losses in the world. Pressure has been mounting on the federal government to do more in the wake of a parliamentary inquiry into online gambling, led by the late Peta Murphy. 

When federal parliament returns, the Independent Member for Kooyong will introduce a private member's bill to officially define gambling harm as a risk to public health.

• GUEST: Dr. Monique Ryan, Independent Member for Kooyong
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle 

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has testified she has no information regarding the criminal activities of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Ms Clinton has appeared before members of Congress in the the first of two days of hearings, which will also see former President Bill Clinton appear.  

It comes as journalists raise concerns that some documents have been withheld, some relating to a woman's allegations of abuse levelled at the current US President Donald Trump. 

• GUEST: Stephen Fowler is a political reporter with public broadcaster NPR 

Four people in Greece have been sentenced to jail over a massive spyware case that has captivated the country for years.

The country's biggest private hospital operator says it's transformed its business; boosting domestic revenue while announcing a retreat from poorly performing overseas markets.

Ramsay Health Care saw its shares rally yesterday - up more than 10 per cent - exceeding expectations with a 160 million dollar profit for the half year.

CEO Natalie Davis says healthcare providers must continue to innovate for patients - with help from governments and insurers.

• Guest: Natalie Davis, CEO Ramsay Healthcare
• Reporter: Carrington Clarke

The Tasmanian salmon industry has until Monday to prove to the federal regulator it should be allowed to continue using the antibiotic florfenicol to treat diseased fish stock - or risk having their emergency permits revoked.

• GUEST: Professor Stephen Pyecroft, fish pathologist with Adelaide University and President of the Aquatic Animal Health Chapter with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists.

Iran and the United States have wrapped up another round of indirect talks in Geneva.

The talks are aimed at reaching a deal on Tehran's nuclear program and potentially averting another war as the U.S. gathers a massive fleet of aircraft and warships in the Middle East.

• Guest: Jasmine El-Gamal, foreign policy analyst and former Middle East advisor at the US Department of Defence
• Producer: Pip Cook

Slightly higher than expected inflation in January has kept pressure on the Reserve Bank to inflict another interest rate hike and increased scrutiny of the federal government's economic management.

We'll unpack the latest figures and hear from the Treasurer and Shadow Treasurer. 

Then, the Prime Minister is in hot water over comments he's made about a former Australian of the Year. 

And debate is intensifying in Tasmania over the use of antibiotics in the salmon industry.

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

It's been three years since the Matildas took the nation by storm with an historic run at the 2023 Women's World Cup.

But as the Tillies prepare to kick off the Asian Cup in Perth this weekend, ticket sales are a far cry from the sold-out stadiums of three years ago.

Now Football Australia - and its supporter the Commonwealth Bank - have released free tickets.

So has the country fallen out of love with women's' football?

• Guest: Kate Gill, former Matildas captain and former boss of the player's association 
• Producer: Grace Stranger