Radio National Breakfast

It's only October, and already floods and fires have hit the state of  Victoria,  Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan says '"it's been a challenging week" for Victorian communities and emergency services.

But the new leader is already under fire from the Opposition over her handling of the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games, she says when the true costs become clear "it became too much".

Guest: Jacinta Allan, Victorian Premier

Australia is a migrant nation, but the migration and visa systems are complex, particularly for parents who want to reunite with their families.

As artificial intelligence tools, which can generate long essays or realistic photos improve, how will we know what's real?

Some of the big companies behind AI promise 'watermarking' or other solutions which will show when a computer made something like an image. But will it work?

Guest: Professor Soheil Feizi, University of Maryland's computer science department

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak unveiled his plan to eradicate the sale of cigarettes from 2027 earlier this week. If the policy gets the backing of MPs, it will see today's 14-year-olds never able to legally purchase cigarettes in the UK.

The move comes as it's revealed smoking costs the National Health Service three billion pounds a year, and questions are raised about Sunak's vision for his premiership. 

Guest: John Rentoul, Chief Political Commentator for The Independent

All eyes are on the Spanish city of Granada, as the city hosts leaders from around the continent for The European Political Community meeting. 

It's the brainchild of French president Emmanuel Macron and was formed in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But this year, divisions are on display, inside and beyond the union.

Guest: Sébastien Maillard, Chatham House Associate Fellow

With almost 500 events on offer, The Melbourne Fringe Festival is underway with the biggest program on record.

Running until October 22, the date clash with the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum has influenced the curation of the festival.

Guest: Simon Abrahams, Melbourne Fringe Festival creative director and CEO

Joel Bray,Wiradjuri dance maker who has curated Brolga: A Queer Koori Wonderland for the festival

Most of the 50,000 or so species of spiders are harmless. So why are we so scared of them?

Yesterday a federal senate inquiry met to look into the consequences of funding cuts to Australia's Antarctic research program.

This follows revelations the organisation's scientific research may be compromised at a time of unprecedented reductions in Antarctic sea ice levels which is causing a so-called 'regime' shift in the Southern Ocean, and putting Australia's geopolitical interests under pressure in an increasingly contested region.

Guest: Rufus Black, Vice-Chancellor University of Tasmania

Leading Liberal Yes campaigner, Julian Leeser says listening to Indigenous voices achieves better outcomes for Indigenous people, and the Voice is  not a "scary, but a safe change", which will allow Australia to close the gap. 

But he says if there is a No vote, Australia will have to "reflect and listen deeply to Indigenous people" and not rush to a response.

Guest: Julian Leeser, Liberal MP

Nearly one million people have now voted early in the referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, with nine days still to go.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been campaigning for a NO vote, he claims that the voice is "wrong in principle and will be worse in practice."

Guest: Tony Abbott, former prime minister

by the NO campaign.