Radio National Breakfast

The National Disability Insurance Scheme minister Mark Butler is expected to unveil major reforms to the NDIS today, in long-awaited a speech to the National Press Club.

But in the lead up to this address, the scants details about the reforms have left many NDIS participants and their families feeling anxious. 

• Guest: Clem Bastow, culture critic, academic researcher and NDIS participant
• Producer: Joe Sullivan

Last-minute ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran look uncertain this morning, with US President Donald Trump threatening to renew bombing if a deal isn't reached.

US Vice President JD Vance - who was expected to lead the U.S delegation for the talks - has now called off his trip to Pakistan.

That's according to the Associated Press, citing an unnamed US official.

Meanwhile, Iran is yet to decide whether it will participate.

• GUEST: Negar Mortazavi, Iranian-American journalist and Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy
• PRODUCER: Pip Cook

The former head of the UK Foreign Office said there was "a very, very strong expectation" that Peter Mandelson "needed to be in post as ambassador to the United States as quickly as possible".

US President Donald Trump has offered mixed messages overnight about the path ahead for the U.S. war against Iran, declaring that he is in no rush to end the conflict as the second round of peace talks with Iran hangs in the balance.

Iran is currently refusing to send a delegation to the talks in Pakistan - after the U.S. Navy attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. 

Meanwhile the UK and France have been leading talks on how to best protect commercial shipping routes, once the Strait of Hormuz is secured.

France's Trade Minister joins the program.

Then, you'll learn more about the state of the Strait from an expert who's spent 30 years as an officer in the UK Royal Navy.

Back home, the global oil crisis is impacting Australia's ability to build the one million homes needed under the national housing accord. Housing Minister Clare O'Neill fronts up.

Meanwhile the government is considering a windfall tax on profits made by gas exports.

It comes as new research finds Japan has earned $8 billion a year on average on imports of Australian gas over the past five years.

And in the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been grilled in parliament over the appointment of the former British ambassador to the United States, Lord Peter Mandelson.

Lord Mandelson was sacked in September, just nine months into the job, when new details emerged about his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Sir Starmer has been facing more questions about what he knew and when, after it was revealed Lord Mandelson failed the security vetting process for the ambassadorship. Recap the morning's news, politics and global affairs with the Breakfast Wrap.

Remember back to your school formal days — the hair, the make-up, the suits and frocks. It's a rite of passage, and one that can be expensive.

In Queensland, one garage is stocked with a seemingly endless wardrobe of formal attire — gifted by the community — to help dress thousands of teenagers from dozens of schools for free.

And while the collection was nearly destroyed by fire a couple of years ago, closet-master Tammy Robinson rose again.

Guest: Tammy Robinson, founder of Formally Ever After

On average, Japan has earned eight billion dollars a year on imports of Australian gas over the past five years, according to new research released today by the Australia Institute.

It comes as a Senate inquiry probes the potential for a windfall tax on profits made by gas exports, amid ongoing speculation the government is considering the move ahead of the budget.

• Guest: Richard Denniss, co-CEO of The Australia Institute
• Producer: Grace Stranger

A second round of peace talks between Iran and the US remains in doubt this morning, with Iran refusing to send a delegation to Pakistan.

It comes after the US Navy seized and captured an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz .

It marked the first interception since the US blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Meanwhile Iran has also fired at several vessels in recent days.

Meanwhile, the UK and France have been leading talks on how to best protect commercial shipping routes - once the Strait is secured.

• Guest: Nicolas Forissier, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness
• Producer: Katie McAllister

The Federal Minister for Housing Clare O'Neil has acknowledged that the war in the Middle East is affecting the construction sector, as a result of the soaring fuel costs.

But she says the government remains determined to get as close as possible to its target of 1.2 million new homes over five years.

• GUEST: Andrew Bragg, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle 

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has faced a grilling in the UK parliament over the appointment of the former British ambassador to the United States - Lord Peter Mandelson.

Lord Mandelson was sacked in September, just nine months into the job, when new details emerged about his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

Sir Starmer has been facing more questions overnight about what he knew and when, after it was revealed Lord Mandelson failed the security vetting process for the ambassadorship.

• Guest: Patrick Maguire, Chief Political Commentator for The Times
• Producer: Pip Cook

The construction industry has been under mounting pressure to deliver the more than a million homes needed under the National Housing Accord.

That's been made even harder by the conflict in the Middle East - as the sector grapples with rising costs and supply chain issues.

• GUEST: Clare O'Neil, Minister for Housing 
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle